Proud to be an IPM company
IPM means Integrated Pest Management. ProPest brings investigation, prevention, suitable control and follow-up together to help manage pest problems in homes and businesses across Oxfordshire.
Our approach looks beyond the pest you can see. We consider why activity is happening, what can be done about it and how the risk of recurrence can be reduced.
Book a ServiceExplore our rodent surveyDiscuss your pest problemWhat Integrated Pest Management means
IPM is a way of making pest-management decisions using evidence about the pest and the site. It combines appropriate measures rather than relying on one treatment for every situation. Prevention, physical methods and suitable targeted treatments can all have a place in the plan.
The need for action depends on the circumstances. Pest activity in a food preparation area can require a different response from an occasional outdoor sighting. Inspection and monitoring help determine what is happening and which actions are justified.
The five parts of ProPest’s IPM approach
Choose a stage below to see what it means in practice, how ProPest approaches it and how customers can help.
Inspection & Identification
Good pest management starts with evidence. ProPest’s inspection and identification stage looks at the pest, the areas affected and the conditions that may be supporting the problem before a control plan is chosen.
Read about inspection & identification →Prevention & Proofing
Prevention means making a property less accessible and less attractive to pests. ProPest combines advice on food, water and harbourage with practical investigation of the routes pests may use.
Read about prevention & proofing →Targeted Pest Control
When control is needed, the method should fit the evidence and the site. ProPest’s IPM approach brings suitable control measures together with prevention, rather than treating the visible pest as the whole problem.
Read about targeted pest control →Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitoring helps establish whether activity is continuing and whether the plan needs to change. ProPest uses follow-up findings and the information you provide to review progress within the agreed service.
Read about monitoring & follow-up →Review, Reporting & Advice
IPM is a continuing decision process. ProPest brings the findings, treatment progress and prevention recommendations together so customers can understand what has been found and what should happen next.
Read about review, reporting & advice →How ProPest puts IPM into practice
For a recurring rat problem, an integrated plan might combine a rodent investigation, suitable control and a drain camera survey where the evidence suggests underground access. Appropriate proofing or drainage repairs can then address the route, while follow-up findings inform the next decision.
For textile moths, investigation considers the affected materials as well as the insects. Treatment, preparation, attention to the source and aftercare advice work together. For flies, identifying a likely breeding source can be as important as controlling the adults.
ProPest’s services provide different parts of that process. The work included depends on the booked service and agreed scope; a treatment visit, a survey and ongoing monitoring are different arrangements.
A shared plan for your property
We explain relevant preparation and prevention steps so customers know how to support the work. That may involve food storage, waste management, access for inspection or arranging recommended repairs. Where evidence is limited or a route is concealed, further investigation may be needed.
Our technicians are RSPH Level 2 qualified, and ProPest is an NPTA member. IPM describes our working approach: understanding the problem, choosing suitable measures and reviewing what the evidence shows.
Talk to ProPest about IPMExplore pest management servicesFurther reading: Integrated Pest Management principles — US EPA and insect monitoring traps — HSE.