United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pesticide
Programs
(7506P)
735F07001
2007
ackyard
Activity Book
On Integrated Pest
Management
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H
ave you ever been bitten by a flea or mosquito? Treated your dog for fleas? Had head lice?
Been stung by a wasp or bee? Watched weeds overtake your garden? Fought to keep
cockroaches out of your school building?
We've all been bugged at one time or another by pests. For many of us, our first reaction is to reach
for the nearest can of bug spray. But, pesticides and fertilizers that run off from lawns and other
locations are a significant source of pollution in our environment. There's a better way to solve pest
problems called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive
approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common sense practices. Teaching
IPM at the grade school level can provide children with important information about pest identity and
biology, and ecology. It can also help children understand the impact that personal choices — like
whether or not to use chemicals to control pests — can have on our environment.
Join Our Pest Patrol: A Backyard Activity Book on Integrated Pest Management, originally developed
by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, is for educators of children in grades 1-6. Join Our Pest
Patrol is chock full of fun activities that can easily be incorporated into reading, science, and even
math and art classes. The activities are written for the 3-5 grade level, but can be easily adapted for
the lower or upper grades. Each activity includes fun facts in "Did You Know," and "Tips for Grown-
ups." There are also lots of links to interesting web sites that allow educators to expand their students'
learning. Answers to all quizzes are located at the end of the book inside the back cover. We've also
included a Web Resources List on pages 26 and 27 of all the web links identified in the activities for
easier reference.
We hope you enjoy Join Our Pest Patrol and invite you to tell us about how you've used this resource
by completing our Customer Feedback Form on page 29. Good luck, and thanks for your interest in
Integrated Pest Management!
EPA thanks the following people who contributed to the activity book:
MDA Project Team
Jeanne Ciborowski, IPM Coordinator, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA); Rick Hansen, Unit Supervisor,
Agronomy and Plant Protection Division; Al Withers, Program Director, Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom
Cooperators
Bob Mugaas, Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension Service, Hennepin County; Jeff Ledermann,
Education Specialist, Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance; Julianne Jackels, Grade 3 Teacher, Oak Ridge
Elementary, Eagan, MN
Writing/Editing
Kathy Seikel, Jane Duden and Jan Hoppe
Design, Illustration, and Production
Northern Design Group
U.S. EPA Project Coordinator
Katherine Seikel, Office of Pesticide Programs, Communication Services Branch
Adapted for nationwide audience by Abt Associates, Inc., and The COM Group, Inc., under contract with the U.S. EPA.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Pesticide Programs
Field and External Affairs Division
Communication Services Branch
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (7506P)
Washington, D.C. 20460
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/
(703)305-5017
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* a*d Ack^ov^led^e^tr .................................... Inside front cover
Table of Co*te*tr [[[ Pages i-ii
Activitier [[[ Pages 1-24
Urectr: Mat'; a Pert? [[[ Page 1
A fill-in-the-blank activity that will help kids identify common pests. Also provides information about the
beneficial behaviors of some pests.
Urect Pert; a*d Pair [[[ Page 2
A bug crossword puzzle that will have your students eager to learn more about both the good and bad
aspects of our insect friends.
Pertr vuitk the 3 Pr .................................................. Page 3
Introduces the basics of fighting pests.
'; a ttfeed? [[[ Page 4
Describes both the good and bad about weeds, such as poison ivy and milkweed.
Da*dy...or A/ot? [[[ Page 5
Presents information about dandelions, including neat ways to use them, and how to control them.
* 6rarr [[[ Page 6
Teaches kids when it's best to fertilize lawns and how to keep weeds from invading.
The Riejkt Pla*tr i« the R/ejkt Placer ........................................... Page 7
Explains how plants thrive under the right conditions. Includes an outdoor component.
Pv/rple Pla<=j«/e! A^enca'r Mort i*/a*tedl ...................................... Pages 8-9
This two-part activity includes information about Purple Loosestrife, one of America's most persistent and
aggressive invasive species.
