Factors determining adoption of integrated pest management by vegetable growers in Nakhon Ratchasima Province,Thailand

Widespread use of highly toxic pesticides primarily for agricultural purpose has generated increasing concerns about the negative impact of pesticides on human health and the environment. Integrated pest management (IPM) usually seeks to minimize the use of pesticides and can be utilized to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment. A total of 220 vegetable farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima Province of Thailand was interviewed with the objective of investigating the factors determining their adoption or non-adoption of IPM practices. The findings demonstrated that farmers had different uncompromising reasons for determining the use of IPM for their insect pest management. Higher costs of insecticides (91%), adverse effects of insecticides on human health and the environment (80%), and a greater risk of insect pests developing resistance to insecticides (28%) were the primary reasons for the adoption of IPM by vegetable growers in the study area. The reasons for the rejection of IPM practice were unsuitability of IPM for a large farm (52%), implementation difficulties (80%) and a greater belief in synthetic insecticides and their efficacy for target pest control (39%). A comparison between the IPM and the non-IPM farmers showed a significant difference (P < 0.01) in farmers' knowledge of pest management, which influenced IPM adoption or non-adoption. The IPM farmers had greater knowledge about identifying natural enemies and their beneficial role in controlling insect pests, about plant extracts and their efficacy in controlling insect pests and about sticky traps and their efficacy in monitoring natural enemies and controlling insect pests. For example, 24% of IPM farmers had knowledge of natural enemies whereas it was only 4% for the non-IPM farmers. A logistic regression model was fitted which showed that lower cost of pest management, better knowledge on IPM after training and availability of extension services were the factors which influenced farmers' adoption of IPM practice. The non-IPM farmers rejected adoption of IPM due to the common belief that natural enemies would not be effective in controlling insect pests and yields of vegetables would not be increased by practicing IPM.     

Pest management challenges for smallholder vegetable farmers in Zimbabwe

Smallholder vegetable production is expanding rapidly in Zimbabwe both for local sale in urban markets and for export. Pest management practices of 12 small-scale vegetable farmers in two areas of Zimbabwe were surveyed over a five-month period to gather information on crops, pests, diseases and crop protection methods. A range of serious pests and diseases affects non-indigenous vegetables such as Brassicas, tomatoes, onions and cucurbits. Although farmers use some cultural control methods and occasionally botanical pesticides, pest control is predominantly by the use of conventional synthetic pesticides. These are usually applied through lever operated knapsack sprayers although some less orthodox application methods are occasionally used. Results are variable and there are concerns about risks to sprayer operators, consumers and the environment (including natural enemies) due to shortcomings in protective clothing, large deviations from recommended doses and excessive run-off to the soil. Field trials were carried out to evaluate a modified sprayer lance which directs the spray upwards rather than downwards in an attempt to place more of the spray under the leaves where most of the arthropod pests are found. The ‘V lance’ as it is called improved the uniformity of spray coverage on the upper and lower leaf surfaces and is expected to improve efficacy of spraying and/or offer the opportunity to reduce doses or spray frequencies. Farmers who tested the device reported good results and gave constructive feedback for future improvements. The smallholder vegetable sector requires support in the form of improved access to existing pest management information (in an appropriate form) and focused research targeted at the knowledge gaps which currently impede implementation of sustainable IPM.     

Large-scale sugarcane farmers' knowledge and perceptions of Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), push–pull and integrated pest management

A push–pull strategy for controlling Eldana saccharina Walker is being promoted as part of an area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programme in the South African sugar industry. Understanding farmers' perceptions of pests and pest management can improve rates of adoption of pest management strategies, in particular for knowledge-intensive practices such as AW-IPM. Fifty-three large-scale sugarcane farmers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Respondents recognised the threat which E. saccharina posed, and 83% had heard of push–pull and IPM. Ecozone delineations played a more important role in adoption decisions than demographic and general enterprise factors such as farmer age, experience and land tenure, supporting the suggestion that experiential learning activities with small, local groups of farmers are suitable for introducing new pest management strategies. Notwithstanding good basic knowledge of E. saccharina, push–pull and IPM which farmers demonstrated, there is still a need for more detailed and practical knowledge on the implementation of push–pull at farm level. This knowledge should be made available to farmers in a hands-on manner with an emphasis on locally-oriented field days and model farms. Eldana saccharina may not be a priority for all farmers in the region where surveys were conducted. However, farmers should not be allowed to become complacent about this pest, as its range is increasing. These results will be used to formulate future push–pull and AW-IPM dissemination activities amongst large-scale sugarcane farmers in South Africa.     

