Pests cause damage and can affect our enjoyment of the environment. They can also pose health threats, including diseases like hantavirus and leptospirosis.
Suppression is a common goal in many pest situations. Control measures include cleaning up messes and closing off places where they breed.
Identifying the pest and studying its environment is important in tailoring a control method. Threshold-based decision-making is essential: a few wasps visiting the garden probably don’t require any action, but a huge infestation should prompt preventive measures.
Pest Identification
Accurate pest identification is the first step in determining the need for pest control. It allows the pest management specialist to discover and act on pest weaknesses – for example, differences in behavior or life cycle, food sources, harborage requirements, etc. It also helps to determine the best prevention and control methods.
For example, baits and traps used to control ants, mice, rats, or cockroaches must be designed for the specific species being targeted. Likewise, weeds need to be identified so that appropriate herbicides can be selected for use in a control program.
In addition, some pests can be controlled by mechanical means (traps, sweeps, vacuuming) rather than chemical sprays. The need for a particular type of pest control should be determined by carefully considering the impact on operations, potential damage to equipment and structures, the cost of controls and the impact on the environment and public health.
Pests may enter food processing environments for a variety of reasons: physical contamination with rodent droppings, insect parts or other debris; consumption of contaminated foods; introduction of disease causing agents in the form of intestinal worms or microbial pathogens carried by the pests; and direct damage to facilities and equipment. The need for pest control is a critical element in any food safety management system.
A number of online resources exist for identifying pests. Some, such as this website, offer a photographic database of common pests and their characteristics. Others provide more detailed information on their biology and ecology, and some even include control strategies.
An excellent resource is a pest identification guide produced by the USDA National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment. It includes detailed descriptions of the physical features of many vertebrate pests. It is available for download or as a printed booklet.
A flashlight and an extendable mirror are useful tools for inspecting the areas where pests live or seek shelter. These often include dark, secluded or inaccessible locations. Also, a magnifier is useful for examining food debris, droppings, frass (excrement) and other evidence of pest activity. A telescoping mirror allows inspectors to easily look under and around equipment, furniture and other items.
Pest Prevention
A pest is an organism that causes damage to plants, animals or people. They can be rodents, insects, diseases or weeds. Pests can contaminate food, spoil living conditions, and even cause illness or death in humans and animals. Pest control methods include exclusion, quarantine, repulsion, physical removal and chemical treatments. Pest prevention is also important. Preventive methods can include eliminating entry points, cleaning frequently, and sealing cracks or crevices. It’s also important to know where the pests are getting in so you can stop them from coming into your home or business.
Pest trends can be monitored by identifying and evaluating the conditions that favor pest growth, such as moisture-filled bathrooms or basement corners, overcrowded rooms with clutter or unattended trash. Eliminating these conditions can prevent pests from developing and advancing to infestation levels that require control measures.
Preventive measures can also be taken to keep pests out of facilities, such as sealing holes in walls or caulking windows, and establishing a food inspection protocol for all incoming food shipments. Often, the most effective preventive methods are based on understanding how the pests’ life cycle fits into an ecosystem so that the right biological, natural or chemical controls can be implemented.
Suppression and prevention are the primary goals of many pest situations. Suppression is used to reduce pest populations to a level where they are not causing unacceptable harm, or to prevent them from growing rapidly once a threshold population has been reached. Preventive measures may be combined with suppression to provide the most cost-effective and environmentally responsible pest control.
Eradication is typically used for serious pest problems that threaten human health or welfare or where environmental damage is severe. This can be accomplished through regulatory control, which involves working with federal and state agencies to enforce pest management regulations. Educating consumers about the pest problem and options to eliminate it is a primary aspect of this approach. It can be as simple as telling a customer to seal a crack in their home or to make sure they use a pesticide that is suited to the target pest and its environment, and always read and follow the label’s safety warnings and directions.
Pest Control Methods
Generally, pest control is necessary to protect human health by controlling diseases carried by certain pests, safeguard agriculture and food supplies, preserve property from damage, and maintain ecological balance by preventing invasive species from disrupting natural habitats. Control methods vary and can be categorized as prevention, suppression or eradication.
To determine the need for pest control, one must accurately identify the pest and understand the biology, behavior, and environmental conditions that promote and support it. This information will help determine the desired outcomes for management and guide the selection of control practices.
Monitoring involves regularly checking for pests and evaluating their levels. It also includes assessing the damage caused by the pests. It is important to monitor pests because their numbers can fluctuate due to weather and other factors. This information is critical for deciding whether to implement a prevention, suppression or eradication strategy.
Prevention is the most desirable method of pest control, because it avoids any negative impact on people, plants or animals. This can be achieved through exclusion, which eliminates the pests’ access to a site or its resources. This is done through barriers, such as fences and screens; or through sanitation and maintenance programs that minimize the amount of debris, food, and water available for pests.
Physical traps, netting and decoys are examples of physical pest control. They can be a time-consuming and labor intensive way to manage pests, especially in large outdoor areas. These methods are often used in conjunction with other control tactics.
Chemical control is the use of chemicals to manage pests. It can be effective but can have negative impacts on the environment and human health when not used properly. Chemicals can be categorized as repellents, which deter pests by making them taste or smell unpleasant, and toxicants, which kill pests directly.
Integrated pest management (IPM) is an approach to pest control that incorporates several tactics to achieve the desired outcome. It is important to evaluate the benefits and risks of each tactic, and to select the ones that will have the least negative impact. It is also crucial to follow local, State and Federal regulations when applying any pest control chemicals.
Pest Control Companies
Pest control companies use professional-grade pesticides and equipment to treat a variety of pest infestations. Their services can be more effective than DIY solutions, and their methods are backed by research and experience. They can also help homeowners fortify their homes against future infestations.
Pests like ants, cockroaches, fleas, and ticks can carry disease or cause structural damage to buildings. Unchecked, they can also pose health concerns for families and pets. They can lead to vector-borne diseases, microbial infections, and heightened symptoms of asthma and allergies.
A good pest control company should be licensed by the state’s pest management regulatory agency. It should have a clean record and an outstanding reputation. It should also have an extensive menu of treatment options and a satisfaction guarantee. It should also have comprehensive insurance coverage and be able to offer residential and commercial services.
Some pest control companies specialize in particular kinds of infestations. They may have special expertise in treating bed bugs, termites, and cockroaches. Others might focus on environmental issues, offering green or eco-friendly services. They may offer natural or organic pest control treatments, or use traps and other humane techniques to catch and release pests.
To attract customers, pest control companies use marketing strategies to promote their services. They may place ads in local publications or online. They can also partner with product producers to gain marketing clout and discounted pricing. These partnerships can include certification that the company is trained to use a specific pesticide, along with promotional materials and training.
If you want to avoid pests at home:
- Try keeping food in sealed containers and garbage in tightly closed bins.
- Seal any easy entry points such as cracks and crevices around doorframes, baseboards, and other areas.
- Wash your bedding frequently and vacuum regularly.
These are simple steps that will keep many common pests out of your home.
Pests can be a nuisance and a threat to health, but professional pest control companies can eliminate them effectively. Using integrated pest management (IPM) approaches, they can both identify and prevent pests from invading your property. This will reduce your pest problem, save money, and provide peace of mind.