Pests can cause a variety of problems including contamination of food products and physical damage to facilities. They can also spread diseases, contaminate water supplies and harm the environment.
Threshold levels have been established for many pests to trigger action. Physical control methods such as traps, barriers and exclusion help prevent pest populations from growing to unacceptable levels. For professional help, contact Pezz Pest Control.
Keeping pests away from people and facilities is the most effective approach to pest control. This includes reducing or eliminating the food, water and shelter sources that attract them. For example, storing food in plastic or metal containers with tight lids can prevent insects from coming inside. Regularly cleaning out storage areas and removing clutter can also keep pests from hiding.
A good practice is to compost organic waste instead of throwing it in a garbage can. This is an environmentally friendly way to recycle kitchen scraps, yard trimmings and coffee grounds, and it produces nutrient-rich soil to use in gardens. Keeping garbage receptacles closed and putting them out for trash pick-up on a regular schedule also denies pests food and water sources.
Rodents are a significant problem for homeowners and businesses alike. Their chewing damages furniture, walls and pipes. Their droppings can spread diseases such as plague, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and salmonellosis. Insects irritate people with bites, and some cause asthma attacks, allergies and skin problems. Using an integrated pest management (IPM) program can prevent these pests.
IPM focuses on identifying and observing pests to determine what is attracting them to a location, such as a leak or spill. It also identifies possible entry points, such as cracks in walls or floors and holes in screens. It then implements prevention steps that reduce the need for chemical treatments.
Scouting and monitoring should be done on a regular basis, from daily to weekly depending on the environment and pest. A flashlight and magnifying glass are helpful tools in examining dark, secluded places where pests hide. An extendable mirror can help inspectors look behind and beneath equipment or furniture. Inspecting for signs of pest activity, such as droppings and frass (excrement), can help identify the type of pest and guide treatment options.
To avoid over-reliance on sprays, pesticides should be used in a targeted manner, such as placing baits or traps in areas where specific pests are most active. Spraying should be kept to a minimum, especially around children and pets. If pesticides must be used, consider natural alternatives such as beneficial bugs or pheromones.
Suppression
The goal of pest control is to keep infestations from occurring or to reduce their severity. Prevention is always a first step, especially in areas that receive a lot of incoming material and where pests may be more likely to take hold. Inspection of shipments, regular monitoring of entrance points and proper sanitation practices all help to ensure that infestations don’t occur.
Clutter provides places for pests to breed and hide, so it is important to regularly remove it. Garbage should be stored in tightly sealed trash cans and disposed of on a regular basis. Clutter and food scraps should be removed from exterior buildings, as should any ripening or moldy materials. Standing water can attract pests, so it is important to keep drains clean and to fix leaky faucets and pipes. Lastly, removing trees, bushes and other vegetation that touch the building can prevent pests from entering the interior.
Routine inspections should be conducted both inside and outside to identify potential pest entryways and to seal them immediately. Screening windows and doors can also help to eliminate some pest entryways. Maintaining proper waste management practices (including timely disposal of garbage and properly sealing food containers) and landscaping maintenance can also prevent pests from accessing food or shelter sources.
Many pests can be controlled without the use of pesticides, so it is important to first try these methods of control. However, when chemicals are used, it is important to know what you are dealing with and how to apply them correctly. This includes understanding how to read and follow pesticide label instructions, and keeping children and pets away from treated areas.
Using resistant varieties of plants, animals and woods to help keep pest populations below harmful levels is also an option. These types are less attractive to pests and generally require less maintenance. Often, the best approach is to combine preventive measures with the use of pesticides. This is particularly true in enclosed areas where the goals of prevention and eradication are more difficult to achieve. The use of pesticides is also more effective when it is focused on a specific area where a problem has been identified and addressed.
Eradication
The goal of pest control is to reduce the impact of pests on human activities. In outdoor environments, this is often accomplished through prevention and suppression. In indoor areas, however, eradication is more of an attainable goal. Pests in enclosed spaces like homes and business offices, schools and hospitals, food processing plants and restaurants can be a serious health risk and must be eliminated.
Eradication is more likely to occur when a pest can be identified and diagnosed on the basis of its relationship to disease. This requires a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tool that can be applied on a global scale by laboratories with varying capacities and resources. This is a major challenge in any eradication program.
Steps to prevent pest infestations include keeping food, trash, and other debris sealed in containers and removing clutter that could provide hiding places for insects. It is also advisable to keep trees and shrubs trimmed away from buildings so that pests aren’t able to access food, water or shelter in them. It’s also important to clean up spills and crumbs as they happen, and to dispose of garbage regularly.
Another common method of preventing pest infestation is to use a professional pest control service. These services can be especially effective when applied before a pest problem becomes widespread. They can also help you to avoid costly repairs and replacements caused by pest infestations.
Pests can eat or damage crops, contaminate water sources, and harm human populations, so it is essential to take steps to prevent them from invading homes and businesses. While there are many different types of pests, the most dangerous to humans are bacteria, fungus, birds, rodents, invertebrates, and diseases.
A professional pest control company will be able to provide you with the best solutions for your home or business. They will be able to inspect your property for any potential entry points and then seal them with caulk or weather stripping. This will create a tight seal that pests can’t penetrate. They will also be able to recommend pest-proofing measures such as door sweeps and window screens.
Monitoring
Monitoring of pests is an important part of any pest control program. This includes the identification of pests and their damage, inspections to observe trends and identifying conditions that promote infestation. The goal of monitoring is to determine whether or not a pest problem exists that requires an integrated pest management (IPM) plan. In IPM, pesticides are used only when monitoring indicates they are needed and are applied in a way that minimizes risks to people and the environment.
In order to monitor pests, both the interior and exterior of a facility should be inspected. Internal inspections should focus on areas that have a history of pest problems and on those places that provide the food, water, harborage or shelter for the targeted pest. Exterior inspections should be geared toward those locations that are conducive to pest infestation, including excess moisture, wood debris or trash. It’s also a good idea to keep track of weather and environmental conditions that may affect pest activity, as well as the effectiveness of natural enemies that can be employed in IPM programs.
Identifying the conditions that are conducive to pests is just as important as monitoring them themselves. Taking steps to eliminate these conditions will help prevent pest problems in the first place. This can include removing wood piles from the vicinity of buildings, keeping debris out of the yard and making sure that gutters are regularly cleaned.
Pests can often get into homes and businesses through small cracks, crevices and holes in the walls, foundation or roof. To keep them out, inspect the exterior of your home and fix any loosened or damaged spots with caulking and other materials that will seal out pests. It’s also a good idea for homeowners to take a regular walk around the outside of their property and make note of any signs of rodent or insect activity, such as droppings or nests.
Implementing the prevention strategies discussed above will help reduce pest numbers. In addition, establishing a pest action threshold will help to guide the decision about when pest control measures are needed. This can be done through scouting or trapping. For example, a few wasps visiting the patio are not a cause for alarm, but hundreds swarming a house are a reason to call in the exterminators.
