What is Integrated Pest
Management (IPM)?:
 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a safer and usually less costly
alternative for effective control of pests. IPM involves performing
common sense pest control practices and limiting the use of chemical
pesticides to only when it is necessary or appropriate. IPM program
encourages participants to plan and practice activities aimed at
reducing sources of food, water and shelter for pests to discourage them
from entering and living in and around buildings.
How is IPM put into practice?:
Start by:
-
Identifying the pest problem in your
home, school or business.
-
Take action only after you are
certain of the type of pests and the areas where they are frequently
found. These "pest prone" areas include:
-
Food storage area, cracks and
crevices in walls, floors and pavement.
-
Cabinets, cupboards, lockers and
desks.
-
Vegetation, shrubs and wood
mulch near buildings.
-
Garbage cans and dumpsters.
Take action by:
-
Planting vegetation, shrubs and wood
mulch at least one foot away from structures.
-
Filling or eliminating cracks and
crevices in walls, floors and pavement.
-
Empting
 and thoroughly cleaning
lockers, desks and other food storage areas at least twice yearly.
-
Cleaning food-contaminated dishes,
utensils and surfaces frequently.
-
Emptying and cleaning garbage cans
and dumpsters regularly.
-
Collecting and properly disposing of
litter at least once a week or as soon as they are filled.
-
Applying fertilizers several times
(e.g., spring, summer, and fall) during the year, rather than doing
one heavy application.
-
If pesticides are necessary, use
spot treatments rather than area-wide applications.
[Adopted from U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)]
Additional
Resources:
- EPA website:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/index.htm#bkmrk2
-
JAMA article
on: Acute Illnesses Associated With Pesticide Exposure at Schools
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/294/4/455
- University of
Floridas IPM in School program:
http://schoolipm.ifas.ufl.edu/
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