Pests like rats and mice cause a lot of damage. They gnaw wires, chew on food packages, and spread diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, leptospirosis, and salmonella. Rodents can also kill or eat crops and destroy stored products. Click here to Learn More.

Pest control has three basic goals: prevention, suppression, and eradication. Prevention keeps pests from becoming a problem; suppression reduces pest numbers to an acceptable level, and eradication destroys all pests.

Identifying the pest is the first step in any pest management program. This allows the pest manager to learn more about the pest’s biology, how it develops and spreads, its preferences for food and harborage, and procedures for prevention or control. The more that is known about the pest, the better the opportunity exists for preventing or controlling it without the use of toxic chemicals.

Pest identification also provides a means to evaluate the results of control measures. For example, a general pest population may be controlled using cultural methods (removing the host plant, for example), but if the pest is resistant to those controls, biological control agents can be used. Biological controls are preferred over chemical controls because they reduce the amount of material needed to be applied and often have less adverse environmental impacts.

To successfully use biological insecticides, a pest must be identified to the Order level. This is because many approved biological insecticides are specific to certain orders, such as Lepidoptera or Coleoptera. In addition, species within an order or genus may differ significantly in their behavior and life history characteristics. Incorrect or incomplete species identification will result in poorly chosen control tactics, possibly wasting time and money.

Pest identification is best done by a knowledgeable person, such as a colleague or an entomologist. MMPC’s Pest ID Center can provide the help of trained entomologists to analyze physical specimens or pictures and provide identification results, but it is always preferred to work with someone who is familiar with the local environment and pests. For example, an entomologist can provide information about how a particular pest lays its eggs or feeds on its host, which is vital to the formulation of a control strategy. Moreover, a local expert can assist in determining the appropriate cultural or biological control methods to use, as well as help evaluate the effectiveness of any treatment and preventive practices that have been implemented. By reducing the need for chemical treatments, prevention keeps costs down for customers and preserves property value for homeowners.

Pesticides

Pesticides kill or control specific species of insects, weeds, rodents and other organisms that harm crops or humans. They are available in a wide range of formulations including fumigants, which produce gas to destroy organisms in buildings or soil, and systemic pesticides that move through plants to kill the insect they target.

Some pesticides are highly toxic, and acute exposure can cause health problems. Others are less toxic but still present risks, depending on their toxicity and length of exposure. Acute exposures can lead to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, muscular twitching and weakness, tingling sensations or nausea. Chronic exposures can increase the risk of cancers, reproductive problems, immune problems, and developmental or neurological problems.

Biological, physical, and cultural controls can help reduce the need for pesticides. Crops that grow in healthy soil, receive adequate water, and are surrounded by a diversity of beneficial insects are better able to tolerate some stress from pest damage. In addition, scouting and physical barriers like netting can help prevent pest infestations before they happen.

When used properly, pesticides can be an effective tool to manage unwanted species. It’s important to use them sparingly, and to be sure that the pesticide is designed for the pest you’re trying to control. Choosing the right pesticide also minimizes environmental and human health impacts.

For example, surface sprays can drift off course and contaminate other areas, such as nearby homes or natural areas. They can also harm wildlife that lives in or uses the area where they’re applied, such as bees or birds. Some pesticides may even enter the groundwater supply or contaminate lakes, rivers and streams.

Some pesticides are prone to “volatilization,” which occurs when they’re exposed to air and break down quickly in the sun or wind. The volatile compounds then float on or in the water and are carried away by runoff or dissolved in the rain. To limit volatilization, tillage or irrigation after application can help the chemicals bind to and stay in the soil. The use of low-volatile pesticides can also decrease contaminant levels in the environment.

Baits

If preventive measures are not sufficient, pesticides are often used to control pests. Whether or not pesticides are used, they should always be applied in a safe manner and only to the areas affected by the pests. In urban environments where buildings are close to people, pets and food it is important that products that are used for pest control are safe for these users as well as occupants of the building. This is achieved by assessing the safety of active ingredients, formulations and pesticide applications.

Baits are a very common form of pesticide used in the treatment of cockroaches (Periplaneta hebecarpa), ants (Formica terrasica) and termites (Terminospora gordonii). These bait formulations are usually ready to use, come in low concentrations and can be placed only where required. This reduces the risk of exposure to non-target animals and people. In addition, baits can be more effective than spraying because the pest must approach and consume the poison, increasing the probability of a lethal dose.

Unlike traditional traps, baits are designed to hold the pesticide. Rodent baits, for example, are typically placed in specially designed stations that can be constructed from scrap materials. These stations are designed so that only rodents can enter, and are often augmented with locks, seals or concealed latches to make them more tamperproof. It is important to note that the use of bait stations and other pesticides may still pose a risk to children and pets, so care must be taken to locate them in rodent-prone areas away from areas frequented by these animals.

The types of baits that are most successful for rodents and other pests depend on the type of pest that is being targeted, the environment and the availability of other food sources. It is also important that any bait is topped up regularly to prevent it from spoiling or being eaten by non-target animals. Products that are contaminated or mouldy should be replaced immediately, and any empty bait containers should be removed and sealed in plastic before disposal.

It is essential that monthly inspections of bait stations are carried out to identify and eliminate any termites present, and monitor the amount of bait consumed. If the amount of bait matrix is found to be less than 30% it should be topped up until the desired level is reached. Once monitoring is complete and it is clear that the termites have been controlled the station can be sealed with a suitable insecticide.

Prevention

Pests are more than nuisance creatures that can cause property damage; they can also spread dangerous germs, contaminate food and pose health risks. Routine pest control protects people, pets and plants. Pest infestations that are not addressed quickly can lead to serious structural damage, loss of valuable property, and damage to human or animal health.

Prevention is a crucial part of the pest control process and is often more effective than suppression. Prevention strategies include habitat modification, exclusion, and sanitation. Habitat modifications include removing food, water and shelter sources, eliminating overwintering sites and reducing clutter around the home or commercial property. Exclusion includes sealing cracks, caulking, and window and door screens. Sanitation and cleaning include regularly sanitizing surfaces, washing laundry, wiping down counters and reducing areas where pests can hide or breed.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based strategy that integrates preventive tactics to avoid or reduce the need for toxic chemicals. IPM includes monitoring pests and their damage, adjusting cultural practices when possible and using pesticides as a last resort. IPM tactics are selected and applied carefully, with the goal of minimizing risk to humans, beneficial organisms and the environment.

Preventive pest management is a shared responsibility between pest management professionals and the client. A preventive pest control plan clarifies what the client is responsible for and what the professional is responsible for, including identifying who on staff will inspect incoming shipments to deny the introduction of unwanted pests into locker rooms or warehouse storage areas.

The use of natural enemies – predators, parasites and pathogens – to suppress pest populations is another important preventive tactic. These natural enemies are engineered into biological pesticides that are sprayed on the soil, where they infect insect pests with bacteria or viruses that kill them from the inside. Changing irrigation practices can also help reduce pest problems by limiting root disease and weeds.

The best and simplest way to avoid pest problems is to make sure pests never have a reason to enter the building. Regularly inspecting the interior and exterior of a home for cracks, crevices, loose siding and other entry points can eliminate many pest problems before they start. Keeping garbage in a tightly closed container and regularly sanitizing kitchens, bathrooms and other rooms will also deter pests.