Impact of integrated pest management of vegetables on pesticide use in subtropical Jammu,India

In a study at the subtropical vegetable-growing areas of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), a quasi-experimental research design with a non-equivalent control group was employed to examine the impact of an integrated pest management (IPM) program implemented from 2008 to 2010 on the adoption of non-chemical pest management practices, pesticide use by weight (active ingredient [a.i.]), pesticide use frequency, field use environment impact (FEIQ) and safe handling and application of pesticides by IPM-trained farmers. There was no significant change in adoption of non-chemical practices, other than pheromone traps used by okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) growers. Growers reduced FEIQ by 17.9 per hectare from 2008 to 2010. Pesticide use (a.i.) did not decrease significantly, and frequency decreased significantly by 72.4% only in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis). The vegetable growers did not use protective equipment while handling and applying pesticides thus putting themselves at risk. Implementation of IPM thus needs to be reexamined to significantly reduce pesticide use by weight, treatment frequency and FEIQ.     

Networking of integrated pest management: A powerful approach to address common challenges in agriculture

Integrated pest management (IPM) is facing both external and internal challenges. External challenges include increasing needs to manage pests (pathogens, animal pests and weeds) due to climate change, evolution of pesticide resistance as well as virulence matching host resistance. The complexity of designing effective pest management strategies, which rely less heavily on the use of conventional pesticides, is another external challenge. Internal challenges include organizational aspects such as decreasing trend in budget allocated to IPM research, increasing scarcity of human expertise, lack of knowledge transfer into practice and the communication gap both at country level and between countries, and lack of multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary IPM research. There is an increasing awareness that trans-national networking is one means to overcome such challenges and to address common priorities in agriculture. A large number of stakeholders (researchers, policy makers, growers and industries) are involved in the sector of crop protection, which needs to be coordinated through effective communications and dynamic collaboration to make any IPM strategy successful. Here we discuss a decade-long IPM networking experiences in Europe emphasizing how IPM research, implementation and adoption in Europe may benefit from a broader level networking.     

Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and management of vegetable pests and diseases in Botswana

Vegetable farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of pests, diseases and pest management practices were investigated by interviewing 112 growers in Botswana between April and June 2004. Most of the farmers grew brassicae crops, Swiss chard and tomato, and considered arthropod pest problems as the major constraint to vegetable production. Bagrada hilaris Burm., Plutella xylostella L. and Brevicoryne barassicae L. were the most serious pests on brassicas, with red spidermites (Tetranychus spp.) being the most serious pests on tomato. Ninety-eight percent of farmers relied heavily on the use of synthetic pesticides to control these pests. Their decision to apply pesticides was mostly on noticing the presence of a pest or disease. An integrated pest management programme is needed to reduce over reliance on pesticides.     

Current control methods for diamondback moth and other brassica insect pests and the prospects for improved management with lepidopteran-resistant Bt vegetable brassicas in Asia and Africa

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.), remains a major pest of brassica crops worldwide. DBM has been estimated globally to cost US$ 1 billion in direct losses and control costs. Chemical control of this pest remains difficult due to the rapid development of resistance to insecticides and to their effect on natural enemies. These problems are especially severe in South Asia and Africa where lack of knowledge, limited access to newer and safer insecticides, and a favourable climate result in DBM remaining a serious year-round pest which substantially increases the cost and uncertainty of crop production. Despite these problems, application of synthetic insecticides remains overwhelmingly the most common control strategy. Biologically-based efforts to control DBM in Africa and Asia have focused strongly on parasitoid introductions. However, despite the identification and deployment of promising parasitoids in many regions, these efforts have had limited impact, often because farmers continue early-season spraying of broad-spectrum insecticides that are lethal to parasitoids and thus exacerbate DBM outbreaks. A significant driver for this pattern of insecticide use is the presence of aphids and other pests whose appearance initiates inappropriate spraying. Despite often extensive training of producers in farmer field schools, many growers seem loath to discard calendar or prophylactic spraying of insecticides. The introduction of an IPM technology that could replace the use of broad-spectrum insecticides for DBM and other key Lepidoptera is crucial if the benefits of parasitoid introduction are to be fully realised. The deployment of DBM-resistant brassicas expressing proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis could help to break this cycle of insecticide misuse and crop loss, but their deployment should be part of an integrated pest management (IPM) package, which recognises the constraints of farmers while addressing the requirement to control other Lepidoptera, aphids and other secondary pests.     

