Revised 1/2025
HRT 207 - Plant Pest Management (3 CR.)
Course Description
Teaches principles of plant pest management. Covers morphology and life cycles of insects and other small animals and plant pathogens. Details integrated management of pests that commonly attack horticultural crops in Virginia. Lab stresses diagnosis, chemical and non-chemical control of specific pests, and pesticide safety. Lecture 2 hours. Laboratory 2 hours. Total 4 hours per week.
General Course Purpose
The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with the types of plant pests; the theory behind pest management strategies; to stress the importance of integrated pest management versus complete reliance on chemicals; and to describe the integrated management of specific horticultural pests.
Course Prerequisites/Corequisites
Students should be able to read at the college level.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course students will be able to correctly identify, classify, diagnose, describe, define, list, compare or contrast:
- Common insect pests and diseases of horticultural crops.
- Categories of insects and plant pathogens, and their life cycles.
- Steps to correct diagnosis of plant problems.
- Integrated management of plant pests.
- Proper selection, mixing, application, storage and disposal of pesticides.
Major Topics to Be Included
- Orders of insect pests of horticultural plants
- Types of plant pathogens
- Life cycles of these pests
- IPM - chemical and non-chemical pest control
- Diagnosis of plant problems
- Pesticide selection
- Safe mixing, application, storage and disposal of pesticides
- Equipment and techniques related to pesticide application
- Biological pest control
- Mechanical and legal pest control
- Identification and management of specific pests