TUore Pertr1. [[[ Page 10
This activity helps kids learn cool ways to keep pests from invading their homes and gardens.
^K Ho^re! .................... Page 11
Keep Pertr fro^ Perten*<3 Vo^ Uride a*d Ov.tr/ole Y
Teaches kids how to avoid being bitten by ticks and mosquitoes.
MicUicjkt Raided: CockKoack Uvade^r .......................................... Page 12
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Table
(continued)
Joi* tke Tree Hole Mojito Patrol1. ........................................... Page 14
Includes cool facts about mosquitoes, as well as information about where they live and what kids can do
to eliminate their breeding grounds and to avoid getting bitten.
Mo;«u/ito-Eatiw
-------
Mat; a
The world has more insects than all other living
things combined. We need insects! Many insects
work for us. They visit flowers and spread pollen
so plants can produce fruits and vegetables. Some
insects eat other insects that damage plants. These
"worker" insects are welcome guests.
All insects have a place in the web of life. However
some insects are a nuisance and some can be
harmful. We call insects pests when they hurt,
damage, destroy, or make us or our animals sick.
'^^^
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P CD
Pert;
When are insects pests? And when are they welcome guests?
boxes mark P for pest or G for guest.
f
the blanks below.
cockroach, grub, mosquito, spider, wasp, worm
kills corn
for us!
© It preys on other
insects that may harm plants
©Its bite can give your
dog or cat heartworm
disease.
© It pollinates
flowers and
crops.
O It can
trigger an
asthma attack.
O It shows up at
your picnic.
It may sting. Ouch!
book ;ko*u; ;or»e *uay; to
to tke eartk
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
pe;t;
Lea;t
(See answers inside back cover.)
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Pal;
!|3ome bugs help us. Some bugs pester us. All bugs are part of the web
! of life. If you think all bugs belong in bug zappers, think again!
Use words from the word bank below to do this puzzle.
Across: ~~ ~~ ~ ~ '
1. Large black ant that nests in wood.
2. They get on you to suck your blood.
9. They harm plants by sucking sap.
10. Beautiful insects that drink nectar.
12. Outdoor creepy-crawly that eats
rotten plant matter.
14. Red and black bugs that eat tree
leaves and seeds but don't kill trees.
15. They sting, but also kill harmful
insects.
Mat'; tke
rence bet
a coyote a«d a Aca?
Aphids
Bees
Boxelder
Butterflies
Carpenter
Cockroaches
Fruitflies
Gnats
Houseflies
Mosquitoes
Moth
Spiders
Sowbug
Ticks
Wasps
Down:
1 . They eat almost anything, they like
the dark, and they are hard to get
rid of.
3. Tiny, flying insects that breed in
fruits and vegetables.
4. They have eight legs and eat
insects.
5. It eats holes in wool and fur clothing.
6. They spread germs with their feet.
Frogs eat them.
7. Small, flying bugs. The female's bite
is itchy.
8. They give itchy bites. Bats eat them.
13. They sting, but also make food that
humans eat.
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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,, Pert;
Many scientists are
trying to find ways to
fight pests. One way
is to use pests of
pests, or the
three Ps!
hunt and kill pests for food.
| atnOC|GnS
live on or inside pests
and also may kill them.
cause disease in pests.
Pathogens are germs like bacteria or viruses.
i* Action
In the examples below, which of
the 3 Ps is fighting pests?
OBugs are attacking the plants in your
school playground. Upon close
inspection, you find tiny insects
called scales on plant leaves.
Insect killers (insecticides) would
kill the scales, but might also
harm other creatures in the
playground. Also, school
officials do not want to use
insecticides where kids play. School
officials work with agricultural extension
agents to put tiny stingless wasps to work.
These wasps lay their eggs inside the pesty
scales. Wasp larvae hatch and grow inside
the scales. That kills the scales.
O
The brown bat
can catch 1,200
mosquito-sized
insects in just *
one hour.
©Japanese beetles have invaded
America. They eat roots, leaves,
flower buds and fruit.
They can kill bushes,
trees, grasses, and
garden and field
crops. Now a germ is
on the job. It causes
a disease that kills
the Japanese beetle.
