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Reduce pest problems by taking away their food sources and shelter. Remove garbage regularly and reduce clutter where they can breed or hide. For more information, click the Kansas City Pest Control to proceed.
Pest identification is a key step in developing an effective pest control strategy. Identifying pests to species level allows you to gather important information such as the pest’s life cycle and natural enemies. It also helps you determine whether biological control is appropriate.
Generally, it is best to use the least toxic method to eliminate a pest problem. For example, if an insect infestation is in the house, try sealing up entry points or making sure there are adequate drains in basements and crawl spaces. If pesticides are used, the most effective way to use them is by spot application and targeting specific areas where the infestation is occurring.
In addition, when using pesticides, keep in mind that the treatment site is a complex ecosystem. This includes living organisms, such as people and pets, and nonliving environments, such as plants, soil, water, and structures. Unless you understand the interactions within this system, your pest control efforts could cause more harm than good.
To minimize the risk of pesticide failure, monitor pest populations regularly to assess the level of a problem. Monitoring techniques include scouting, trapping, and visual inspection. These methods can help you detect pests when they are at low levels and before their numbers increase to damaging levels.
In some cases, it may be possible to prevent or avoid an infestation altogether. For example, if you have a cockroach problem in the house, you can try to make the environment less attractive by eliminating food sources and moisture. Other preventive measures might include:
Scouting and monitoring should be done on a regular basis, from daily to weekly depending on the pest and environment. A flashlight and a telescoping mirror are useful tools to help you inspect dark, secluded areas, such as under leaves or behind equipment. A magnifier is helpful for examining small insect parts, frass (excrement), and other evidence of pest activity.
For insect pests, identification to order is necessary so that the proper biological control agent can be selected if chemical controls are needed. This is because most approved biological control agents (such as Bacillus thuringiensis) are species specific.
Pesticides
While we often think of pesticides as the insect killers, weed killers and fungicides that we purchase at the store, the term pesticide actually covers a broad spectrum of products. They are any substance or mixture of substances that is used to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate a pest. These include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, plant growth regulators, defoliants and desiccants.
Many chemicals used as pesticides are extremely toxic to humans and other animals. The risk of harm depends on the type of chemical and how it is used. The pesticide may enter the body through inhalation, ingestion or skin contact. When a person is exposed to a pesticide, it can cause immediate and chronic health effects, such as respiratory illness or neurological problems. When a person is exposed to pesticides over an extended period of time, it can lead to diseases such as cancer and reproductive disorders.
Most pesticides are derived from synthetic chemicals. Some are manufactured from living organisms such as bacteria, viruses or plants. Others are produced by fermentation or synthesis. A pesticide may take the form of a solid, liquid, powder or aerosol. The type of pesticide used will depend on the kind of pest that is being controlled.
When pesticides are used, they contaminate the air, water and soil. These contaminants can poison and kill organisms that are not the intended targets, as well as disrupt the natural balance of the ecosystem. For example, some pesticides pollute the water supply by killing off organisms that make the water clean enough to drink or irrigate crops. They also may “sterilize” soil, removing the microorganisms that are essential to healthy plant growth and food production.
The wide use of pesticides makes direct contact with them inevitable for some wildlife. The impact on a species or habitat can be acute, such as death from direct exposure, or chronic, as the result of continuous low-level exposure over long periods of time.
Many wildlife groups have worked to limit the amount of pesticides that are allowed to be used on their habitats. The group, Beyond Pesticides, for example, has challenged the Environmental Protection Agency when it tries to approve new pesticides that might harm endangered wildlife species.
Biological Control
Biological control is the use of living organisms (predators, parasitoids, and pathogens) to suppress pest populations. It can be done by importing and releasing natural enemies into fields or greenhouses, by conserving them and introducing them on a regular basis, or by mass rearing and periodic releases.
Agricultural pests are unwanted insects, mites, weeds, or plant diseases that damage crops or ornamental plants. These organisms are suppressed below damaging or intolerable levels by natural means, or, in the case of pesticides, through chemical controls. Biological controls are environmentally safe, energy self-sufficient, cost-effective and sustainable, and can be used in an integrated pest management program. Moreover, they are less likely to cause environmental harm than chemical pesticides and do not contribute to the development of resistance in target species.
Many of the organisms that are used as biological controls are specialized and highly specific to attack only the pests that they are designed to target. Consequently, they are often expensive to acquire and establish in a field or greenhouse.
In classical biological control, scientists identify the location of a potential pest’s origin and then travel to that region to collect the appropriate native or exotic natural enemy species to control the pest. The natural enemy is passed through a rigorous quarantine and testing process to ensure that it does not have undesirable effects on other species before being released. Examples of classical biological control include the use of decapitating flies against red imported fire ants and a group of flea beetles and thrips against alligator weed.
Other biological control mechanisms are less costly to acquire and establish, but still require careful design to ensure that they will be effective at controlling pests. For example, predators and parasitoids can reduce populations through direct consumption of the pests. In addition, some predators release non-consumptive chemicals that manipulate the behavior of their prey. These non-consumptive chemicals can be as effective in reducing pest numbers as direct consumption.
Another way to increase the effectiveness of biological control is to enhance the environment in which it occurs. Providing habitat that is useful to the organisms can help to attract and retain them, as well as to provide food and shelter for them. For instance, caterpillars and their parasites feed on certain flowers, which can be planted in the field to encourage the presence of these beneficial insects.
Prevention
Pests can cause major damage to properties and health issues for humans and animals. They are also a nuisance and can destroy the reputation of businesses such as restaurants or hotels. Preventative pest control is the best way to deal with this issue, preventing pests from invading buildings and environments. Preventative pest control involves identifying and blocking the entry points of pests into a building or environment, regular inspections, and use of proper repellants. It also includes reducing food and water supplies for the pests and keeping garbage cans closed at all times.
Some pests are a continuous problem and require frequent control, while others may come and go. Some pests are sporadic and only need to be controlled when they build up to an unacceptable level. Depending on the situation, a pest control strategy can be used that targets prevention, suppression, or eradication.
Prevention involves blocking the entrance of a pest into an environment by sealing cracks, using screens on windows and doors, and installing tight-fitting lids on garbage cans. Taking away the food, water and shelter sources for the pests can also prevent them from coming into homes or establishments. Clutter also provides places for them to breed and hide, so getting rid of it can help prevent infestations.
Other ways to keep pests out of a building include inspecting food shipments and patching holes in walls. Cleaning trash cans frequently and storing them outdoors or in the garage will also help reduce pests. It is also important to clean up spills, rinse and wash utensils after each use, and store foods in sealed containers.
If prevention methods fail, there are many chemical products on the market to control pests, such as aerosol sprays, dusts, baits, gels, or liquid insecticides. The EPA usually regulates these and do not harm other plants or animals, but people can be harmed by breathing in these chemicals, so it is important to follow the instructions on the product label.
When using chemical pesticides, it is important to remove food and cooking utensils from the area before spraying and to use surface sprays in out-of-the-way areas, such as along skirting boards. It is also a good idea to wear a face mask when applying any pesticide, and to avoid bringing children or pets into areas that are being treated.