Identifying and monitoring pests helps you decide whether they can be tolerated or should be controlled. This information also enables you to select the best management methods and time of application.
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Insects are among the most common pests people encounter, especially in residential settings. They may also be a problem in food processing or catering businesses, where pest control specialists are called out to deal with infestations of cockroaches, bedbugs, flies, and wasps.
Pesticides, which kill insects on contact, can be used to control many types of insect pests. These can be granulated or spray-on chemicals and are usually specific for the type of pest to which they are targeted. However, these substances may harm other insects and animals that are not pests, so they must be used carefully and sparingly.
Other insect pest control methods involve predators and parasitoids, which feed on or otherwise harm pests. Predators and parasitoids can include birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, mammals, other vertebrates, and wellness such as spiders, lacewings, and ladybugs.
Pheromones can also be useful in controlling insect populations. Manmade pheromones, for example, can confuse male and female insects, preventing mating and reducing population levels.
Other natural pest control methods include nematodes, which are tiny microorganisms that can help suppress insect populations by attacking them from within. These are applied to the soil, and insects die from internal infection when ingesting them. However, nematodes require proper working conditions, and they take time to establish themselves in the soil.
Integrated pest management is another important way to reduce the need for chemical pest control. This involves carefully monitoring pest problems and preventative measures such as removing food, water and shelter sources for the pests. It also includes scouting, which is the regular searching for, identification and assessment of pests and the damage they are doing. This information helps determine when action should be taken. For example, seeing a few wasps around the house may not warrant an immediate response, but seeing them every day in increasing numbers probably does. A pest control specialist can advise on what physical, biological, and chemical controls will best manage the situation.
Rodents
Rodents are warm-blooded mammals that, like humans, can be found throughout the world. Their oversized front teeth are specially adapted for chewing, and they cause a great deal of damage in and around homes. They are also carriers of a wide variety of disease organisms and pose a serious threat to people, pets, and livestock.
The best way to prevent rodent infestations is through pest control. A thorough inspection can identify the species of rodent, where they are nesting, and what factors are attracting them to your building or property. This information is used to develop a comprehensive rodent strategy that eliminates them and reduces their numbers and will be tailored to your individual needs.
Preventing rodents requires depriving them of food, water, shelter and access to your home or business. Inspections should include examining the outside of structures for entry points and sealing them with caulking, steel wool, or other materials as needed. Inside the house, garbage cans should be tightly closed and compost piles turned regularly, to prevent rodents from gaining easy access. All doors should be properly sealed with sweeps and door sweeps, and clogged drains should be repaired.
Rats are a particular problem in upstate New York, where they are attracted to food sources including citrus, avocados, and other fruits as well as nuts and seeds. These plants are also a source of shelter for rats, which often enter houses through small holes. A good sanitation program is essential to help reduce rat populations, and may include keeping food in closed containers (rats are attracted to pet food, garbage cans, bird feeders), removing stale or damaged foods from the kitchen, keeping wood piles elevated 18 inches off the ground, and maintaining proper landscaping.
Proper trapping techniques are also important. Traditional snap traps work well for rodents such as rats, but the kind of bait, trap placement and location must be carefully considered to ensure success. Since rodents are primarily nut and seed eaters, peanut butter, hazelnut spread or other similar products are commonly used baits. It is also a good idea to use gloves when handling traps, as rodents are able to detect the smell of human scent and will avoid traps that have been handled by humans.
Birds
Birds are often perceived as cute and desirable, but they can be a big problem for businesses. Their droppings tarnish company images, pose a slipping hazard and are the source of more than 60 diseases that can make employees and customers sick. And they are a constant nuisance – cleaning up after them costs time and money.
There are a number of ways to deter birds, but only some are effective at controlling a population without killing them. Spikes, netting and wires are physical deterrents that prevent birds from landing where they are not wanted. Deterrents can also include sonic units that broadcast frightening predator calls to birds, or ultrasonic frequencies that are irritating for them but not to humans. Plastic decoys of owls, hawks and snakes can be effective as well. But they must be moved regularly, or the birds will become accustomed to them.
Some deterrents use scent or taste to keep birds away. Products like turf aversion, goose repellent and fogging agents deter pest birds by making the area smell or taste unpleasant to them.
A good PCO will use a mix of deterrents to control birds in a building, depending on the specific situation. For example, a company with an outdoor break room may need to discourage people from feeding birds, while a business with a rooftop roosting site will want to use sonic and deterrent devices.
The best way to control birds is by exclusion, which prevents them from settling in an area. This is a longer-term solution that requires more expertise to implement and maintain, but it provides the greatest peace of mind for business owners.
Exclusion methods include spikes, netting and wires to block the access of birds to ledges, sills, overhangs, roof areas and HVAC units. Other solutions include sonic and acoustic units that emit distress signals to birds, as well as non-lethal gels and electronic devices that deter them without harming them. Regular sanitation programs to remove food and nests can also help reduce the numbers of unwanted birds. By using a variety of these techniques, a PCO can create an attractive and safe environment for his or her building’s tenants and customers.
Other Animals
Pest control includes not only insect and rodent infestations, but also nuisance birds and other mammals. Zoos, like any other animal facility, must take measures to prevent pest populations from building up to unacceptable levels. A variety of pest control techniques are used, but the most important of these is prevention. Prevention focuses on assessing the environment for areas where pests might breed, feed, or lay eggs, then removing or preventing access to those places.
Some animals are naturally effective pest control agents, and can be used to help manage the pest population in a safe and humane manner. These include cats, dogs, raccoons, opossums and skunks. When these animals can be enticed to stay away from homes, they can be an effective deterrent against pests like termites and mice, preventing them from chewing through wires and insulation.
In addition to these natural predators, some species of bats are extremely helpful in pest control. These nocturnal creatures are often associated with scary images, but they play an essential role in the ecosystem by pollinating plants and spreading seeds. They also consume large amounts of insects, especially mosquitoes, greatly reducing their numbers and the risk of disease transmission.
The goal of pest control is to reduce or eliminate the number of pests to an acceptable level without harming beneficial wildlife and the environment. The best way to achieve this goal is through integrated pest management (IPM), which involves assessing the problem, determining appropriate expertise, devising a plan, implementing the plan and continuously evaluating and improving the program.
There are many ways to help prevent pests in the first place, including keeping garbage cans tightly closed and not overflowing, securing trash bags and keeping areas clean of food scraps. Regularly checking for aphids, flies, fruit flies and other insects on trees and shrubs, as well as assessing soil conditions to make sure there are no standing water or other moisture sources, is a great start. Finally, some simple, household products can be used for insect control in the home – a line of cream of tartar, red chili powder, paprika or dried peppermint will keep ants at bay.