Which of the following is a common method of monitoring pest populations?

Monitoring pest populations is essential for effective pest management and ensuring the health of crops or structures. One of the most recognized and efficient methods for monitoring involves setting up traps and performing visual inspections. Traps can be designed to capture specific pest species, allowing for accurate counting and identification, while visual inspections help in assessing the presence and extent of infestations.

Using traps provides a direct way to gauge pest numbers over time, allowing for the evaluation of population dynamics and the effectiveness of any pest control measures taken. Visual inspections, on the other hand, allow pest management professionals to gather information on not just the pests present, but also the level of damage inflicted by them, which is crucial for making informed decisions about control strategies.

The other methods mentioned may have their uses but are not primarily focused on the ongoing monitoring of pest populations in a structured or systematic way. Random pesticide applications do not provide any data on pest population levels and might lead to unnecessary pesticide use. Storing pesticides securely is important for safety, but it does not contribute to monitoring pest populations. Conducting surveys among farmers can gather anecdotal insights but lacks the specificity and precision of trap-based monitoring and visual inspections.