Today’s post discusses a few of the resources available on the BMPs for School website housed on the Northeast IPM Center homepage.

(IPM Basics and more were discussed here last week.)

The Steps of IPM Anyone concerned with reducing pest problems while regarding the health and safety of humans and animals should consider these simple steps:

Step 1: Sample for Pests (Inspect and Monitor): Is there a real problem?
Step 2: Proper Identification: Is it really the pest you think it is?
Step 3: Learn the Pest Biology: Will it be a long-term problem or will it be gone next week?
Step 4: Determine an Action Threshold: Do you need to act?
Step 5: Choose Tactics: What’s the best treatment?
Step 6: Evaluate: How did it work?

Common IPM Terms

Related IPM Websites – there’s a lot to choose from.We’ve pulled them together to save you time.

• Northeastern IPM Center Integrated Pest Management for Schools
• IPM Institute (National) Model IPM Policy and Plan
• Asthma Collaborative New Hampshire Air Quality in Schools
• Recommended Publication: Wasp and Bee Management, a Common Sense Approach

• Recommended Publication: Pest Identification Guide – Pests in and around Buildings
• New York State Turfgrass Association – Resources for turfgrass management in the Northeast
• National School IPM – directory of resources
• Resource for Nuisance Wildlife Control
• School IPM Resources by State
• Pest Prevention by Design – reducing pest pressure in new and restructured buildings
• Beyond Pesticides (a non-profit): State and Local School Pesticide Policies
• U Mass Turf Publications
• Maine IPM for Schools
• IPM for Ticks of the Eastern U.S.

• Calculating the cost of using IPM in your school
• Weed management fact sheets
• Broadleaf weeds
• Insect Pest Identification Key – an online resource
• Links to pesticide labels and registration by state
• How to read a pesticide label (PDF)
• Introduction to IPM for School Administrators
• Green Ribbon Schools Dept of Education Support for Implementing IPM in Schools

What would you like to see included in our Best Management Practices resource?