Answer :
Final answer:
To deny pests food and shelter, one must maintain cleanliness, adopt sanitation practices, and utilize mechanical/physical control methods. Chemical control can be implemented safely when necessary, but the goal is to use non-chemical measures where possible. Therefore, the correct answer is option b) Maintain cleanliness and proper food storage.
Explanation:
To deny pests food and shelter, several guidelines can be followed. Firstly, maintaining cleanliness and proper food storage is crucial to prevent pests from having easy access to food sources. This includes activities such as regular cleaning and ensuring that food items are kept in sealed containers or refrigerated as appropriate. Secondly, sanitation practices should be adopted, like removing plant residues or other potential food sources, to eliminate what attracts pests to the area.
Mechanical/physical control methods provide another avenue for reducing pest problems. This involves using hands-on techniques such as traps for rodents or hand removal of weeds to directly remove the pests, as well as exclusion tactics like fencing or tight-fitting screens to prevent pests from entering the area in the first place.
Lastly, if pests become a significant problem and non-chemical measures are not sufficient, chemical control may be used. This involves the safe and appropriate use of pesticides, taking into consideration the compatibility with other control methods and following all safety precautions to protect health and the environment.