Commercial pest control in Los Angeles is very important, but integrated pest management gets down into the source of the problem. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a science-based process which combines several tools to identify, manage, and reduce future risks from pests.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management. EPA describes IPM programs as using information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment to eliminate the infestations in commercial facilities. This method is not only economically smart, but also is better for the environment. This method of pest management is more commonly seen in agricultural settings yet can also be used in a non-agricultural setting. It is more commonly used in commercial agricultural settings because food production is trying to cut down on the use of pesticides.

Sprague Pest Solutions explains that IPM is done in a 6 step process that changes the way commercial pest control in facilities is done. The first step is identifying what type of pest is in the infestation, and how bad it is. The second step is beginning to monitor the pest activity to determine if the pest control measures have been working successfully. Step three is making sure to establish a pest threshold. What this means is determining the level of pest activity that is tolerable for the facility before more action needs to be taken. The next step is using pest control to eliminate conditions that are leading to infestations. For example, sealing entry points or reducing moisture in a certain area of a facility. The fifth step is using pest control measures. These measures are typically seen by traps, chemical, or biological methods. The last step is evaluating the effectiveness of the whole service.

The process of integrated pest management is much more complex than the simple pest control services offered. Pest control professionals believe that there is more to be done besides just temporarily stopping the infestations when they occur. Using IPM in a commercial facility can save the businesses a lot of money and time. It can completely eliminate the pest activity rather than controlling the infestation for a certain amount of time.

Overall, integrated pest management is the future of commercial pest control in agricultural/non-agricultural settings. As the world starts to think more eco-friendly, then it will be more likely that IPM is used on a daily basis. It is one way that people can have their peace of mind about no infestations while also protecting the pest populations.