Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a process for effective pest control that considers threshold levels of pest presence and applies two or more control methods. It differs from conventional pest control which relies primarily on pesticides. The key steps in IPM are thorough inspection, identification of pests, establishment of tolerance thresholds, and employment of multiple control strategies including sanitation, mechanical traps, habitat modification, biological controls, and chemicals if needed. The effectiveness of the IPM program is then evaluated through follow-up inspections.

1. In recent years, the term "Integrated Pest
Management" and it's acronym "IPM" have received
much press in the pest control arena. There have
been dozens of articles written on the subject during
the past decade. It has been heralded as the "new
approach" to pest control. Those who have been less
than encouraging have generally cited its lack of
acceptance by the pest control industry. Neither view
is correct. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is
neither a "new approach" to pest control, nor is it
practiced by only a limited number of pest
management companies. It predates recorded
history and is practiced universally.

2. The IPM approach to pest management differs in several ways
from "conventional" or "traditional" urban pest control that relies
primarily upon pesticide use.
 First, it is not merely a reaction to a pest problem.
It is a process which when followed, provides effective control.
 Second, it considers threshold levels of pest presence.
 Third difference between conventional pest control and
the IPM approach is the application of two or more pest
management procedures to reduce or limit population levels.
 Forth difference is that pest management involves a truly
integrated approach where all pests are
considered in the development in the pest management
process.

3. INSPECTION
The first step in any IPM program is thorough
inspection. There are several reasons for inspecting
the premises including:
•Determine the location of the infestation
•Determine the extent of the infestation
•Note damage to the structure or commodities
•Determine conditions conducive to the infestation
•Identify harborage areas
•Identify sanitation deficiencies
•Identify avenues of possible entry
•Identify items or factors which would impact program
development

4. The inspection should be an orderly, organized procedure to
determine the above information. It should include all areas of
the premises - both indoors and outdoors. All levels of the
structure should be inspected including attics, living or public
floors, basements, crawl spaces, etc. No area should be
overlooked because an infestation may have its beginnings in
such an area or may, because of favorable conditions, move
into this area.

5. IDENTIFICATION
Before an effective integrated pest management program
can be developed and implemented, it is necessary to know
the pest or pests with which we are dealing. Identification is
an integral part of any IPM program. This knowledge
enables us to determine what control measures to employ
and when, where and how to employ them. Without a
thorough understanding of the pest and its habits, habitat,
life cycle and biology, we cannot be effective. In addition,
several states require that any chemical applications
performed be for a specific pest and that this pest be listed
on the treatment record.

6. While the customer can often identify many pests by
general categories such as cockroach, fly, beetle or
rodent; they are seldom able to make more a specific
identification. Such specific information is necessary
so that the proper management program can be
developed. The reason for this is simple: even though
two pests may be of the same group or family
(cockroach, fly, etc.) their food, shelter and habitat
requirements may be quite different. In addition, the
damage they may cause can vary greatly. Similar
looking beetles, for example, may damage wood
members, stored products, carpets and houseplants.
Each would require a different control method. It is
important, therefore, to assure that proper identification
is made.

7. Once a pest has been correctly identified, its food
preferences, harborage sites, behavioral patterns,
biology, habits, potential for damage and options for
control measures may be determined. An important
adjunct to identification is submitting information
detailing when and where the collection was made,
and the name of the collector.

8. ESTABLISHMENT OF THRESHOLD
LEVELS
The concept of threshold levels originated in the area of
agricultural pest control. The pest population levels at
which control measures are undertaken are called
"economic thresholds" and are based upon the value of
the commodity (or its anticipated market value), the
amount of damage the pest population could cause,
and the cost associated with implementing particular
control measures.

9. Although the cost of potential control measures in an
urban setting can be determined, it is difficult to assign
a value to the economic consequences of an
infestation. For example, while the presence of
cockroaches in some locations within a facility may be
tolerated, their presence in the food preparation or
consumption areas would not. Consequently, in this
case, the threshold level would be zero. Occasionally,
a pest management decision may depend upon the
cost of potential control measures as weighed against
the benefits received.