Effects of integrated pest management, biological control and prophylactic use of insecticides on the management and sustainability of soybean

This study aimed to evaluate the prophylactic use of insecticides (PUI) in comparison with integrated pest management (IPM) and biological control (BC) strategies. Five replicated experiments were carried out independently in two Brazilian soybean-producing states, Goiás and Paraná, where those pest-control strategies were evaluated during two consecutive growing seasons. The evaluated treatments were integrated pest management (IPM); prophylactic use of insecticides (PUI), a practice that has been increasingly adopted by soybean growers in Brazil as well as in other Latin American countries; biological control (BC) and the control (C), which involved no pest treatment. Although the pest infestation rates in the BC and IPM treatments were higher than that in the PUI treatment, crop productivity, in general, was similar among these treatments and differed only from the control with no pest treatment. These results indicate that the prophylactic use of insecticides on soybeans does not result in higher productivity in the field and that this practice merely requires larger amounts of pesticides, which can impair the sustainability of the soybean crop. Therefore, the use of IPM still remains the best alternative for pest management in soybean fields.     

Crop protection services in Southern Africa

Despite the considerable progress made in different farming systems in Southern Africa, effective crop protection services remain a major constraint in their agricultural production systems. Factors responsible for these limitations include the following: the low government priorities still accorded crop protection services; the scarcity or complete lack of trained experienced professional and technical crop protection personnel; the fact that techniques for pest and disease control either are not available to small-scale farmers, or, where available, are not appropriate to the local situation; the inadequacy or lack of cooperation and communication between scientists, extension workers and farmers. A rigorous research, extension and training programme with an efficient infrastructure is advocated. In order to set priorities for appropriate integrated pest management (IPM), a standardized survey of pests of important food crops as well as losses suffered by small-scale farmers in each country of the region is imperative. The crop protection services can also be strengthened through the establishment of a Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) Crop Protection Collaborative Network to coordinate crop protection activities, as described below.     

Smallholder farmers' knowledge,perceptions and management of pea weevil in north and north-western Ethiopia

Pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L.) is one of the most serious insect pests of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) in Ethiopia. A survey of 400 farmers was conducted in four main pea-growing districts in north and north-western Ethiopia. The objectives were to assess farmers' knowledge and perceptions of pea weevil, to examine their current pest management practices and to identify challenges to pea weevil control, so that participatory integrated pest management for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia can be developed. The results revealed that most (71%) of the farmers surveyed had knowledge about pea weevil and were able to identify damaged seeds based on common visible symptoms of weevil infestation. However, most farmers did not know that pea weevil attacks plants in the field, but rather considered it a storage pest. The results also showed that farmers' cultural practices influence the incidence and spread of pea weevil and that most farmers did not check seed for pea weevil symptoms before planting. Only a minority of farmers (19%) harvested peas early and some harvested late, unintentionally promoting infestation and carryover of weevils. In addition, most farmers (74%) were not aware of the source and means of weevil spread on their farm and some did not clean up fallen and shattered peas during harvesting and threshing. The majority (63%) of the farmers surveyed relied on chemical insecticides, namely actellic dust and phostoxin, to treat harvested peas in storage. However, the results revealed a knowledge gap in that farmers were well aware of the problem of pea weevil, but lacked knowledge of cultural practices affecting pea weevil and of problems in the use of pesticides. This highlights the need for farmer training and for development of participatory integrated pest management methods for pea weevil.     

