Pests include small mammals (such as mice), crawling insects (such as ants and cockroaches), and flying insects (such as houseflies, fermentation flies, and moths). Parasitic nematodes are also helpful pest control tools.
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Pests can cause a wide variety of problems. They can damage property or spread disease to people and pets. They can also interfere with the function of facilities such as hospitals, schools, and food processing plants. In most cases, the best way to manage pests is to prevent them from entering buildings in the first place. This can be done by creating sanitary environments through routine cleaning and storage practices. Infestation prevention should also include identifying and sealing entry points.
For example, rodents and other pests often enter homes through open doors and windows, so these should be closed as much as possible. Clutter around the house should be removed, and shrubs and tree limbs should be trimmed away from the house to prevent pests from accessing it. Moisture sources should be addressed, as well. Pests often thrive in damp conditions, so fixing leaks and removing standing water should be a priority.
Other preventive measures include managing waste properly and securing garbage containers. This will help prevent pests from getting into the trash and breeding inside it. Regularly vacuuming and wiping down surfaces will help eliminate food residues that attract cockroaches and other insects. Store foods in sealed containers, and always wash produce before consuming it. Cracks and crevices should be caulked to make it more difficult for pests to gain entry into a home or building.
Preventive measures are not enough to keep some pests out of a building, so they need to be augmented with suppression and/or eradication strategies. Suppression involves reducing the number of pests to below an unacceptable level through targeted applications of physical, biological, or chemical techniques. It may be necessary to spray rooms with pesticides, but only after a careful assessment of the situation and consideration of all alternatives.
Eradication is a rare goal in outdoor pest situations, but it is occasionally attempted for certain problem species such as Mediterranean fruit fly and gypsy moth. In indoor settings, eradication is more common because pests can be controlled more easily than in the open. Pests infesting a hospital, school, or restaurant are not only a nuisance, but can threaten people’s health. Rodents can carry and transmit diseases such as Salmonella, and flies can spread gastrointestinal infections including Shigella and Hepatitis. In addition, the presence of pests can lead to closure of a facility until the problem is managed.
Suppression
Pests can cause serious damage to the environment, agriculture, livestock and homes. Proper management helps control them to prevent harm. There are a number of techniques to control pests, including natural, biological, and chemical controls. Some controls influence the environment and limit populations, others kill them directly or change their ability to reproduce. Some also alter the amount of water, light or heat available. These include physical and mechanical controls, agrochemicals, and cultural practices.
Weather, topography and habitat factors limit the population of many pests by influencing their growth, development, and feeding habits. Predatory birds, fish, mammals and reptiles feed on or parasitize some pest insects, reducing their numbers. Insect-like mites, nematodes and pathogens also suppress some pests by injuring or killing them or by blocking their ability to reproduce.
Agricultural and residential sanitation practices help prevent pest infestations by eliminating their food, water, or shelter. Proper trash disposal and frequent garbage pickup reduces pest harborage. Sanitation practices also prevent the spread of some pests between fields or yards by removing crop residues, and sterilizing equipment and materials before moving to a new area.
Some agrochemicals are designed to kill or prevent the reproduction of specific pests. These include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. The choice of a chemical depends on the type and severity of the pest problem, the effectiveness of other control measures, and the environmental effects of the different chemicals.
Agrochemicals should be used with care because some have the potential to harm the environment, humans or beneficial organisms. They should be applied only to areas where they are needed, and used in ways that minimize the chance of them transferring to non-target organisms.
Many pests are attracted to bright lights or colors. Traps, barriers and screens can be used to keep them away from crops, homes or structures. Some devices emit pheromones that confuse or repel male pests, lowering their numbers. Juvenile hormones can likewise be used to decrease pest numbers by preventing them from maturing into adults that can produce offspring. Other agrochemicals, such as fungicides and plant growth regulators, are used to improve the quality of fruits, vegetables or flowers.
Eradication
The goal of eradication is rarely achieved in outdoor pest situations, where prevention and suppression are more common. However, eradication can be an important part of pest control in enclosed areas such as dwellings; schools and offices; and health care, food preparation and processing facilities.
Eradication involves destroying the entire population of a pest species to prevent it from reproducing. This may be accomplished through a combination of physical, biological, or chemical means. Physical methods include traps and netting, while biological methods involve the use of natural enemies to disrupt pest populations. Chemical methods typically employ pesticides, which kill the pests through direct or indirect application. These chemicals can be very effective, although they also pose risks to human and environmental health when used improperly.
Regardless of the method employed, a pest problem should be addressed as soon as possible. Many pests carry diseases that can affect humans and animals. Some may even cause damage to property or crops. Pest infestations can be difficult to eradicate because of the persistence and adaptability of some species.
Pests are attracted to moist and sheltered areas, so it’s important to eliminate sources of moisture. In homes, this might mean repairing leaky pipes and sealing cracks and crevices. It’s also a good idea to remove standing water and dead vegetation around the home.
A clean environment is also a deterrent to most pests. Regular vacuuming and sweeping, the removal of clutter, and frequent garbage disposal are all effective ways to keep pests away. The most effective cleaning strategy, however, is to implement a routine that prevents future pest infestations before they occur.
Eradicating pests requires time and effort. While preventative treatments are relatively quick, eradicating existing infestations can take several hours or longer. Eradication should be a comprehensive process, involving both killing existing pests and blocking their entry into the area in question.
Monitoring
Monitoring pest control activities is an essential part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It helps you determine when action is needed and assess how effective your tactics are. Ideally, you want to treat only for pests that have reached unacceptable levels and have been identified through monitoring.
Monitoring can be done using a variety of traps and other devices that attract or capture specific pests. This includes sticky boards, electronic fly traps, moth pots and pheromone traps. The traps or monitors should be checked on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis depending on your level of infestation. Each time, the device should be cleaned and rebaited if necessary. A log should be kept to track and report the results of each monitoring session.
When monitoring, it is important to know your crop and its life cycle. This will help you identify and interpret the results of your scouting efforts. You should also be aware of critical crop development stages so that you can concentrate your monitoring at times when the crop is most susceptible to damage. For example, pulse crops may require scouting weekly during the vegetative stage and twice a week from budding onward.
During your inspection, note the number and type of pests you find as well as the amount of damage or other symptoms. Record this information in a pest identification log or similar data collection system. Also, note where you found the pests and their behavior. This will allow you to track the movement of the pests and understand how they are interacting with your crops.
A flashlight is an invaluable tool to carry during inspections because many pests live or seek shelter in dark harborage areas, such as crevices and corners. An extendable mirror is also useful to inspect behind and beneath equipment and furniture. It is recommended that you carry a magnifying glass to help identify the pests and their corresponding frass (excrement) and to confirm the presence of their damage.
Keeping up with regular maintenance and sanitation can prevent pests from becoming a problem in the first place. Routinely cleaning shelves, equipment and drains can reduce the moisture content of your facility, making it less attractive to pests. Screening and caulking can keep pests out of buildings and other structures. Physical exclusion is an important strategy for health care facilities. It involves removing any points of entry, as well as identifying and prioritizing needed repair work to minimize the risk of a pest invasion.