What does effective integrated pest management combine?

Effective integrated pest management (IPM) combines prevention techniques and habitat modification as a way to manage pest populations while minimizing the impact on the environment and human health.

By focusing on prevention, IPM seeks to reduce the chances of pest infestations occurring in the first place. This can involve practices such as monitoring pest populations, selecting resistant plant varieties, and timing the planting of crops to avoid peak pest activity periods.

Habitat modification complements these prevention measures by altering the environment in a way that makes it less conducive to pests. This may include ensuring proper drainage to prevent mosquitoes from breeding or creating physical barriers to keep larger pests away from plants.

The combination of these approaches is essential because it emphasizes proactive measures rather than reactive ones, leading to more sustainable pest control practices over time. This focus on prevention and modification helps reduce reliance on chemical pest control methods, aligning with the principles of IPM, which aim to balance ecological health with pest management needs.