10. As a result of the above, urban pest management
decisions are generally influenced by three factors:
•health and safety danger created by the pest
•legal restrictions on pest infestation
•the levels of pest tolerance exhibited by the
customer

11. EMPLOYMENT OF TWO OR MORE CONTROL MEASURES
It is at this stage of the pest management process that we see
the true integrated approach come into play. The primary
objective of an IPM approach is to design a program that uses
more than one strategy or control measures.

12. The strategies chosen should be ones that are:
•least disruptive of natural controls
•least hazardous to human health
•least toxic to non-target organisms
•least damaging to the general environment
•most likely to produce a permanent reduction of the pest
population
•easiest to carry out effectively
•most cost-effective over the short and long term

13. To qualify as a truly integrated program, at least two types of
control measures must be employed. There are many types of
control measures available to the pest management
professional. These measures fall into several general
categories based upon how pest population suppression is
approached and include habitat modification, changing human
behavior, employment of traps, caulks, etc. and pesticide
applications. They may be grouped into five major pest control
types:

14. SANITATION
No other non-chemical control measure can have a more
beneficial effect than sanitation. It is the elimination of pest
harborages, water and food sources so as to inhibit the survival
of pests and requires the cooperation of the customer who is
normally the one who provides the sanitary measures. To be
effective in the use of other pest management procedures (i.e.:
mechanical, cultural, biological and chemical), it is first
necessary to insure than sanitation is addressed.

15. MECHANICAL
Mechanical, or physical control involves the use of traps,
caulks, seals or barriers to prevent pests from entering,
establishing and living in an undesired location. It may include
any or all of the measures listed below:
•excluding (pest proofing) pests using barriers, including
screens, seals, nets and caulking
•manually removing pests using hands, snares or by
vacuuming
•setting traps, including sticky, electric, light, multiple catch and
snap types
•the use of heat or cold to destroy pests

16. CULTURAL
Cultural control involves manipulation of the pest's environment
to make it less favorable for the pest to exist. It may also be
referred to as habitat modification or environmental alteration. To
accomplish this, the customer may have to change some of their
normal practices or habits and thus make it harder to the pest
populations to become established or to spread.

17. BIOLOGICAL
Biological control is the use of parasites, predators, or
pathogens to control or manage pests. When available or
sufficiently developed, biological control strategies tend to be
among the least environmentally disruptive pest control
measures. Nematodes, fungus, parasitic wasps, and even
IGR's are all examples of biological control agents in the
urban arena.

18. CHEMICAL
The final type of control measure is chemical. It should be
the last control measure to be considered when developing
an integrated pest management program although there may
be times when pesticides will have to be the first control
strategy used because of the immediate need to significantly
reduce or eliminate a pest population. This in no way implies
that pesticides may not be an important part of your program.
It does imply, however, that they should be thought of as one
of several control measures available.

19. EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS
The final step in the Integrated Pest Management process
is the evaluation of effectiveness. Follow-up inspections
enable the pest management professional to assess and
adjust the control measures that have been employed.
There are several reasons for re-inspecting the account:
•Determine effectiveness of previous procedures
•Identify areas overlooked
•Eliminate entry points
•Enhance program effectiveness
•Reapply or revise any pest management procedures as
appropriate
•Maintain good customer relations and satisfaction

20. THE IPM TEMPLATE
The IPM template is a formula with which the pest
management professional can determine the appropriate
control measures to use. It may be expressed using the
following formula:
Account Type + Pest(s) - Restrictions = Control Measures
The key components of the formula are the account type, the
pest or pests for which control is desired, and any restrictions
imposed by various factors including the customer,
environmental and legal restrictions. The result is the
appropriate control measure or measures to be employed.