A 5-step pest management plan

Integrated Pest Management is an action plan to prevent pests before they become a problem and to treat pests in a way that’s best for people, property and the environment.

These five steps will help you avoid attracting pests, spot pests before they become a problem, decide how much of a pest is too much, and treat pest problems with the safest methods.

	Monitor pests
	Identify (if, where and when) there’s a problem
	Uncover root causes of pest problems
	Decide what action to take
	Review and evaluate the plan

Monitor Pests

The number one rule of good pest management is to identify pests before they become a problem. As a part of regular maintenance of your home or facility, establish a routine that includes searching likely problem areas and recording what you see.

Keep an eye out for:

• Pests and signs of pests: trails, dead insects, droppings
• Damage caused by pests: dying plants, holes in leaves, wood shavings, partially eaten food
• Conditions good for pests: water sources, open food containers, crumbs, open garbage, pet food dishes, debris piles next to buildings.

Here's a sample form you can use for keeping records.
If you suspect that you may have a problem, sticky traps can help you determine the number and species of pests.

Proper identification is important. It will help you decide how best to treat pests and prevent you from eliminating beneficial insects
like ladybugs and lacewings.

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Identify problems

Once you’ve started your monitoring routine, you can determine:

• If you have a problem
• When that problem is occurring
• Where action must take place to manage those pests

Don’t expect to be free of all bugs and weeds all of the time; instead, decide how much you can tolerate — and where — before it’s time to act. A colony of ants in the kitchen may not be tolerable. But outdoors, ants may be good for your soil and garden. If your monitoring reveals more than you can tolerate, it may be time to take action.

Consider these measures of tolerance:

• Aesthetics: My garden is dead, my building is damaged.
• Materials: My clothes have holes, my food is infested.
• Injuries: My kids have stings, bites or rashes.

A common overuse of pesticides is “revenge” treatment: applying pesticides after the pest has done damage and moved on. Don’t treat pests that are naturally on their way out. Also, be sure to identify your pest correctly so that you can research:

• Is it the right time in the season to treat them?
• Is it the right time of day or night to be monitoring?
• Is it the most effective time in the pest’s life cycle to treat them?

Broad applications such as foggers or sprays are less effective than targeting the pest where it lives and travels. Targeted treatments are more effective and cause less risk to the life around you.

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Uncover root causes

Pests need food, water and shelter to survive. Consider these changes to cut off the life support for pests:

Eliminate shelter

• Seal cracks in walls, trim and flooring
• Install screen doors or automatic door closers
• Install door sweeps and window weather stripping
• Install moving carts and shelving units for easy cleaning
• Choose area rugs instead of carpet where possible
• Install screens over eaves and dryer vents
• Seal holes around plumbing, electrical, phone and cable access to the home
• Fill nail holes and other openings in siding (1/4” to 3/8” in diameter)
• In the yard, eliminate debris piles and rotting wood. Keep vines, mulch and shrubs several feet away from the walls
• Place bins and other outdoor containers on racks above the ground
• Cover trash bins to keep pests out
• Clean up diseased plants and compost dead plants to reduce shelter
• Pull weeds before they go to seed and spread

Eliminate food

• Empty pet food bowls after feeding
• Clean up crumbs and dishes promptly
• Keep dry food in sealed glass containers or the refrigerator; some pests can get through plastic bags, wax paper and cardboard
• Cover garbage indoors and out
• Choose native plant species in your garden that are pest-resistant
• Mulch once a year to reduce weeds in garden beds

Eliminate water

• Fix leaks and drips indoors and out
• Route air conditioner drips away from the side of the building
• Fill low-lying areas where water stagnates
• Don’t allow water to accumulate in pots, cans or storage containers
• Keep gutters free of debris
• Turn wading pools over when not in use
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish

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Decide what you can do

When you have a pest problem, choose the safest effective method to remove them. Many solutions do not require toxic chemicals.

Here are some safe methods you might consider:

• Physical control: Vacuuming, trapping, heat, cold, garden row covers, barriers, pulling weeds or removing pests by hand.

  

• Biological control: Using a pest’s natural enemies to control pests. In the garden, you might attract insects like ladybugs to feed on pests.
• Least-toxic applications: Microbial herbicides kill very specific plants. Growth regulators stop pests from becoming adults. Non-toxic dusts, soaps and oils can be used, too.

If pests cause risk to health and safety and other control methods are not effective, practice safety when using chemicals:

• Choose spot applications that work: Self-contained traps may contain poison, but limit human exposure. Gel and paste may be used in cracks. Spot applications for weeds are better than broad sprays.
• Read the label: Choose the right chemical for the pest, follow all instructions, and take safety precautions to limit your exposure. Don’t use outdoor chemicals indoors.
• Don’t over-apply: more is never better!

  

• Keep people informed: Keep track of what pesticides you use and in what amounts. Post warning signs before you apply the pesticide.
• No kids allowed: Choose a time and day of application that allows the most time to pass before children (and pets) are exposed to the application area.
• Dispose of leftover pesticides and containers properly: Look for advice on hazardous waste disposal in your area at www.earth911.org.
  

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Review and evaluate

Maybe you discovered a pest, but decided it wasn’t a problem that required treatment. Maybe you practiced physical controls, or placed gel pesticides in cracks. Whatever your action, follow it with careful monitoring to ensure its effectiveness. Record the action, place and time as part of your monitoring routine. Regular monitoring will help you maintain a pest-beating program that works.

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