Which of the following is an example of a mechanical control method?

• A. Exclusion
• B. Chemical fumigation
• C. Biological introduction
• D. Pheromone disruption

Answer: (A)

Mechanical control methods rely on physical actions or barriers to prevent pests from causing damage. Exclusion fits this idea because it uses tangible barriers to stop pests from entering a space or reaching crops—things like sealing cracks, installing screens, door sweeps, and other physical barriers. When pests can’t access the area, they can’t feed, reproduce, or move around, which is the essence of mechanical control.

Chemical fumigation, by contrast, relies on toxic chemicals to kill pests. Biological introduction uses living organisms to suppress pests, and pheromone disruption interferes with pest behavior using chemical signals rather than a physical barrier. So exclusion is the clear example of a mechanical control method.