What are the three core components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

• A. Prevention, monitoring, and control using least-hazardous methods first
• B. Prevention only
• C. Monitoring only
• D. Control only

Answer: (A)

Integrated Pest Management is about combining three interconnected activities: preventing pest problems from starting, regularly checking pest presence and levels, and choosing control actions in a stepwise order that prioritizes the least hazardous methods. Prevention covers things like sanitation, habitat modification, crop rotation, resistant varieties, and excluding pests. Monitoring means systematic scouting and using action thresholds to know when intervention is truly needed. When intervention is required, the control steps favor cultural, biological, and physical methods first, escalating to targeted chemical options only if necessary. This approach minimizes environmental and health risks while effectively keeping pest populations below economic damage levels. That’s why the best answer includes prevention, monitoring, and a control strategy that starts with the least-hazardous methods.