Category: Pest Control

Pest Control

Marnie Holloway Pest Control , , , ,

Cleaning up food crumbs and trash, keeping counters and floors free of debris, and removing bird feeders from the yard are basic steps to pest control. It is also important to keep entry points such as cracks in walls and unscreened windows closed.

Another option is to provide natural enemies, such as parasitic nematodes, to reduce the number of unwanted pests. These can be sprayed into the soil. Contact Killian Pest Control now!

Pests are attracted to food processing environments for the water, nutrients, and shelter they provide, and their presence can cause damage to equipment or products, physical contamination of foodstuffs (droppings, fecal matter, intestinal worms), and contamination with disease-causing microorganisms (germs) carried on bodies and surfaces. Control is essential in commercial, institutional and government facilities to protect products, employees, customers, and the public.

A preventive approach to pest control is possible in most situations, and integrated pest management (IPM) focuses on prevention with the use of reduced-risk treatments. The first step in IPM is identifying the pest, and its specific needs and environment, to develop a treatment plan that targets only the pest and its habitat. IPM strategies can slash pest control costs and complaints by as much as 90 percent and still be just as effective.

IPM techniques include cleaning up spills and crumbs, keeping trash containers closed, washing down surfaces regularly, mowing and picking up yard debris, fixing leaking pipes and faucets, and blocking entry points through walls, windows and screens with caulking or other materials. In addition, the use of pheromone traps can be an effective way to lure and kill pests without using chemicals.

Routine inspection and monitoring is a key element of any pest control program. This allows for the detection of early infestations, so they can be corrected before they spread and cause significant damage. IPM programs also can preserve the value of a home or business, by preventing costly repairs and replacements due to pest damage.

When pests are detected, it is important to act quickly. However, it is critical that this reaction be a controlled one. Many people have a knee-jerk response to the sight of a pest and reach for their can of insect spray, but this may do more harm than good. Instead, call in a professional. Licensed exterminators understand pest behavior and treatment methods, and can often offer more comprehensive solutions that are safer for you and your family. They can also take the guesswork out of choosing the right method for your particular situation.

Suppression

A pest is an organism that damages plants, crops or structures. In general, damage from pests can be reduced to an acceptable level by the use of cultural, biological or chemical control methods.

Pests are usually present in nature at low levels, but their populations can grow to damaging levels because of the availability of suitable hosts or favourable conditions. Optimal plant growth can be maintained with good agronomic practices, such as proper seeding rates and plant spacing; the use of fertilizers with balanced nutrients; and watering to ensure adequate moisture without excess.

Some species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and mammals feed on or parasitize pests and help to keep their numbers below damaging levels. Many plant-eating pests are also preyed upon by predatory insects and mites, or destroyed by disease pathogens.

The presence of natural enemies or resistance to pests may make it necessary to control them using pesticides. The aim is to minimize the use of pesticides and cause the least possible harm to the environment and non-target organisms. The use of crop rotation, introducing new varieties into fields, selecting plants that are resistant to pests, or the application of fungicides can all reduce the need for pesticides.

In some situations, such as a severe outbreak of gypsy moth, fruit fly or potato beetle, it may be necessary to use chemicals to suppress pest populations and prevent them from reaching damaging levels. Generally, it is best to avoid using pesticides in the landscape, as they can disturb or kill native insects and other beneficial organisms, or affect the quality of produce.

Biological pest control is the use of natural enemies to manage unwanted organisms, such as the release of predatory or parasitic insects or plant pathogens. Ideally, the introductions are a part of an integrated pest management plan. Often, the introductions are mass-reared in an insectary and then released into the field. This approach is known as augmentative biological control, and it can be very effective when used in greenhouses or vegetable or fruit fields.

