The Importance of Pest Control

Pests can cause damage to buildings and food in retail and hospitality environments. They also pose a health risk through diseases they carry like rat-borne salmonellosis and flea-borne typhus.

Keeping premises clean and blocking entry points are good preventive measures. Using traps that lure and snare pests on their regular routes is another useful control method. Contact Pest Control Ballwin MO now!

Identifying pests is a critical first step in any integrated pest management (IPM) program. Accurate pest identification enables the use of appropriate control methods to manage the problem while minimizing damage to non-target organisms and the environment. This type of pest identification is often done through field scouting, or monitoring for pest populations in fields, landscapes, forests and gardens.

It’s often possible to identify a pest by looking at it, with visual characteristics such as shape, color and number of legs being key factors. However, some pests are difficult to distinguish from one another or have similar traits. For example, a cockroach and fire ant may look very similar or other insects and arachnids such as ticks, fleas and mites can all seem very similar. Traps such as glue or pheromone traps can be helpful in collecting a sample of the pest for closer inspection.

Once a pest has been identified, its life cycle and current population can be determined. This information can then be used to decide if the pest should be controlled, what control method(s) are needed and when the control is most effective.

Pests are most vulnerable during certain windows of opportunity, depending on the species and its life cycle. For example, weed seedlings are easiest to control in their early stages of growth and many insect species are most easily managed in their immature forms.

The need for pest control can also be determined by observing signs of infestation such as: visible damage to plants, buildings or personal belongings; unusual noises within walls or ceilings; the presence of feces and/or droppings; or strange smells. If you suspect that a pest is present, contact us for a professional assessment and recommended course of action. We have the experience, materials, supplies and equipment to safely and effectively remove pests from your home or business! Call us today for a free estimate. We service all of North Central Indiana and Southern Michigan! We also provide termite and mosquito control services. Click here for more details! We’re committed to providing safe, reliable service and maintaining our A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Pest Prevention

Pests damage your property and the environment. They also cause serious health risks. Rodents and insects carry numerous disease-causing pathogens, contaminate food and other daily-use items and can worsen some respiratory conditions. They are also carriers of harmful venoms and can sting humans and animals. In some cases, a serious pest infestation can even be fatal.

Often, a pest problem can be prevented by taking several steps. These steps may include identifying and understanding pests, inspecting the area frequently for signs of pests, establishing action points and using the appropriate pest control methods.

Establishing an action point is a way of determining when it is necessary to initiate pest control measures. It is important to know when it is time to take action, because some pests can damage the environment and human health if allowed to spread uncontrollably. Pests that should be controlled immediately include invasive species, noxious weeds and plants that threaten public safety and health (like poison ivy).

In order to prevent infestations, it is important to remove sources of food, water and shelter. This includes keeping areas clean and free of clutter. Garbage should be placed in tightly sealed garbage cans and removed regularly. Ensure that doors and windows close properly and that cracks and crevices are caulked. It is also a good idea to plant plants that repel certain pests or provide nectar to beneficial insects, like chrysanthemums and marigolds.

Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is a systematic process used to manage pests by combining prevention and suppression methods in ways that reduce the need for toxic chemicals and other harsh tactics. IPM is suitable for urban, agricultural and wildland or natural areas and is useful in managing pests of all types.

It involves assessing a pest situation, environment and behavior and then selecting control measures that will be least damaging to people, wildlife, the environment and landscaping budgets. Preventive measures are based on the principles of monitoring, inspection and communication. The monitoring methods include scouting, identification and assessment of pest numbers, habitat and food and water supplies. The inspection and assessment methods can be conducted by professionals or by the pest population itself.

Pest Control Methods

The goal of pest control is to minimize damage caused by organisms such as insects, weeds, rodents and birds that threaten the health and beauty of plants or spoil food. Control methods may include physical removal, biological alteration or chemical suppression. An important part of IPM is threshold-based decision making, evaluating the extent to which pests are causing problems before taking action. For example, a few caterpillar holes in leaves of a garden plant may not be a serious enough threat to warrant control. However, if the caterpillars are chewing through entire stems or the foliage is discolored, then it is time to take action.

Physical controls include barriers and exclusion techniques. Barriers can be as simple as door sweeps, as effective as tarps and screens, or as complex as fences and wire mesh. These strategies create a boundary that pests can’t or won’t cross, and they are especially effective for pests that move along predictable paths. For instance, ants often travel under doorways to enter homes, but a barrier spray or door sweep keeps them out.

Biological pest control involves harnessing nature’s predators, parasites and pathogens to manage pest populations. This can be as simple as releasing ladybugs to eat aphids, or as sophisticated as microbe-based solutions engineered from bacteria. There is often a lag between when the population of the pest increases and when the natural enemies begin to have an impact, but this approach can be very effective.

Chemical pesticides come in a wide range of forms, from aerosol sprays and dusts to baits and gels. They work by poisoning or disrupting the nervous systems of the pests, killing them or preventing reproduction. They are regulated by the EPA, and they usually pose less of a risk to people than other types of chemicals, although some can still contaminate runoff water or harm beneficial organisms.

In order to reduce the need for chemical pesticides, keep plants healthy and remove weeds promptly. Seal cracks and crevices where pests might enter buildings or structures, and trim bushes and shrubs to eliminate places for them to hide. Garbage should be tightly sealed and disposed of regularly, and stored foods kept in containers with tight lids.

Pesticides

There are hundreds of pesticide products available for treating insects, rodents, weeds and plant diseases. Each one is designed for a specific pest and application method. Each one has an active ingredient that is biologically and chemically active against the target pest. Many pesticides also contain impurities and contaminants that are not a part of the active ingredient but that can still be hazardous to people, animals and the environment. These substances are called metabolites and are produced when the pesticide mixes with soil, water or air and breaks down.

Most pesticides are chemicals but may also be made of bacteria, viruses, plants or other natural materials. They include anything that kills or deters pests, modify their growth or damage, attracts pests or other things, changes the expected rate of a plant’s development or acts as a drying agent. Pesticides can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled or ingested.

In order to reduce risks of exposure to pesticides, preventive steps should be taken whenever possible. These steps include:

When using any pesticide, always follow the instructions and warnings on the label. This is particularly important with surface sprays and fogs. Immediately after applying a pesticide, remove or cover food and utensils, and keep people and pets out of the treated area until sprays have dried and dusts have settled.

Whenever possible, use alternative forms of treatment such as baits or traps. These are less harmful to human and animal health than the traditional chemical sprays. In the case where pesticides are necessary, they should be applied as close to the target organism as possible and used in the least amount required to control the problem.

When conventional chemical sprays are used, they should be rotated with other pesticides that have different modes of action. This will avoid creating resistance in the targeted organisms and also minimize exposure to nontarget species. Rotation requires switching to a new pesticide when about 2 or 3 generations of the targeted insect have passed since the previous spraying, and at the intervals recommended on the product label.

There are many alternatives to chemical pesticides, including biological controls and integrated pest management (IPM). These approaches emphasize prevention rather than simply removing or killing the target organism. They are often more effective, safer for people, pets and the environment, and less costly than conventional pesticides.