Imagine you are
one of the 3 Ps.
Make a poster to
advertise yourself.
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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MatV
a
A weed is a plant growing where you don't want
it. Weeds steal sunlight, growing space, and
moisture from grass and
plants we do want.
Weeds spread by seeds.
Pull weeds before they set
seeds. Then you'll have fewer
weeds in the future!
Take a whack
at weeds!
or hoe weeds out
b^0SfUreto 9et every tiny
b't of root so the weed
doesn't grow back.
The best time to
is when
Poison ivy is a pest when it grows
where we hike or play. It gives you
an itchy rash and weepy blisters. Is
poison ivy good for anything?
Some animals and birds eat
the leaves and berries.
Bees sip nectar
from the
flowers.
Mo
Need;
Milkweed can be a pest when it
grows in fields of crops. But what
would happen if it disappeared?
Monarch caterpillars eat milkweed.
Without milkweed, what would
happen to monarchs?
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United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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or not?
THIfl
What can you do with
dandelions?
• Make a bouquet.
• Make a dandelion chain.
Pick several dandelions
with long stems. Make a
small slit in the dandelion
stems. Poke the end of
the stem from one
dandelion through the slit
on another dandelion.
Repeat until you have a
chain of dandelions.
• Tie-dye a t-shirt! The
dandelion's yellow
flowers, green leaves,
and red roots can be
used to make colorful
dyes.
Many people think dandelions make lawns
ugly. Dandelions crowd out grass and
can damage sidewalks and pavements.
But people long ago thought dandelions were
dandy. They used them for medicines. They
made fried flower blossoms and leafy salads.
They boiled and fried roots and made roasted
root tea. Some people still do!
Color the dandelion. In the blanks, write the name
of the plant part and possible uses for the part.
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It's hard for crabgrass and weeds to take over healthy
grass. Grass that is healthy should require few, if any,
chemical weed and insect killers. What times of the year do
people feed (fertilize) grass to keep it strong and healthy?
A bear can help your family remember
the right times to fertilize grass.
In winter, a bear sleeps. It eats
nothing.
Grass needs
/"
In spring, bears are hungry when
they wake up. They need food.
CCO
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In summer, bears get what they
need without extra help.
Grass needs
In fall, a bear pigs out before it
hibernates.
Grass needs
Dress each bear for the season.
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ka;
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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Pla*tr
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you do best in a certain kind of habitat. So
do plants! To grow and thrive, it's important
to have the right conditions. Be a friend to
plants. Notice where each grows best. Then let
it grow there!
Walk around your lawn, schoolyard, or
neighborhood park. Notice where different plants
grow well. What is it like? Is it wet or dry? Shady
or sunny? Are there places where nothing grows?
Use what you learned on your walk. Draw ferns,
cattails, flowers, and other plants where each
would grow best.
Make a path from the cabin to the lake.
Put the right plants in the right places.
Likes shade.
Likes water.
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United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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ica'; Mort
Purple loosestrife is pretty
— and pretty dangerous.
Why? This weed hogs the
land and crowds out native
plants and wildlife. It causes
trouble when it grows in
wetlands. The stems and roots
are so tough that boats and
wildlife can't get through. Other
plant life can't survive where
purple loosestrife takes over.
Then wetland animals lose their
food and shelter.
When purple loosestrife was
brought to North America,
its natural enemies were left
behind. With nothing to stop it,
the plants spread like wildfire.
Now something's bugging purple
loosestrife. Experts brought
natural insect enemies from
Europe to eat the plants. These
beetles can slow purple
loosestrife's spread.
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United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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*
Stop Purple Loosestrife!
If you see purple loosestrife,
pull it up right away. Put the
plant pieces in plastic bags.
Tell others about purple
loosestrife. It destroys native
plants, animals, and wetlands.
" Read labels before you buy any
seed packages. You'll find
purple loosestrife seeds in
some wildflower seed mixes.
Don't buy them!
BEWARE
Another alien weed has invaded America.
