Pest control refers to the techniques used to manage pests or organisms that damage or spoil plants and property. Methods for controlling pests include exclusion, biological control, and chemical control.
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Pests can cause damage, and they can also interfere with business operations. Some pests carry disease-causing organisms that can impact human health. Others can contaminate products with their droppings or saliva. Rodents, for example, can chew through electrical wires, leading to costly repairs and even fires. Cockroaches can spread diseases such as salmonella and hepatitis. Some pests, such as fleas and mosquitoes, can disrupt indoor comfort, while others, like termites, ants and carpenter bees, can damage structures and eat away at wood, creating structural problems.
Many steps can be taken to prevent pest infestations from occurring. Some steps are easy, inexpensive and effective, while others require more time and effort but offer a greater return on investment. Some of these prevention measures include:
Ensure all entry points are closed and sealed properly. This may include patching holes in walls and sealing cracks around doors and windows. Eliminate food sources and shelters by emptying trash receptacles frequently (ideally daily) and regularly cleaning surfaces and counter tops to prevent crumbs or spilled ingredients from attracting pests. Keep food stored in sealed containers to deter pests from consuming or nesting in them. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed to eliminate access and roosting areas. Eliminate standing water sources such as puddles by repairing leaky faucets and pipes.
If pests do occur, act immediately to avoid their populations growing out of control. Identify the type of pest and study its life cycle to determine when it is most susceptible to control methods. Apply pesticides only when necessary and with caution to minimize off target effects, i.e., avoiding applying pesticides to flowers or other desirable plants that attract beneficial insects.
Be sure to follow all label instructions when using any pesticides. Do not apply more than the recommended amount, as this can lead to contamination and injury to people or pets. Avoid mixing different types of pesticides, as this can also cause off target effects. It is important to use integrated pest management approaches when dealing with a problem, as this will help to limit the need for pesticides.
Suppression
Once a pest has invaded, it’s important to stop it from spreading. This involves reducing its numbers to a point where it is no longer harmful or damaging. Suppression can be done by using various techniques including physical barriers, traps, and bait stations. Chemicals, such as repellents and insecticides, can also be used. It is often necessary to use more than one technique in combination to get the best results.
A good general approach to prevent pest problems is to eliminate attractants, such as food, water and shelter, by cleaning cluttered areas and storing food in airtight containers. Garbage should be disposed of regularly and the area around houses and buildings should be kept free of debris where pests can hide. Physical barriers can be created by caulking cracks, sealing vents, removing wood piles and fixing leaky pipes. Other methods to prevent infestations include regular pest monitoring for cockroaches, mice, rats and spiders in and around buildings.
Some natural forces affect the number of pests, such as weather conditions. Rain, freezing temperatures and drought can decrease pest populations. Certain birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish prey on some pest species and help control their numbers. Pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi can also suppress pest populations.
In some situations, eradication is the goal. This can be the case when a foreign pest is accidentally introduced into an area where it is not well established. The Mediterranean fruit fly, gypsy moth, and fire ants are examples of this type of situation. Eradication is also a possible goal in enclosed settings such as dwellings, schools and offices and health care, food processing and storage facilities.
Pests can cause damage to crops and structures, spread disease, and disrupt the balance of nature. They may also pose a health risk to people and pets. Infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus, rabies and anthrax, can be carried by pests. The EPA registers pesticide products to kill or repel pests that carry these diseases. The Agency also regulates products that are effective against prions, abnormal proteins in the brain of animals and humans which have some of the characteristics of viruses and can cause fatal diseases.
Eradication
Pests like rodents, cockroaches, termites, ants, bed bugs and other insects can cause serious health issues for humans as well as damage property. This is why pest control is very important, especially if you are living in an urban area. Pest control technicians know the different techniques to completely eliminate these pests from your home. The first step in preventing pest infestations is to deny them shelter, food and water. For example, a leaky roof can attract rats and cockroaches, while stacks of old newspapers can become homes for ants and termites. In addition, it’s essential to dispose of trash properly and make sure that food is stored safely.
To further prevent pest infestations, try to use non-chemical methods of controlling them. These include cultural practices (such as sanitation, removing debris and infested plant material, growing competitive plants), physical traps and barriers and chemical solutions (repellants, fungicides, insecticides).
Biological pest control involves using organisms that naturally control pest populations to reduce them to sustainable levels. It has been used for centuries. Classical biological pest control has involved the introduction of species into agricultural areas to reduce or suppress pests. For example, ants have been used to control mites in orange groves, and predatory birds have been released to control pest bird species that destroy crops.
Physical controls can include traps, netting and decoys. They are typically easier to use than chemical controls. However, they may not be as effective in certain situations. Chemical controls, on the other hand, work faster and deliver immediate results, but they can be harmful to people and the environment when they are not used correctly. For instance, insecticides can poison people if they are not properly applied or if they are exposed to them for extended periods of time.
Some pests are also very difficult to eradicate, such as fleas. Conventional flea treatments kill adult fleas, but don’t get rid of the eggs or larvae. Also, once a flea hatches into an adult, it is very resistant to most conventional chemicals. To successfully eradicate fleas, you need a product that is both safe for humans and kills all stages of the life cycle, including eggs and larvae.
Monitoring
Monitors and traps function like early warning systems that help you keep pest populations low. They can include sticky boards, pheromone traps and electronic fly traps that capture flies and other flying pests as well as moth pots for monitoring caterpillars and other destructive insects. These monitoring tools should be inspected regularly to assess trapping activity, trend data and make decisions about whether or not to take action to reduce pest populations.
Monitoring can also include scouting or checking for pests in areas where you are concerned about them. This is a critical part of any proactive IPM program and helps you understand how and why certain types of pests are attracted to your facility, what conditions are conducive to their reproduction and growth, and when and where your pest control efforts might be required.
Some pest infestations require immediate attention. There are a number of factors that determine when it’s time to act, including food safety regulations (e.g. no tolerance for roaches in food facilities), pest identification, threshold levels and other considerations that will affect when and how to control. The thresholds that you set may be determined by your regulatory agency or they may be based on experience, standards or guidelines that you use for other crops, buildings or sites.
Taking steps to prevent pests from entering your facility in the first place can save money and resources. Keeping the building clean and tidy is essential as is reducing clutter that can provide hiding places or attract pests. Trash should be disposed of regularly, and the area around garbage cans should be swept often. Regular maintenance of doors, windows and screens can eliminate cracks or gaps where pests can enter. Natural repellents can be used in problem areas.
Thresholds are the population levels at which you must begin to take pest control action. This is determined by a number of factors, including how quickly the pest population grows and if it’s disrupting operations or causing unacceptable damage or injury. Threshold-based decision-making can be informed by a number of sources, including catch analysis from pest monitoring devices and scouting activities, experience, and knowledge of the pests involved.
