Valencia College
OP-9: Integrated Pest Management

Valencia College Grounds Services Departments follow an integrated pest management plan using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s four-tiered approach to integrated pest management as follows: 1) Set action thresholds - Valencia College Grounds Services Departments will use a threshold of greater than 65% infestation prior to instituting chemical control. 2) Monitoring - The Grounds Services Departments will monitor and identify pests on a routine basis. 3) Prevention - IPM programs work to manage the crop, lawn, or indoor space to prevent pests from becoming a threat. The Design Choices and Cultural Practices described in these guidelines are Prevention measures. 4) Control - The college uses mechanical control, such as trapping or weeding, and where chemical treatment seems to be the only resort, organic and biological controls are preferentially chosen.