This weed
• clogs rivers and lakes,
• crowds out native plants,
• grows into mats so thick that boats and
swimmers can't get through, and
• destroys food and habitat for our fish
and water birds.
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o pests bug you? Keep
them from getting into
your home, yard, or
garden in the first place.
Use the code to fill in the
blanks. You'll see ways to
outsmart pesty insects,
weeds, and diseases.
6 13 21 15 12 4 22 9
and plants with berries. These attract birds
to feast on insects that harm plants.
Welcome
They eat
8 15 6 20
that eat and damage plants.
7
12
26
23
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Clean up
24 9 6 14 25 8
Wipe up spills. Keep rooms clean.
26 9 25 26 20
and recycling outdoors.
22
24 9 22 22 13 8
on doors and windows. Keep insects out!
Stake up
to keep
7 12 14 26 7 12 22 8
their leaves off the ground. Water them with a can or
bucket, not a spray. Then spores that live in the soil won't
splash up on the plants and make them sick.
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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Keep Pests from Pestering You
Inside and Outside Your House!
Kitchen pests like
cereal, flour, oatmeal,
crackers, and pancake
mix. Travel the maze to
see which containers
pests can get into.
pefticiole, Read tke
Label fIRJT! Be f^re to
Bo»v't apply
repellent
eyef or
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Cockroaches love living with
people. Homes give them lots of
food and cozy spaces to rest and
breed. But no one wants cockroaches
in their home. They smell bad. They run
all over at night. They can cause
allergies, too.
To get rid of roaches, think like a roach.
What would make you leave a cozy
human home? „• w *t
6et
things to
Cockroach Me*w
What's yummy to a roach? Search
for the hidden words to find out.
Then make sure the roaches won't
get to these goodies in your home!
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out the garbage every day.
, food in closed containers.
uonl leave dirty dishes in the
sink overnight.
Wash food from cans before
• Clear out warm; dark places so
roaches can't hide.
Word Bank: peanut butter; fingernail clippings;
crumbs; pet food; glue; bookbindings; grease; soap
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Nasty! When they eat, cockroaches barf a little
bit. They also leave poop. These smelly things
mark the spot so the roaches can find food later.
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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Ticked* Off.
Ticks are pests that live off blood. They
find the blood in people and animals.
While feasting on their host, ticks can
pass along sicknesses like Lyme Disease.
Ticks wait for their food to come to them.
Ticks can sense body heat and carbon
dioxide—a gas people and animals breathe
out—to find prey. When blood sources like
humans brush against them, ticks hop on.
Ick, a Tick1.
Ticks can be found all over
living in the shaded states
higher risk of being bitten
bacteria that causes Lyme
the state that YOU live in
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Ticks live in the woods and tall grass.
They only eat three times: once as
larvae, once as nymphs, and once as
adults.
take "P
Avoid Tick Bites'
"9ht! See
/ OR
from
from head to toe. Check
your clothes, bod y^
hair for ticks
*
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(http://www.cdc.gov/health/). Cited by the American
Lyme Disease Foundation, lnc.(www.aldf.com/).
For more about Lyme Disease, see:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/
y°"f fetr°*e^eeadoltofTHhereatick
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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Joi* tke 7>ee Hole
PaW.
Mosquitoes bite
and make you
itch. They can
also make you sick.
Some mosquitoes
lay eggs in ponds or
swamps. The tree hole
mosquito can lay eggs
in your yard! It breeds
any place it finds still
or slow-moving water.
That includes tree
holes that hold water.
This mosquito finds
lots of other places to
lay eggs, too. You'll see
10 in the picture. Cross
them out. Then go on a
mosquito patrol in your
own neighborhood.
Turn over empty pots.
Dump water from toys.
Don't grow mosquitoes
in your area!
«-
O
c
Skeeter Scat
1 Read labels on all
repellents and
avoid over-use of
Pest.c.de products
Wear light, loose
clothing to cover
your skin.
s'ay inside one
hour before and
after sunset when
mosquitoes are
most active.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
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Mosquitoes have a place
in the food chain, but
on your skin. Bats and
are mosquito patrols, too. Build
bat house and you'll have
fewer mosquitoes!
