Author: Zachery Flynn

Pest control is essential for keeping your home and yard healthy. Whether it’s ants, rodents, or cockroaches, getting rid of unwanted guests is essential for your health and safety.

Pest control has three main goals: prevention, suppression, and eradication. Prevention involves preventing pests from causing harm, suppression reduces pest numbers to an acceptable level, and eradication destroys the pest population. Contact Seaside Pest Control now!

Pests are more than just a nuisance; they can contaminate food, cause asthma or allergies, damage clothing and furniture, and even start fires by chewing through wire. A little preventative care goes a long way in keeping pests at bay.

Prevention begins with removing the attractants that lure the pests to their homes or businesses. Store food in airtight containers like Tupperware or jars, and cover trash cans tightly. Regularly wipe down counters and floors to eliminate spilled food, crumbs, and other attractive materials.

Outside the home, keep woodpiles away from foundation walls and regularly clean gutters and debris piles. Trim grass and prune shrubs and trees to prevent their overgrowth into places where rodents can hide. Use caulking or other bug-proof materials to seal holes in the home’s walls, roof, and utility lines.

Biological Pest Control

This involves using organisms that naturally prey or parasitize the pests, such as predators, parasitoids, or disease pathogens. Some biological methods involve introducing the organisms in a controlled manner, such as when nematodes are introduced to control plant mites in orange groves. Classical biological controls include releasing natural enemies in the fields to reduce the level of pests below economic damage levels.

Other methods can be used to help reduce the risk of an infestation, such as putting out baits or traps to kill the pests when they’re small and before they become a problem. These baits and traps typically contain pheromones, carbon dioxide, odor or other substances that trigger the pests’ death or deter them from coming back.

Another important step is monitoring for signs of pests and promptly treating problems when they occur. In many cases, this can stop the problem before it becomes a serious issue.

In addition, employees at food plants should be encouraged to take precautions against carrying pests into the workplace on their clothing and belongings. This can prevent an entire line of production from being impacted by a single infestation of cockroaches, for example. By educating staff and providing training on what to watch out for, this risk can be reduced.

Suppression

When a pest population has grown beyond an acceptable level, suppression methods are used to reduce its numbers. The goal is to control the pest to a level where the damage it causes is no longer economically unacceptable. This requires an understanding of the life cycle and ecology of the pest, as well as a careful assessment of the costs and benefits of controlling it.

Suppression methods limit the number of insects, weeds, viruses, bacteria or vertebrate animals by eliminating or restricting their reproduction or dispersal. They can be preventive or curative. Preventive controls, such as regularly cleaning areas where pests are likely to live or quickly applying control measures when their populations are low, help avoid infestations. Curative controls, such as the use of chemicals or changes in cultural practices, reduce the environment that favors pest growth.

Pests are undesirable organisms that interfere with human activities, degrade the quality of agricultural crops and natural resources, or displace native plants and wildlife species. They can also alter environmental factors such as soil health, nutrient content and availability, fire regimes, and the amount of available moisture.

The biological control of pests utilizes predators, parasites, and pathogens to reduce pest numbers. The nematode Steinernema carpocapsae, for example, is an effective parasitic pest control. It is sprayed on the soil, where it kills fleas, grubs and other insects by injecting them with a toxic bacterium that invades their bodies and kills them from within.

Chemical control of pests uses products that are designed to kill or suppress the pests, while minimizing harm to non-target organisms. This typically involves a combination of methods such as cultural controls, limiting pesticide applications to areas of high pest density, and spraying alternating strips of a field. It also involves using less persistent pesticides, which reduce the likelihood that natural enemies will be exposed to the pesticide and become susceptible to it.

Mechanical and physical controls are devices, traps, screens, fences and barriers that kill the pests or make their environment unsuitable for them. They may include traps for rodents, mowing or hoeing weeds, steam sterilization of the soil for disease management, or barriers to keep birds and insects out. All pest control methods require personal safety, including reading product labels and wearing proper protective equipment (PPE).

Eradication

Eradication is the removal of a pest to the extent that it can no longer cause damage or disease. This requires intensive control measures that may include disease vaccination, quarantine, eradication programs, and other techniques (Breman and Arita 1980). In this stage of pest control, the focus is on eliminating the source of infection and stopping transmission to new populations.

In some cases, the intensity of eradication programs has led to the decline or even extinction of native invertebrate species that share habitat with a targeted pest. For example, a combination of intense eradication efforts and overall anthropogenic landscape changes caused the extinction of the Rocky Mountain grasshopper (Melanoplus spretus). Achieving eradication may require the involvement of several international agencies and organizations.

Chemical pesticides are among the most common tools used in eradication, and they can be applied to both the target organism and its environment. These substances kill or inhibit the growth of insects, weeds, and other unwanted plants, but they also pose significant health risks to humans. Many people suffer from allergic reactions to these substances, and some are severely or fatally ill.

