ABSTRACT
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2.1 INTRODUCTION
Physical control of insects started when humans first picked insects off their bodies or crushed insects with available materials. Early physical and mechanical techniques emphasized control of agronomic and horticultural insect pests. Some of the techniques developed for commodity pests have been adapted for urban and stored-product pests. Modern physical and mechanical techniques involve direct or indirect human participation, and the degree of sophistication ranges from simple handpicking to the elaborate use of machines. In some cases, the simplest technique may be the most elegant and effective. Physical and mechanical measures may exclude insects or may reduce or eliminate existing pest populations, and many of
these measures may have been in use since antiquity without encountering resistance problems commonly associated with insecticide use. Development of effective physical and mechanical control methods must be based on a detailed understanding of the pest’s biology, behavior, and physiological requirements. Adoption of physical and mechanical controls depends on the level of effectiveness, convenience and ease of use, and economic considerations. Many of the physical and mechanical techniques have been refined over the years to increase effectiveness.
