Sealing cracks and crevices and small openings in buildings is an example of which mechanical control method?

Sealing cracks and crevices and small openings in buildings is an example of which mechanical control method?

• A. Infiltration
• B. Sanitation
• C. Monitoring
• D. Exclusion

Answer: (D)

Sealing gaps creates a physical barrier that prevents pests from entering, which is a mechanical control approach called exclusion. By blocking entry points—caulking cracks, weatherstripping doors, installing door sweeps, and using screens—you reduce pest access without using chemicals. This method directly lowers pest pressure by keeping them out, rather than removing them or attracting them through sanitation or monitoring activities. Infiltration describes pests getting in despite gaps, which exclusion aims to stop. Sanitation reduces attractants like food or water, and monitoring involves checking for pest presence; neither involves blocking entry like exclusion does.

Sealing gaps creates a physical barrier that prevents pests from entering, which is a mechanical control approach called exclusion. By blocking entry points—caulking cracks, weatherstripping doors, installing door sweeps, and using screens—you reduce pest access without using chemicals. This method directly lowers pest pressure by keeping them out, rather than removing them or attracting them through sanitation or monitoring activities. Infiltration describes pests getting in despite gaps, which exclusion aims to stop. Sanitation reduces attractants like food or water, and monitoring involves checking for pest presence; neither involves blocking entry like exclusion does.