Bat
House!
• Woodworking for
Wildlife by Carroll
Henderson has
a bat house plan.
You can build it
from one piece of
lumber for $5.00.
For more, see
• http://www.batcon.org/bhra/bhcriter.html
^
hat does one big brown bat
eat each night? Use the etues
to find out!
A bat eats between
and
(A)
mosquitoes and other
insects each night.
(B)
Clues
How rnany years fa a century?
Add a zero. : '
Multiply times 3. . ;...
(A)
How many pennies in a doJIar?
Multiply times the
number of days in a week.
Add one more zero.
(B)
United States Environmental Protect/on Agency 2003
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Aphids are tiny insect pests. They suck
the sap from plants—vegetables, crops,
flowers, and trees. They take away the
plant's nutrients, and they can give the plant
viruses. Aphids attract even more pests to the
plant with the sweet, sticky juices they make.
Natural enemies that gobble up
aphids are lacewings, assassin bugs,
wasps, spiders, and chickadees.
But ladybugs (ladybird beetles)
are the champion
aphid eaters.
Ladybugs look the same on both sides.
Draw the rest of this ladybug's body.
cat
pe;t; tkat do! Let
do
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United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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MatV aLL tke
Honeybees and wasps sting to defend themselves, NOT to
attack. For bees and wasps, stings are a good way to keep
people from bugging them. Bee stings hurt. They can even
be deadly if someone is allergic.
Did
Honeybees collect pollen and carry it in a
basket of stiff hairs on each hind-leg. When
they rest, their wings are flat.
Wasps do not have "pollen baskets" and do not
collect pollen. When they rest, their wings are
folded back and look narrower than a bee's
wings.
Which is which? Label and color
the wasp and the honeybee. Circle the
pollen baskets on the honeybee.
A pollinator;,
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
kave
Tiff
Prevent Sting**
ings
Try not to attract bees. If they come i
around, don't frighten them. Check *
what you should do in areas with bees:%
Avoid using scented products. This
means hair spray scented soaps,
perfume, and lotions.
Avoid brightly colored clothes,
especially flowered patterns.
Keep food and soda cans covered.
Wear hats, shoes, and long pants.
If a bee comes around, j
hold very still. '
If a bee lands on you, don't swat
at it. Don't panic! Just blow at it
gently. It will move.
If you get stung, have an adult
remove the stinger as soon as
possible.
• Wash the sting with soap and water.
• Put ice or cool water on it for
10 to 30 minutes.
• To ease the pain and itching, try
putting one of these on the sting:
alcohol wipes, or a paste made of
' baking soda and water or meat
and water.
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Caterpillar
• |hat's the number one tree pest in the USA? It's the
\A /gypsy moth caterpillar. These large, hungry pests
^V eat the leaves of trees in early summer. This is the
hardest time for trees to repair themselves. Gypsy moth
caterpillars damage and kill trees.
Gypsy moth caterpillars also bug humans. In early
summer, they hang and drop from trees. They mess
up outdoor areas where humans like to relax. Their
hair also causes allergic reactions in some people.
What kinds of trees do gypsy moths like best?
To find out, unscramble the trees this caterpillar ate.
earn to identify the gypsy moth in every stage of development.
Number the life cycle stages in right order, from egg to adult.
http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/morgantown/4557/gmoth/
apple
aspen
basswood
birch
maple
crabapple
oak
poplar
box elder
willow
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Wise up to
H
ealthy plants more easily resist pests. Plants grow healthy in
good soil. And earthworms help make good soil.
Earthworms are little "soil plows." They move bits of soil and
make tunnels. This lets in air and water for animals and plants
in the ground. Worms carry leaf bits and other materials into
the soil, making it richer for plants. Earthworms eat soil and
leave castings, little piles or pellets ("worm poop"). Castings
hold nutrients that passed through the worm, and they
improve the soil. Way to go, worms!
•*«_•:.
