The Lowdown On IPM

1. Thank you for choosing
Prepared by: Jack Launius

2. The Lowdown On IPM
This course is an in-depth look at IPM.
IPM does not necessarily mean that
pesticides cannot be used; however, any
use of pesticides must be consistent with
the goals of IPM. Through sanitation,
exclusion, planting resistant varieties,
cultural practices and mechanical
means, reliance on pesticides may be
reduced in some instances.

3. The Lowdown On IPM
⦿ By use of baits and bait containers,
pheromones, and applications to
protected areas (crack and crevice,
wall voids, sub-slab, etc.), exposure to
pesticides can be lessened when
pesticides are the control method of
choice.

4. The Lowdown On IPM
⦿ IPM techniques, i.e. monitoring, action
thresholds, targeting at certain stages of
a pest's life cycle, and using a
combination of compatible control
methods.

5. I. Definition of Integrated Pest
Management
Definition of Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) means providing effective pest control
while decreasing the exposure of customers
and the environment to pesticides
through least toxic alternatives and
integrated pest management principles.

6. IPM does not necessarily mean that
pesticides cannot be used; however, any
use of pesticides must be consistent
with the goals of IPM.
Through sanitation, exclusion, planting
resistant varieties, cultural practices and
mechanical means, reliance on pesticides
may be reduced in some instances.

7. By use of baits and bait containers,
pheromones, and applications to protected
areas (crack and crevice, wall voids, sub-slab,
etc.), exposure to pesticides can be lessened
When pesticides are the control
method of choice.
IPM techniques, i.e. monitoring, action
thresholds, targeting at certain stages of a
pest's life cycle, and using a combination of
compatible control methods.

8. II. Integrated Pest Management
⦿ Integrated Pest Management may include
appropriately labeled pesticides when
necessary to control a pest(s) and when
allowed by the customer(s). However,
emphasis should be placed on minimizing
the reliance on pesticides. Also, if
pesticides are to be used, application
techniques and choice of products should
contribute to reducing human and
environmental contact with pesticides.

9. II. Integrated Pest Management
⦿ A holistic approach to pest problems is
required. This involves both the applicator
and the customer. As a pest control
professional, you possess knowledge of
pest biology and control methods. IPM
provides you with a great opportunity to put
that expertise to work. This is an opportunity
to be paid and appreciated for your
ingenuity in solving pest problems and not
just for what comes out of a spray nozzle.

10. II. Integrated Pest Management
⦿ This approach requires greater labor
input in terms of inspections and reports.
It also requires better communication
with the customer and a partnership
(with the customer) for successful
implementation.

11. A. Site Inspection
⦿ A site inspection is the first step in the IPM
process, regardless of the category or
categories of pest control involved. The site
inspection is conducted prior to pest control
treatments and serves several functions:
⦿ 1) establishes presence (or absence) of
pests on the site
⦿ 2) provides an inventory of conditions
conducive to infestations
⦿ 3) gives the applicator a basis for
developing site specific recommendations
for pest control alternatives

12. A. Site Inspection
⦿ Though some pests may occasionally
invade, they do not continue to live and
reproduce in environments that do not
meet their needs. Therefore, IPM
inspections should focus on the
conditions of a site that make it
hospitable to pests.

13. For indoor pests, conditions to
consider include:
⦿ food sources
⦿ lighting
⦿ moisture
⦿ furnishings in the building
⦿ harborage
⦿ routes of invasion
⦿ temperature
⦿ conditions outside the structure
⦿ air circulation
⦿ storage areas

14. For pests such as roaches, ants
and flies, inspect for conditions
such as:

15. For pests such as roaches, ants
and flies, inspect for conditions
such as:

16. Inspect for rodents with special
attention given to:

17. Inspect for rodents with special
attention given to:

18. For fleas and ticks, look for:

19. For spiders, scorpions and
centipedes, inspect for:

20. For spiders, scorpions and
centipedes, inspect for:
⦿ webs or spider egg cases in corners or
under furniture and appliances
⦿ open vents or fireplace flues
⦿ poorly fitting doors and windows
⦿ structural damage creating openings to
the building
⦿ open doors and windows without
screens
⦿ improper storage

21. For wood destroying insects (termites,
wood boring beetles, carpenter worms
and carpenter ants), inspect for:

22. For outdoor pests and plant
diseases, consider:

23. For weeds, consider:

24. B. Pest Identification
⦿ Pest identification is much more crucial
for effective implementation of an IPM
program than for conventional pest
control where broad spectrum pesticides
can be used to kill a wide variety of
pests. IPM program goals require that
pesticide use be as selective as possible.
This requires both identification of the
species of pest and major areas of pest
activity.

