Maine gardeners helped to beat pests

AUGUSTA — The Maine Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Council officially launched its new website, GotPests.org, at the Portland Flower Show last month. Intended specifically for Maine homeowners and gardeners, the site shares information from experts around the country about pests and pest management, with an emphasis on low-risk methods.

“This website is designed to help anyone easily identify common pests found in and around the home, gardens, and yard, and to provide the user with convenient access to the most accurate, science-based recommendations for managing those pests,” says IPM Council Chair Ron Lemin.

In planning GotPests.org, the creators recognized that most homeowners are now using the Internet for research and, that while there is a lot of information available, it is not always homeowner friendly, environmentally friendly, easy to understand, or even accurate. Since the number one requirement of any pest management plan is proper identification, the first goal of the site was to make it easy for the non-expert to identify their pest. To help, high-quality images of pests, damage, and hosts are used. If a user can’t identify their pest, there are links to other helpful sites.

The site also challenges users to reevaluate their ideas about pests and pest control by pointing out the beneficial aspects of organisms and asking such questions as “What is a Pest?” and “What is IPM?” According to the website, IPM is “a decision-making process that combines practical pest management strategies to prevent or control pests in ways that reduce risks to health and the environment.”

GotPests.org is a collaborative effort of the Maine Board of Pesticides Control, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service, Maine Department of Agriculture, Maine Forest Service, and Maine Integrated Pest Management Council.