Economic thresholds are determined when the potential damage would exceed the cost of control.

Economic thresholds are determined when the potential damage would exceed the cost of control.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Costs are irrelevant
• D. Sometimes true

Answer: (A)

Economic thresholds are the pest density at which you should start control to prevent the pest from reaching the economic injury level. The economic injury level is the point where crop damage equals the cost of control. The threshold is set so that control is applied when the expected damage would exceed the cost of applying it, making the action economically justified before losses become greater. In other words, you intervene at the point where waiting would incur more damage than the cost of control. This is why the statement is true.

Economic thresholds are the pest density at which you should start control to prevent the pest from reaching the economic injury level. The economic injury level is the point where crop damage equals the cost of control. The threshold is set so that control is applied when the expected damage would exceed the cost of applying it, making the action economically justified before losses become greater. In other words, you intervene at the point where waiting would incur more damage than the cost of control. This is why the statement is true.