What Is Integrated Pest Management?
Integrated pest management (IPM), also known as integrated pest control, is an advanced pest control strategy that involves ongoing pest evaluation and management through a series of steps. IPM is a long term pest management practice that involves using applied knowledge of pests to create a pest control system that works specifically for your home.
How Does Integrated Pest Management Work?
The essence of IPM is understanding pests (their living, mating and eating habits) and evaluating specific sections of the home where those pests are most likely to be found. Integrated pest management can be broken down into an ongoing cycle of steps:
1. Set Thresholds
Before taking action, you and your pest professional should decide on action thresholds. These thresholds determine when it’s time to take action or when to move on to the next step of the IPM process (i.e. when to begin or stop treating specific areas of the home)
2. Identify
Different pests call for different methods of pest removal and prevention. By identifying which pests pose the biggest threat to your home–and which places of the home they’re most likely to be found in–you can then create an action plan to keep pests out before they ever get in.
3. Evaluate
This is where extensive knowledge of pests and pest behavior comes into play. By knowing which pests are likely to pose a threat, what their lifecycle is and what their eating habits are, you can better come up with a plan of action to eradicate these pests when an action threshold is met.
4. Action
When an action threshold has been met, the next step is to treat and eliminate the pest problem within the home, as well as any damage that may have already been caused. In this step, IPM meets traditional pest control to implement a pest treatment to the affected area.
5. Prevent
Closing or fixing any open entry points, reducing food and water sources by keeping the home or building clean and sanitary are great ways to prevent pests–before and after the pest treatment. DIY solutions to pest control are a great way to prevent pests without breaking the bank.
6. Analysis
On-going monitoring of areas where pests are most likely to show up in and around the home is the final step. Additionally, an extensive inspection should be performed every few months by your trusted pest professional. Different climates bring about different pests that need different types of pest control. An effective integrated pest management strategy is one that is intuitive to pest habits and lifecycles, as well as the needs of the home. For example, an older home with water damage is likely to need a more rigorous pest management strategy than a brand new home that has just undergone a pest control treatment. Different climate, different pests, different types of pest management!
IPM vs. Traditional Pest Control
Traditional pest control methods include:
-Fumigation
-Trap Cropping
-Sterilization
-Pesticides
-Poisoned Bait
-& more
What makes these traditional methods different from integrated pest management? Oftentimes, these traditional pest control methods are used to eradicate pests when an infestation or problem has already occurred. IPM utilizes a series of steps and evaluations to control pest populations and prevent pests from returning. Many of these traditional methods of pest control release chemicals into the home that can be dangerous to you and your family. The IPM process ensures that traditional treatments are only implemented when and where they are completely necessary.
Benefits Of Integrated Pest Management
Intentional…
Pesticides are only used in areas that are needed when they’re needed–keeping any unnecessary chemicals out of your home.
Preventative…
Constant monitoring of problem areas around the home helps prevent pest problems before they even start.
Family-friendly…
While traditional pest control methods utilize a schedule of harsh pesticides, IPM only uses pesticidal treatment if and when it is needed–reducing the number of chemicals in your home.
Sustainable…
IPM uses fewer chemicals and toxins, reducing risks associated with traditional pest control methods.
Effective…
This advanced pest control method works to reduce the size of pest populations in and around your home. With on-going monitoring and evaluations, there’s hardly ever a chance for pests to invade.
Who Should Use Integrated Pest Management?
Integrated pest management can be used anywhere and everywhere. Because IPM doesn’t require as many harsh chemicals as traditional pest control treatments, the practice is largely used in places that require extremely clean environments–like hospitals and restaurants. Integrated pest management is also used in commercial buildings such as offices, schools, audited facilities, and hotels. Eco-friendly farming practices utilize IPM to keep food safe from both pests and harmful chemicals found in insecticides and rodenticides.
How Can I Implement IPM In My Home?
Because IPM is an on-going pest management approach, it’s important to keep up with it before and after treatment by monitoring susceptible areas of the home (kitchen, bathrooms, garages, etc.). Interested in hiring an integrated pest management company to protect your home from unwanted pests? Keep your home safe with our Killingsworth Environmental’s sustainable and effective pest maintenance. Schedule an appointment with us today!
