Pest Control glossary
Plain-English definitions of 0 pest control terms you will see on quotes and inspection reports.
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Integrated pest management (IPM) - EPA's four-part approach: set action thresholds, monitor and identify, prevent, then control starting with the least risky effective option. Action threshold - the point at which action is justified, defined above.
Exclusion - physically sealing entry points so pests can't get in. Harborage - the sheltered places pests live and breed: clutter, voids, gaps.
Termiticide - a pesticide registered for termite control. EPA names bifenthrin, imidacloprid and fipronil among common active ingredients in soil-applied barrier treatments. Bait station - a housing holding a slow-acting insecticide; EPA notes termite baits contain slow-acting insecticides such as diflubenzuron and hexaflumuron. Borate wood treatment - treating the wood itself rather than the soil.
Re-entry interval - the label-specified time before it's safe to return to a treated area. Certified applicator - a person certified by the state to apply certain pesticides; EPA notes companies must have at least one certified, licensed commercial applicator in the proper service category, with others certified or under direct supervision.
Three rules for every term
- "IPM" on a website means nothing on its own Ask what they'll actually do at each of the four steps at your property.
- "Pet-safe" and "green" are marketing words They have no fixed regulatory meaning here. Ask for the product name and label instead.
- Know the difference between control and exclusion Control reduces the population; exclusion stops re-entry. Rodent work needs both.
A-Z pest control dictionary
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Glossary terms for this industry are being written.
Where related figures come from
Sources last checked
- EPA - Introduction to Integrated Pest Management · retrieved 2026-07-25
- EPA - Termites: How to Identify and Control Them · retrieved 2026-07-25
- EPA - Choosing a Pest Control Company · retrieved 2026-07-25
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