25. C. Customer Education
⦿ IPM can only be partially successful (if at
all) without the cooperation of the
customer. The IPM provider must
educate the customer about conditions
conducive to pest survival and
infestations and steps to alleviate such
conditions. The customer must be
provided with non-chemical alternatives
for addressing pest problems.

26. Customer Education
⦿ Some of these alternatives may be
beyond the purview or capabilities of the
IPM provider. Working with the
customer, the applicator should devise a
plan that eliminates or minimizes
pesticide exposure while still providing
an acceptable level of control. Be
realistic about the probability of success.

27. D. Pest Management Objectives
⦿ Establishing pest management objectives
should be by mutual agreement between
the applicator and customer. The
objectives can vary between various areas
and for different pests. A food processing
establishment may have an objective of no
pests in the food preparation and
warehouse areas. A homeowner may not
tolerate rats and mice but accept low levels
of certain insects in the house.

28. E. Set Action Thresholds
⦿ Action thresholds are levels of pest
infestation at which some control
measure(s) is implemented. To conserve
resources, limit exposure, and reduce
environmental impact, it is sometimes
desirable to tolerate some level of pest
infestation. For indoor treatments,
tolerance may be very low and based
on regulatory or aesthetic reasons.

29. Set Action Thresholds
⦿ Where possible, use scientifically
determined thresholds. An example is
treatment for grubs in turf when the
density reaches an average of 4 to 6
grubs per square foot. Trees generally
begin using starch reserves when
defoliation reaches 25%; however,
surveys of aesthetic perceptions indicate
a threshold of 10% or less damage.

30. F.Reducing Human Exposures
⦿ Human exposure to pesticides can be
accomplished by using
⦿ 1) non-chemical pest management
techniques
⦿ 2) using application techniques and
products that limit the probability of
human contact

31. 1. Non-chemical Control
Techniques
⦿ Non-chemical control techniques
include methods to exclude pests,
environmental modification, introduction
of natural predators, and mechanical
removal and vacuuming.

32. a. Sanitation
⦿ Sanitation as used in regard to pest
control includes the removal of food,
water and harborage conducive to pest
invasion or survival.

33. Sanitation
This includes measures such as:

34. b. Exclusion
⦿ Exclusion is eliminating entrance to a
building or area.

35. Exclusion techniques include:

36. c. Traps and Mechanical
Devices
⦿ Traps and mechanical devices are
commercially available for catching a wide
variety of, small mammals and insects.
Mammal traps include killing traps such as
snap traps for small rodents, tunnel traps,
and various specialized traps for gophers
and moles. A number of traps are also
available for insect control including light
traps, pheromone traps, sticky traps and
various funnel traps using food baits.

37. 2.Low Exposure Pesticide
Applications
⦿ Human risks and environmental impact
can be reduced by using the least
harmful method. Whether using
pesticides or other control means, a goal
of pest management should be to
implement the most specific control
measures possible.

38. Low Exposure Pesticide
Applications
⦿ Consideration must be given not only to
the acute toxicity of the pesticide but
also to other toxicological and physical
characteristics of the pesticide. These
include persistence in the environment,
probability that the product will move off
site, and the spectrum of species that will
be impacted.

39. Low Exposure Pesticide
Applications
⦿ Direct toxicity is one measure of the
dangers of pesticides; however, it is not
always the overriding factor in regard to
safety. Chronic toxicity, whether the
pesticide is accumulative or rapidly
broken down and excreted, synergistic
effect with other materials used, and
persistence of the pesticide are also
important considerations.

40. Low Exposure Pesticide
Applications
⦿ Unfortunately, most readily available
information on toxicity is presented as
LD50 values which means the amount
that killed one-half of a sample
population. LD50 or LC50 provide a
relative comparison of toxicity of
pesticides but do not indicate the
amount required to kill an individual.

