Which aspect of pest management focuses on the use of physical barriers?

The focus of pest management that emphasizes the use of physical barriers is indeed centered on physical control. This aspect involves utilizing methods such as screens, nets, fences, or other tangible barriers to prevent pests from accessing certain areas, thereby limiting their ability to cause harm or infest.

Physical control is particularly useful in protecting plants, structures, and stored products from insect and rodent pests. By implementing these physical barriers, pest populations can be reduced without the need for chemicals or biological agents, making it a safe and environmentally sound approach when utilized correctly.

In contrast, biological control involves the use of natural predators or parasites to manage pest populations, which does not focus on physical limitations. Cultural practices pertain to agricultural techniques that enhance the health of plants and reduce pest vulnerability, rather than employing barriers. Chemical applications involve synthetic or natural pesticides to manage pest problems, which does not align with the use of physical barriers. Each of these other strategies plays a role in integrated pest management, but they do not center around the concept of creating physical separations or protections against pests like physical control does.