For schools with an in-house professional pest management program, the IPM Coordinator may also be the Pest Manager. The IPM Plan provides an excellent tool for training new personnel including during management transitions. IPM Plans are often developed in binder format, so that information can be easily added and updated. This document is updated periodically, and used to guide decision-making as the IPM program is implemented. Key pest - An insect, mite, disease, nematode or weed that frequently results in unacceptable damage and thus typically requires a control action.
Key pests vary from one region to the next.
Key pest status is dependent on action thresholds set for the pest. For example, cutworms may be a key pest on high-visibility athletic fields, but not on adjacent lawn areas where the typical level of cutworm damage is very tolerable. Routine or regularly scheduled pesticide applications can mask key pests, which may not become apparent for some time after routine pesticide applications have been stopped. Key plant - A plant that frequently experiences unacceptable pest damage and thus typically requires treatment. Key plants very from one region to the next.