Pest Triangle
The four essential requirements pests need to survive: food, water, shelter, and ways to get around. Eliminating any of these makes an environment inhospitable to pests.
Detailed Overview
Every pest infestation exists because the environment provides four critical needs: food sources (crumbs, grease, garbage, pet food), water (leaks, condensation, standing water), shelter (cracks, voids, clutter), and access routes (gaps under doors, holes around pipes, tree branches touching roofs). IPM focuses on eliminating these four elements through sanitation, building maintenance, and exclusion techniques. By removing what pests need to survive, populations cannot establish or sustain themselves.
When to Use
Use this principle as a diagnostic framework during inspections and when developing pest management strategies. For every pest problem, identify which of the four needs are being met and develop solutions to eliminate them.
Required Skill Level
Can be performed by building staff or residents with basic training
Benefits
- Provides systematic approach to pest prevention
- Addresses root causes rather than symptoms
- Non-chemical prevention method
- Applicable to all pest types
- Helps identify conducive conditions
Limitations
- Requires building cooperation for repairs and maintenance
- May not eliminate existing infestations without additional treatment
- Some environmental factors may be difficult to control
Related Concepts
Other principles that may be useful
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A prevention-based pest management method that provides long-lasting pest control, improves building conditions, and is less harmful to residents and pets than traditional pest control.
Threshold Levels
The point at which pest populations or damage reaches a level that requires action. IPM uses threshold levels to determine when treatment is necessary rather than treating on a schedule.
Monitoring and Inspection
Regular, systematic examination of buildings for signs of pests and conducive conditions using monitoring devices and visual inspection techniques.