Which statement about IPM strategies is true?

• A. The goal is often to tolerate pests at economically acceptable levels.
• B. Eradication is never the goal of an IPM program
• C. Pesticides are not included in an IPM strategy
• D. Nonchemical methods usually provide only shortterm control of a pest

Answer: (A)

Integrated Pest Management aims to keep pest populations below the level that causes economic damage, using a mix of tactics and applying controls only when needed. This means the goal is to tolerate pests at economically acceptable levels rather than trying to eliminate every single pest. The concept of acting at an economic threshold helps explain why complete eradication isn’t the default aim in IPM.

Pesticides are one of several tools in IPM, used when necessary alongside cultural, biological, and mechanical methods. So saying pesticides are not included isn’t accurate. While eradication can occur in some programs for certain pests, it isn’t the universal objective of IPM. And nonchemical methods can provide long-term suppression, not just short-term control, which is why relying solely on short-term outcomes isn’t consistent with IPM practice.