基于Logistic-ISM模型的茶农采纳病虫生态调控技术的影响因素及层次结构分析

茶叶是中国重要的经济作物,品质安全附加值大,病虫防控是保障茶叶品质安全的关键环节。传统病虫防控的负外部性明显,生态调控是未来发展的方向,弄清茶农采纳生态调控技术的影响因素及其内在关系是重要的科学命题。为此,随机选取福建省五大茶区的517位茶农进行调查,对获取的数据采用Logistic回归模型分析茶农采纳生态调控技术的显著性影响因素,进而运用解释结构模型（Interpretative structural modeling,ISM）分析这些显著性因素间的层次结构,从茶农特征、技术认知和环境特征3个方面探讨因素间的内在逻辑。结果表明,在茶农采纳生态调控技术的显著性影响因素层次结构中,表层直接因素有茶叶年收益、销售模式、培训次数、政府抽检频率、往年病虫情况,中间因素有新技术成本和收益变化的认知、是否合作社成员、茶园面积,根源因素有文化教育程度、年龄,各层次因素沿根源层、中间层、表层、目标层逐级向上影响。据此,本文从合作、培训、监管、示范等方面提出了对茶树病虫生态调控技术推广进行宏观管理的建议。     

Determinants of integrated pest management adoption for olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) in Roudbar,Iran

Extensive use of highly toxic pesticides for pest management has generated concerns over the negative impact of these chemicals on both human health and the environment. The use of integrated pest management (IPM) can address some of these concerns, but studies on the adoption behavior of growers are generally limited. A survey of 171 olive growers was conducted to analyze factors determining adoption of IPM practices for the control of olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) in Roudbar county of Guilan province, Iran. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with randomly selected olive growers of the study area using a structured questionnaire. Some growers (9.9%) did not adopt any IPM practice for olive fruit fly control, while the majority of the growers (almost 54%) showed some low level of adoption. Twelve variables were found to be strongly correlated with adoption of IPM practices for olive fruit fly control. The strongest link was demonstrated with growers' annual income, land area under cultivation, farming experience, extension activities, technical knowledge, and average olive fruit production. Discriminant analysis was used to identify the variables with the greatest power of classifying growers in three groups of IPM adopters (low, medium, and high level of adoption). The variable: farming experience and especially the olive farming experience along with the variables: family size and extension activities gave an overall classification accuracy of 72.1%, implying a strong capability of correctly differentiating growers in the IPM groups. Understanding growers' characteristics and behavior concerning the adoption of IPM can be a first major step for boosting adoption rates among olive growers of the study area or among growers of other areas with a similar profile. To this end, government policies should strengthen growers' technical knowledge of IPM concerning olive fruit fly through extension services and community involvement, particularly among inexperienced small-scale growers.     

Farmers' knowledge and perception of grain legume pests and their management in the Eastern province of Kenya

Grain legumes play an important role in community livelihood and in the national economy in Kenya. Unfortunately, in many African countries, production doesn't satisfy the demand in grains due to various constrains. Understanding farmers practices and behavior in the management of grain legume pests is a crucial step in the development of sustainable management strategies. A total of 216 farmers were surveyed in eight districts of eastern Kenya to evaluate farmers' knowledge and perceptions of grain legume pests; to examine current pest management practices, and to identify other production constraints. Grain legumes are grown by a wide age-group of farmers, with both genders equally represented. Chemical control remains the main pest management strategy, and, to ensure pesticide effectiveness, farmers also use increased application rates, chemical alternation, frequent application and mixtures of chemicals. While farmers used other control measures, they showed only limited interest in biological control. The majority of the farmers had experience in grain legume farming and were able to identify the major pests, which were the legume flower thrips Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom, the cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora Koch and the legume pod borer Maruca vitrata Fabricius. Our survey revealed that education and proximity to extension services contributed significantly to farmers' knowledge of grain legume pests, suggesting the need to provide continuous training and capacity building on integrated pest management in grain legume farming. The study also suggests integration of other pest management strategies such as the use of early maturing varieties, biopesticides and biofertilizer to reduce the use of chemical for sustainable pest management.     

