Pests invade homes, businesses and gardens and can cause property damage as well as health issues. Ignoring them can lead to a full-blown infestation.
The first step in pest control is to find a specialist you trust. Start by checking online reviews and recommendations from friends, family and colleagues. Contact Pest Control Chesterfield MO now!
In order to control pests, managers must first identify them. This involves determining whether the insects, plants or microorganisms present on the property are harmful. This requires knowing how the pests typically behave, what they eat and where they breed. It also involves recognizing when the pests are most active so that preventative actions can be taken to keep them at bay.
Signs of pest infestation include droppings and damage to items and areas that are commonly affected by the pests. Droppings can be difficult to spot, especially when they are tiny, and damage may not appear until the infestation has reached a critical mass. Footprints are another easy way to identify the presence of pests. They leave distinctive marks that resemble more of a smear than a footprint.
Pests can also cause damage to plant tissue or spread diseases from one affected crop to another, depending on the species and environmental conditions. Many pests have chewing mouthparts that pierce or bite into specific plant tissues. This type of damage results in loss of yield and may cause a plant to die. Other pests have sucking mouthparts that puncture or extract sap from plant tissues. This damages leaves, flowers and fruit.
Some pests also carry bacteria that can be detrimental to human health. They can transmit these diseases through their fur, droppings, saliva and urine. These diseases can cause illness or even life-threatening complications for humans who come in contact with contaminated areas.
Once a pest is identified, the manager can then use a variety of methods to eliminate them. These can range from insecticides to nematodes. Whenever possible, managers should try to identify the pests down to the species level. This will help them understand how they are able to survive in certain environments, and will allow them to develop preventative strategies that can eliminate the pests without using harsh chemicals.
Pesticides
A pesticide is a chemical that prevents, destroys or controls unwanted plants or animals. There are many types of pesticides, but they are largely grouped into families by their mode of action on the target organism. Some are biodegradable and break down quickly in the environment; others persist for months or even years. The risks associated with pesticide use decrease dramatically with proper application and by following the label instructions carefully.
The most common pesticides are herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Herbicides kill or control weeds and other unwanted vegetation; fungicides kill mildew and other fungi; and insecticides kill insects. Each of these categories has a wide range of products. Insecticides are formulated in liquid, solid and gaseous forms.
Many of the chemicals used in pesticides are toxic to humans and pets. They may be absorbed by inhalation or through the skin. The OSH Answers document Pesticides – Working Safely describes how to minimize the risk of exposure.
Wear the protective clothing suggested in the product’s instructions when mixing, applying and storing pesticides. For example, to minimize dermal absorption while spraying, wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt with rubber gloves. When handling concentrated or highly toxic pesticides, wear a safety mask and goggles.
Almost all pesticides pose some health risks, and some are extremely hazardous. Some, like organochlorines (such as DDT and DDE), are acutely toxic; they attack an insect’s nervous system and can also harm humans and other organisms that come into contact with them. Others, such as pyrethrins and azadirachtin, are less acutely toxic but still affect the nervous system.
Some pesticides, such as space sprays and termite treatments, are fast-acting and break down quickly in the environment; other types, such as surface sprays, linger for days, weeks or longer. The amount of time a pesticide remains in the environment depends on its chemical makeup, its form and how it is applied.
Pesticides may contaminate the air, ground and water when they run off fields, escape storage tanks or are spilled. They may be carried by wind, rain or water in rivers, lakes and oceans, contaminating soil, groundwater and fisheries. They can also contaminate drinking water when they seep through soil and into wells.
Nematodes
Beneficial nematodes are tiny soil-dwelling creatures that infect and kill harmful, soil-inhabiting insect pests. They are a natural predator that is safe for plants and humans.
Nematodes are produced in laboratories, then packaged and shipped to gardeners for application to their gardens. They are available online and at many organic garden centers, as well as specialty garden retailers. The key to successful nematode applications is a good match between the target pest and the specific nematode species.
Each nematode species has its own host range and searching strategy. Some, such as Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema carpocapsae, use an active search (cruiser) strategy while others, such as Steinernema hebraica and Steinernema mutilans, tend to be sedentary and ambush their insect hosts. Once a nematode finds its insect host, it enters through the natural openings (anus, spiracles and mouth) and releases bacteria that kill and liquify the insect from within.
Once the nematodes are released in the garden, they move through the soil looking for an insect host, using the gaps and spaces between soil particles to travel. To be effective, the soil must be moist but not excessively wet, and it should be warm enough for the nematodes to survive but not too hot for them to function.
It takes three to seven days for the nematodes to begin to work, with full disintegration of the pest occurring over two to four weeks. This method of control can be combined with other strategies, such as crop rotation and companion planting, for optimum effectiveness.
When you purchase nematodes, make sure they are the correct species for your target pest and that they are fresh (not expired). They are sensitive to light and should be kept in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to apply them. To ensure the highest rate of success, water the area where you’re planning to treat just before applying them. The water should be filtered and chlorine-free (sink or hose), and should not contain any salts, as these will interfere with the nematode movement. It is also important to apply the nematodes in early morning or at dusk to avoid exposure to sunlight, as this will detract from their activity.
Prevention
When pests are not dealt with promptly, they can do serious damage. Termites, for instance, can eat through the structure of homes, leaving them vulnerable and costly to repair. It’s much less expensive to treat a pest infestation before it gets out of hand, and this also reduces the amount of chemicals required.
Prevention is a key concept in hygiene management and is usually combined with reduced-risk treatment methods. This approach reduces the need for chemical pesticides, minimizing the risk of toxic effects on humans and animals. It also empowers technicians to take a more sustainable approach to pest control.
The most effective preventive measures include removing the food and water sources that attract pests. These can include storing food in sealed containers and removing rubbish regularly. Regularly wiping down surfaces and sanitizing appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers is also a good preventive measure.
Sealing entry points is another good preventive measure, with the smallest gaps being caulked or sealed. It’s also a good idea to keep vegetation and weeds neatly trimmed around the home, as this makes it harder for pests to access the property.
Other preventive measures include recognizing the life stages of common pests, such as eggs, larvae, nymphs and adults. This is important, as some interventions are only effective at certain stages of pests’ development, while others only work against a particular species.
There are also mechanical and physical controls that can be used, such as traps, screens, barriers and fences. Altering the environment can sometimes help to control pests as well, including modifying temperature, light, humidity and other factors.
It’s important to learn as much as you can about the different pests, their habits and ideal habitats so that they’re easier to identify. This will make it easier for you to target their optimum environments and eliminate them. In addition, knowing more about the pests can help you better understand their behavior and make you more confident when choosing baits, traps or other control methods. You’ll also be able to predict their response to certain treatment methods.