D. Establishing Thresholds for Action. Pest management decisions should be based on the abundance of pests and the plant s tolerance to damage. Ultimately, the decision depends on the cost versus the benefit of treatment. Thresholds are often available to help make decisions on what type of management is needed and when it should begin. Thresholds vary according to the specific objective at hand, but they have a common goal of limiting pest development to what is acceptable overall.
Cosmetic thresholds limit the pest numbers to prevent significant cosmetic or aesthetic damage.
Action thresholds are pest levels at which action should be taken to prevent a sizable accumulation of pests that could cause damage. Economic thresholds are levels of pest abundance at which the potential economic loss caused by pest damage is expected to be greater than the cost of managing the pest. E. Biological Control. Biological control includes the integration of parasites, predators, nematodes, and microbial organisms to manage pests. If managed correctly, biological controls can help suppress pest populations.