Managing storage pests of maize: Farmers' knowledge,perceptions and practices in western Kenya

Insect pests are a key constraint to effective utilization of cereal crops in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with damage caused by these pests in the stores of particular concern. Although a number of approaches have been advanced for control of storage pests of maize, uptake remains a challenge, with effectiveness of some approaches being questionable. We conducted a survey in western Kenya among 330 respondents using face to face interviews and focus group discussions to evaluate farmers' practices, knowledge and perceptions of storage pests of maize, and their current practices in managing such pests as a basis for development of efficient integrated pest management (IPM) approaches for the pests. Majority of the respondents stored maize in traditional granaries, with less than 10% of them using modern improved facilities, mainly due to inability to afford these. Majority of the respondents also cited attack of their stored grains by a number of insect pests, causing about 40% grain losses. The larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), and maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), were perceived as the most common and damaging pests. Farmers' perceptions of pests were positively and significantly influenced by level of education and farming experience, indicating that education and experience build farmers' understanding of storage pests. Storing maize in unshelled form seemed to result in less pest attack, although majority of the respondents stored their maize in shelled form. Moreover, local maize varieties were perceived to be resistant to pests. The farmers applied various control methods, with sun-drying being the most popular practice. Usage of pesticides was minimal, mainly due to high costs, lack of information, and unavailability of appropriate and effective products. There were also other cultural methods applied, such as use of smoke and insecticidal plants. The respondents decried lack of training and extension services on storage pests and their management, underscoring the need to develop extension services. The underlying mechanisms of the perceived pest resistance in local varieties of maize and cultural pest management methods need to be established for exploitation in development of effective IPM approaches. There is also need to address the challenges hindering uptake of modern storage and control approaches.     

Perspectives of integrated pest management

Integrated pest management (IPM) programmes require joint interdisciplinary scientific efforts to assemble sound information about: (1) the ecological basis of the pest problem; (2) factors in the agroecosystem that can be manipulated to make the crop environment unfavourable for pests; (3) pest and natural enemy population trends to determine if and when pesticide treatments are necessary; and (4) the benefits and risks of the IPM strategy for agriculture and society. The IPM technology is complex and this is partly why implementation of IPM has been slow. Projections are that if IPM is adopted by agriculture, pesticide use could be reduced by 35–50% from present use levels. Concurrently there would be a reduction in environmental and social problems caused by pesticides.     

Pesticide use in rice and rice–fish farms in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Pest management practices among rice and rice–fish farmers and their perception of problems related to pests and pesticides were surveyed in the Mekong Delta. A total number of 64 different pesticides were identified during the survey. Approximately 50% were insecticides, 25% were fungicides and 25% were herbicides. The main insecticides used were pyrethroids (42%) carbamates (23%) and cartap (19%). Non-IPM farmers used twice as many pesticides as IPM farmers. Their application frequency and the amount of active ingredient used were 2–3 times higher per crop, as compared to IPM farmers. During the last three years IPM farmers estimated that they had decreased the amount of pesticides used by approximately 65%, while non-IPM farmers said that they had increased the amount of pesticide used by 40%. Also, farmers growing fish in their rice fields used less pesticide than farmers growing only rice, as pesticides adversely affect cultures of fish. Taking a long-term perspective integrated rice–fish farming with IPM practices provides a sustainable alternative to intensive rice mono-cropping, both from an economic as well as an ecological point of view.     

Intelligent geographic information systems and integrated pest management

Research in integrated pest management (IPM) has resulted in the development of an immense knowledge base that requires computer-aided methodologies for integration, interpretation and delivery. Examined in this paper are four issues of concern to decision-making and problem-solving for IPM. First, the IPM enterprise is examined in the context of contemporary landscape ecology principles. The functional unit for IPM is defined to be the ecotope (a term intended to embody concepts of ecosystem functionality in the context of topographical dimension). A landscape consists of a mosaic of interacting ecotopes. The scope of IPM extends beyond forest and farm management and includes issues associated with environmental management. Second, the utility of geographic information systems (GISs) for IPM is considered. GISs add a new dimension to IPM in that they provide a mechanism for dealing with site-specific and spatially referenced data. The addition of methodologies from artificial intelligence expert systems, in particular, permits integration of qualitative knowledge of human experts with quantitative information that is the product of research. The resulting software system is termed an intelligent geographic information system, IGIS. This system allows for automated interpretation within and among landscape data themes. The product is an interpretative map or a tabular report. Third, utility of the IGIS approach is illustrated by an example involving habitat delineation for an endangered species, the Houston toad. In this example a simple rulebase is developed that defines habitat locations that would be suitable for the toad. Fourth, a concept and method for integrating the different types of knowledge available for IPM (published research results and reports, spatial and tabular databases, simulation models, and observations and experiences of human experts) is described. This software system, the knowledge system environment, retains the unique features of an IGIS but is more useful in that it employs the full measure of knowledge available from IPM. With new technology from computer science and concepts from information engineering, it has been possible to formulate a new conceptual model of IPM that incorporates both the information systems needed as well as the activities required for implementation of IPM.     