Worm - a - rama
A cool, moist day or evening is a great
time to find earthworms. Look in
garden soil, vacant lots, lawns, parks,
or pastures.
1. Look at the soil surface.
Castings are clues.
2. Dig a spadeful of soil. Sort through
it for earthworms. Look at them
through a hand lens. Look for:
Setae (bristles that help
worms grip soil and crawl)
Slime coating (keeps skin
moist so worms can breathe)
Front end (usually goes
forward first)
Clitellum ("collar" or band
that's only on adult worms)
3. After you study the worms, put
them back on the soil, please.
Label the clitellum, setae,
and front end.
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United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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Oazy
Composting saves
landfill space and
turns garbage to
goodness. Try it at home
or at school!
What do you get from
compost? To find out,
start at the arrow and
write down every other
letter in the space below.
Loo;c roil
it
Make your own compost.
, at least 3 feet wide
You need:
• Garbage fUJf , OR
and 3 feet deep
• Big plastic garbage bags to line the
• Soil (with earthworms and bugs)
• Twigs or wood
chips
• Compost ingredients
• A long stick
or shovel
to stir the
compost
Before you start:
Ask an adult to help
you poke 25-30 small
holes in the lid, sides,
and bottom of the can
for air and water.
Step 1 . Build up
layers . Each layer is
about 8 inches thick.
Step 2. Pour on
enough water to
moisten the pile.
Step 3. Make more
layers and water them.
Step 4. Each time
you add compost
ingredients add
a little soil.
wood chips
Compost
ingredients
11
o
Let
recycles; <=jo to
Use the stick or shovel to mix the pile every two to four days. In
one or two months, your compost will become dark brown and
crumbly. It is ready to use on your lawn, houseplants, or garden!
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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MULCH is a layer of nonliving materials. People
can spread it on top of the soil around plants. Why
use mulch? Mulch shades and cools the soil. It
keeps moisture in the soil. Mulch protects the soil
from packing down. Best of all, it stops pesty
weeds from growing. Mulch can be:
• Wood chips • Dry leaves
Grass clippings
(with NO weeds or chemical weed killers)
Rocks • Compost
Is
O
O
How thick should a mulch
layer be? See for yourself!
First, choose two plants growing in your garden,
yard, schoolyard, or nearby park. Then...
1. Put 1 inch of mulch around the
base of plant #1.
2. Put 3 inches of mulch around plant #2.
3. Check in one month.
I predict
This is what happened:
What I want to know now:
60 o* a M^lck
How many places can you find mulch around plants?
Gardens •• At home " Parks
Schoolyard
Neighbor's yard
Boulevards
Place
Kind of mulch
Any Weeds?
Yes
No
7
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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THE WEB OF
Lift
f\ id you know that there are many more kinds of insects on earth than any other kind of
ii living creature? It's hard to imagine, but 95% of all the animal species on the earth are
*^ insects! Millions of insects can exist in a single acre of land! Over one million species
have been discovered by scientists, and they think that there might be ten times that many
that have not been named yet! All of these insects are part of what is called the "web of life.'
Draw and color a picture with a critter you
read about in this book.
Show: what it eats
what eats it
if it helps something grow
Add other organisms to your picture to make
a web of life.
food for
**»*£*«„
ka; a place
of life.
Tell a friend or parent
what this means.
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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Pla* far pert icicle rafetyl
Pla*t;, Family, a*d| Pet;
^ometimes people buy and use pesticides. Pesticides
V are chemicals that get rid of pests. They are poisons.
X Pesticides may accidentally get into our bodies and
make us sick. They can get into our bodies if we
touch them, breathe them, or swallow them.
Find pesticides in the picture. Underline
words that warn you that they are poisons.
Tiff
Play it safe when using
pesticides!
Either take your shoes off at
the door or wipe shoes
carefully on a rug-type door
mat. How would this help?
DANOrER
Always store pesticides in
their original container.
How would this help?
HOUSEHOLD
CHMIC4LS
Talk with your family:
1. Do lawns and parks really need to be
totally weed free?
