Before deciding to take any pest control action, be sure you have correctly identified the pest (insect, mite, disease, weed, vertebrate, etc.). Proper pest identification is essential for determining if control is necessary and for selection of the best-suited control options.
It is very important to look for pests and injury symptoms on a regular basis. It is best to use a consistent sample or survey method. Traps for monitoring insects, diseases, or vertebrates can be used when available and appropriate for the situation.
Sampling frequency will depend on the pest and situation, but a general guideline for many insects and diseases is to sample every 1–2 weeks during the main growing season. Look in the places where the pests commonly occur — undersides of leaves, under bark, inside fruits, in soil, etc.
The point at which a pest control action must be taken to prevent unacceptable damage. The pest manager should develop a set of guidelines for each situation which guides his/her decision-making on acceptable levels of pest injury. A low level of pest injury can perhaps be ignored if the loss will not justify the cost of control.
The economic, aesthetic values and management need to be considered, and will most likely be the primary factors driving pest control decisions. Other considerations may be the environmental and social costs of pest control decisions.
INFORMATION FROM UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY LINK : https://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/pest-program’96.pdf
