Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-230). Details the biology and life history of the Quandong moth and investigates management strategies that would enable growers to manage the pest in an economically and environmentally sustainable program.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-230). / 230 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Details the biology and life history of the Quandong moth and investigates management strategies that would enable growers to manage the pest in an economically and environmentally sustainable program. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Applied and Molecular Ecology, 2001

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (Canada thistle) is a persistent perennial pasture weed in Eastern Canada. Single control measures such as cultural, chemical, and biological methods are not effective in long term reduction of the weed population. The objectives of this research project were to evaluate the efficacy of various traditional control methods and to attempt to integrate them. / The effectiveness of Urophora cardui L. as a biological control agent is limited due to a lack of synchrony between the agent and the weed. This can be improved through integration with herbicides or mowing in time or space. Other biological control agents such as Orellia ruficauda Fab., Cassida rubiginosa Muell., and Puccinia punctiformis (Str.) Rhol. resulted in limited suppression of the weed population. Mowing was not effective in sustaining weed reductions for longer than one year. Application of clopyralid or 2,4-D/dicamba effectively reduced the weed population. The application of 3.37 kg a.i. ha$ sp{-1}$ 2,4-D/dicamba or 0.3 kg a.i. ha$ sp{-1}$ clopyralid with the spring and summer mowings were the most effective mowing/herbicide combinations over the two-year period.

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Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MSc (Entomology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

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The purpose of this study was to assess the adoption response of cotton growers to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, identify the extension strategies used to promote IPM, and provide descriptive comparison of IPM programs between the foremost eleven cotton-producing states in the United States. Integrated pest management is presented as an alternative agricultural production strategy referred to as sustainable agriculture. IPM programs for cotton were evaluated by use of a survey instrument and telephone interviews with the IPM coordinators for the eleven cotton-producing states. The most significant findings were that programs vary considerably between states; the most widely employed IPM techniques were selective use of chemicals, use of economic thresholds and sampling for pests; the Cooperative Extension Service worked closely with private consultants and grower associations; and adoption of a wide variety of IPM techniques has been extensive for cotton producers in the eleven foremost cotton-producing states.

The time-varying survival rates of the carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis, were estimated by a new method. This method precluded the possibility of negative simulation survival rates. Analysis of carrot weevil population dynamics indicated that the egg mortality was density dependent with Anaphes sordidatus, an egg parasitoid, as a major density dependent factor. Larval mortality was less density dependent. Based on the mortality information, a simulation model for carrot weevil population dynamics was established. The simulation precision, evaluated by comparing simulated and observed egg and larval population dynamics, was satisfactory. Sensitivity analysis indicated that A. sordidatus had a large influence on carrot weevil population dynamics. The economic threshold for carrot weevil control in early carrots was 5 eggs/100 carrots at the peak population density. It ranged from 3.8 to 5.3 eggs/100 carrots in mid-season carrots depending on the selling price. A decision model showed that the best sowing date was after June 5 when risks were not considered. For risk aversion growers, sowing carrots between May 20 and May 31 was the best choice.

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