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Pest Control

IPM Pyramid

Villanova University uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) philosophy to control pests while reducing exposure to pesticides. IPM is a process for achieving long term, environmentally sound pest suppression using a wide variety of technological and management practices. Control strategies in an IPM program extend beyond the application of pesticides to include structural and procedural modifications that reduce the food, water, harborage, and access used by pests.  The three principles of IPM are:

  • Prevention of pest populations
  • Application of pesticides only "as needed"
  • Selecting the least hazardous pesticides effective for control of targeted pests.  Precision targeting of pesticides to areas not contacted or accessible to the students, faculty, or staff.

Building occupants' cooperation can greatly affect the success of the IPM plan:

  • Keep all food or drink in pest proof containers (hard plastic, glass, or metal).
  • Keep dorm rooms, offices, and classrooms as clean as possible.
  • Monitor your living/work areas of pests. Monitoring identifies problem areas which can then be targeted for treatment.
  • Please report all pest sightings using the Facilities Management service requests or to your supervisors. A licensed Pest Control contractor is on campus a few times each week to respond to the service requests.