Other types of biological control involve the use of bacteria or fungi that attack the pests directly. For example, Bacillus thuringiensis releases a bacterium that paralyzes the stomach muscles of caterpillars, making it impossible for them to digest food. Other bacterial biocontrol agents target specific pests, such as the thrips and whiteflies that plague lettuce fields. Fungi that control pests are usually spread by spores that germinate on the pest’s cuticle and develop special structures to penetrate the bug.

Eradication

Eradication is often less of a goal in outdoor pest situations than prevention and suppression. However, eradication of some insects may be important for maintaining healthy ecosystems. For example, if an insect is an agricultural nuisance, eradication techniques can be used to lower populations to sustainable levels. These methods include the use of insecticides and habitat modification. The latter involves the alteration of landscapes to prevent pests from traveling to nearby crops or habitats.

In a commercial setting, eradicating pests can be a complex task. The first step is identifying the pests present and their breeding and feeding habits. In addition, the premises must be surveyed for possible points of ingress and egress. This information should then be incorporated into an integrated pest management (IPM) plan that includes a schedule of inspection and monitoring, along with strategies to keep the property unattractive to pests.

The main objective of an IPM program is to optimize crop production while protecting the environment and public health. This is accomplished through natural, cultural, and biotechnological means. Natural controls include the use of predators and parasitoids to control pests, as well as introducing plants that are resistant to specific pests through genetic engineering.

Biological methods of pest control can be a cost-effective way to deal with infestations. For example, parasitic nematodes attack grubs and other soil-dwelling pests and kill them by injecting them with toxic bacteria. These tiny worms are also useful against fleas and cockroaches, and they can be applied to soil in sprays or drenches.

Other forms of biological pest control involve utilizing fungi that feed on insects, such as nematodes and trichogramma fungi. This can be done by applying fungicides or planting them in fields. In addition, beneficial nematodes and bacteria can be introduced into a field to help reduce the population of pests.

In addition to the above, physical barriers can be implemented to make a space less attractive to pests. These include repairing cracks in walls and ceilings, reducing the number of openings for entry by installing sweeps or astragals, repairing gaps under doors, and sealing wall and ceiling penetrations. Additionally, clutter should be removed as much as possible to prevent hiding places for pests.

Monitoring

Pest control involves monitoring pest populations, identifying the conditions under which they become problematic and then taking action. The activities that are required for monitoring depend on the kind of pest, but may include scouting (looking for related kinds and numbers of insects), trapping, examining damage to crops and plants, inspection of structures for habitation by pests or signs of pest activity, and observing for the presence of parasitoids.

The scouting or checking process also helps identify pest threshold levels, the population sizes at which a specific kind of pest must be controlled, so that control strategies can be initiated at the correct time. This information is useful in avoiding unnecessary use of pesticides, and in reducing the number of chemicals that must be applied to the crop.

Some of the pests that must be monitored in a food processing environment are environmental, entering the factory from the surrounding environment, and others are associated with raw materials, known as stored product pests. Inadequate pest control can lead to losses of yield, deterioration of the product and contamination with disease-causing microorganisms or foreign substances.

In a food processing environment, the monitoring of pests can be carried out by examining the product for damage and physical contamination, by spotting or trapping the pests, or by detecting their odors. Monitoring can also involve assessing the cleanliness of the plant, recording and monitoring the environmental conditions, and assessing the quality of the pesticides used.

Devices and machines that physically trap, alter or prevent the entry of pests are called mechanical controls. These can include screens, barriers, fences, netting and radiation. Some foods, chemicals or other substances can also repel or deter pests. Pheromones, artificial versions of the odorous chemicals that female insects emit when seeking males for mating, can be used to confuse them and reduce their numbers.

Integrated Pest Management involves using biological control agents to replace or supplement chemical pesticides. This requires close interaction between agricultural practices, pest and natural enemy communities and agroecosystems. It has gained in popularity, especially among growers of organic and ecological products, due to concerns over pesticide residues and their potential toxicity to humans and other organisms.

