Which practice involves managing pests that are already present?

Curative pest management focuses on addressing and controlling pests that have already established themselves in a given area, rather than preventing infestations from occurring in the first place. This practice typically involves identifying the specific pests present and implementing strategies or treatments to reduce their populations to acceptable levels.

Curative measures can include the use of chemical pesticides, biological agents, or cultural practices that target existing pest populations. This approach is reactive, providing solutions to immediate problems rather than foreseeing them.

In contrast, preventive pest management emphasizes strategies designed to inhibit pest establishment before they become a problem. Integrated pest management combines various strategies, including preventive and curative methods, to achieve long-term pest control, but it does not specifically focus on managing already present pests. Biological pest management relies on using natural predators or parasites but does not exclusively address current infestations in the same way that curative practices do.