Action Threshold Pest Management

For example a teacher reports a ground beetle to the school office.

Action threshold pest management. How high or low this level is depends on how much damage can be tolerated which in turn varies depending on the situation. Below the threshold level the ipm. Making pesticide application decisions based on pest counts and action thresholds is part of integrated pest management which has been promoted throughout the green industry for the past few decades. Often uses action thresholds an action thresholdis the point at whichan ipmtechniciantakes action to reduce apest s numbers.

Sometimes an action threshold is anumber. Insects are a vital part of the environment and overall play an important beneficial role. If pest populations threaten plant health become a nuisance or aesthetically intolerable the action threshold may have been exceeded and suppression tactics should be implemented by using ipm practices either alone or in combination. As long as the pest density remains below this threshold no action is needed but if the insect population density exceeds this level a control action is recommended.

In simplest form action thresholds are rules that help the pest control technician know when a particular problem is serious enough to warrant control. Management guidelines for a particular insect pest include a population density usually referred to as the action threshold that is used to determine if a control tactic is justified. In an ipm strategy action thresholds help discern when action is necessary and when it isn t. Setting action thresholds in integrated pest management integrated pest management ipm refers to a specific strategy of pest management that seeks to minimize both the frequency and invasiveness of pest control intervention.

Counting pests and using action thresholds requires time and knowledge but results in less pesticide use and can improve plant quality. So just because a pest is present doesn t necessarily mean there is. Light orno infestationversus heavy infestation. The important thing to remember here is that there is no such thing as an insect free landscape.