Another approach to eradication is to use natural enemies of a pest, such as parasites, predators, or pathogens, to control it. This approach can be effective and is less costly than a traditional insecticide application. However, the degree of control often fluctuates, and there is a time lag between the introduction of a biological enemy and its impact on a pest population.

Some eradication programs are based on the use of parasitic nematodes, microscopic worms that live in soil. These worms are helpful in controlling fleas, grubs, and other insects that damage gardens. Nematodes can be sprayed in large quantities to quickly cover a wide area. Some of these nematodes, such as the cockroach-eating nematode Steinernema carpocapsae, are sold commercially.

Economic evaluations of eradication programs are complex and difficult to determine. One method consists of projecting future infection and vaccination costs, attaching values to these, and discounting them to produce an “eradication dividend.” This amount should then be compared with the cost of implementing the eradication program.

IPM

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a long-term approach to managing pests in cropland and gardens by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools and strategies. Its aim is to control and minimize pests without harming people, property or the environment.

A plant’s defenses can be overwhelmed by a variety of invaders, from rodents and nematodes to insects, birds, fungi and disease organisms. Affected plants can become unsightly and unproductive. IPM programs work to prevent these pests from becoming a problem by selecting the right plants for the site, planting them in the right way, and ensuring that they receive adequate water and nutrients.

When prevention fails, IPM includes a wide range of controls, starting with less toxic alternatives to strong treatment chemicals. When necessary, these include cultural, mechanical and biological measures such as:

Monitoring and scouting are key to an IPM program. Inspect and observe landscapes, crops, or indoor areas to determine the presence of pests and their level of damage. Accurately identify the pest and its host plant. Establishing action thresholds, which dictate the size, scope, and intensity of an IPM program, is important. This is especially important when dealing with children’s environments, where pesticides can pose a serious health hazard.

Pests often have many sources of food, water, and shelter in a landscape or building, so control techniques are designed to eliminate or reduce these resources. Eliminating their access to one or more of these is likely to dramatically reduce the number and severity of pests.

When an IPM program is implemented, it can save money in the long run by reducing the need for costly repairs and other problems that result from uncontrolled pest infestations. The program can also help minimize the need for pesticides in schools, where children spend a significant portion of their time. It can improve the learning environment by reducing health hazards associated with rodent and insect infestations, asthma triggers from cockroaches and other pests, and exposure to over-applied or misused pesticides. It can also provide a safe, clean space for children to play and learn.

Using the right type of pesticide for each situation helps keep pest populations below threshold levels and reduces the risk to humans and pets.

Natural barriers, such as mountains and large bodies of water, limit the spread of some pests. Natural enemies and the availability of food and shelter help control others. Contact Springfield MO Pest Control now!

Pests invade your home or business and can damage structures and disrupt your daily routine. Proper pest control measures can help you ward off unwanted critters, saving you money and preserving your property.

Prevention is usually the first step in controlling pests, as it involves taking steps to eliminate conducive conditions that attract them. These include sources of food, water, and shelter. Leftover food and crumbs, trash cans without covers, cracks in walls and open doors all provide inviting habitats for pests. Regularly clean counter tops, wipe down surfaces and store foods in sealed containers. Remove garbage on a regular basis and keep outside garbage cans tightly closed. Fix leaky faucets and plumbing, and don’t leave standing water or dishes on the kitchen sink or countertops.

The best way to prevent pest infestation is to learn about the specific pests you have and what options are available for their control. Avoid the temptation to solve your own pest problems with sprays or chemical products. These can cause harm to pets and children, contaminate food and can cling to carpets, clothing and furniture. Always read product labels and follow instructions carefully. Purchase your products from reputable, registered dealers and use them only as directed.

A good pest control program will also include regularly inspecting the interior and exterior of your property for signs of a problem. This will include checking for droppings, gnaw marks and nesting sites. It will also include examining outdoor areas for open or blocked entryways and correcting them. Then, to reduce the appeal of your premises to pests, trim trees and shrubs away from your structure, and store firewood securely.

Pests are most likely to enter homes and businesses when they seek food, water and shelter. This makes prevention a crucial part of pest control. In addition to cleaning regularly, storing food in sealed containers and reducing indoor clutter, pests may enter through open windows and unscreened doors, so it’s important to keep them shut as much as possible and to use screens on all exterior doors. If you have a screen door but don’t have a storm door, consider installing one, as pests can easily crawl through the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor.

Suppression

Pest control must consider the entire system within which the pest exists. This includes living organisms and nonliving surroundings such as the air, water and structures. It also includes the pest’s natural enemies, barriers, food and shelter sources, and other factors that influence population growth and damage. Unless all of these are taken into account, your pest control effort may have unintended effects and cause more harm than the pest itself. This is particularly important if the treatment site is outdoors. It is equally important in indoor spaces where the impact on people, pets and plants must be considered. When using pesticides, be sure to follow the advice on product labels and apply only as directed.

