Study Uncovers What Homeowners Know (and Don’t Know) About IPM

A recent study published in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management explores what residents do and do not know in terms of pesticide use and Integrated Pest Management.


A recent study published in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management explores what residents do and do not know in terms of pesticide use and integrated pest management.

As you might expect, there is a wide range of resident knowledge and adoption of new IPM behavior. Over 2,100 people were surveyed, and the key findings included:

• Most respondents were at least “Fairly knowledgeable” about landscape integrated pest management practices, but between 21 and 26 percent had “Almost no knowledge” of these practices;
• Over 55 percent of respondents “Always” or “Most of the time” managed pests in their yard with as few chemicals as possible;

• Nearly 25 percent of respondents “Always” or “Most of the time” treat their entire yard with pesticides without identifying pests.

For Entomology Today, David Coyle, Ph.D., spoke with the study’s lead author, John Diaz, Ph.D., assistant professor and extension specialist at the University of Florida’s Department of Agricultural Education and Communication about what this study means.

Click here to read this interview.

Source: Entomology Today