2. How do some insects help your lawn and plants?
Do you really need to get rid of ALL insects?
3. Can you put up with fruits and vegetables that aren't
perfect-when they are grown without pesticides?
Wash fruits and vegetables
with water. Scrub them
with a brush. Peel them
if possible. How would
this help?
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Qualified far
Pert Patrol?
Match each pest problem with the least toxic way to attack it.
Then try these ways when you need to pester pests!
Do you know how to prevent each of these pests from becoming a nuisance? Draw a line to
connect each question with the correct answer. Need help? Look throughout this book to find
the answers.
o
You see purple
loosestrife. What do
you do?
Tuck your pant legs into your socks when
walking in tall grass or areas where these
insects may live.
O
How do you keep
roaches out of your
home?
©Be very still. Don't panic! Just blow at it
gently. It will move.
O
o
What should you do
to avoid tick bites?
How do you keep
mosquitoes from
using your yard to lay
eggs?
O
o
Pull it up right away. Put the pieces in
plastic bags.
O Make sure there are no open containers
with water, where these biters can breed.
A bee lands on you.
What do you do?
Keep food in closed containers, clean up
crumbs, and take the garbage out every
day.
With the right information and tools, we can solve our
pest problems... [\f^D be friends to Earth and nature!
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United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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Allergic reaction - Can
include rash, itching, swelling,
sneezing, runny nose, or
trouble breathing due to
contact with things a person is
allergic to.
Bug - General term for
insects. Little creature with
multiple legs.
Castings - "Worm poop" that
forms pellets or small piles.
Earthworm castings put
nutrients back into the soil.
Caterpillar - What a moth or
butterfly looks like in the larval
stage of its life cycle.
Compost - A mixture of
organic materials, such as
yard and food waste. Added to
your garden, it nourishes the
soil and plants.
Insect - An organism with
three body parts (head, thorax,
abdomen) and three pairs of
jointed legs. Most numerous
type of creatures on earth.
Insecticide - A pesticide that
kills insects.
Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) - Choosing among
various ways to treat pest
problems. The goal is to cause
least harm to the environment.
Larva - The second
developmental stage for an
insect that has a four-stage life
cycle: egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Lyme Disease - A flu-like
illness caused by the bite of an
infected deer tick.
Mulch - A layer of material
that gardeners place over the
soil to reduce weeds and hold
moisture.
Native - A plant or animal that
is an original inhabitant of
where you live.
Natural Enemy - Something
existing in nature that kills or
eats an organism.
Nutrients - Substances that
organisms need to live and
grow.
Nymph - A young insect that
has not yet developed into its
adult stage. Nymphs look like
adults but lack fully-formed
wings.
Organism - A living plant or
animal.
Parasite - An organism that
lives off another organism in a
way that harms it.
Pathogen - Something that
causes disease or death in an
organism.
Pest - Something that shows
up where you don't want it.
Examples can include weeds,
insects, mold, rodents, and
bacteria.
Pesticide - A substance used
for keeping pests away, killing
them, or reducing their
numbers. EPA registers — or
licenses — pesticides.
Poison - A substance that
kills, injures, or impairs an
organism through chemical
action.
Predator - An organism that
kills and eats other organisms.
Prey - An animal that another
animal hunts for food.
Spore - A single plant or
animal cell that is able to grow
into a new plant or animal.
Toxic - A word that means
"poisonous in certain
amounts."
Weed - An unwanted plant.
