National School IPM
Pest Vulnerable Areas (PVAs)
There may be more to a school than meets the eye. When the lights go out at the end of the day, four, six, and eight legged invaders may abound. Researchers at the University of Florida are working with public schools to apply an integrated approach to pest management in the school environment. With an integrated approach, pest managers may reduce pest problems while reducing pesticide applications.
To reduce pests in schools, you must reduce pest conducive conditions. These conditions are often found in what we call pest vulnerable areas, or PVAs. These are areas that have food, water and harborage available to pests.
In order to find these pest vulnerable areas, it is important for pest managers to monitor the school for pests, this is done through monitoring stations placed throughout the school. Not only do pest managers monitor for pests, but they keep an eye out for pest harborage sites as well.
Once an infestation is identified, measures are taken to reduce the infestation including, exclusion, reduction of food, water and harborage, and the judicious use of pesticides, usually in a targeted bait application. By using integrated pest management principles, we can reduce the numbers of pests as well as maintain a healthy learning environment.
PVAs
- Offices,
- Food Service Areas
- Dry Food Storage,
- Custodial Closets
- Classrooms,
- Storage Areas
- Gyms and Locker Rooms,
- Teacher's Lounge,
- Landscape