41. Low Exposure Pesticide
Applications
⦿ Of greater concern to applicator and
public safety should be the no effect
level and the level at which mortality
begins -- these may be much lower than
the LD50 or LC50 values for many
individuals. Additionally, most of the
toxicity data available is from animals
other than humans and toxicity can vary
considerably between species.

43. ⦿ In judging the toxicity of a product,
applicators need to look at the amount of
toxicant in the product -- "the poison is in
the dose." Anticoagulant rodenticides are
among the most toxic materials in common
usage, but the amount of actual poison in
bait formulations is very small, frequently
0.05 to 0.005%. Consult the SDS for
pesticide specific information. For products
that you will dilute with water and apply as
a spray, calculate the toxicity of the
finished product to present a more
accurate picture of the material being
applied.

44. ⦿ To find the LD50 value for a pesticide spray
mix (in water) containing 0.5% of an active
ingredient with a LD50 of 200 mg/kg,
multiply 200 mg/kg by 100 divided by 0.5.
⦿ 200 mg/kg x 100 = 200 mg/kg x 200 = 40,000
mg/kg 0.5

45. ⦿ There are additional considerations other
than direct mortality such as speed of
action, reversibility (is there an effective
antidote or treatment?), and irreversible
injury such as kidney damage, nervous
system disorders, ulcerations of the
cornea, and carcinogenic, mutagenic,
and teratogenic effects.

46. ⦿ The routes of entry (dermal, inhalation, and
ingestion) for a pesticide are of primary
concern. Avoiding ingestion is a relatively
easy task with proper hygiene. Other things
being equal, products that can be
absorbed through the skin are more likely
to enter the applicator's body even with
protective clothing. Fumigants, fogs, and
fine dusts are more likely to be inhaled or
evade exclusion by clothing and protective
equipment. Pesticides that are not readily
absorbed through intact skin may be
rapidly absorbed through cuts or abrasions.

47. Considerations in formulations
involve a number of factors
including:
⦿ 1) the concentration of the toxic agent or
agents
⦿ 2) inclusion of synergists
⦿ 3) solvents that may increase absorption
⦿ 4) physical state of the product -- liquid, gas
solid, paste, particle size of dust
⦿ 5) stability -- especially propensity to vaporize
⦿ 6) mixing requirements (if any)
⦿ 7) the treatment surface.

48. ⦿ Probability of exposure, i.e., contact with
a pesticide, involves a combination of
factors previously discussed as well as
the equipment used and
mixer/loader/applicator procedures.
However, the use of products that are
low concentrations, solids that do not
vaporize, ready to use, and not
absorbed through the skin minimize
probability of exposure.

49. Exposure is most likely with
fumigants, vapors, fogs, fine mists,
and dusts that can be absorbed
through the skin and inhaled.

50. a. Timing of Applications
⦿ The biology of the target pest(s) and
human activities both need to be
considered in planning pest
management operations. Sometimes
the best time to make an application
does not conform with "normal" working
hours. Sometimes a compromise must
be struck between the best time to reach
the target species and avoiding human
contact.

51. Timing of Applications
⦿ If pesticide application is the control
method of choice, make your selection
based on the environmental impact and
relative safety of using various products.
As an applicator you will come in
contact with higher concentration
products and increased dermal and
inhalation risks.

52. Timing of Applications
⦿ Also consider that you may be returning
to the sites of your previous applications
including protected environments such
as crawl spaces, attics, etc., where
degradation of pesticides may be
extremely slow.

53. b. Short Residual Pesticides
⦿ Pesticides with short lives in the
environment lessen the chances for
exposure. In addition to chemical
properties of the pesticide, protection
from the elements, volatility, moisture,
bacterial action, temperature, soil and
water pH, and sunlight are important
factors in pesticide persistence. Indoor
treatments will generally result in greater
persistence.

54. c. Baits and Bait Boxes
⦿ Baits including food, scent and
pheromone baits, can aid in targeting
pests and reducing non-target take. Bait
boxes can further protect the
environment, non-targets, and humans
from contact with pesticides. There are
a number of effective rodent food baits
for use in bait boxes.

