Pests can cause damage and pose health risks to people and pets. Learn about preventive steps and the options available to control pests.
Threshold-based decision-making focuses on monitoring and observing patterns. For example, if you see rice grain-sized droppings around your home or spot maggots in waste, it’s time to call in the professionals. Contact Abbotsford Pest Control now!
Prevention is a good approach to pest control when the problem can be prevented before it starts. This is especially true when the conditions that favor a pest are known or can be predicted. For example, some plant diseases only occur under certain environmental conditions and can be prevented by ensuring that desirable plants are not exposed to those conditions. Preventing pests from entering buildings also is a good approach to pest control. In many cases, the pests that cause problems in dwellings, schools, offices, and health care or food preparation facilities can be prevented from entering through vents, windows, and doors by properly repairing them.
When prevention is impossible, suppression is the next best strategy for controlling pests. Suppression reduces the number of pests to a level that is below damaging or unacceptable levels and then prevents them from increasing again. For instance, when ants are found in the kitchen, the simplest control measure is to take away their source of food by storing food in sealed containers and removing trash on a regular basis and keeping garbage cans tightly closed.
Other controls include making sure that all accessible surfaces are kept clean and sanitized and sealing gaps, cracks and holes that allow pests to enter. For outdoor pests, removing their sources of water and shelter may be helpful. These might include removing or covering piles of brush and debris, fixing leaky pipes and removing woodpiles from the area.
Biological pest controls might be considered when possible, since they involve the use of natural organisms that are predators or parasites of the particular pest being controlled. These methods can be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than chemical pesticides.
Chemical pesticides should be used sparingly and only when other measures are not effective. It is important to read and follow the directions on product labels carefully. When using pesticides, always keep them out of the reach of children and pets and never apply more than the recommended amount. Some pesticides can kill other insects or animals that are not the target pest, or harm them in other ways, such as by contaminating water supplies or attracting birds that will eat the dead pests.
Suppression
Suppression methods are applied when indicators of pest activity call for immediate action to reduce risk of damage. They restrict the pest’s activities and population growth, but do not eradicate it.
These tactics deprive the pests of food or shelter, change their environment or disrupt their life cycles. They may be natural, cultural, biological or chemical.
Cultural controls include crop rotation, mowing, weeding and cleaning greenhouse or tillage equipment to deprive pests of comfortable habitat and prevent their movement. Irrigation schedules can also be changed to avoid long periods of high relative humidity that encourage disease development, as in the case of fungus diseases.
Biological control is the use of organisms that naturally injure or consume a pest, such as predators, parasites, pathogens and herbivores. Proper identification of the pest is crucial to determine which natural enemy will be most effective. Some of these organisms occur in the field, but others are specially raised and then released into an area to increase their numbers (a process known as importation or “classical” biological control).
Another way of enhancing the number of natural enemies is by applying pheromones or juvenile hormones. These substances mimic the signals that male insects emit to attract females and can confuse or deter them from mating, reducing their numbers.
Pathogens are microorganisms that kill pests by infecting them or interfering with their metabolism. They are available as living agents or in the form of microbial insecticides, such as plant-parasitic nematodes that control several pest species.
Chemical pesticides are also used, though with increasing concern for their health and environmental impacts. They are most effective when they are applied early in a pest infestation to limit their impact on the plant or animal. Always read product labels carefully, wear personal protective equipment as directed and learn about pest biology and behavior to make safe and responsible use of these chemicals. In addition, be aware that chemical pesticides can have adverse effects on non-target organisms, including beneficial insects and soil microorganisms. This is why prevention and avoidance are often more important than suppression strategies.
Control
Although prevention is the best way to deal with pest problems, sometimes eradication is needed. This is most common in enclosed environments, such as dwellings; schools, offices and hospitals; food processing and food preparation areas; and agricultural crops. Eradication is difficult to achieve in outdoor situations, where pests usually have a number of roosts and sources of food. Pests can spread disease, contaminate food or make allergies worse. They can also damage buildings and disturb the natural environment.
To control pests, it is important to understand their life cycle and the factors that affect them. Natural forces such as climate, predators and parasites, and the availability of food and water can affect pest populations. Physical barriers, such as mountains and large bodies of water, can restrict the movement of some pests. Other factors, such as the availability of shelter and overwintering sites, can influence the size of some pest populations.
The most effective approach to pest control is to combine preventive and suppression methods. This can reduce the pest population to a level that is acceptable without using unnecessary chemicals. Preventive measures include sanitation, removing food and water supplies, blocking holes in walls and windows, and making sure plants have adequate water and nutrients. The use of chemical controls includes sprays, baits and drenches. The most common method of applying chemical pesticides is through aerial spraying, which uses a truck-mounted boom to distribute the chemicals over the entire area being treated.
Other mechanical or physical control techniques include removing or blocking nests, using traps and screens to keep birds away from buildings, and soil solarization, a process that alters the temperature of the ground. Other controls include cultural practices, such as avoiding overwatering and fertilizing, changing planting practices to encourage pest-resistant species, and encouraging the presence of beneficial insects and nematodes (microscopic worms that kill insect pests) as natural enemies.
Clutter provides places for pests to hide, and it can block airflow, so it is important to keep rooms and storage spaces clear. It is also a good idea to regularly vacuum and dust, as these steps can help keep pests at bay. In addition, keeping a home or business sanitary and tidy can prevent them from being attracted by food sources.
Monitoring
Pests are organisms that interfere with food production and storage, damage the environment and cause nuisance and health problems for humans. Pests can be bacteria, fungus, birds, rodents, weeds, insects, cockroaches or even fleas and ticks. Pest control involves the regulation of these organisms to prevent them from causing damage.
A key to successful pest management is regularly checking and identifying the types of pests found and their numbers. Correct identification helps determine if the pests are at a level that requires action and what type of control measure is needed. It also enables an IPM program to evaluate the effectiveness of current controls and to plan for future pest problems.
The most common pests in buildings are insects, cockroaches and rodents. These organisms contaminate food and other materials, create unpleasant odors, destroy equipment, and can transmit diseases to people and animals. Rodents, such as mice and rats, can squeeze through narrow openings, gnaw at wood and other structural materials, and contaminate food products with their urine and droppings. Cockroaches carry more than 45 pathogens, including E coli and Salmonella, on their bodies, which can easily spread throughout your facility. Other common pests are flies and mosquitoes.
Effective monitoring requires the use of a variety of methods and tools, depending on the pest being controlled. This might include trapping, scouting, or using bait stations and sticky boards. Identifying and locating harborage areas is also important for detecting pest activity. For example, a flashlight can help illuminate dark harborages such as corners and crevices, equipment interiors, shaded or inaccessible areas, or other places where pests may live or hide. A telescoping mirror also allows inspectors to inspect behind and beneath equipment. A magnifier is useful to aid in identifying insect parts and frass (excrement).
Regular inspections by staff and building tenants are a vital part of any pest control program. Inspections can reveal conditions that attract pests, such as accumulated food debris or moisture, and conditions that limit their ability to escape, such as open doors or inadequate ventilation. Staff can also report maintenance and sanitation issues that might contribute to a pest problem.