Before any pest control action can be taken, the pest and/or threat must be correctly identified. In other words, you should not do anything until you understand the pest and the threat it possesses. Please understand that identifying the threat is more than simply saying yes, that’s a mite or a yellow jacket. To identify a threat means you truly understand the threat it can cause, as well as its strengths and weaknesses.

It is during this step that you learn as much as you can about the threat and document it so that you and others are aware of its capabilities. Capabilities like its breeding cycle, when it is most active, what kind of damage it can cause, and how long it takes to decimate a colony.

Remember that not all insects, weeds, and living organisms require controls or treatments. Many insects, weeds, and organisms are harmless, and some are even beneficial.

After correctly identifying the pest and determining the threat, thresholds are set to trigger the next actions to be taken at each level. Levels can be detrimined but pest population or the amount of damage that has occured.