Insects, Rodents, Weeds, and Other Pests

Marnie Holloway Pest Control , , , , ,

Preventing pests by removing their food, water, or shelter is one way to control them. This includes storing food in sealed containers and removing garbage regularly.

Sealing cracks and holes is another important step to prevent pests from entering your home. This is especially helpful for scavenging pests like mice and rats, which can cause damage by chewing and gnawing. Contact Pest Control Boise now!

Insects are the most abundant animals on the planet, occupying every conceivable ecological niche and creating a complex biological foundation for terrestrial ecosystems. Insects decompose and cycle nutrients, disperse seeds, maintain soil structure and fertility, control populations of other organisms, including predators, parasitoids and disease vectors and provide a major food source for mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Insects also pollinate plants and can be beneficial in agricultural settings.

Pest control often is necessary for crops, garden areas and lawns. However, only a small percentage of insects cause damage. Most insects are natural part of a healthy ecosystem, acting as predators, parasites and pollinators. The loss of these species would have a devastating effect on the environment.

Many of the same factors that affect crop plants and their pests also affect insect population growth. Weather conditions, especially temperature and day length, affect insects’ activity and their capacity to reproduce. Rain, freezing temperatures, drought and wind can kill pests, suppress their growth or carry them away. Insects’ natural enemies can also control their numbers. Birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and some mammals prey on some insects, reducing their abundance. Other predators, such as parasitic wasps and flies, lay their eggs inside pest species, lowering their population levels.

The size of a pest depends on the species, its life cycle, and the habitat in which it lives. Some insects live in a solitary phase, increasing their numbers slowly over time, while others enter a gregarious phase and form enormous migratory swarms that can destroy crops. Desert locusts and European gypsy moths are examples of this type of pest.

Eradication of outdoor pests is a rare goal in most situations, primarily because of the difficulty and expense involved. In some cases, such as with Mediterranean fruit flies and fire ants, eradication programs are supported by governments. Eradication is a more common goal in indoor pest situations, where the environment is less complicated and it is easier to contain and eliminate pests.

Some chemicals are used to control insects. Pheromones, which mimic the signals that female insects use to attract males, can be used to lure pests into traps. Reproduction can be interfered with by introducing genetically modified strains of insects that lack certain hormones that control reproduction. Nematodes, tiny microscopic roundworms that live in the soil, can be used to reduce pest populations by killing them from the inside. The technique is labor intensive and nematodes do not last long, so they must be applied frequently.

Rodents

Rodents are warm-blooded mammals that can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They have oversized front teeth for gnawing and “check” teeth that are adapted for chewing, enabling them to consume a wide variety of items. Rodents are a nuisance and can cause significant damage to structures, crops, buildings, and personal property. They also carry and transmit diseases.

Rats and mice are often a source of anxiety for people who own pets because they may eat or contaminate pet food. They also may leave feces or carry fleas that can make pets sick. Generally, rodents are not aggressive, but they will bite when cornered or startled.

While some rodents are considered pests, others play important ecological roles in grasslands and forest by spreading seeds and spores, providing prey for predators and scavengers, and keeping vegetation from becoming overgrown. However, many species of rodents, such as the Norway rat, can be problematic when they take up residence in homes or businesses.

The public was more certain than expected that they would contact their local authority if they experienced rodent nuisance, and significantly more likely to expect that the service provided by the pest control sector should be humane. The public was also more certain than the sector predicted that everyday methods for preventing rodent nuisance (excluding them from houses, sealing cracks in walls, storing food in sealed containers and disposing of waste properly) should be used before resorting to lethal pesticides.

A professional pest control technician should visit the site of a rodent problem and take an integrated approach to solving it, using monitoring equipment to confirm entry points, determine the size of the infestation, and locate rat harbourage areas. The technician should then recommend a proofing strategy and decide whether traps or rodenticides are best. If traps are used, they should be designed to avoid re-infestation and set correctly to reduce the risk of rodent bait being taken by other animals, such as birds or snakes. If poison is used, it should be formulated to be non-toxic to children and pets.

