Accurate pest identification is critical to an effective control program. Physical controls include traps, screens, barriers, and fences. Water, shelter, and temperature changes can also limit pest populations. Contact Pest Control Tarzana now!
Eradication is rarely the goal in outdoor pest situations. Still, some targeted pests (such as Mediterranean fruit flies or gypsy moths) may be eradicated using genetic controls such as sterilization programs.
Pest control is the prevention or suppression of pests that damage, spoil or threaten property, people, animals, or plants. Pests include rodents (rats, mice, squirrels, hamsters), insects (e.g., ants, bees, wasps), and birds (e.g., seagulls, pigeons). In homes and urban environments, pests can cause significant economic and health problems. Pests can spread diseases such as hantavirus, salmonella, and leptospirosis. They can also contaminate food and damage or destroy crops.
Ideally, pest problems should be prevented by using structural and physical preventive methods before they become an infestation. Preventive steps may include sealing cracks and caulking, removing clutter and debris, maintaining cleanliness, and regular follow-up visits to keep minor problems from becoming large infestations.
Routine pest treatment helps provide a protective barrier around the property, deterring the entry of pests and stopping them from damaging property and spreading disease. This includes a thorough inspection of the entire premises by qualified pest control technicians, as well as recommendations for eliminating attractants and sealing entry points to prevent future infestations.
Threshold-based decision-making involves scouting and monitoring to determine when the pests cause unacceptable harm. A threshold is usually defined by the number of pests observed. For example, a few cockroaches seen in the kitchen may not justify controlling them; however, if they are found everywhere in the building, the pest control problem should be taken more seriously.
Some pests can be controlled with natural enemies such as parasites, predators, and pathogens. Biological control involves the release of these natural enemies into an area to control pests without the use of chemical sprays. The use of sterile males and pheromones is also used to control pest populations.
Other pest control methods include exclusion, repellents, hygienic cleaning, trapping, and other physical controls. Using natural and nontoxic pest control products is preferable to harsh chemicals, which can cause irritation, toxic fume inhalation, and even death. The best choice of product depends on the type of pest, the area to be treated, and local regulations. Some hazardous products, such as foggers and bombs, should never be used.
Suppression
In some cases, pests can be controlled without the use of chemicals. Preventive measures such as removing food, water and shelter sources, sealing cracks and crevices, and frequently cleaning surfaces can prevent pest establishment. Predictable weather patterns also affect pest populations by killing or suppressing them through direct action or indirect actions on their hosts. Examples of weather-related pest control include heavy rains and freezing temperatures, drought conditions, or sudden changes in temperature or day length.
Other natural controls include herbivory, parasitism, or disease organisms that naturally occur in the environment. These include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mites that attack or debilitate their host organisms to kill or reduce them. Biological pest control uses these organisms to manage pests, often in conjunction with human management activities.
For example, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is released in the field to kill caterpillars. The Bt toxin attacks the caterpillar’s midgut, and it works on more than 400 insect species without harming people or domestic animals.
When pest populations are high enough to damage plants, homes, or other assets, suppression methods are used to limit their numbers until they decline to acceptable levels. The goal is to maintain a balance between pests and their natural enemies, which may be achieved through monitoring, recording pest counts, and estimating whether the population is likely to reach damaging levels.
Some pests are easily recognized, such as ants crawling on the walls or flies buzzing in the ear. Others are more subtle, like nematodes burrowing in the soil and leaving small holes in plant leaves and stems. These and other signs of pests can alert you to the presence of a problem, but a professional inspection is needed to determine the extent of the infestation.
After an initial inspection, a pest control technician will design a treatment plan that includes interior and exterior treatments to prevent the spread of the pests. The plan will be tailored to the type of pest and its specific needs. This can involve baits, spraying, dusting, or other methods. Routine pest control can help preserve the value of your home and prevent costly repairs and replacements, as well as protect your health and safety.
Eradication
Eradication is rarely attempted in outdoor pest situations, where the goal is usually prevention or suppression. When it is, it must be accomplished without causing the pest to resurface elsewhere or return through an uncontrolled reservoir (such as the case of yellow fever). Eradication requires the ability to detect the microbe in its wild state (a difficult task), and diagnostic tools that can identify reversions in vaccine strains (like the challenge now facing poliomyelitis eradication efforts). It also requires the ability to replace natural control agents with manmade ones in time to prevent the pest’s population from rebounding.
In indoor areas, eradication is more feasible. In homes, for instance, an infestation of pests can spread dangerous bacteria that can contaminate surfaces and food, causing sickness. They can also deteriorate plants and create unpleasant smells. Pests also carry viruses, which can be spread from one person to another and cause disease.
To eliminate a pest infestation, start by getting rid of its food, water and shelter sources. Store foods in sealed containers, remove garbage regularly, and keep bushes trimmed away from the house to reduce nesting places for rodents. Fix leaky pipes, and don’t leave standing water in trays under sinks.
Next, seal cracks and crevices where pests can enter the home. Use caulk around cabinet edges and baseboards, and fill gaps with steel wool. Trim bushes and clear away debris from the yard to reduce shelter for ants, spiders, roaches, and other pests. Place sticky traps and baits where pests tend to be found, such as along skirting boards. If pesticides are used, make sure they’re designed for the pests and are applied safely.
Some people prefer to opt for integrated pest management, which combines prevention and extermination into a single strategy. This involves installing barriers to stop pests from entering the home or yard and using repellents to deter them. It also includes removing the pests’ food, water and shelter sources, such as cleaning clogged gutters, fixing leaky pipes, and storing garbage in tightly closed containers. Educating yourself about pests and the options available to control them is an important part of this approach.
Monitoring
Monitoring is the process of checking for pests and assessing their numbers and damage. It’s an important part of any pest control program and can help to determine if you’re achieving your desired results. Monitoring can also help you decide when to begin controlling pests by identifying the threshold levels at which control is required. This information can help you improve your pest control strategies by reducing the amount of time and effort spent controlling unwanted species.
Monitoring often involves searching for and identifying pests by hand, and may involve other methods of detection as well. These can include using a pest identification guide or pest traps. There are many different kinds of traps available, including sticky traps (which work on the principle that insects that walk or fly into them will get stuck and cannot escape), pheromone attractants, and pitfall traps.
Detailed record keeping is critical in any pest monitoring program. Professional pest managers typically utilize prepared log sheets that allow them to keep track of date, time, specific location, and pest identity. They may also note the type of pest management device inspected (bait stations, exterior rodent devices, insect light traps, glue boards and so on).
Pest monitoring is not just for commercial facilities. It can be used in residential settings to control pests such as ants, cockroaches and mosquitoes. It is also used in agricultural crops to monitor pest populations and their damage, as well as monitor environmental conditions such as weather and food or harborage availability.
Some pests must be monitored and controlled due to legal requirements, such as rabies or encephalitis in food facilities, and sanitary standards or building codes in residential and commercial structures. Other pests are controlled because of environmental concerns, such as water pollution from sewage or pesticides. Finally, some pests are controlled because they can cause disease in humans or animals or because they are a nuisance or a health risk. Regardless of the reason, it is always a good idea to monitor your pest problems regularly to ensure that you are achieving your desired results.