New Mexico General Pesticide Practice Exam

In IPM, decisions hinge on pest monitoring and economic thresholds to decide whether action is needed, rather than applying chemicals on a fixed schedule. Regular scouting and monitoring tell you how many pests are present and how they’re affecting the crop. Economic thresholds define the pest density or damage level at which the cost of potential losses would exceed the cost of control, so you intervene only when it makes economic sense. This approach supports timely, targeted actions and allows integration of other tactics—such as cultural practices, biological controls, and resistant varieties—so pesticide use is minimized while staying effective.

Choosing to spray on a predetermined schedule ignores pest presence and can waste pesticides, promote resistance, and harm non-target organisms. Relying on a single pesticide for efficiency can lead to resistance buildup and doesn’t fit the broader, multi-tactic nature of IPM. Waiting until severe damage means losses may already be irreversible, making control more difficult and costly.