Identifying the pest is the first step in developing a control strategy. Continuous pests are nearly always present and need regular control; sporadic pests are sporadic, and potential pests require control under certain conditions.
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The best way to prevent pest problems is to eliminate the conditions that attract them. Pests enter homes and buildings in search of food, water and shelter, so preventing access to these things is key to stopping them. A professional can help you identify problem entryways and take steps to close them. This includes installing screens on doors and windows, keeping garbage cans tightly shut, and removing trash regularly from the home or building.
Proper maintenance also reduces the chances of a pest invasion. This can include sweeping up crumbs in the kitchen, keeping storage areas clean and eliminating clutter that pests use as hiding spots. In addition, a regular exterior and interior inspection of the building for cracks in walls, loose siding, holes and utility lines can help you spot problems before they get out of hand.
In addition, keeping the garden free of overgrown weeds and dead leaves, as well as sealing or repairing any cracks in the foundation, can prevent pests from getting into the home. Lastly, regularly cleaning up bird droppings, which can spread disease and lead to asthma and allergies in people, is essential.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic approach to pest control that focuses on prevention and using nonchemical methods before turning to chemical solutions. IPM uses knowledge of the pest’s life cycle and behavior to choose the most effective control methods, reducing exposure to hazardous chemicals.
For example, IPM tries to keep pest populations below damaging levels by using host plants or other barriers that discourage them, such as aphids on vegetable crops, predatory insects on birds and rodents on properties. This reduces the need for harmful chemicals that can contaminate indoor air and damage the environment.
If the situation requires pesticides, always follow product labels closely and apply them only where needed. Never overdose or mix products. Also, make sure to store pesticides out of reach of children and pets. And always wash your hands after handling them. If you suspect your child or pet has ingested a pesticide, contact your local poison control center immediately.
Suppression
Biological pest control relies on natural enemies (predators, parasitoids, and pathogens) to limit the growth or damage of pests. These natural enemies often are a more sustainable alternative to chemical controls, which can be harmful to the environment. In a classic form of biological pest control, suitable natural enemies are collected and carefully released in an area where they can breed and survive. These natural enemies can be introduced in small batches over a long period of time or in a single large release. This process usually requires extensive research into the biology of both the pest and potential natural enemies.
Several types of predators and parasitoids target insects that damage crops. Examples include ground beetles, rove beetles, lady beetles and other predatory true bugs, lacewings and hover flies. Several different kinds of pathogens infect insect pests and can reduce their rate of feeding, delay or prevent reproduction, or cause the pest to die. These pathogens include fungi, bacteria and protozoans.
Cultural controls are management practices that can reduce the establishment, reproduction, and survival of pests. These include planting pest-free seeds and transplants, changing irrigation scheduling to avoid water stress that may encourage weeds or diseases, cleaning tillage and harvesting equipment between fields or operations, removing alternate hosts and host plants for insects and plant pathogens, and reducing the amount of debris or clutter where pests can hide.
Chemical controls can be used to supplement or replace natural enemies of a pest or to provide rapid control when necessary. Examples of chemical controls include introducing synthetic pyrethroids to kill insects that attack crops such as tomatoes or eggplant, and using the nematode genus Nemasys to suppress rootworm infestations in field corn.
The use of multiple methods to control pests, called integrated pest management or IPM, is gaining popularity in agriculture. IPM aims to restrict the damage caused by pests to economically acceptable levels without the need for excessive and risky application of pesticides. It is important to note that IPM should be a continuous activity, with monitoring and action thresholds guiding the size, scope and intensity of the pest control program.
Eradication
When prevention and suppression have failed, the final stage in pest control is eradication. Eradication is more difficult than control or suppression and requires a coordinated effort at the local, regional, national, and international levels. It also involves making trade-offs among private versus social net benefits and short-term versus long-term net benefits. The success of eradication depends on the availability of financial, human, and technical resources to implement the program and to monitor its progress.
Eradication of invasive plants or diseases that threaten agriculture is a common goal for agricultural pest control. Pesticides and biological control agents may be used. Biological control relies on the natural enemies of a pest, such as parasites, predators, and pathogens. Increasing these enemies or releasing more of them into the environment can help to control a pest population, but this is not usually regarded as eradication because there is often a time lag between the increase in enemies and the effect on the pest population.
Chemical pesticides are often more effective than biological pesticides. They are usually easier to find and use, but they can pose health risks if not handled properly. Some examples of chemicals used in pest control include repellents, fumigants, and insecticides. Insecticides kill insects and come in the form of sprays and granules for gardens, and as gels or pellets to be placed in traps and baits.
Other forms of chemical pesticides are used to remove weeds, such as herbicides and mulches. These are mainly used in conjunction with physical methods, such as pulling weeds by hand or using hoes.
Several other pest control methods involve closing off places where pests can enter or hide. This is sometimes called “pest exclusion.” Caulking cracks and crevices, putting steel wool in holes, and blocking access points with wire mesh can all help prevent pests from getting into buildings or yards.
Some pests, such as ants and mice, are very persistent, even with preventive measures. These may require a more intensive pest control strategy that includes traps and poisons. Pest control technicians are specially trained to use these more intensive methods. Some pesticides are so strong that they can be dangerous to humans and pets if not used correctly. It is important to always follow the instructions on the label and keep all pesticides out of the reach of children and pets.
Monitoring
A pest control program requires monitoring to detect when pest populations are rising to damaging levels and to evaluate the success of control tactics. Monitoring is done by random visual inspection, observing the severity of pest damage and using special traps that use specific attractants or pheromones (for example, insect monitoring traps) to observe a species in its natural environment. Pest population numbers vary from field to field, building to building, and year to year, so monitoring must be site-specific.
The monitoring process is an important part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs because it provides valuable information that will help predict when pests reach damaging levels. Monitoring also enables the identification of factors that contribute to pest outbreaks. By tracking environmental conditions and pest-conducive conditions, IPM programs can prevent and minimize pest problems.
Pests have a variety of negative impacts on people, businesses and the environment. They cause property damage (like termites, cockroaches and ants) and contaminate food and water supplies (like rodents, flies and mosquitoes). Pests can also create health hazards by causing asthma attacks and allergic reactions (like bees, fleas and mud dauber wasps), spreading diseases (like rat-borne plague, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and salmonella poisoning) and creating sanitary problems in hospitals (like bacteria in operating rooms and other sterile areas).
Some pests have a frightening or grotesque appearance (like spiders and silverfish) and others bite or sting, like bed bugs, flies and wasps. Other pests stain or rot fabrics and wood (like boxelder bugs and pine seed bugs), and some cause unpleasant odors, such as cigarette smoke, musty basements or garbage.
Pests can be difficult to control because of their ability to adapt and learn, but with the right knowledge, tools and techniques, they can be eliminated in a safe, effective manner. When you hire a pest control company, they will have the expertise and experience to eliminate pests quickly and safely. This will allow you to get back to business as usual and focus on your core activities. To prevent future pest infestations, it is recommended that you implement IPM practices on a continuous basis.
