IPM Techniques

Accurately identifying your pest problem is essential in determining which pest managment strategies to use. It is also important to have some knowledge about your pests' biology and behavior before choosing a control method.

Insect and mammal pests infest different habitats depending on their specific preferences. They also eat different foods and exhibit different behaviors, so not all management techniques are equally effective. For example, integrated pest management techniques that work well for cockroaches may have little or no effect on ants or termites. Therefore, we use specific integrated pest management techniques to address the different pest problems.

Your pest management professional, local extension personnel, and individuals within your state university system can help you to identify your pest problem and provide you with biological information before you employ any pest management strategies.

The following Fact Sheets provide information about the most common pests found in Virginia schools. These sheets may help you determine the most effective IPM method for managing a specific pest problem.