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Pesticides are important parts of IPM but should be used only when necessary. Many natural forces affect pest populations, including climate, natural enemies, natural barriers, and availability of food and water.
The most effective way to manage pests is through prevention techniques. These include conducting regular inspections, sealing potential entry points, diligent waste management, practicing smart landscaping, and utilizing safe pest control products.
Pests often invade homes and commercial establishments in search of food, water, shelter, or breeding sites. They may cause damage to building structures, contaminate food or produce dangerous toxins, and can pose health hazards by gnawing on wires, transmitting diseases like hantavirus and leptospirosis, or creating swarms of irritating bees and wasps.
When it comes to preventing pest infestations, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, many of the basic strategies that form the foundation of a pest-prevention program are simple and relatively inexpensive. In the home, these include storing food in tightly sealed containers, securing trash cans, and keeping interior areas clean to deprive pests of their preferred food sources. In the commercial setting, these practices are even more critical, as they can prevent pests from finding their way to sanitary storage and display areas.
Once a pest gains access to a structure, it can spread rapidly in search of its food and water. For this reason, it is important to seal any cracks and crevices with caulk or plaster, especially around doors and windows. In addition, repairing torn window screens and putting drain screens over sinks and tub drains can help keep pests out of the house.
Other preventive measures include removing all standing water, as this will reduce mosquito breeding grounds, and regularly trimming bushes and shrubs so they do not overhang the roof or siding of a home or commercial building. This will also help to prevent pests from using trees and shrubs as ladders to reach into a home or business.
If preventive methods are not sufficient to control a particular pest, then a systematic approach is required to eradicate the problem. The first step in this process is to understand the pest’s life cycle and habits. This will help to pinpoint conditions that are promoting its growth or abundance, and can be used to create a plan for eliminating the problem.
Treatment
In some cases, pests must be controlled immediately to prevent harm from occurring. This is often the case when pests carry diseases, contaminate food or cause other physical damage. Pest control strategies must be weighed against the harm to natural ecosystems and human health. Generally, it is best to try prevention methods first. However, if the situation cannot be resolved with prevention alone, it is important to consider using pesticides.
The effectiveness of any pesticide depends on the type and severity of the infestation, the environment in which the treatment takes place and how the pesticide is applied. Chemicals can be sprayed or placed in bait stations or traps. In houses, surface sprays may be used to treat rooms or areas that are inaccessible to traps or baits, such as along skirting boards or under sinks. It is important to use only the amount required and to thoroughly wash hands after handling chemicals, particularly when there are children or pets in the home. It is also advisable to remove food, cooking utensils and other personal items from treated areas before returning. Reliable pest controllers will be able to provide copies of pesticide labels showing how the product should be applied, as well as proof of licenses where necessary.
Mechanical or physical treatments are traps, barriers, nets, radiation and heat that can be used to control pests by blocking their entrances or removing them from the environment. These techniques are non-toxic and can be especially effective in houses with children or pets where reducing exposure to chemicals is a priority.
Biological pest control uses the aid of natural enemies to reduce pest populations, such as by releasing ladybugs to eat aphids or nematodes to destroy plant roots. This can be effective, although there may be a lag between population increase and the emergence of natural controls.
Pests are an inevitable part of living in nature, but their impact on our lives can be minimised with sound management practices. Careful planning and implementation of integrated pest management techniques can help ensure that we do not need to take extreme measures to eliminate them. It is also a good idea to understand a pest’s life cycle and habits in order to identify the most suitable control method, whether it be prevention or treatment.
Eradication
Eradication techniques for pest control aim to reduce a disease or pest to zero in the environment. They may involve introducing natural organisms to suppress a species or removing the pest itself. One of the most successful examples of eradication is the elimination of smallpox from human populations. Eradication requires the identification of the pest or disease, the development of diagnostic tools, and an understanding of the biological factors that determine if and when intervention is needed.
Physical Traps
A variety of physical traps are available for home use, including fly paper, netting and baited traps. These can be placed on or near areas showing signs of pest activity, and can be more effective than just spraying insecticides around. However, they require regular inspection and maintenance to remove or replace dead insects. Another option is the introduction of helpful organisms, such as ladybugs to kill aphids or nematodes to attack grubs and other soil-dwelling pests.
Biological Methods
Biological methods for pest control are among the oldest types of pest control, and are usually preemptive in nature. They involve introducing the natural predator or parasite of a pest to manage the population and deter its damaging effects on a crop or garden. This approach is less hazardous to the environment, and results in fewer side-effects than chemical pest controls.
Chemical Pesticides
The most familiar type of pest control, chemical solutions are quick to work and easy to find. They can include repellents to keep pests away, or insecticides to kill them directly. However, chemical pesticides are often toxic to non-target organisms and can also cause environmental damage when applied in excess. Many species are also developing resistance to these chemicals, making them less effective over time.
A newer and more environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides is microbial pesticides, such as the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). These can be delivered by a variety of means, including a granular formulation that is safe to apply directly to plants. However, microbial solutions have limited host ranges, and they can take longer to work than conventional chemical alternatives.
Monitoring
Many pest problems can be managed through careful monitoring and identification. Regular inspections throughout the growing season allow growers to catch pests before they cause significant damage, evaluate control tactics, and develop site history information. Monitoring can be done by visual observation, sticky traps and other monitoring devices, and indicator plants. Monitoring techniques are site, crop and pest-specific.
A good pair of eyes and a magnifying glass are essential tools for pest control. Look for pests in leaf and stem axils, flower heads, tight spaces and other areas where they hide. A flashlight can be helpful in locating points of entry, maintenance needs and sanitation deficiencies. An extendable mirror can be useful to inspect behind and under equipment and furniture.
Sticky traps can provide valuable information about insect populations as well as the general health of a greenhouse. Yellow traps can be used to monitor flying pests such as thrips, fungus gnats and shore flies, while blue traps are most effective for attracting wingless fruit flies, whiteflies and leaf miners. Other types of traps use pheromones or physical attractants to lure pests.
Insect parasitoids can also be very effective in controlling certain pests. These insects begin their lives attached to the bodies of host insects and eat the hosts from the inside out. When a parasite is present in an infestation, the host insect becomes weak and vulnerable to attack from predators or other natural controls.
Threshold-based decision making is the key to implementing effective pest control methods. Noticing a few flies or beetles every day is unlikely to warrant treatment. However, if these pests appear in larger numbers and their activity continues to increase, they should be treated.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally responsible approach to solving pest problems. It reduces the reliance on chemical pesticides by combining prevention, monitoring, and control strategies. It is a flexible strategy that can be used in all types of agricultural, urban and wildland settings.
Preventing a pest infestation is much easier than eradicating one, so it’s important to take preventative measures whenever possible. Tell your customers about things they can do to reduce the likelihood of an infestation, such as caulking or sealing cracks in their homes.