55. Baits and Bait Boxes
⦿ Baits for outdoor or moist environments
are made in wax blocks. Food and
scent baits are used for trapping various
small mammals in live or killing traps.
The choice of bait can greatly influence
the species taken. Food baits are used
for bird control with pesticides and traps.

56. Baits and Bait Boxes
⦿ Food and pheromone baits are used for
various insects in combination with traps,
glue boards, insect growth regulators
(IGR), and toxicants.

57. d. Crack and Crevice Treatments
⦿ Baits, sprays and dusts can be placed out
of areas of normal human contact by
deposition in structural cracks and crevices.
Not only does this reduce probability of
contact, but it also places pesticides in
locations where many small pests seek
harborage. It may be necessary in some
instances to drill into voids in walls or under
cabinets to place pesticides where insects
are hiding. By strategically placing
pesticides, greater contact with pests can
be realized while reducing the total amount
of pesticides used.

58. e. Perimeter Treatment
⦿ Perimeter treatments are band
applications of pesticide around the
outer boundaries of an area or along the
foundation of buildings. The purpose is
to provide a barrier to prevent pest
invasion or re-invasion. Perimeter
treatments can reduce the need for pest
control inside the area where human
exposure is more likely to occur.

59. IPM Strategies to Control Pests
⦿ Integrated pest management utilizes
inspection, pest identification,
monitoring, knowledge of pest life
histories, and action thresholds to make
intelligent decisions on the use of
compatible methods of pest control. IPM
seeks to prevent pests from reaching
damaging numbers.

60. IPM Strategies to Control Pests
⦿ While many aspects of each job will be
similar, consider each structure or lawn
and customer to be unique. Determine
the conditions that favor pest infestations
and plant diseases. Explore the
combination of methods that will best
serve the customer in resolving the pest
problem and in making the area less
hospitable for the pest(s).

61. 1.IPM Strategies and Techniques
for Indoor Sites
⦿ Inspection/monitoring, sanitation, and
exclusion are practices common to all
indoor IPM programs. Pest biology, cost,
type and physical condition of the
structure, and use(s) of the building
greatly affect management strategies
and methods. Some examples of
possible IPM strategies for indoor pests
are as follows:

63. Cockroaches
IPM Strategies and Techniques for
Indoor Sites
⦿ weather-strip bottom of doors
⦿ caulk cracks in building where pipes enter
⦿ clear vegetation against building
⦿ remove firewood stacked on porch or
against house
⦿ improve cleanup of food scraps in kitchen
⦿ store all food in roach-proof containers
⦿ place garbage cans 100 feet from building
⦿ inspect all boxes, furniture, and materials
coming into the building to prevent
introduction of roaches or egg cases

64. Cockroaches
⦿ repair dripping faucets
⦿ caulk cracks along baseboards
⦿ improve ventilation in dead air spaces such as attics
⦿ place roach baits including an IGR beneath
appliances in kitchen and closets
⦿ consider Bio-path fungus chambers
⦿ use crack and crevice paste baits as appropriate
⦿ place glue traps in strategic locations under furniture
to survey roaches
⦿ consider boric acid, diatomaceous earth, or boron
dust placement in voids in walls and under cabinets
⦿ conduct regular inspections for conditions conducive
to roach infestations

65. Fleas
⦿ survey for presence of fleas in house
⦿ inspect pets
⦿ vacuum carpets and furniture before treatment
and regularly thereafter
⦿ place pets on a maintenance program for flea
control
⦿ wash pet bedding
⦿ treat house with low toxicity contact pesticide
for adults and larvae
⦿ Confine outdoor treatments to shaded areas. If
the grass is tall it should be mowed prior to
treatment.

66. Fleas
⦿ apply residual insect growth regulator in
house to control new hatch
⦿ place light trap for fleas in area where pets
sleep
⦿ re-inspect in 30 to 60 days to assess need
for further action
⦿ if pets go outside, also inspect the yard,
under porches, kennels, etc., and treat hot
spots with low toxicity contact pesticide.
⦿ Fleas do not breed in direct sunlight. Inspect
shaded areas.

67. House Flies

68. Termites
⦿ survey structure and surrounding area for
signs of termite infestation
⦿ identify species of termite infesting the
structure or in the vicinity
⦿ remedy conditions allowing
subterranean and Formosan termites
access to the structure (wood ground
contact, wooden fences against
building, vegetation against building,
cracks in foundation, etc.)

