Pests are organisms that damage or threaten plants, animals, or human beings. Good housekeeping, such as keeping garbage and other potential sources of food in sealed containers, can help prevent pest problems.
Predators, parasites, and pathogens naturally suppress pest populations. Manufactured enemies, such as sterile males or pheromones, may also control some pests. Click the Website to learn more.
Pests are often preventable, and the best approach is to keep them from entering an establishment in the first place. Consult with a pest control expert to learn more about preemptive measures that can be taken, such as sanitizing trash containers or laying traps near entrances. This will make it easier to catch pests if they do happen to be present and to control them before damage is done.
Other pest prevention measures include cleaning counter tops, floors, and tables on a regular basis to prevent crumbs from providing attracting food for pests like flies and moths. Keep garbage and compost bins tightly closed, and store foods in sealed containers. Remove debris and weeds from the outside of buildings to reduce places for pests to hide or breed. Seal cracks and crevices, and use steel wool to fill holes. Keep wood piles away from the house, as these are magnets for termites and beetles.
Maintaining a consistent inspection program is also helpful for pest prevention. This may involve sanitizing storage or display areas on a regular basis, reorganizing shelving and cabinets to decrease hiding spots for pests, maintaining sanitary lines of sight along walls (to facilitate detection), and establishing a continuous process of quarantine and examination for artifacts before moving them to the collection area.
Natural forces that affect pest populations include climate, natural enemies, natural barriers, availability of shelter, and food and water supplies. Some pests, such as fungus gnats and mosquitoes, are continuous pests that require regular control. Others, such as fruit flies, fire ants, and gypsy moths, are sporadic or migratory and do not always need regular control.
When pests are present, the goals of pest management are prevention, suppression, and eradication. Preventing pests is the most desirable goal, but when this is not possible, the objective should be to reduce their numbers to an acceptable level that does not exceed what would be lost without control. Chemical controls should be used sparingly and only in combination with other types of control. This will ensure that the few chemicals used will be effective and cause the least harm to people, property, and the environment.
Suppression
Preventive measures stop pest infestations before they occur. Scouting and monitoring regularly help to identify pest problems and determine whether a threshold level has been reached that requires action. Control methods include cultural, genetic, mechanical and chemical approaches. Natural controls such as weather and topography limit pest habitats, while biological control agents injure or consume target pests to manage population sizes. Chemical control agents such as fumigants, contact insecticides and fungicides kill or suppress pest populations. Cultural practices such as crop rotation, weed management, soil fertility and moisture, tillage, composting and liming alter the environment that supports pests.
Genetic control uses plant or animal traits that resist the development of a pest or make it less harmful. Resistance is often a result of a gene that prevents a pest from taking in certain nutrients, or a trait that makes the pest less able to reproduce. Biological control includes predators, parasites, and pathogens that attack or infect pests. It also can include pheromones and juvenile hormones that disrupt or deter pest development. Genetic engineering can produce organisms that are resistant to pesticides and other stressors or are better adapted to new environments.
Many growers and green industry professionals are seeking ways to reduce the use of pesticides on ornamentals, turfgrass and fruit and vegetable plants. Concern over health and environmental impacts, and the loss of pollinators, are driving this search for alternative methods. However, controlling pests with biological means isn’t easy. It requires a thorough understanding of the pests and their environment, and an ability to tailor biological controls for each specific problem.
Threshold-based decision-making involves periodically checking a field, landscape, building or other site to identify and evaluate pests. This is done by scouting (searching for and observing pests) or monitoring (regularly measuring damage and collecting data). Monitoring may include spotting of pests, evidence of pesticide resistance, indications that natural enemies are absent or ineffective, failure of netting or screens, or signs of disease in crops, structures or woody material. The results of these evaluations can then be used to decide when and how to control the pests using the best available control methods.
Eradication
While eradication may be necessary for certain pests, especially those that carry diseases or disrupt natural ecosystems, it is not always possible or desirable. Pest control efforts should be tailored to meet the needs of each situation. The goal is to reduce the impact of pests without affecting humans, animals, plants or other organisms that are beneficial. This is accomplished by combining preventive and suppression techniques with eradication methods when appropriate.
Prevention techniques focus on preventing pests from entering the premises or spreading within it. They include inspection, monitoring and maintenance and cleaning practices. Preventive measures include removing food sources, water and shelter to make the environment unfavorable for pests. They also include sealing entry points. This can be done by repairing cracks and crevices, ensuring that trash is removed regularly from the site and storing food in containers with tight-fitting lids. It is also important to avoid creating clutter where pests can breed and hide.
Monitoring is used to detect the presence of pests so that a control method can be implemented before the problem gets out of hand. Methods of monitoring include visual observation, pheromone traps and other trapping devices. Physical traps and netting are also useful tools in this area.
Chemicals are a common form of pest control and include repellents, which deter pests, and insecticides, which kill them. These chemicals are typically easier to find and use than biological controls, and can deliver immediate results. However, they can be harmful to people and the environment if improperly applied or stored.
Some of the more environmentally friendly pesticides are relatively low-risk and can be used in a targeted manner to minimize exposure. Others have a higher risk and should only be used by qualified professional applicators who have a current pesticide user license. The British Pest Control Association requires all professional pest controllers to have this license.
In general, a combination of prevention and suppression strategies is the most effective means of controlling pests. While eradication is sometimes necessary, it should be the last resort and should only be undertaken when absolutely necessary. Otherwise, the costs of pesticide use and their impacts on human health and the environment may outweigh any benefit achieved.
Remediation
Once pests have invaded a home, they must be eliminated. Proper pest control is critical to health, safety and sanitation. Pests such as fleas, rodents, cockroaches, bed bugs and mites spread disease, cause irritation and damage property. Pests can also be a serious health risk for people with asthma or allergies. They can cause a variety of symptoms including respiratory distress, nausea and other illness.
In order to successfully remediate a pest problem, it is important to identify and correct the source of the infestation. Insects and rodents can get into a house through holes, cracks and crevices in walls, roofs and floors. They can also enter through vents, chimneys and crawl spaces. Sealing these entry points is essential to preventing pests from entering the home. Eliminating food sources is also vital. This can be accomplished by removing trash and debris, cleaning food storage containers, and securing loose garbage bags. Using a HEPA vacuum and sanitizing countertops and sinks is also helpful. Landlords should use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols when dealing with pest problems in their buildings. This includes using nontoxic treatments such as baits, traps and mechanical methods such as extermination, dusting and fumigation. Landlords should be cautious about the use of pesticides, especially in common areas of multi-unit housing, as it is illegal for landlords to apply pesticides to tenants’ apartments under Local Law of 2018.
If nontoxic methods fail, it may be necessary to use pesticides to eliminate the infestation. However, it is vital to understand that the best way to prevent pests from re-infesting a home is through regular maintenance and preventive treatments. Landlords should encourage tenants to follow IPM procedures, such as:
Keeping up with preventive measures is the key to reducing pest populations. For example, if a tenant notices a bug in their kitchen, they should remove food scraps from the area and clean surfaces regularly. In addition, they should seal all cracks, gaps and holes in their homes to prevent insects and rodents from accessing them. They should also make sure to trim back bushes and clear away leaf litter and other debris around the home. Lastly, they should always read and follow the pesticide label instructions to avoid accidental exposure to dangerous chemicals.