Management is the process of making decisions in a systematic way to keep pests from reaching intolerable levels. You might be wondering why you should even consider IPM when chemical pesticides so often succeed at controlling pests. Here are some reasons for having a broader approach to pest management than just the use of chemicals. Keep a Balanced Ecosystem . Beneficial insects such as the ladybird beetle and lacewing larvae, both of which consume pests, can be killed by pesticides, leaving few natural mechanisms of pest control.
Pesticides Can be Ineffective.
Chemical pesticides are not always effective. Pests can become resistant to pesticides. In fact, some 600 cases of pests developing pesticide resistance have been documented to date, including common lamb's-quarter, house flies, the Colorado potato beetle, the Indian meal moth, Norway rats, and the greenhouse whitefly. Furthermore, pests may survive in some situations where the chemical does not reach pests, is washed off, is applied at an improper rate, or is applied at an improper life stage of the pest. IPM Is Not Difficult.