Identifying pests is important because it allows you to tailor control methods. Preventing pests from entering the environment is most effective, but preventing them from doing much damage requires threshold-based decision-making (scouting and monitoring).
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When pests invade, they leave clues that help us determine the type and extent of the problem. Some of these clues are obvious, and some are less so. For example, rodent droppings are usually elongated and conical in shape, while insect droppings are smaller and more circular in appearance. If you see these tiny droppings in places where pests tend to hang out, like pantry shelves or the attic crawl space, it’s a good idea to call a pest control company.
If you hire a pest control company, shop for the best price and services. Many companies will send a salesperson to do an initial inspection of the property and home. This person will usually answer initial questions and will give you an estimate for the pest management program. The actual pest service technician will arrive later and perform the work. Make sure that the pest control technician is a licensed pesticide applicator. If not, ask for one who is.
Once you have an estimate from several different pest control companies, compare the recommended treatment programs, costs, and warranties. It is also a good idea to discuss each company’s pest identification method. A good pesticide application depends on accurate identification of the pest species. If the correct species is not identified, the pesticide may fail to control the pests or only the unidentified parts of the population.
Once you know what kind of pest you have, visit an online pest identification guide to learn about the pest’s characteristics, habitat, threats, signs of an infestation, and preventive or control measures. This information will assist you in deciding whether the pest needs to be treated professionally or if the problem can be solved by you using home remedies and preventive measures. You will also be able to decide whether the pests require an insecticide, organic materials or another type of pest control. Remember that a successful pest control strategy considers all the living and nonliving environments that the pest inhabits, including food sources, shelter, moisture, air quality and temperature.
Pest Prevention
Pests are organisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, insects, nematodes, weeds and vertebrates) that negatively affect human food crops, recreational activities, buildings, health, welfare and/or quality of life. They may also disturb and displace native wildlife species, damage natural resources, and alter terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
In urban and domestic situations, pests are often unwanted organisms that infest homes or other buildings; spoil and contaminate foods; damage landscapes; or otherwise threaten or detract from property values. In the case of residential and commercial structures, cockroaches and mice are common pests. Their droppings can spoil food, infect people with diseases such as salmonellosis and asthma, and irritate the eyes, nose and throat of indoor occupants.
A pest management program usually starts with a preventive strategy. Prevention is most effective when it includes the identification and understanding of the pest’s biology, life cycle, habits, and ideal habitat. Once the pest is identified, control options can be designed and implemented.
Pest prevention includes eliminating the pest’s access to food, water and shelter. It also involves sealing entry points, such as cracks and crevices, keeping garbage receptacles closed and emptying them regularly, and reducing debris and clutter that provides hiding places for pests. Regular inspections and maintenance work should be performed to identify problem areas.
Control methods include physical, cultural, and chemical control strategies. These are often grouped together as Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. Physical controls are those that physically remove pests and their eggs or nests. They can be as simple as using screens in windows, repairing and maintaining exterior doors, and keeping garbage receptacles closed.
Biological controls include predators, parasites, and competitors of the pest that prey on it or compete with it for food or space. Biological control methods are generally less hazardous than the use of chemicals.
Suppression is the goal in many outdoor pest situations once the decision to use a control method has been made. Suppression reduces the number of pests to a level that is acceptable to the land manager and/or owner. Eradication is rarely attempted in outdoor situations, but may be necessary if a particular pest causes unacceptable harm, as with the Mediterranean fruit fly and the gypsy moth.
Pest Control Methods
Pest control methods are those techniques used to kill or remove pests, and may include exclusion, repulsion, trapping, or physical removal. The goal of most pest control is to minimize harm to the environment and human health. The best way to do this is prevention. For example, removing garbage regularly from homes and businesses, fixing leaky plumbing, and using only certified organic gardening practices will help prevent rodents, insects, and plant diseases.
Some pests are sporadic or migratory and may need periodic controls, while others are continuous and require regular attention. Control measures are also different for indoor and outdoor environments, as they must account for the fact that pests found in one setting may be completely different from those in another.
Preventing pests often requires identifying them and understanding their life cycle. Once this information is known, the pests can be managed using techniques that will not harm beneficial organisms or human beings.
Physical and mechanical controls kill or block pests by cutting them off from their food supply, water, shelter, or breeding sites. Examples of this type of control include physical barriers such as fences and screens, and modifying the environment to make it unsuitable for the pest (such as mulches or steam sterilization). Traps target specific types of pests by lureping them with bait, such as food or pheromones. They can be used with great success when the pests’ usual routes are known, enabling them to be intercepted along their way.
Biological pest control relies on natural enemies of the pest, such as predators, parasites, and herbivores. This can be as simple as releasing ladybugs to eat aphids or as complex as microbe-based solutions engineered from bacteria.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs use monitoring and identification to determine when and how often pesticides need to be applied. This approach avoids the danger of applying pesticides when they are not needed and reduces risks to humans, pets, wildlife, and beneficial organisms. It also helps to ensure that only the target organism is targeted and that any chemical used will be effective.
Pesticides
Generally, pesticides are chemicals that kill or prevent the growth of organisms that damage crops, garden plants or lawns. They may be applied directly to the plant or to the soil. They are available in a wide range of forms, such as gases (fumigants), liquids, granules, powders and semisolids. Pesticides have a number of different targets, including insects, mites, disease-causing fungi, weeds and rodents.
Correctly identifying the pest is essential to selecting an effective pesticide. Look up the species online, use the University of California Cooperative Extension publications Pests of Garden and Small Farm and Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs, or check with your local gardening club to be sure you are targeting the right organism.
A word of caution: pesticides can also be harmful to human and animal health if not used properly, including when mixing, applying and storing them. Some symptoms of acute exposure to certain pesticides include headache, dizziness, muscular twitching and weakness, nausea and tingling sensations, rashes and other skin problems, breathing difficulties and changes in vision or hearing. Chronic exposures can result in long-term health effects, including cancer, reproductive issues and organ damage.
Many types of pesticides are available, from the most common to the least toxic. A pesticide’s toxicity level is usually indicated by its LD50 value, which refers to the amount of the chemical that must be administered to 50% of lab animals to cause death. The least toxic chemicals are usually characterized by low toxicity to humans and animals, quick biodegradation and little effect on nontarget organisms.
When choosing a pesticide, read the label carefully and follow directions precisely. Apply only the amount recommended, and avoid spray drift, which can harm nontarget plants and wildlife. Do not use pesticides near ponds, rivers, streams or wells, or on water-consuming plants; this can affect the quality of surrounding waters and pose a risk to pets and people using these areas for recreation. Keep containers out of the reach of children and pets, and store them securely when not in use, preferably in a locked shed or cabinet.