Principles of Pest Management

Learning Objectives.

• State the goal of integrated pest management (IPM).
• Explain why you should use IPM rather than rely on pesticides
alone.
• Tell why identifying a pest is critical to successfully managing
it.
• Describe the purpose of monitoring pests.
• With respect to economic and action thresholds:
– Define each.
– State their purpose.
– Explain how they differ.
– List factors that influence how they are determined.
• With respect to the economic injury level (EIL):
– Define what it is.
– Describe its relationship to the economic threshold.
– Tell what happens if you do not control pests before they
reach the EIL.
• Give examples of natural controls that help keep pests in check.
• Explain the process and hurdles in using natural enemies to
control exotic pests.
• With respect to each category of applied control:
– Briefly describe how it works.
– Give examples of how it is used.
• List advantages and disadvantages of chemical pest controls.
• Explain why and how quarantine and eradication programs are
implemented.
• With respect to prevention, suppression, and eradication of
pests:
– Distinguish between them.
– Tell when each approach is typically used.
– Give examples of pest control tactics for each.
• Explain what you need to know and do to implement an IPM
program.
• Explain why it is important to record and evaluate the results of
your pest management efforts.