Which action best illustrates an exclusion strategy in IPM?

• A. Installing door sweeps on exterior doors and sealing cracks and gaps.
• B. Spraying pesticide around door frames.
• C. Relying on traps near entry points.
• D. Sealing cracks and gaps and installing physical barriers to prevent pest entry.

Answer: (D)

Exclusion in IPM means preventing pests from getting inside by blocking their entry points with physical barriers and by sealing openings. The best illustration combines both sealing cracks and gaps and installing barriers that pests must cannot cross, effectively keeping them out before they can enter. Sealing openings reduces entry routes, and adding physical barriers provides a concrete obstacle at those points of entry. This shows the preventive, barrier-focused approach that defines exclusion. In contrast, spraying pesticides around door frames is a chemical control aimed at pests once they’re in the area or trying to enter, not preventing entry. Relying on traps near entry points is a monitoring and control tactic rather than exclusion.