Selecting Treatment Strategies
Selecting the best treatment strategy for a particular pest requires:
- Accurate identification of the pest(s)
- Complete understanding of the pest habitat and treatment site
- Knowledge of pest biology
- Familiarity with the management system
- Knowledge of available treatment options and their effects
Within this framework, IPM favors treatment options that have the greatest potential for providing long-term solutions to pest problems while minimizing negative impacts. The following IPM tactics are presented in the order of general desirability:
- Education
- Habitat Modification
- Horticultural/Agricultural Design (or Redesign)
- Mechanical Controls
- Biological Controls
- Least-Toxic Chemical Controls
Not all options in each of these categories will be available or desirable in every situation. The types of available pest-control strategies vary considerably from one system to another. The pest manager must always consider:
- The pest involved and the risk it poses
- The resources and options available to the client
- The relative risks and benefits of available control options
Pest managers may use one category or method of treatment exclusively or in combination with other methods. Integrated pest management is always situation-specific, but it usually involves using two or more options or techniques in a logical way to achieve pest management goals.
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