What is an example of a mechanical or physical control in pest management?

The use of manually removing pests is a clear instance of mechanical or physical control in pest management. This method involves directly interacting with the pests to reduce their population or prevent them from causing harm. Unlike chemical methods, which rely on the application of substances such as pesticides, physical control techniques often leverage direct actions or environmental modifications to address pest issues.

Manual removal can include actions such as picking off insects from plants, trapping rodents, or collecting larvae from surfaces. This approach is often non-toxic, making it environmentally friendly and safe for use around humans and pets. Additionally, manual removal can be particularly effective when dealing with small infestations or specific targets where precision is important.

It's important to understand that while other methods like the use of pesticides or planting repellent plants are effective pest management strategies, they fall into different categories. Pesticides represent chemical control, planting repellent plants is an example of a biological control, and creating barriers with nets is also a form of physical control but more indirect, as it serves as a preventative measure rather than an active removal process.