Step 5: Evaluation
Evaluation is an important and ongoing part of any IPM program. Evaluation occurs at several levels:
• Evaluation of individual
pest control actions
• Evaluation of policies and personnel practices that may affect
pest management
• Evaluation of program success
Evaluation of Pest Control Actions
In an IPM program, the pest manager must follow up to evaluate the effectiveness of each pest management action.
| Example |
| If the pest manager treated an ant infestation by removing a food source and sealing a crack in the floor, he should conduct a follow-up inspection to determine if ants are still active in the area. If so, additional actions may be necessary |
Continual evaluation of each pest control action in an IPM program allows the pest manager to accumulate a helpful database of information that can improve pest management decisions in the future.
Evaluation of Policies That Affect Pest Management
Individuals and
institutions engaging in IPM must evaluate how their various policies
and practices affect pest populations.
| Example |
| A school principal must be aware of the impact that food storage practices and policies regarding pets in the classroom may have on pest management. In these situations, the input of a knowledgeable pest control professional can serve as a guide for developing and evaluating policy. |
Evaluation of Program Success
The record keeping aspect of IPM provides an opportunity for ongoing evaluation of program success and can provide these benefits:
• documentation from
pest sighting logs and pest monitoring reports to determine general trends
in pest populations
• a means of assessing the success of IPM programs over the long
haul
• comparative to data from previous pest control practices to determine
the relative success of IPM versus other methods
Some recommended measures of IPM program success include:
• Meeting defined management
goals
• Fewer pest outbreaks
• Reduced pesticide applications
• Reduction of pest-conducive conditions
• Improved record keeping
• Improved staff awareness of pest management
• Improved management practices
Regular IPM program evaluation
is recommended so that programs may be continually improved. It is up
to pest managers and clients to determine the most appropriate schedule
for evaluation for a particular program.