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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Just for Kids
A Roach Prevention Activity Website for Kids (EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/kids/roaches/english/
Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program (National Wildlife Federation)
http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/
Bugged by Bugs" (Girl Scouts Mile Hi Council)
http://www.buggedbybugs.girlscoutsmilehi.org/
Criteria for Successful Bat Houses (Bat Conservation International)
http://www.batcon.org/bhra/bhcriter.html
Composting for Kids (Texas A & M University)
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/sustainable/slidesets/kidscompost/cover.html
Green Squad (National Resource Defense Council)
http://www.nrdc.org/greensquad/
Gypsy Moth in North America (USDA Forest Service Northeastern Research Station)
http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/morgantown/4557/gmoth/
Kidzone (The National Wildlife Federation)
http://www.nwf.org/kids/
Thinking Fountain: Dandelion (Science Museum of Minnesota)
http://www.smm.0rg/sln/tf/d/dandelion/dandelion.html
Vermicomposting Kid's Page (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/HHS)
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/worms.htm
Who Wants to be an IPM Super Sleuth? (The IPM Institute of North America)
http://www.ipminstitute.org/supersleuth.htm
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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For Teachers, Parents, and Other Caregivers
Audubon at Home (National Audubon Society)
http://www.audubon.org/bird/atjiome/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Lyme Disease Home Page (CDC/HHS)
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Rodent Control (CDC/HHS)
http://www.cdc.gov/rodents/
Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety (EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/Publications/Cit_Guide/citguide.pdf
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service State Partners
(U.S. Department of Agriculture)
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/qlinks/partners/state_partners.html
Green Landscaping: Greenscapes (EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/greenscapes/
Health Topics A to Z (CDC/HHS)
http://www.cdc.gov/health/
How to Use Repellents Safely (EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/insectrp.htm
Integrated Pest Management in Schools (EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/brochure/index.htm
Mid-Atlantic Region Green Landscaping (EPA - Region 3)
http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/garden/index.htm
Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Its Cousins (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/796Jvy.html
The American Lyme Disease Foundation (American Lyme Disease Association)
http://www.aldf.com/
Wildlife Invasive Species Team (The Nature Conseryaj^)
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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1, How did you find out about this activity book?
1. If you are a teacher, what grade do you teach?
3. What activities did you find most useful and why?
4. Which activities were least useful and why?
5. Do you have any suggestions for additional activities,Web links, or resources that
we might include in a revised activity book?
(?. Do you know other people or organizations that might find this book useful?
7. Do you have any other suggestions?
Please send, fax, or e-mail your completed form to:
Kathy Seikel, Office of Pesticide Programs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (7506C)
Fax: (703) 308-5558
seikel.kathy@epa.gov
Thanks for your comments!!
United States Environmental Protection Agency 2003
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PESTS OR GUESTS, p. 1
1. P, grub
2. P, worm
3. G, bee
4. P, cockroach
5. G, spider
6. P, mosquito
7. P, ants
8. P, wasp
INSECT PESTS AND PALS, p. 2
THE 3 P'S IN ACTION, p. 3
1. parasite
2. pathogen
3. predators
GREEN. GREEN GRASS, p. 6
1. Grass needs nothing.
2. fertilizer
3. nothing
4. fertilizer
PURPLE PLAGUE, p. 8
Florida, Hawaii
BEWARE, p. 9
Milfoil
OUTSMART THOSE PESTS, p. 10
1. birdhouses, sunflowers
2. toads, slugs
3. garbage
4. crumbs
5. screens
6. tomatoes
MAZE, p. 11
Pests can get into any opened or spilled
containers.
COCKROACH MENU, p. 12
MOSQUITO-EATING
MACHINES, p. 15
3,000 and 7,000 mosquitoes
WHAT'S ALL THE BUZZZ?. p. 17
A. wasp
B.honeybee
GYPSY MOTH, p. 18
l.oak A. 2
2. aspen B.4
3. poplar C. 1
4. apple D. 3
5. crabapple
6. birch
7. maple
8. willow
9. basswood
10. box elder
CRAZY ABOUT COMPOST, p. 20
Good soil.
COMPOST INGREDIENTS, p. 21
A. coffee grounds
B. grass clippings
C. food scraps
D. decaying leaves
E. veggie peels
F. eggshells
G. fruit cores
ARE YOU QUALIFIED FOR
PEST PATROL?, p. 24
1.C
2. E
3. A
4. D
5. B
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Courtesy U.S. Department o« Agricu.ture.
Photo Courtesy Minnesota
Department of Transportation.
_ United States Environmental Protection Agency
V *^ 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20460
Printed in the U.S.A.
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