Pests are organisms that damage or threaten human health, safety, or economic interests. Natural forces like climate, natural enemies, food and water supply, shelter, overwintering sites, and other conditions influence the growth of most pest populations.
Blocking entry points, such as fixing leaky plumbing and keeping trash cans covered, can be an effective pest control measure. Trap crops or bait can also be useful. Contact Pest Control Abbotsford, BC, now!
Pests invade homes and food preparation environments and pose some health hazards. In addition to the physical damage they cause by contaminating food and tearing through walls, insulation, or wires, they can spread bacteria and other contaminants on their bodies. For example, rats and cockroaches carry numerous diseases that can be transmitted to humans who consume their droppings or contact their surfaces.
The easiest way to prevent pest infestations is by preventing them from accessing foodstuffs and shelters in the first place. This can be done by keeping garbage tightly closed and removing it from the premises regularly, making sure that windows and doors are kept shut, and blocking any holes with wood or other materials.
Clutter provides places for pests to breed and hide, so getting rid of things like stacks of papers or cardboard boxes can help discourage them. Similarly, draining standing water, sealing leaky pipes and reducing humidity by using dehumidifiers can also help to prevent pest problems.
In homes and food processing environments, it is also important to store food in sealed containers or in locations that are not easily accessible by pests. Ants, for instance, have five times as many odor receptors as other insects, according to Terminix, which means they can smell that leftover apple pie sitting on the counter from quite a distance. By storing food in airtight containers and moving trash to outside dumpsters on a regular basis, you can keep ants and other pests away from your food.
Pests can also interfere with agricultural production by eating or contaminating crops, which can lead to decreased yields and poor quality foods. This is a particular problem in developing countries where poverty and malnutrition are common. In order to reduce the reliance on, and corresponding risk from, chemical pesticides, preventive methods should be combined with reduced-risk treatment techniques.
Homeowners can also take a proactive approach by inspecting their property regularly for cracks, loose siding, holes in the foundation and roof and around utility lines and sealing or filling these openings as soon as they are discovered. This will help to prevent pests from entering the house, and it will also help to protect the property and its occupants from costly damage.
Suppression
When preventive steps fail, pests like rodents (rats, mice, squirrels), cockroaches, and termites can cause damage to property and health problems for humans. Rodents gnaw through electrical wires which can trigger circuit breakers and leave expensive repair bills; cockroaches spread diseases such as the plague, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, leptospirosis, and salmonella; and termites eat wood, causing structural damage to buildings. Pest control companies use a variety of methods to eliminate these pests and protect people and their possessions.
Some pests are controlled by putting baits in places where the pests live or travel, so that when they eat the bait, it poisons them. Other pests are trapped by physical barriers, while some are killed by heat or cold. Other pests are eliminated by spraying with chemicals or fogging devices. The choice of control method depends on the type of pest, the size of the infestation, and the effectiveness of non-chemical controls.
The most effective way to reduce pest numbers is to clean up cluttered areas, as this removes the food source for the pests. Clutter can also provide hiding spots for pests, so removing it makes the home or business less attractive to them. Sealing gaps and cracks is another useful measure, as this makes it more difficult for pests to enter the building.
If preventive measures are ineffective, the next step is to apply one or more pesticides. These are typically chemical substances that poison and kill the pests when they consume or are exposed to them. It is important that the pest control company has a licence to apply pesticides and that their technicians have received adequate training in the safe use of these products. The technician should be able to show you copies of the pesticide labels and application rates so that you can verify their credentials.
All Things Pest Control conducts rodent prevention treatments which involve placing bait stations in key areas that the rodents may frequent; generally ceiling voids, subfloors, sheds etc. It is normal in the first two weeks after this treatment to see a temporary increase in rodent activity, however the pest numbers should quickly decline.
Eradication
Pest infestations can cause expensive damage to homes and businesses. They also carry diseases that can be dangerous to human health. In addition, many pests damage crops and destroy infrastructure. Eradicating a pest problem requires a combination of prevention, suppression, and eradication. Prevention focuses on controlling the factors that attract and direct pests to their target areas. This includes eliminating food sources, sealing entry points, and removing shelters. Preventive measures also include cleaning up yard debris, storing foods in airtight containers, and keeping the home clean.
The use of natural predators and parasites, which feed on or infect pests, helps control their populations. Plants also have natural defenses against some pests. Weather conditions affect pests directly and indirectly by influencing the growth and development of their host plants. For example, unusually warm or cold temperatures can disrupt the normal life cycle of a plant-eating pest.
Biological and physical controls are often used in conjunction with chemical treatments. The trapping or encircling of pests with wires and sticky materials, for example, are forms of mechanical pest control. Chemicals may be used as baits to kill the pests or in sprays to deter them. Changing irrigation practices can also alter the environment to make it less favorable for pests.
Eradication is usually a rare goal in outdoor situations, but it is the objective in enclosed spaces such as greenhouses, factories, and indoor offices. In such situations, a strategy is often developed to eliminate the pest with minimum disruption to the environment and the economy.
Proper management of pests can help businesses and households save money. A few cockroaches in the kitchen, for example, can cost homeowners hundreds of dollars in repairs and medical expenses. In addition, pests that gnaw on electrical wiring can trip circuit breakers and cause costly power outages. The damage caused by a termite colony can weaken the structure of a building, and rodents can chew through wood to access water pipes or other services. By implementing preventive measures, people can limit their exposure to toxic chemicals and keep the costs of pest control down.
Monitoring
Monitoring is the process of checking for pests and assessing whether control is needed. It involves checking fields, buildings and other sites for signs of pests and determining their numbers. Pest monitoring can also include assessing damage and looking at how much harm they have caused. The results of monitoring are used to determine if pest populations have reached unacceptable levels and to select the most appropriate management strategy.
Ideally, pest monitoring should be done in ways that do not interfere with normal operations and produce little or no toxicity to humans or other organisms. The methods used should also be as effective and economical as possible. Monitoring usually involves visual inspection, trapping, and other forms of detection. Many pests are more likely to be found in crowded conditions or near sources of food or water, so the use of baits, physical barriers and other preventive measures is often necessary.
Some pests can cause significant problems in indoor environments. This is especially true in health care, food processing and commercial building facilities. For example, some pests can carry disease causing bacteria or cause physical damage to materials and equipment. In some situations, such as in operating rooms and other sterile areas of health care facilities, there is zero tolerance for pests.
Using an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy is a good way to monitor and control pests. This approach takes into account the biology of the pests, their needs and the environment in which they live. This allows for the use of non-chemical strategies such as changing cultural practices, habitat manipulation and resistance. It also includes the use of biological controls, which are natural alternatives to chemical pesticides.
Another tool for pest monitoring is the catch analysis, which involves comparing the number of pests caught in traps and other devices on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis. This data can then be trended to see if the population is decreasing or if more action is required.
Some pests can be controlled with mechanical and physical controls, which kill them or make their environment unsuitable for them. These methods include traps, screens, barriers, nets, radiation and other techniques.