Preventive measures prevent pest infestations from developing. This includes removing conditions that encourage pests, such as overgrown or weedy areas that provide hiding places and food for them. Frequent cleaning of surfaces where pests tend to congregate can also help. For example, dusting or vacuuming can remove crumbs and other food sources that attract cockroaches or mice. Garbage should be disposed of on a regular basis and stored in tightly closed garbage cans to deter rodents.

Some pests are so dangerous to human health and safety or to property that action must be taken to eradicate them, whether they are in a home or commercial setting. In such cases, “action thresholds” are set that define when a pest population should be controlled. In other situations, eradication is done at a more general level.

Mechanical and physical controls kill pests directly or block them from entering or moving around a property. These include traps, screens, barriers, fences, nets and radiation. They can also include altering the environment, such as introducing plants that are resistant to pests or creating collections of items that are kept in ways that discourage them from breeding and thriving, such as by sealing cracks, caulking windows and doors, keeping collections dry and cool and using sweeps and astragals to close gaps under doors.

Biological pest control uses predators, parasites and other natural organisms to suppress pest populations. Examples of this include the use of mites that control mite pests in orchards and nematodes that control harmful soil grubs. This method of pest control is often referred to as integrated biological control.

Eradication

Pests cause damage to crops and property, spread disease, contaminate food and threaten human health. They also interfere with economic activities, as in the case of rats chewing through electrical wires which could result in costly repairs and loss of power. In addition, some pests carry allergens which are known to cause medical problems ranging from mild to severe for humans. Pest control involves managing these problems by using preventive techniques to reduce pest populations and/or controlling them through suppression and eradication.

Termite infestations can cost homeowners thousands of dollars in repair costs, and some even lose their homes. Cockroaches can transmit diseases that require expensive medical attention. A variety of agricultural pests can damage crops and lower yields. Pesticides may be needed to help manage these pests.

A wide variety of methods are available for controlling pests in both outdoor and indoor environments. These are categorized as cultural, biological, chemical or mechanical and can be combined in an integrated pest management program. Cultural techniques include crop rotation, good sanitation, soil conditioning, and the use of beneficial insects or bacteria to reduce pests.

Chemical control includes the use of sprays, fogging devices, baits and traps. It is important to select the most suitable product for the situation and always read and follow label directions and safety warnings. It is also wise to consider less toxic options, such as plant growth regulators, which can reduce the need for more hazardous chemicals.

Biological and mechanical methods are often more effective than chemical controls. For example, rodents can be controlled by introducing natural predators such as cats or dogs into the environment, or by planting flowering plants that repel mice and other rodents. Garden pests can be managed by cultivating beneficial insects such as nematodes or earthworms, which compete with the pests for nutrients in the soil.

In general, eradication is a rare goal in outdoor pest situations, and is only attempted when it is clear that the pests have become established and are spreading rapidly. Such eradication programs have been implemented for the Mediterranean fruit fly, gypsy moth and fire ants.

Biological Control

The goal of biological control is to manipulate natural enemies (predators, parasites, nematodes, and pathogens) to reduce pest numbers. Natural enemies are more effective and safer for humans, the environment and pets than chemical pesticides. Insects, mites and nematodes are commonly used in biological control schemes.

A major advantage of biological control is that it does not create resistance in the pest population as conventional chemical pesticides often do. In addition, biological agents can be released directly into the environment without harming beneficial insects or other organisms.

Biological control methods are most often employed against exotic pests that have been inadvertently introduced from elsewhere, rather than those that are intentionally brought into the environment for commercial purposes or by gardeners who want to get rid of undesirable plants. Biological control involves extensive preliminary studies to develop an in-depth understanding of the pest and its habitat, and of the native organisms that naturally coexist with it. These organisms, referred to as “natural enemies,” are collected in their native habitat and then reared in large numbers for release in the field. These releases are called “classical” or “importation” biological control.

Another type of biological control is referred to as “augmentation” biological control. Augmentation is a technique in which existing natural enemies that occur in the field are increased through changes in landscape management practices. This may include providing food sources for natural enemies, such as leaving patches of a desired plant untreated with herbicide, or creating new habitats where they can flourish, such as digging channels in a saltmarsh to connect pools of water where frogs prey on mosquito larvae.

Another method of boosting natural enemy populations is called “inundative” biological control. This method is similar to the way conventional pesticides are applied, in that it is generally done after a pest outbreak has occurred. Inundative biological control includes releasing a great number of natural enemies (such as bacteria, viruses or fungi) in the area where the pest is found. These natural enemies spread to other areas by spreading their spores, which can be carried on the wind or picked up by insects as they move through the infested area.