Pests like ants, rodents and insects can cause property damage and health problems like hantavirus and salmonella. When they get out of control, we may decide that action is needed.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies focus on preventing pests and their damage through a variety of methods such as monitoring, baits, physical traps and crack and crevice treatments. They use chemicals sparingly and with caution. For professional help, contact Pest Control Coquitlam BC.
Identifying pests accurately is the first step to successful pest control. The more closely you can match your pest to its description, the more specific your treatment options will be – and the safer your use of chemicals will be.
Using a pest identification guide can help you determine what species of pest you are dealing with. Begin by noting the pest characteristics such as shape, color, wings or antennae, size and whether it has a tail. Then compare those features to the pictures in the pest guides. When you find a match, click on the picture to see more information including its behavior, habitat and damage it causes.
When you know what type of pest you are dealing with, you can also get more information about its biology and habits to determine whether it is a true nuisance or a harmless natural predator. This helps you determine if it can be tolerated or if you need to take action. It also allows you to select the best control strategies.
For example, if you are dealing with beetles that bore holes in wood, you might choose to drill out the holes and treat them with labeled wood preservatives rather than applying pesticides. The same holds true for rodents such as mice and rats. Knowing what they eat, where they breed and how long they live will help you develop a non-chemical pest management plan that is appropriate to the species.
Similarly, for crop pests it is important to understand what their dietary needs are, the environmental conditions they prefer and any other biological cues that may be relevant in developing an IPM strategy. Knowing the life cycle of a pest and its reproductive system will also help you plan a cultural or physical control strategy that minimizes the need for chemical controls.
In addition to pest identification, monitoring should be conducted regularly. This will allow for early detection of a pest problem, as well as recording and reporting sightings to the food manufacturer and to the pest control company. It will also enable the pest management company to record and respond to any trends that occur.
Prevention
Pests can contaminate food, damage buildings and pose health risks to people. They also disturb natural cycles, alter habitats and compete with humans for food, water, shelter and space.
Prevention is an essential part of pest control. The goal is to keep pests from entering sites where they do not belong, or reduce their numbers to the point that they can be tolerated. Prevention can be achieved by using physical, biological or chemical methods.
Physical controls include traps, screens, fences, barriers and netting. Chemicals, including disinfectants and odorizers, can be used to deter pests and thereby reduce their nuisance value. However, some chemicals, such as those in aerosol sprays, are irritants and can cling to carpets, furniture and other surfaces where they cannot be removed. Consequently, their use must be limited to areas where they are not likely to come into contact with humans.
Biological control involves the use of microorganisms to suppress or kill pests. These organisms are often specific to a certain type of pest. For example, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a bacteria that produces toxins that destroy the midgut of caterpillars. Biological methods are generally less hazardous to people than chemical pesticides.
Preventing pests from entering your establishment requires an ongoing commitment from everyone in the facility. This includes owners, managers, supervisors and residents. It starts with keeping living spaces and work areas clean and reporting building maintenance problems to management. Clutter provides places for pests to breed and hide. It is important to remove stacks of papers, cardboard and other materials from floors, walls and shelves. It is also a good idea to regularly remove trash and use tight-fitting lids on garbage cans.
Proper cleaning and sanitation are also essential to prevent pests from breeding. This should include keeping all surfaces and equipment in good repair, removing rubbish regularly, and storing foodstuffs properly. It is also a good idea to store pesticides and other hazardous materials in locked cabinets or rooms when not in use. It is also a good idea to label all pesticides and to follow the instructions on their use.
Suppression
Pests can cause problems in food production environments because they are attracted to foodstuffs and other resources. They can also carry and spread pathogens (e.g., Hantavirus and Shigella bacteria) via droppings and urine and infest food with their bodies or external parts.
Many factors influence the growth of a pest population, including food supply, water supply, available shelter, and natural enemies. Changing any of these factors can reduce the number of pests. Some pests are erratic, and their populations grow and die with the cycles of weather or other environmental factors. Others are continuous, and their numbers need to be controlled on a regular basis.
The goal of pest management is to prevent pests from damaging or destroying products or facilities. A few pests here and there may not be a problem, but when they become too numerous or too destructive it is time to take action. The best approach is to follow the principles of integrated pest management, or IPM.
IPM begins with a thorough assessment of the environment in which pests occur. Then, a plan is devised to make changes that will prevent or limit their damage. In the past, this might have meant the use of chemicals, but today, many effective methods for controlling pests are non-chemical and can be achieved with minimal disruption to the environment.
Methods for preventing or controlling pests include physical, cultural, biological, and chemical controls. Physical controls include traps, screens, fences, and barriers that can block or keep pests from getting into an area. Cultural controls can alter the environment to reduce pest establishment, reproduction, and dispersal, for example by changing irrigation practices to reduce root diseases or introducing beneficial nematodes that will attack and kill insects and other pests.
Biological control uses natural enemies such as predators, parasites, and competitors to reduce the numbers of unwanted organisms. These organisms are usually microscopic, such as the nematode Steinernema carpocapsae that attacks and kills cockroaches, or they may be larger organisms such as birds or rodents. Chemical control includes the use of pesticides to kill or suppress pests, but this is a very limited option and can be very harmful to people and other creatures. It is important to minimize the use of pesticides whenever possible.
Eradication
Eradication is the goal of pest control and can be accomplished with a number of methods. These include physical traps, barriers, and sprays. Pest control professionals may also use biological methods like predators, parasites, and pathogens. These are usually specific to the pest being managed and can often be quite effective. For example, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is used to kill caterpillars and other Lepidopterans without harming people or pets. Many different Bt strains are available for management of different insects.
Ideally, you want to prevent pests from getting into your facility in the first place. To do this, you must keep pests from finding food sources and water, avoid attracting them by not leaving out food or other appealing items, and sanitize areas where they are known to be. This will help to keep them away from your staff, clients, or customers and protect your reputation.
If you do find evidence of pests in your establishment, you should report it to your management right away. They will work with a licensed pest control operator to safely remove the pests. Look for indications like mouse pellets, small droppings, or oily stains from flies, rodents, and cockroaches. You can also spot them by their odor, which is particularly strong in the case of cockroaches.
Chemical pesticides are a common way to eliminate pests, especially in agricultural settings. They are generally very effective, but they can be harmful to the environment and human beings if not used correctly. Ensure that you only use chemicals for pest control when necessary and have qualified staff handle them, as they can be very toxic.
Biological pest control relies on natural enemies such as parasites, pathogens and predators to eliminate the pest population. These are usually very specific to the pest species in question, and can be effective even on invasive pests. In addition to these, you can sometimes supplement the natural control with a chemical agent such as Boron or a known pesticide (which is regulated by EPA). For example, adding the boron compound into cellulose insulation at certain levels provides a mechanical kill factor for self-grooming pests like termites and ants.