Section 2: Integrated Pest Management

Question 1

What is integrated pest management?

Answer 1

IPM is a decision making process for preventing pests from reaching damaging levels and for determining what actions to take when pest problems occur. IPM approach allows the applicator to make knowledgeable decisons regarding the pest control treatments to manage a pest and whether or not control is necessary.

Question 2

Explain why it is important to identify pests correctly?

Answer 2

• Enables the pst managers to research the biology of the pest
• Assists in selecting the most economical, effective, and safe control method
• Minimizes the chance that beneficial species may be mistaken for pests
• Indicates if treatments are not required when beneficial species are present in sufficient numbers

Question 3

List 5 sources where you can obtain information or advice on pest identification?

Answer 3

1. federal and provincial government publications
2. pest control representatives
3. government pest control representatives
4. Universities
5. Internet

Question 4

Knowing the life cycle and behaviour of pests is important in pest management because it will influence the timing and choice of treatment? True or False

Answer 4

True

Question 5

What information can be determined through regular monitoring?

Answer 5

1. Locate the center of an infestation
2. Find the cause of the pest problem
3. Select and revise injury and action thresholds
4. Control the pest only when needed
5. Assess treatment results

Question 6

A pest population which is below the action threshold should be controlled. True or False

Answer 6

False

Question 7

Describe the term threshold.

Answer 7

The threshold limit is the specific number of pests at which you must take pest control action if you want the pests to from causing unacceptable damage, loss, or harm.

Question 8

List 5 types of pest management practices and provide examples for each.

Answer 8

1. Legislation- The destruction of noxious weeds (the weed act)
2. Cultural- crop rotation
3. Mechanical- traps
4. Biological- Introducing predators, parasites, or pathogens of the pest into the environment
5. Behavioural- releasing of sterile males to inhibit pest reproduction
6. Chemical- Synthetic pesticides or man-made pesticides

Question 9

What environmental conditions may alter the selection or use of a pest management practice?

Answer 9

Temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed and direction, distance to sensitive areas, topography

Question 10

List 5 factors to include in an evaluation of an IPM program.

Answer 10

1. Making post- treatment observations on pests and non-target organisms
2. Comparing post-treatment observations with pre-treatment monitoring records
3. Review of treatment records, including methods, dates, times, rates, costs, etc.
4. Obtaining feedback, if possible, from clients or site users about treatment effectiveness
5. Identifying any possible improvements to pest management.