A fire ant mound in turfgrass. Photo by Bart Drees.

The Urban Integrated Pest Management Program of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service supported by the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan of  Texas AgriLife Research provides research-based information and education for citizens in urban areas.

Technical support for the Urban IPM Program is provided by Extension specialists from many disciplines (agronomy, horticulture, plant pathology, entomology, family and consumer science, agricultural engineering, agricultural economics) and Extension personnel at the statewide, district and county levels. Urban IPM Program Specialists work with homeowners and others who live in an urban environment to develop integrated pest management techniques to control pests found in and around structures.

Texas AgriLife Extension Service Urban Integrated Pest Management program includes four professionals who serve major metropolitan areas:

• Paul Nester (Harris County)
• Elizabeth “Wizzie” Brown (Travis County)
• Molly Keck (Bexar County)

These urban areas make up the greater Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio areas and include counties outside of the major cities. The specialists, support staff and graduate students who support the Urban IPM program are integral to its success. Integrated pest management in these areas is largely based on urban pests such as household, ornamental, garden, and turf pests.

2007 Urban IPM Results Demonstrations

• A Study of Applied Research Methods and Techniques for Landscape Arthropods: The crape myrtle aphid Tinocallis kahawaluokalani (Kirkaldy) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in Texas
  Vassilis A. Vassiliou and Bart M. Drees
• Sampling methods in evaluating crepe myrtle aphid Tinocallis kahawaluokalani (Kirkaldy) (Homoptera: Aphididae) Densities Versus Time
  Vassilis A. Vassiliou and Bart M. Drees
• Evaluating effectiveness of chemical treatments on populations of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande
  Kimberly Schofield, Program Specialist Urban IPM, Texas AgriLife Extension
• Spraying hollies for control and prevention of Florida wax scale
  Bart M. Drees, Professor and Extension Entomologist
• Evaluation of soil systemic and foliar spray treatments and combinations for control of the Florida wax scale on hollies
  Bart M. Drees; Elizabeth “Wizzie” Brown; Carlos Bogran; Bill Summerlin; Vassilis Vassiliou, Texas AgriLife Extension, The Texas A&M University System
• Preliminary study for paper wasp trial in Palestine, Texas 2007
  Kimberly Schofield and Wizzie Brown, Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Katy Hammon, Elm Fork Master Naturalist
• Evaluating efficacy of earthworms after exposure to broadcast contact insecticides
  Kimberly Schofield, Program Specialist IPM, Texas AgriLife Extension Service

2006 Urban IPM Results Demonstrations

• Evaluation of Hydramethylnon (Amdro® Ant Block) and Fipronil (Blitz®) Bait Products for Suppression of Texas Leaf Cutting Ant Colonies
  Molly E. Keck, Program Specialist-Urban IPM and Bastiaan M. Drees, Professor and Extension Entomologist
• Evaluation of foliar treatments for control of the Florida Wax Scale on Burford Holly
  Kimberly Schofield, Program Specialist-Urban IPM and Bart Drees, Professor and Extension Entomologist
• Efficacy of Spinosad Against Late Instar Oak Leaf Roller Larvae
  Molly Keck, Program Specialist–Urban IPM
• Evaluating thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) resistance and spinosad treatments on EarthKind™ Roses
  Kimberly Schofield, Program Specialist Urban IPM, Allen E. Knutson, Professor and Extension Entomologist, Steve George, Professor and Extension Horticulturalist, Landry Lockett, Extension Agent- Horticulture, Collin County

2005 Urban IPM Results Demonstrations

• Evaluation of Hydramethylnon (Amdor® Ant Block) and Fipronil (Blitz®) Bait Products for Suppression of Texas Leaf Cutting Ant, Atta texana, Colonies
  Molly E. Keck, Program Specialist-Urban IPM;  Bart Drees, Professor and Extension Entomologist, Texas AgriLife Extension
• Evaluation of Hydramethylnon and Fipronil Bait Products for Control of Texas Leaf Cutting Ant Colonies
  Bart M. Drees, Professor and Extension Entomologist; Shane McLellan, Extension Agent – Agriculture, Freestone County;  Paul R. Nester, Extension Agent IPM – Harris County;  Tom Leroy, County Extension Agent – Horticulture, Montgomery County;  Michael Heimer, County Extension Agent – Agriculture, Montgomery County, Texas AgriLife Extension
• Chinch Bug Control in St. Augustine Grass with Allectus™ 0.81 SC versus Talsar® 80% Flowable
  Paul R. Nester, Extension Agent – IPM, Houston Metro Area, Texas AgriLife Extension
• Evaluation of DPX E2Y45 for the Control of the June Beetle, Pyllophaga crinita, in Texas Turfgrass
  Kimberly Engler-Schofield, Program Specialist-Urban IPM-Dallas, TX, Texas AgriLife Extension
• Evaluation of Systemic and Foliar Treatments for Control of the Florida Wax Scale on Burford Holly
  Kimberly Engler-Schofield, Program Specialist-Urban IPM;  Bart Drees, Professor and Extension Entomologist;  Wizzie Brown, Program Specialist-Urban IPM,Texas AgriLife Extension
• Evaluating Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Resistance and Spinosad Treatments on EarthKind™ Roses
  Kimberly Engler-Schofield, Program Specialist Urban IPM;  Allen E. Knutson, Professor and Extension Entomologist;  Steve George, Professor and Extension Horticulturalist;  Landry Lockett, Extension Agent- Horticulture, Texas AgriLife Extension

Related Resources

• 2007 Urban IPM Handbook.  (This is a large documents and will take a few minutes to download.)
• 2006 Urban IPM Handbook. (This is a large document and will take a few minutes to download.)
• 2005 Urban IPM Handbook.  (This is a large document, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah)