Which statement about sanitation and exclusion is true?

• A. Sanitation and exclusion are unrelated to IPM effectiveness.
• B. Exclusion involves chemical barriers only.
• C. Sanitation reduces food and water sources and exclusion blocks pest entry by sealing cracks.
• D. Exclusion means removing pests with fumigation.

Answer: (C)

Sanitation and exclusion are foundational non-chemical strategies in IPM. Sanitation reduces what pests feed on and drink—cleaning up spills, properly storing food, removing garbage promptly, and eliminating standing water—so pests have fewer resources and fewer opportunities to reproduce. Exclusion stops pests from entering by blocking their access routes—sealing cracks and gaps, installing tight-fitting doors and screens, and maintaining weather stripping. Together, they reduce pest pressure and the need for other controls.

This is why the statement describing both parts is true: sanitation lowers attractants, and exclusion physically prevents entry by sealing openings. The other ideas miss important aspects: exclusion isn’t only chemical barriers, and exclusion isn’t fumigation, which is a treatment after pests are inside, not a preventive barrier.