Pest Identification and Management
IPM sequence
This domain tests identification before treatment and selection of tactics that fit the site. The sequence is inspect and identify, monitor, compare counts to an action threshold, choose two or more tactics (sanitation, exclusion, biological, chemical), then evaluate. Correct identification prevents treating a harmless invader as a structural pest.
Resistance and site fit
Rotate modes of action by IRAC, FRAC, or WSSA group, not just brand names. Do not apply a residual spray over bait placements; repellent residues can cause bait aversion. For pharaoh ants, broadcast sprays can cause budding and spread colonies, so baiting is preferred. Outdoors, protect pollinators by following label pollinator statements and avoiding applications to blooming crops when bees are foraging.
Worked example
A technician finds small, uniformly sized brown ants trailing along a bathroom pipe in a multifamily building in winter. Identification suggests pharaoh ant, not carpenter ant. Reasoning: winter indoor trails, plumbing runs, and uniform workers fit pharaoh ant; carpenter ants are larger, variable in size, and often associated with wood or moisture. Treatment: targeted baiting with a suitable matrix, sanitation, and sealing access, not a broadcast repellent spray.
Traps
Spraying before identifying; judging a pest from one blurry photo; treating flying ants as termites without checking wings and waist; using outdoor granules indoors; and ignoring label directions on baits.