What maintenance step is essential for effective monitoring of sticky traps?

The essential maintenance step for effective monitoring of sticky traps is to monitor and document trap activity. This practice involves regularly checking the traps to observe how many and what types of pests are being captured. By keeping detailed records, you can identify trends in pest populations over time, recognize patterns of pest behavior, and determine the effectiveness of your pest control strategies. Documentation allows for informed decision-making on when to replace traps, where to place new ones, and how to adjust pest management practices to improve control.

While changing traps bi-weekly may help ensure they remain effective, without monitoring and documentation, it would be difficult to gauge the need for changes based on pest activity. Checking traps once a month may not provide timely insights into pest presence, and the option of "none required" overlooks the importance of regular observation in pest management practices.