Integrated Pest ManagementIntegrated Pest Management (IPM) is a recently developed technology for pest control that aims to achieve the desired control while reducing the use of pesticides. To do this, various combinations of chemical, biological and physical controls are used. In the past, pesticides were too often applied systematically, whether necessary or not. With IPM, pest populations as well as populations of beneficial parasites and predators are monitored to determine if the pests truly present a serious problem that needs to be treated. If used correctly and at scale, IPM could reduce pesticide use by up to 50 percent, while at the same time improving pest control. If this goal were achieved, environmental problems would be minimized and significant benefits would result for farmers and society as a whole. IPM coordinates economically and environmentally acceptable pest control methods with judicious and minimal use of toxic pesticides. IPM programs evaluate local conditions, including climate, crop characteristics, pest biology, and soil quality, to determine the best method of pest control. Tactics used include better tillage to prevent soil erosion and the introduction of beneficial insects that prey on pest species. . Many pests attached to crop residues can be eliminated by burying them underground. Simple paper or plastic barriers placed around fruit trees deter insects, which may also be attracted to and destroyed by light traps. Weeds can be controlled by spreading grass, leaves or black plastic mulch. Weeds can also be pulled or pulled from the ground. Many biological controls are also effective. Insect pests such as corn borer and Japanese beetle have been controlled by introducing their predators and parasites. Wasps that feed on fruit insect larvae are now being bred commercially and released into California orchards. The hundreds of species of viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi and nematodes that parasitize insect and weed pests are now being studied as selective control agents. Another area of ​​biological control involves cultivating host plants to be resistant to pests, thereby making them less prone to pests. attack of fungi and insects. The use of sex pheromones is an effective measure to attract and trap insects. Pheromones have been synthesized for the Mediterranean fruit fly, melon fly and oriental fruit fly.