ISEC Home Pest Management is an educational program designed to teach common-sense methods of preventing and controlling common pests that occur in the home. ISEC (pronounced like Issac) is an acronym and the name of a mascot designed to help you remember the four steps of a successful IPM program for household pests. ISEC Home Pest Management uses an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) approach to managing pests which means it stresses preventing problems rather than trying to cure problems once they occur. It also means that several methods are used to prevent problems rather than relying on pesticides alone. If pesticides are necessary, IPM stresses the use of products or methods of delivery that are least toxic and present the least danger to those applying them and to those living in the home where they are applied.

This program is based upon four basic concepts or steps:

• Step 1: Identify - Properly identify the pest
• Step 2: Sanitize - Clean on a regular basis to reduce what attracts pests
• Step 3: Exclude - Seal entry points into home
• Step 4: Control - Use non-chemical methods first, then least toxic pesticides only when necessary

The objective of this educational program is to teach a diverse general audience common-sense methods of managing pests in the home using IPM concepts.

Goals of the program are:

1. Prevent 80% of potential household pest problems without using pesticides
2. Increase homeowner awareness of IPM
3. Reduce exposure and risks of using pesticides by teaching alternative and least-toxic approaches
   
   Home Pest Management focuses primarily on 10 pests or groups of common household pests referred to as the “10 Most Wanted”. These 10 were chosen based upon recommendations of a task force of Extension Agents and Extension Specialists who have experience in answering pest-related questions from clientele. A tri-fold brochure was developed for each pest or group of pests that describes the how to best prevent or manage the pest using a series of “Action Steps”. A copy of each brochure is included in this manual along with supporting reference materials for each pest. Sections providing details of each of the four concepts or steps in managing pests using the ISEC Home Pest Management methods along with information on “other pests”, information on pesticide safety, least toxic pesticides, organic pesticides, electronic devices and other resources are also included.

A slide set and a CD with slides that can be used by the trainer to present the educational information to clientele is included in the manual. This educational program is designed in a “train the trainer” format so that Extension efforts can be leveraged by volunteers who are willing to provide the training. Supporting reference materials included with this manual and additional information on pests and related topic can be using the internet at the following web address: http://ipm.tamu.edu under the “ISEC Home Pest Management” heading.