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.