69. Termites
⦿ consider treating exposed boards in attic
and/or crawl space with a registered
borate
⦿ check moisture levels in walls and in crawl
areas. Eliminate excessive moisture
sources.
⦿ check lawn sprinklers to make sure water
direction is not hitting the structure.
⦿ check sprinklers to identify faulty shut off
valves that allow water to continually seep
out.

70. Termites
⦿ check gutters for debris and downspouts
for proper direction and distance from
the structure
⦿ for drywood termites evaluate the
exterior exposed wood for cracks
⦿ for drywood termites check the
condition of painted surfaces

71. Termites
⦿ remove down limbs, boards, and other
termite food sources littering the ground
⦿ if infestations of drywood termites or
Formosan termites not having a ground
connection are small and isolated,
remove infested wood and destroy

72. Termites
⦿ consider use of a termite bait for
subterranean or Formosan termites
⦿ for houses with a crawl space, ensure
adequate distance from ground to any
wood
⦿ provide adequate ventilation (minimum
of 1/150th of area beneath house) One
vent per 25 lineal foot.

73. Termites
⦿ in crawl areas with high moisture content
in wood members that additional vent
installation is impractical install a 4-6 mil.
plastic vapor barrier over 80-90 percent
of the soil area.
⦿ install subterranean termite monitoring
devices (wood stakes) around the
exterior perimeter of the structure.

74. Rats
⦿ survey for rats and rat signs
⦿ place tracking patches to monitor for
activity
⦿ seal all openings greater than 1/4 inch
⦿ place metal shields on wires to building
⦿ place rat exclusion shield in toilets

75. Rats
⦿ place grates with openings of 1/4 inch
(or less) over drains
⦿ place all boxes in storage at least 12
inches from wall and off the floor on
pallets
⦿ store food in rat-proof containers
⦿ eliminate free water sources

76. Rats
⦿ remove shrubbery, vines, and tall
vegetation against building
⦿ trim tree limbs away from building
⦿ remove debris that may harbor rats

77. Rats
⦿ for areas with heavy movement of rats
from surrounding areas, use paraffin bait
blocks in tamper resistant bait boxes
placed outside along protected travel
routes
⦿ place all garbage in rat-proof containers
⦿ place screens or hardware cloth over
vents

78. Rats
⦿ keep doors and windows closed when
not in use
⦿ place repeating rat traps adjacent to
doors that may remain open for
prolonged periods
⦿ use snap traps or glue boards at 20 to 30
foot intervals along walls where rats
travel

79. Rats
⦿ inspect regularly to remove trapped rats
and for presence of fresh rat sign
⦿ if sanitation, exclusion, and trapping fail
to control rodents, add use of
rodenticide baits in tamper resistant bait
boxes

80. Rats
⦿ if rats will not accept baits, place
tracking powder in inaccessible rat
travel lanes if appropriate for the sight
⦿ if all moisture sources can be eliminated
liqua-tox can be mixed with water, and
placed in locked bait boxes in
inaccessible areas

81. Mice
⦿ survey for mice and signs of mouse
infestations
⦿ seal all openings greater than 1/4 inch
⦿ place all boxes in storage at least 12
inches from wall and off the floor on
pallets
⦿ store food in mouse-proof containers

82. Mice
⦿ eliminate free water sources
⦿ trim tree limbs away from building
⦿ remove debris that may harbor mice
⦿ place all garbage in mouse-proof
containers
⦿ place screens over vents
⦿ keep doors and windows closed when
not in use

83. Mice
⦿ place repeating mouse traps adjacent
to doors that may remain open for
prolonged periods
⦿ use snap traps or glue boards at 10-foot
intervals along walls where mice travel
⦿ inspect regularly to remove trapped rats
and for presence of fresh mouse sign

84. Mice
⦿ if sanitation, exclusion, and trapping fail
to control mice, add use of rodenticide
baits in tamper resistant bait boxes
⦿ if all moisture sources can be eliminated
liqua-tox can be mixed with water, and
placed in locked bait boxes in
inaccessible areas

85. You have completed the
course.
⦿ You are ready to take the quiz and
receive your credit.
⦿ A score of 70% or greater is required.