Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Know the major crop pests and weeds of PNG, their identification; symptoms of damage and control.
2. Develop theoretical and practical skills to recognize a pest problem;
3. Assess the economic thresholds of pest and weeds;
4. Appreciate the methods for managing crop pests and weeds using ecological and economic principles.
Classification of crop insect pests; Insects as vectors of viral, bacterial and fungal diseases; Applied anatomy, morphology and physiology of crop pests and weeds; Crop pest and weeds in PNG and their interaction with their biotic and abiotic factors; Population ecology and decision tools for crop pest and weed management; Damage assessment, cultural, biological, chemical and integrated pest management methods; Quarantine; Pesticides, their chemistry, toxicity, methods of application and their ecological implications; Introduction to potential use of genetically modified organisms and information technology for crop pest and weed management.
Hicks, S., Perry, K., Insects and Nematode Pests of crops, in: DPI Rural Development Series Handbook No. 17, 1982.
Thistleton, B. M., Recommendations for control of pests, DPI Technical Report 87/1, 1987.
Sutherland, J. A., The manual for the safe and efficient use of pesticides, in: DPI Rural Development Series Handbook No. 18, 1986.
Schenieder, M., Entomology. A textbook for students, Agriculturists & Foresters in Papua New Guinea, Bulolo University College, Bulolo, PNG, 1999.
Muzik, T. J., Weed biology and control, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, USA, 1970.
Continuous assessment 40%
Written examination 60%
Phone: +675 473 4999 Fax: +675 475 7776
