Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest
management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. The Team Too
Termite & Pest Control IPM programs uses current, comprehensive information
on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This
information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to
manage pests by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to
people, property, and the environment.
The Team Too Termite
& Pest Control IPM approach is designed for commercial, residential, and
multi family structures. IPM takes advantage of all appropriate pest management
options including, but not limited to, the use of pesticides and pesticide
alternatives. In contrast, organic food production applies many of the same
concepts as IPM but limits the use of pesticides to those that are produced from
natural sources, as opposed to synthetic chemicals.
Team Too Termite & Pest
Control has taken the additional step in ensuring that any pesticide used in our
IPM programs has undergone thorough testing and regulation. Our philosophy is
very simple, any product used in our IPM program must have the lowest toxicity
to people, animals, and plants, as well as meet state and federal guidelines for
minimal risk products. Team Too also maintains a specific IPM protocol pesticide
list and no other products other than those approved can be used in conjunction
with our IPM programs. Our certification with EcoWise provides third party
oversight of the pesticides used and approved for our IPM
programs.
IPM is not a single pest control method but, rather, a series of pest
management evaluations, decisions and controls. In practicing IPM, Team Too
Termite & Pest Control is aware of the potential for pest infestation and
attempts to educate our customers to help us follow a four-tiered approach. The
four steps include:
- Set Action Thresholds
- Monitor and Identify Pests
- Prevention
- Control
Before taking any pest control action, Team Too Termite & Pest Control
first sets an action threshold, a point at which pest populations or
environmental conditions indicate that pest control action must be taken.
Sighting a single pest does not always mean control is needed. The level at
which pests will either become an annoyance, problem, or economic threat is
critical to guide future pest control decisions.
- Monitor and Identify Pests
Not all insects, weeds, and other living organisms require control. Many
organisms are innocuous, and some are even beneficial. IPM programs work to
monitor pests and identify them accurately, so that appropriate control
decisions can be made in conjunction with action thresholds. This monitoring and
identification removes the possibility that pesticides will be used when they
are not really needed or that the wrong kind of pesticide will be used.
As a first line of pest control, Team Too Termite & Pest Control’s
programs work to manage the exterior or indoor space to prevent pests from
becoming a threat. These control methods can be very effective and
cost-efficient and present little to no risk to people or the environment. It is
the goal of Team Too Termite & Pest Control to work with our customers to
provide the highest level of prevention possible.
Once monitoring, identification, and action thresholds indicate that pest
control is required, and preventive methods are no longer effective or
available, Team Too Termite & Pest Control then evaluates the proper control
method both for effectiveness and risk. Effective, reduced action methods are
chosen first, including highly targeted chemicals, such as pheromones to disrupt
pest mating, or mechanical control, such as trapping. If further monitoring,
identifications and action thresholds indicate that reduced action methods are
not working, then additional pest control methods would be employed, such as
targeted spraying of pesticides. Broadcast spraying of non-specific pesticides
is a last resort.
