URBAN PEST CONTROL

The "IPM" Way

An Informational Brochure

Mosquito Control Edition

Norfolk County Mosquito Control

Bldg.#34 Endicott Street

Norwood, Ma 02062

(781) 762-3681

This brochure is a modification of the IPM informational brochure prepared by Mark Buffone and Iliana Rivas of the Mass. Dept. of Food & Agriculture. This brochure has been modified to deal specifically with mosquitoes and their control.

What is Integrated Pest Management, or IPM?

The Concept

* IPM is a decision-making process! A process that involves a "let's-look-and think-first"

attitude before deciding to tackle a pest problem.

* Our environment plays host to a variety of different pests. Pests may include

mosquitoes, ants, fleas, spiders, mice, rats, weeds, and even plant diseases.

The Practices

* IPM uses a variety of non-chemical methods and techniques, and applies chemical

controls (pesticides) selectively, only when pests reach levels which are intolerable and/or

unacceptable.

The Principles

* IPM is a strategy of choice which uses a total management, common-sense, and

environmentally sensitive approach towards resolving pest problems.

Where can IPM be used?

* IPM has been used successfully by farmers to control pests in agricultural areas. More

recently, IPM is being adopted as the preferred approach to pest control within non-

agricultural, and/or urban environments. IPM practices can be implemented in either

setting, wherever pests are found.

What are these "urban" environments?

* A variety of locations exist which may be defined as non-agricultural, and/or "urban".

These areas vary in complexity and can be quite different from each other. These

complexities are reflected by indoor vs. outdoor areas, and private vs. public locations.

What is "urban" IPM?

A Definition

* Urban IPM, is an environmentally responsible approach at controlling pests.

* By combining several different methods and techniques, IPM allows urban pest control

to be more effective and safer as compared to traditional practices which rely exclusively

on pesticides.

* Urban IPM techniques may involve investigation methods such as pest identification

and monitoring, cultural practices such as sanitation and repairs, physical intervention

such as pest proofing, mechanical controls such as ditch maintenance and chemical

controls which involve the selective use of pesticides.

* Urban IPM also relies on communication, education, and evaluation methods to address

urban pest problems.

URBAN PEST CONTROL:

MOSQUITO CONTROL

ALONG THE IPM WAY

GENERAL PRACTICE STEPS

The IPM Way is a practical approach to solving mosquito problems within urban environments. Urban IPM practice involves a well planned mosquito control program which incorporates a number of steps. This brochure groups these steps into three broad categories: Investigation; Action; and Follow-Up.

INVESTIGATION: Basic Steps

*Inspection: Evaluate the causes and sources of the mosquito problem. Where is the infestation coming from? In addition to finding the source of your mosquito problem, inspections can confirm the presence and type of mosquito. Inspection goes hand-in-hand with identification- it provides us with a greater understanding of your situation so that we can make informed decisions on how best to remedy the problem. Inspection is a core step along the IPM Way.

* Identification: What type of mosquito are you dealing with? You need to identify what you are up against. It is important to "know" the species. The decision of whether or not to manage it, and the choice of corrective measures is dependent on it! A true IPM practitioner will go one step further and try to identify a mosquito's natural enemies whenever this is applicable. Identification is an essential step along the IPM Way.

Monitoring: Monitor your site! In other words, "keep track" or record what you see, and how often you see it! Does the mosquito situation warrant a pesticide treatment, or is there another control method available? Is the problem something you can live with? The results of on-going monitoring efforts will provide crucial information by which to make meaningful decisions as to what kind of solutions are most appropriate for a given situation. Monitoring is another key component of the IPM Way.

ACTION: Corrective Steps

*Pest tolerance Levels: When to take action is an important question that should be considered. This decision is linked to your level of mosquito tolerance, that is, the point at which you decide measures should be taken against a given mosquito problem. Consider your tolerance level. Should it be changed? Clearly, your answer depends on the species of mosquito and the level of infestation. Pest tolerance levels play an important role in defining the IPM Way. A greater understanding of what's involved in setting mosquito tolerance levels may help identify unnecessary chemical control, reduce the likelihood of excessive pesticide use, and encourage investigative practices.

*Prevention: IPM includes ways to prevent mosquito problems, and makes it easier to handle them when confronted with a mosquito situation. For example keeping gutters, rain barrels, etc. clean and free of stagnant water eliminates breeding of certain mosquitoes and also makes a pesticide treatment (if necessary) more effective. Sanitation practices are key to the success of prevention efforts. In effect, you can reduce mosquito populations by taking away things they need to survive and flourish. To prevent mosquito populations from forming and growing, do not make water and shelter easily available to them. The Program has an on-going water management process where mechanical means are used to eliminate mosquito breeding sources. These mechanical alterations help reduce the need for further pesticide applications. Prevention means making your environment less inviting to mosquitoes and is a critical component of the IPM Way.

* Non-Chemical/Chemical Approach: Our program attempts to always select the most appropriate corrective measure(s) for any urban mosquito problem. If the use of a pesticide is necessary, we select the most environmentally compatible pesticide product. The Project uses insect growth regulators or biological larvicides whenever possible. This is an effort to reduce human exposure to pesticides since the products applied target smaller wetland areas away from residential areas, thus reducing the need for early morning residential fogging. These are also environmentally sensitive products having low non-target impacts.

Follow-Up: Final Steps

* Evaluation/Assessment

As with any decision-making process, one of the final steps of an IPM approach involves assessment activities. Did the control work? Did the effort reduce the mosquitoes to a tolerable level? Are the results something that the public can live with? We must Evaluate the success of the IPM measure. Is the public satisfied? If not, we must re-examine the strategy used to determine what made it unsuccessful. The evaluation process may indicate that additional tactics are necessary. Quick fixes seldom get at the root of the problem and are often temporary. Our program considers the IPM Way an on-going process. Evaluation and assessment activities are key in providing us with valuable feedback on the status of our IPM effort.

* Education:

You can learn about IPM principles and practice IPM. The IPM approach to controlling pests can be implemented by individual consumers or public entities. IPM is a smart approach to dealing with pest problems- it challenges us to appraise a pest situation before-during-and-after, while providing the knowledge through which to implement a variety of control tactics to avoid future pest problems. The more you know about the IPM decision-making process, the better the chances of resolving your pest problem.

IPM

"Pop Quiz"

Test your knowledge of IPM, and that of your friends and family, by taking this Pop Quiz!!

1. IPM stands for Integrated Pesticide Management? O yes O no

2. IPM is a decision-making process that does not include the use of chemical pesticides? O yes O no

3. "Urban" IPM means programs can only be applied indoors? O yes O no

4. The steps involved in an Urban IPM program may be grouped into three broad categories: Investigation (i.e., inspection, identification, and monitoring of pest); Action (i.e., corrective steps including prevention efforts such as sanitation, chemical and non-chemical controls); Follow-Up (i.e., evaluation activities and education). O yes O no

5. IPM can be applied in both agricultural and urban environments, wherever pests are

found? O yes O no

ANSWERS:

1. No. IPM stands for Integrated Pest Management.

2. No. IPM may involve the selective use of pesticides.

3. No. IPM programs can be applied to outdoor settings as well as indoor structures.

4. Yes. These three elements are critical to any IPM plan.

5. Yes. Although the concept of IPM originated in agriculture many of the elements

can be applied to pest management in the non-agricultural setting.