Disease management of organic tomato under greenhouse conditions in the Jordan Valley

Production of organic tomato under greenhouse conditions has significantly increased in the last few years. Although greenhouse systems provide the option of off-season production and expansion of markets over traditional outdoor field systems, such systems also pose unique challenges with regard to pest management. An experiment was conducted in the Jordan Valley during the fall of 2011/2012 to evaluate the effects of integrated pest management that combines different preventive and control measures, on diseases and pests of tomato grown under greenhouse conditions. The experiment consisted of three treatments (organic farming, conventional farming and integrated pest management (IPM) farming) with four replicates arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The plant diseases and pests were monitored in all treatments. Powdery mildew disease was recorded at 6 weeks after transplanting in all treatments and at 22 weeks after transplanting, the disease incidence was 74%, 68% and 57% in the IPM, conventional and organic treatments, respectively. However, the disease severity did not exceed 1.5 in any of the treatments. Early blight disease appeared at 16 weeks after transplanting and at 22 weeks after transplanting, the disease incidence was 62%, 54% and 47% in the IPM, conventional and organic treatments, respectively. Neither bacterial symptoms nor nematode symptoms were observed in any of the treatments. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests revealed the presence of Tomato ring spot virus (ToRSV) and Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV). Overall, the study showed that there were no significant differences between the three treatments with regard to tomato plant height, width, circumference, number of flowers/cluster, number of clusters/plant, fruit yield, shoot dry weight and root dry weight. Furthermore, several quality parameters of tomato fruits were studied; dry weight, lycopene content and pH were found to be significantly higher in the organic tomatoes.     

Cropping Systems and Integrated Pest Management: Examples from Selected Crops

SUMMARY

Cropping systems have been central to managing associated pests for centuries. This treatment focuses on the history, concepts, and the integration of available Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools/strategies into cropping systems. Pest assessments/diagnoses, IPM-decision-making aids, and examples of pest management in selected crops/cropping systems (wheat, soybean, corn, cotton, potato, and strawberry) as well as emerging opportunities and challenges are discussed. The evolving philosophy of IPM and the recently renewed emphasis on ecologically based pest management address the fact that significant levels of predation and/or parasitism are desirable insofar as they promote diversity and sustainability of agroecosystems. Thus, cropping systems are beginning to focus on soil and crop health as well as specific IPM and production goals. Although extensive efforts have been directed toward modeling the many interactions between crops, associated pests and the environment, the general implementation of a systems approach to integrated crop and pest management remains to be accomplished.     

Integrated Pest Management Control of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae), the Most Damaging Pest of (Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)) Colonies

Varroa destructor is among the greatest biological threats to western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) health worldwide. Beekeepers routinely use chemical treatments to control this parasite, though overuse and mismanagement of these treatments have led to widespread resistance in Varroa populations. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecologically based, sustainable approach to pest management that relies on a combination of control tactics that minimize environmental impacts. Herein, we provide an in-depth review of the components of IPM in a Varroa control context. These include determining economic thresholds for the mite, identification of and monitoring for Varroa, prevention strategies, and risk conscious treatments. Furthermore, we provide a detailed review of cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical control strategies, both longstanding and emerging, used against Varroa globally. For each control type, we describe all available treatments, their efficacies against Varroa as described in the primary scientific literature, and the obstacles to their adoption. Unfortunately, reliable IPM protocols do not exist for Varroa due to the complex biology of the mite and strong reliance on chemical control by beekeepers. To encourage beekeeper adoption, a successful IPM approach to Varroa control in managed colonies must be an improvement over conventional control methods and include cost-effective treatments that can be employed readily by beekeepers. It is our intention to provide the most thorough review of Varroa control options available, ultimately framing our discussion within the context of IPM. We hope this article is a call-to-arms against the most damaging pest managed honey bee colonies face worldwide.