|
Diam Pest
Control is a member of the
Iowa Pest Control Association
and the
National Pest Management Association |
What Is Integrated Pest Management?
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a system of controlling pests (weeds,
diseases, insects or others) in which pests are identified, action
thresholds are considered, all possible control options are evaluated and
selected control(s) are implemented. Control options -- which include
biological, chemical, cultural, manual and mechanical methods -- are used to
prevent or remedy unacceptable pest activity or damage. Choice of control
option(s) is based on effectiveness, environmental impact, site
characteristics, worker/public health and safety, and economics. The goal of
an IPM system is to manage pests and the environment to balance benefits of
control, costs, public health and environmental quality. IPM takes advantage
of all appropriate pest management options.
IPM System Components
IPM systems rely on accurate determination of optimum control timing and
selection of appropriate method(s). Implementation requires current,
comprehensive information on pests and control options. As a system, IPM
programs include a series of three steps:
1. Monitor the site for presence of pests
Critical components monitoring includes not only acknowledging presence
and level of infestation of the pest, but also accurately identifying the
pest and acquiring knowledge of requirements and life cycles of both pest
and host.
2. Determine the action threshold below which the pest can be tolerated
Action thresholds are determined by factors such as severity of the
injury caused by the pest, site characteristics and use requirements, health
concerns related to the pest, and site user needs.
3. Initiate preventative or curative action to avoid surpassing the
established threshold
The selected method(s) must balance considerations of economics,
efficacy, worker/public health and safety, and potential hazards to property
and the environment. |
