Lowering humidity for stored product pest control is an example of

• A. complete waste of time since it doesn't work
• B. mechanical control
• C. biological control
• D. environmental/physical control

Answer: (D)

Lowering humidity in stored-product environments is about changing the environment to make it less favorable for pests. This falls under environmental or physical control because you’re altering abiotic conditions (moisture levels) rather than using chemicals or introducing living organisms. Many stored-product pests need certain humidity to survive and reproduce, so drying the air slows their development and reduces damage to the product. It’s not mechanical control (which uses devices or barriers) and not biological control (which relies on predators or parasites). By directly adjusting the moisture, you reduce pest activity and improve storage safety.