What does integrated pest management primarily seek to balance?

Integrated pest management (IPM) primarily seeks to balance biological and chemical control methods. This approach emphasizes the use of a combination of strategies to manage pest populations in an effective, economical, and environmentally responsible manner. By integrating biological control methods—such as the use of natural predators or parasites of pests—with chemical control methods, such as pesticides, IPM aims to minimize reliance on any single control method. This balance is crucial because it helps to reduce the likelihood of pests developing resistance to chemicals, limits negative impacts on non-target organisms, and promotes sustainability in pest management.

In contrast, other choices focus on combinations that do not represent the core principle of IPM effectively. While mechanical and genetic management, for example, are important components of pest management strategies, they do not encapsulate the key balancing act between the biological and chemical approaches that define integrated pest management.