Which statement about pest management strategies in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is true?

A. The goal is often to maintain pest damage at economically acceptable levels.
B. Eradication is never the goal of an IPM program.
C. Pesticides are not included in an IPM strategy.
D. Non-chemical methods usually provide only short-term control of pests.

In Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the true statement is that the goal is to maintain pest damage at economically acceptable levels, rather than eradicating pests completely. It is a sustainable approach integrating multiple tactics and may include the careful use of pesticides as a last resort rather than excluding them entirely.

Explanation:

The statement about pest management strategies in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that is true is: A) The goal is often to maintain pest damage at economically acceptable levels. IPM is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of appropriate control tactics. These tactics are designed to be sustainable and minimize reliance on synthetic chemical pesticides. Eradication is not usually the goal, as it is often impractical or impossible and can disrupt the ecosystem. Instead, the objective is to suppress pest numbers or damage to a tolerable level that is economically and environmentally acceptable. Economic thresholds and monitoring are important components of IPM.

When chemical controls are necessary within an IPM strategy, they are considered to be short-term corrective measures, used when other, more ecologically based control measures are not sufficiently effective. The use of pesticides, while minimized, is still included within an IPM approach and should be targeted to minimize environmental disruption. Non-chemical methods are part of a long-term management plan and are not exclusively for short-term control.