Licensed pest control services are available to help prevent and control infestations of insects, rodents and other unwanted species. Pest control companies use a variety of techniques to remove pests from homes and businesses.
Keep houses clean to make them less attractive and hospitable to pests. Store food in sealed plastic or glass containers, and regularly dispose of trash and garbage. Contact Pest Control Scottsdale now!
Accurate pest identification is the first step in developing a pest control program. In outdoor settings, correct identification of pests can help determine whether the pest is a nuisance or a serious threat to plants and people. It also allows the establishment of a monitoring system that can be used to predict future pest populations and determine whether or not control is needed.
Monitoring is the process of checking a field, landscape, garden, forest or building to determine if pests are present and how many. This information is necessary to determine the need for pest control and to plan a management strategy. Monitoring also provides important biological clues that can be used to decide which pest control methods are most appropriate.
Identifying pests is often easier than it may seem. Many pests leave telltale signs that can be recognized with the help of a simple tool kit. For example, a flashlight and extendable mirror can be useful for inspecting dark, secluded areas where pests hide or seek shelter. A magnifying glass is also important to help detect pest parts, frass (excrement) and other evidence of infestation.
In addition to visible signs, many pests produce odoriferous substances or secrete chemicals that can be detected. For instance, aphids, caterpillars and other sucking insects from the order Hemiptera secrete honeydew, a sweet liquid containing mainly carbohydrates. Plants covered with honeydew develop black sooty mold fungi as a result of the pests’ feeding activities. Insect feces are another common means of detection, as are the eggs and larvae of some species.
Pest identification is especially important when a pest has a complex life cycle or different physical forms. Many insect species, for instance, change dramatically in appearance as they progress from egg to larvae to adult form. Understanding the pest’s life cycle can help you plan a treatment schedule that targets the most vulnerable stages of the life cycle.
In some situations, such as when a pest is newly introduced to an area, eradication is the goal. In more typical pest situations, however, the primary objectives are control and prevention.
Pest Prevention
Pests are organisms (including insects, fungi, bacteria, nematodes, weeds, and vertebrate animals) that interfere with humans’ use of land or water resources. They can damage crops, lawns, trees, buildings, structures, clothing and other belongings, and negatively impact terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
There are steps you can take to prevent pest problems before they occur. This is called preventive pest control.
Sealing gaps, cracks and crevices in walls and foundations can deter many pests from entering your home. Thoroughly inspect and repair these areas on a regular basis. Make sure to caulk around windows, doors and vents.
Proper sanitation practices can also help prevent pests from accessing food, water and shelter. Store foods in containers with tight lids and remove garbage from your premises on a regular basis. Thoroughly clean rarely used cupboards and storage areas several times a year to deny pests food, shelter, and hiding places.
Identifying and understanding the life cycle of your pest can also aid in preventive pest control. For example, plant diseases are often easiest to control in the seedling stage or early in the growing season (annuals), while they are more difficult to manage later in the growth cycle or as plants mature into dormancy (perennials).
Many pests are naturally controlled by other organisms, natural forces, or barriers that restrict their population buildup. For example, mountain ranges and large bodies of water restrict the movement of some pests. Natural enemies, such as birds and other predators, can also reduce pest populations. Landscaping features, such as grass and weeds that block pest pathways, can prevent them from spreading between properties.
Eradication is a rare goal in outdoor pest situations, but it is sometimes attempted with invasive species, such as the Mediterranean fruit fly or gypsy moth. In indoor environments, such as residences, schools, hospitals, office buildings, and food processing and preparation facilities, eradication is more common because these locations are closed to the elements and less likely to be invaded by pests. Prioritizing prevention empowers technicians to minimize the need for chemical treatments and uphold environmentally conscious practices and responsible methods.
Pest Control Methods
There are many ways to control pests, including natural, biological, cultural, genetic, physical and chemical. Natural controls, such as weather or topography, limit pest populations by limiting their access to resources (water, food, shelter). Cultural practices affect the environment in which pests live to make it less suitable for them. Genetic and physical methods physically remove or alter the pests themselves, such as catching or destroying them. Chemical methods use either naturally occurring or synthetic chemicals to reduce the size of the pest population.
When deciding whether to take action, consider the harm the pest is causing and what you can tolerate. Is it necessary to kill the pest or can you let the numbers decline to a point where the problem is not as bad? Threshold-based decision-making also applies to monitoring. A few wasps buzzing around the house may not be a big deal, but if you are seeing them all the time and their numbers are increasing, it’s probably time to act.
Suppression, or decreasing the number of pests to a level where they are no longer causing unacceptable harm, is an important goal in most pest situations. It is often combined with prevention, preventing new pests from getting established, by controlling the factors that promote them or provide them with a home, such as moisture, weeds, and open trash cans.
Methods used to prevent pests include screens, caulking and plastering, removing harborage sites, reducing the availability of water, food, or shelter, and repelling them. Physical removal is common for pests like rats and mice, and trapping can be useful for some insects and vertebrates. There are many types of traps, from simple pitfall traps to those with specific attractants or pheromones such as ant baits or mousetraps.
Some of the more commonly used pest control techniques are physical, biological, and chemical. Physical methods include trapping, removing harborage, and scouting/monitoring. Biological methods use living organisms to reduce pest infestations, such as predators or parasites that injure or consume the pest. Chemical methods can be as simple as using a fogger (the “bug bombs” sold in some stores) or, at the extreme, fumigation.
Pesticides
Pesticides are any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy or control unwanted species of plants or animals that are considered to be a nuisance. They are widely used in agriculture, horticulture and in residential and commercial landscapes to kill or control pests such as weeds, insects and mildew. They can also be used to kill or control rodents and birds, or in some cases to protect crops during transportation. Some types of pesticides are biodegradable, meaning they break down quickly in the environment, while others are persistent, which means they take months or even years to break down.
In addition to the toxic effects on pests, pesticides can be hazardous to people and pets. They can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled as airborne sprays. They can also contaminate waterways and degrade soil quality. Many pesticides also interfere with the natural processes that make water and soil useful for growing crops, such as by killing off beneficial organisms like bees, butterflies and earthworms.
Using non-chemical methods of pest control is best for the environment, health and safety. However, if you decide to use pesticides, be sure to select a product that is designed for your particular pest and read and follow all label instructions carefully, especially the safety precautions. Choose the lowest-toxic pesticide available, if possible, and always use the smallest amount needed. Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect that you have been poisoned by a pesticide.
Pesticide use is regulated by provincial and territorial governments, which are responsible for setting pesticide standards, responding to spills or incidents and licensing applicators, vendors and growers. They are also responsible for regulating the sale, use, storage, transportation and disposal of pesticides, as well as training and certification of those who apply pesticides.
If you are concerned about your level of exposure to pesticides, consider reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides in and around your home or business. Instead, focus on preventing pests by selecting healthy plants, providing shelter and food for wildlife, and making your property unattractive to pests. Remember, that pests can be mistaken for desirable plants or animals – for example, squirrels in your roof may be a sign of an abundant squirrel population rather than a problem with your garden or trees.
