Which IPM component involves identifying pests and potential problems before implementation?

• A. Surveillance
• B. Monitoring
• C. Evaluation
• D. Education

Answer: (A)

Surveillance in IPM is the process of surveying for pests and potential problems before deciding on control actions. It involves field scouting, identifying pest species and their life stages, and looking for signs that a pest could become problematic or cause damage. This pre-implementation awareness helps you assess risk, set action thresholds, and plan targeted interventions rather than applying treatments blindly. While monitoring refers to ongoing checks during the season to track pest levels and the effectiveness of actions, and evaluation looks at outcomes after management, surveillance is the step focused on identifying what pests are present and what problems could arise before any control measures are chosen. Education helps inform people about IPM practices, but it does not by itself identify pests or predict problems.