Pest Control is the process of managing pests in ways that minimize harm to the environment and human health. The best way to prevent pest problems is to remove the food, water and shelter they need: Keep clutter to a minimum; store foods in sealed containers; throw away trash regularly; and caulk cracks and crevices.
A pest infestation can cause damage to property and threaten human health. Some pests carry disease or can contaminate food and water sources. Others are irritants or can trigger allergic reactions in humans. Pests may also cause structural damage to buildings. Termites, for example, can destroy wooden structures. Rodents can gnaw through electrical wiring, posing a fire hazard. Preventive pest control focuses on keeping the number of pests low enough to protect people, property, and revenue. Visit Our Website to learn more.
Prevention includes avoiding environmental conditions that favor the development of pests. This can include changing soil conditions and irrigation practices to limit pest populations. Vigilance in checking for pests and practicing cleaning methods that discourage them are other preventive measures. The use of traps, baits, and spot sprays are also part of preventive pest control programs.
Suppression is a common goal in many pest situations. It is the effort to reduce the number of pests to a level that is acceptable, once they have been detected. Suppression is often achieved through a combination of control tactics, such as traps and pheromone lures, changing irrigation practices, and implementing scouting methods.
Eradication is a less frequent goal in outdoor pest situations, but it can be successful when an unwanted organism is particularly difficult to control. This is sometimes the case with plant diseases that affect only certain species of plants or with invasive alien species. Eradication is more commonly the goal in indoor settings, such as homes and businesses; schools, hospitals, and offices; and food processing and preparation areas.
Understanding pests’ life cycles and behavior can help you predict their activity. For instance, knowing when a weed-spreading insect reaches its reproductive stage can alert you to a window of opportunity for effective control. Weather conditions also influence the activity of many pests. Rain, freezing temperatures, and drought all can alter pest behavior and lead to increased or decreased damage.
Pesticides are usually the last resort for pest control. But when used properly, they can be very effective at killing pests. They can also be safe for people and pets as long as they are not misused or abused. Chemical pesticides can be dangerous, however, if they come in contact with skin or are inhaled.
Suppression
Whether in food processing plants or homes, pests cause problems by contaminating products or making them unfit for human consumption. They also interfere with natural processes and cause economic loss to the owners of the property in which they live or work. Pests include bacteria, fungus, viruses, plant pathogens, weeds, birds, rodents, insects (including mites, ticks, flies, ants, beetles, fleas, mosquitoes and spiders), nematodes, mollusks and vascular plants.
Using a variety of control methods, the goal of suppression is to reduce the population of pests to a level where they are no longer causing unacceptable harm. Suppression often includes preventive measures such as sanitation and cleaning, keeping areas free of attractants or barriers to entry (e.g., screens for doors and windows); storing foodstuffs in containers that are resistant to pest penetration; and establishing pest-free sites.
In horticulture, the use of predators, parasites and other natural enemies is important to the control of pests. This method is called biological pest control. It also involves monitoring pests and their natural enemies, observing weather conditions, and understanding the role of biodiversity at different levels: genetic, species, ecological community, landscape and trophic interaction.
Most treatment sites contain a variety of living organisms and nonliving surroundings. Even when the intent is to control a specific pest, it is generally important to consider the effects of any controls on other organisms and their surroundings.
If pest control is necessary, it should be undertaken only when the presence of the pests threatens people’s health and safety, or causes serious damage to the environment. In most cases, this means only applying controls that are as environmentally benign as possible. This requires careful identification of the pests, an assessment of the extent to which they affect humans and the environment, a thorough evaluation of control options, including their benefits and risks, and proper application of the chosen controls. When pesticides are used, it is critical to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and to observe all local, State and Federal regulations regarding the handling, storage, and disposal of pesticides.
Eradication
The term eradication refers to the complete elimination of a pest. Eradication differs from prevention, suppression and containment in that the focus is on eliminating a pest from an entire region or geographic area. Eradication can be accomplished by using traps, poisons and fumigation. In addition to destroying the organism itself, these methods can destroy or deter its habitat, making it unsuitable for the continued existence of the pest. Eradication is a common goal for indoor pest situations, where it can be easier to control the pest population than in outdoor fields.
Invasive, non-native plants can wreak havoc on agricultural and natural habitats by crowding out native species and changing ecosystems. They can taint crops, costing millions of dollars in losses to farmers; threaten human health by contaminating food and water supplies; and disrupt ecosystems by overrunning fields, pastures, forests, riparian corridors and estuaries. In the state of California, a pest eradication program is in place to identify noxious foreign weeds and eliminate them.
Some pests are controlled naturally by their own parasites, predators or pathogens. These natural enemies can be supplemented with other biological controls. For example, some pathogens reduce the rate of growth or reproduction of insect pests and can kill them. Others, such as sterile males and pheromones, mimic the effects of natural enemies.
Biological control is usually not eradication because there is often a lag between a pest’s population increase and the increase of its natural enemies. In addition, there is always the risk of adverse effects on non-target species or other natural enemies by the introduction of biological control agents.
Insect pathogens are a common method for controlling insects that damage crops. Bacillus thuringiensis, for example, releases an enzyme that interferes with an insect’s cell walls, inhibiting the insect’s ability to feed and reproduce. Other pathogens, such as nematodes and viruses, affect the insects’ digestive system or nervous system.
Only two diseases have been successfully eradicated: smallpox caused by the variola virus and rinderpest caused by the rinderpest virus. Both were highly contagious and affected large populations worldwide until dedicated global campaigns succeeded in eliminating them.
Treatment
Pests can cause serious damage, and some pests carry diseases that are harmful to people. They can also contaminate food and destroy crops, causing economic loss. Pest control services aim to protect property by eliminating these threats. Pest control companies have a variety of methods at their disposal, from baiting and trapping to spraying and fumigating. They can also offer advice on prevention and sanitation.
The type of pest infestation can determine the best treatment option. For instance, cockroaches require expert treatment to get rid of them and prevent them from returning. Rodents, meanwhile, can chew through wires in buildings, creating fire hazards and posing health risks to inhabitants. Pests can also cause damage to outdoor spaces, such as lawns and gardens. They may rob plants of water and nutrients and encourage weed growth. In addition, pests like rodents and birds can spread germs to surfaces and food, as well as aggravate allergies and asthma in people.
Although DIY treatments are available for some common pests, they are unlikely to completely eradicate moderate or severe infestations. Professionals are highly trained in the identification and behavior of different types of pests, enabling them to develop and implement the most effective treatment plan for each situation. They also use a range of safety precautions when handling chemicals and traps, which reduces the risk of human exposure.
Many properties, particularly older buildings, are vulnerable to pest problems. For example, the gaping holes found in brownstones are ideal hiding places for rats and cockroaches. In these kinds of situations, the addition of insulation can help control pests by preventing them from accessing living or working areas. It’s possible to incorporate a pest-repelling ingredient, such as boron, into the paper fibers of cellulose insulation. This is approved by the EPA and can be used in place of chemical pesticides.
Keeping your home or business pest-free is important for your health, the value of your property and your peace of mind. Pests can make your life miserable, but a pest control company can remove them quickly and effectively so that you can live your life to the fullest.
