Pest Control involves locating the source of a pest infestation and taking steps to prevent it from happening again. It is a critical service for hygiene management in places like homes, restaurants, and retail food preparation environments. For more information, Click Here.
Ask your potential provider about their methods of treatment. Natural options, such as nematodes and organic sprays, target specific environmental factors to limit pest populations.
Pests may be a nuisance, such as rodents and their droppings or insects that bite people (like mosquitoes or cockroaches). They can also damage buildings or crops and cause a health hazard through their saliva or faeces, like salmonella from rodents or poison ivy from plants.
There are a variety of ways to control pests, from physical trapping to biological and chemical methods. Each method has its own pros and cons, and it’s important to assess the situation and choose the right approach for your needs. Pest control has three objectives: prevention, suppression and eradication. Prevention is all about keeping pests from entering a building or property, and involves cleaning up areas where they can breed or hide and sealing cracks and crevices to prevent entry. Suppression reduces a pest population to an acceptable level while causing the least harm to other organisms. Eradication is the complete eradication of an infestation and can be accomplished through various pesticides.
Biological pest control uses natural predators and parasites to reduce pest populations. These organisms may be natural to the environment or introduced for this purpose. This is a less toxic way to manage pests, but it can take longer than other methods.
Chemical pesticides are a common form of pest control, and they can be in the form of aerosol sprays, dusts, baits or gels. They typically disrupt the nervous systems of a target species, either killing them or preventing reproduction. Pesticides are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, and they can harm beneficial insects and contaminate water runoff or other parts of the environment.
Phytopathogens are microscopic microorganisms that are pathogenic to a target pest. These include bacteria and viruses that can cause diseases such as leaf rust and blight, as well as fungi that can attack roots. In addition, nematodes are tiny, worm-like animals that feed on the root systems of a host plant and can be used to reduce the number of pests. Other biopesticides include the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which produces a protein that is toxic to caterpillars when ingested but doesn’t harm other plants or animals.
Pesticides
The term “pesticide” encompasses a broad range of chemical compounds that kill or repel pests. Some of the most commonly used include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides. Aside from killing or repelling the target pests, a good pesticide should not harm other species, including humans and domestic animals, but it can be toxic to the environment and to people if improperly stored, handled or applied.
Pesticides are often released into the environment when they run off of fields, escape from storage tanks or are sprayed aerially. They contaminate the air, soil and water. Because of this, a large percentage of them reach destinations other than their intended targets. This contamination leads to acute exposures and kills organisms that weren’t targeted by the pesticides. It also alters and disrupts the chemistry of the environment. The effects of pesticides on natural ecosystems are not easily detected using standard laboratory toxicity tests.
Some types of pesticides are lethal to the pests they kill, but they may be equally harmful to other species, including humans and domestic animals. The chemicals can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled or swallowed. They can also contaminate food and drinking water, even after being washed away.
Symptoms of acute exposure to pesticides depend on the type and toxicity of the pesticide, but can include headache, dizziness, muscular twitching, weakness, tingling sensations, nausea and rashes. Longer-term exposures can result in a variety of health issues, including cancer, birth defects and preterm birth, nervous system problems, digestive issues and disruption of the endocrine system.
The level of pesticide residue on a given food commodity is set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Before a product can be sold, it must meet a minimum tolerance limit. Residue levels are much lower than those that could cause illness in humans, but it is important to check food labels for the presence of pesticides.
Whenever possible, use pesticides sparingly and only when other methods have been exhausted. If you must use them, read the label carefully and follow all instructions for application. Wear the proper protective equipment suggested by the manufacturer. Keep pesticides out of the reach of children and pets and store them in areas that are difficult for them to access, such as locked cupboards or in a garage.
Traps
Using traps to monitor pest populations is an important part of any integrated pest management program. Whether they are used in conjunction with other control methods or alone, traps can help determine when it is time to apply pesticides. Traps also help to identify the location of a pest problem. These results can be used to target additional pest exclusion or control measures.
Sticky traps with special pheromone attractants catch specific pest species without harming non-target animals. These are typically placed in stations where pests are most likely to occur, such as around entry points, or areas where they may be hiding. These traps are inspected and cleaned on a regular basis (weekly).
Plastic pitfall traps can be used to monitor for the presence of crawling pests in soil or stored grain. These traps can be flipped over to reveal the insect population, which is then counted and recorded. These results are helpful to decide when to apply contact insecticides, such as horticultural oils, to kill the pest.
Pheromone-based traps can be very effective in determining pest levels, but are not as accurate as a population census. They are more useful if used at the start of the pest flight season, before the first generation is present in the field or orchard. The number of catches can then be graphed to allow for an assessment of the situation and a decision on timing of controls.
Other types of traps include chromatic traps, which are often used for monitoring but can be combined with toxic bait. These traps consist of a pheromone diffuser, a sticky sheet and a way of eliminating the pest, such as soapy water, diammonium phosphate or commercial food attractants.
A light blue bucket or other container, filled with soapy water, can be used to capture ground beetles in bean and cowpea fields. Alternatively, yellow plastic gallon containers mounted upside down on sticks coated with transparent automobile grease or used cooking oil can be placed in and around susceptible crops like safflower, pigeon peas and beans.
Prevention
The goal of pest control is to minimize the presence of pests while protecting human health and property. Prevention strategies include pest proofing – making it difficult for a pest to gain entry into a home or business – and traps and bait stations. Regular inspections by a professional help to spot potential pest problems and stop them from escalating.
In addition, keeping a business clean helps reduce pests by eliminating their food sources and shelter. This includes removing trash regularly, keeping garbage receptacles tightly closed, and reducing clutter that can provide hiding places for pests. It is also important to remove standing water, as mosquitoes and rodents love moisture. This can be done by removing or draining water sources like bird baths and flower pots, and by trimming bushes and trees so they are not providing an easy pathway for pests to enter.
Pesticides can be used to kill or repel specific pests. However, it is important to understand that pesticides may also harm other animals or insects that are not a problem. This is why it is critical to select the right pesticide for the job and to follow proper application instructions.
Another important component of prevention is educating employees about the importance of the program and how their actions impact it. Getting buy in from the c-suite to the loading dock can go a long way in ensuring a pest management program is effective. It can also be helpful to provide employees with pest control training and tips, as well as establish a system for reporting pest problems.
Even with a solid preventative plan in place, pest infestations can still occur. Pests multiply quickly and can cause a lot of damage in a short period of time. In addition, many pests carry pathogens that can spread to humans and contaminate food, as well as cause allergic reactions and aggravate asthma.
Pests like rodents, cockroaches and insects can pose significant health risks. They can contaminate food, transmit disease, cause asthma and other respiratory conditions, and trigger allergies. Regular pest control services can nip problems in the bud and prevent them from escalating, saving time, money and hassle in the future.