Biological Control

Biological control is the use of natural organisms to manage pests. It can be used to control insects, weeds, rodents or diseases. Biological controls are less harmful to the environment than chemical pesticides because they do not leave behind toxic residues. They can also be used to control invasive species.

Using natural enemies to control pests is an integral part of integrated pest management (IPM) and organic farming systems. In this approach, natural predators and parasitoids are introduced to control pests that threaten the economic viability of crops. These natural enemies are carefully screened to ensure they will not have adverse effects on native plants or other non-target organisms. When suitable candidates are found, they are sent to the pest’s native habitat for study and, if promising, are shipped back to be introduced in an area where the target pest is abundant.

The goal of classical biological control is to establish a stable population of the potential enemy that reaches balance with the pest over a long period of time. This type of control is most successful with sedentary, or year-round-growing, pests such as the citrus budworm Icerya purchasi in Florida, and the gypsy moth and Mediterranean fruit fly in Europe. It is difficult to apply this approach to migratory or sporadic pests, or to situations where the population of the natural enemy may be disturbed by habitat manipulation or agricultural practices.

Another technique, augmentative biological control, is based on the same principles as classical biological control but is used primarily against exotic or invasive pests that have inadvertently been introduced into new areas. Natural enemies are collected from the country or region of origin of the pest, inoculated into an environment where they will be released, and allowed to build up a population large enough to suppress the target pest. Augmentative biological control is most often employed in greenhouses, nurseries and some fruit or vegetable fields, where a number of predators or parasitoids can be mass-reared in insectaries and then applied en masse to control pests.

Both classical and augmentative biocontrol approaches require extensive research into the biology of the target pest, the potential natural enemies, their behavior, ecology, and the environment in which they will be introduced and released. In addition, specific natural enemies are chosen to match the characteristics of the targeted pest. For example, a predatory mite, Amblysieus swirskii, feeds on thrips, whiteflies and broad mites, while a parasitoid, Phytoseiulus persimilis, attacks only spider mites.

Chemical Control

The pests that cause significant harm to crops in Napa County are usually arthropods. They are also a major threat to human and animal health by transmitting diseases, particularly in the case of mosquitoes and ticks. The economic loss of agricultural crops to insect pests runs into billions, and this is exacerbated by the constant emergence of new invasive pest species, widespread resistance to chemical pesticides, and geographical expansion of existing pests.

A wide range of biological, physical, cultural, and genetic methods can be used to control pests. Integrated pest management (IPM) involves the use of all these control methods in a coordinated manner, using a mix that is tailored to the particular pest situation, and that considers both short and long-term impacts on the ecosystem.

Chemical pesticides kill or repel pests by acting as nerve toxins, growth regulators/inhibitors, or pheromone disrupters. They can be organic or inorganic and may be broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum. They can be delivered directly to the pest, or into the environment, for example through tillage and irrigation. In addition to being toxic to pests, they can also be toxic to non-target organisms such as the pest’s natural enemies, persist in the environment causing soil contamination, water quality and air quality problems, biomagnify in food chains, or have other adverse environmental effects.

The goal of pest control is to reduce the number of pests to a level below which their damage becomes unacceptable. There are often several pests present, and controlling all of them is usually not feasible. The goal of pest management is to achieve this threshold with a combination of control tactics that are economical, safe for the environment and human inhabitants, and do not have unacceptable side-effects on other species in the ecosystem.

Phytosanitary measures, including good sanitation, help to keep populations of harmful organisms below damaging levels. The judicious use of cultural and physical control methods can further depress pest populations. For example, hand-picking can be effective for some horticultural pests, especially those with brightly colored foliage, such as Colorado potato beetles or Mexican bean beetles. Similarly, diligent shaking of plants, such as plum curculio beetles on grapes or tomato hornworms on vegetables, can dislodge these insects and allow them to drop off the plant.