Pest Control includes any activity that prevents or removes unwanted plants, animals, or microorganisms. It provides prevention – keeping pest numbers below damaging levels – suppression – reducing pest damage to acceptable levels – and eradication – killing off the entire pest population.
Some plant and animal species are natural predators of pests and help control their populations. Other natural controls include weather conditions, which affect pest activity and the growth of their host plants. Contact Facility Pest Control now!
A preventative pest control strategy includes an in-depth understanding of pest behavior, routine inspections, and prompt use of preventive methods. This approach reduces the occurrence of pest-related problems and lessens the need for costly reactive treatments. It is also environmentally conscious and enables the preservation of natural resources.
Prevention strategies focus on avoiding conditions that attract pests, and removing or blocking the access of pests to food, water and shelter. They may also involve educating the client about environmental factors that contribute to pest infestations and the steps they can take to reduce those factors.
Structural prevention involves sealing cracks and gaps that insects and rodents use to gain entry into buildings. Often this can be done by using expanding foam, caulk or silicone sealant. Fitting doors and windows with insect screens helps to deter pests and can be especially effective against flying insects. Regularly cleaning floors, counters and tables helps to prevent the buildup of crumbs or other attractants. Keeping garbage tightly sealed and properly disposed of helps to avoid food sources for pests, particularly rodents. Landscaping maintenance, such as trimming trees and bushes away from building walls, can help to limit the access of pests to overwintering sites in or near buildings.
Moisture control is crucial in preventing pest infestations, as many pests thrive in damp environments. This can be achieved by regularly checking and fixing leaky pipes, repairing clogged gutters, and utilizing dehumidifiers in basements or crawl spaces. Regular deep cleaning of rooms and a schedule of cleaning activities such as mopping or vacuuming can help to keep floors, walls and ceilings free of crumbs or other materials that attract pests.
Most pesticides are designed to be specific to the pest they are targeted at. However, other organisms, including plants and animals that share the same habitat, may also be harmed by these chemicals. This is called secondary poisoning. Therefore, ensuring that all of the ingredients in a pesticide are listed on its label and that the proper precautions are taken before using them is important. It is also wise to use only the minimum amount of pesticide needed to accomplish the intended result.
Suppression
Pests are undesirable organisms that damage plants, crops, food stores, lawns and gardens, devalue homes, buildings and commercial structures, interfere with forestry and wildlife management, and negatively impact terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Pests include insects, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, viruses and vertebrates such as birds and rodents.
In a home or office environment, the goal of pest control is to prevent pests from reaching levels where they cause unacceptable harm or disrupt normal activities. This is accomplished through a process called threshold-based decision making and scouting. For example, a few house centipedes and spiders do not warrant action; however, a large number of ants, roaches or termites may indicate that the pest population is growing and an intervention is needed.
Threshold-based decisions are based on knowledge about the specific pest species, the amount of harm it causes or its potential to damage the property, and the tolerance level of the person making the decision. In addition, the use of pesticides and other control measures is weighed against their side effects, such as environmental hazards, human health risks, and the potential to displace natural enemies of the pest.
When the threshold is reached, it is time to take action. Scouting, monitoring and implementing the right combination of control tactics are necessary. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques are typically used in offices, restaurants, and other enclosed areas, where eradication is feasible. However, eradication of pests in open outdoor environments such as citrus groves is challenging.
Biological controls, which are natural enemies of the pests such as parasitoids, predators and pathogens, can suppress populations by themselves or in conjunction with other methods. The nematode Steinernema carpocapsae, for example, can be applied to soil to suppress fleas, grubs, cockroaches and other insects by attacking them directly. Pheromones, which are chemicals emitted by pests that affect the behavior of other members of the same species, can also be used to control certain insect pests.
Weather conditions such as temperature, day length, and rainfall can directly influence pests by affecting their growth and development or their ability to find food and shelter. Similarly, soil moisture levels and nutrients can affect the pest population by reducing their availability or altering their habitats. Sanitation practices can also limit the numbers of pests by removing food sources, water and shelter.
Eradication
Pests damage crops, homes and personal belongings; cause illnesses (like ants, cockroaches, bed bugs and fleas); or simply disturb or irritate people, like bees, wasps and house centipedes. Some have a foul smell, such as pine seed bugs, silverfish and earwigs. Others stain or corrode materials, like carpets and clothes moths. A few, such as mice, rats, and cockroaches, spread dangerous bacteria that can make humans sick.
The primary goal of pest control is prevention and suppression, but eradication may be possible in some situations. For example, if a foreign pest invades a home and is not contained, a professional pest control service might use a combination of treatments to eradicate the problem. The most common method of pest control involves the use of chemical substances called pesticides. These are applied to both indoor and outdoor environments in liquid, aerosol or powder form. The type of pesticide used depends on the type of pest and the severity of the infestation.
For example, if a home is infested with ants, beetles or cockroaches, a trained technician might spray sticky traps around the areas where the pests are found and sprinkle cinnamon powder in places where they hide. A similar approach is taken to outdoor spaces, where a pest control expert might apply sprays or baits where the pests are known to gather.
An integrated pest management plan, or IPM, is an effective way to prevent and control most pest problems, with the use of less harmful chemicals as a last resort. IPM focuses on preventing pests from entering the premises in the first place, and includes inspections of the property to identify potential entry points and breeding sites.
For example, wood piles stored near a home can attract termites and ants seeking shelter from the cold. An IPM plan might include moving those piles a distance away from the home; sealing cracks in the foundation, roof or walls; placing metal barriers in key entrance points; and prepping the yard by removing standing water, which can attract mosquitoes and other pests. Other preventive measures include planting flowers that act as natural repellents, using nematodes to kill unwanted worms in the soil, and sprinkling cinnamon around cracks where ants enter.
Monitoring
In pest control, monitoring is the regular search for and identification of pests in order to evaluate damage and assess the success of treatment. The information obtained from pest monitoring helps to guide control decisions and reduce the risk of overusing, inappropriate, or even harmful pesticides. It also provides the data necessary for developing and improving IPM programs.
Monitoring can be as simple as watching for pests, or it may involve the use of traps or other devices. Traps are often placed in pest-vulnerable areas (PVAs), such as food handling areas in buildings and outdoor spaces. A variety of monitoring traps are available, including insect light traps (bug lights) and pheromone traps. Other types of monitors include berlese funnels, which use heat and a fine mesh screen to repel rather than attract insects, or sticky traps with insect-specific chemical scents that target specific species.
The information gained from checking monitors can be a valuable tool in the development of IPM plans, particularly with respect to the determination of action thresholds. This step is especially important because many insects, weeds and other organisms do not need to be controlled, and some may actually benefit the environment.
Pest identification is the key to accurate monitoring. The identity of the pests is then used to determine a pest management threshold, which should be based on the level of harm or inconvenience to humans, property, or the ecosystem.
A good pest control company can help you develop a plan to protect your home or commercial property from pests. Pests are more than just a nuisance; they can damage your property, cause health problems, and lead to costly repairs. Routine pest control can prevent these problems from occurring, preserving the value of your property.
The most common methods of pest control are physical and biological. Physical methods include exclusion, which is the process of excluding pests from living or working spaces by blocking their entry points, and sanitation, which is the process of keeping living or work spaces clean and uncluttered. Biological methods include encouraging natural predators or parasites to kill or deter pests, and introducing beneficial organisms to the environment that will attack, consume, or destroy pests.
