Public Health Pest Control Unit 4. Test Your Knowledge (Complete Solutions)

Public Health Pest Control Unit 4. Test Your Knowledge (Complete Solutions) Q. Define and describe integrated pest management (IPM). IPM is an ecological approach to pest control. It is based on the habitat and life cycle of the pest. It combines all of the most appropriate pest control strategies into a unified, site-specific plan. IPM plans may include both nonchemical and chemical management methods. IPM is dedicated to managing causes rather than simply treating symptoms. IPM balances the level of control needed with any associated risks. The goal of an IPM program is to reduce pest numbers to an acceptable level in a way that is practical, cost-effective, and safe for people and the environment. Q. Name and describe three basic tactics used to PREVENT public health pests from becoming a problem. Effective techniques include sanitation, habitat alteration, and exclusion. Sanitation and habitat alteration strive to create an environment that is uninviting and unfavorable for pests. Exclusion tries to block pests from entering specific areas. Together, these tactics can help you prevent a pest problem or reduce the chance that it will develop into a large infestation. Q. What tactics does the typical IPM program for mosquito control include? 1. Source reduction (ex. sanitation and habitat alteration -- managing wet areas). 2. Biocontrol (ex. larvae-eating fish and biorational pesticides). 3. Chemical control (ex. larvicides and adulticides). Exclusion (ex. screening), as a preventive measure, is also important. Q. Why is public education an important part of mosquito control programs? Because well- informed members of the public are more likely to know how to reduce or prevent exposure to mosquitoes (and thus to mosquito-borne diseases). Public education also helps people to understand the need for and to accept mosquito control programs. Because of education efforts in the past, people today are more aware of the need for mosquito control. In addition, education can increase professionalism among mosquito control workers. By attending continuing education programs, you can learn to reduce overall pesticide use and risk. Q. Whenever possible, what life stages should your mosquito control efforts target first? The immature life stages: eggs, larvae, and pupae. Q. How can source-reduction efforts affect the amount of pesticide you apply to control mosquitoes? Source reduction often lessens or even gets rid of the need for chemical control of mosquito larvae. In addition, these efforts may reduce the need for adulticides in nearby areas. Q. Name and describe two of the most common and effective forms of mosquito source reduction. 1. Sanitation -- Removing debris (ex. discarded tires) that can act as breeding sites and regularly inspecting other water-filled containers (ex. gutters) to reduce breeding. 2. Habitat alteration -- Altering wet areas (ex. removing surface waters) so they are no longer attractive breeding sites. Q. How does impoundment management reduce mosquito numbers? Impoundment management uses dikes to impound salt marshes. The dikes serve to contain water pumped onto the marsh surface from a nearby estuary. This eliminates egg-laying sites for the salt-marsh mosquito on the impounded marsh because it deepens the water. Mosquitoes generally do not breed in deep waters. Thus, mosquito numbers drop. Q. What is the difference between rotational impoundment management (RIM) and open marsh water management (OMWM)? RIM attempts to control mosquitoes by minimally flooding diked marshes during the summer months. The excess water disrupts the breeding cycle of any mosquitoes that are present. OMWM uses shallow ditches to connect mosquito-producing locations on the marsh surface to deep-water habitats (ex. tidal creeks, ponding areas, and deep ditches). These ditches help to control mosquito broods in two ways: 1. They enable fish to swim from deep areas to shallow, mosquito-breeding areas where they can feed on mosquito larvae. 2. They can drain the shallow, mosquito-breeding