Find a company with a solid background and reputation in pest control. Ask if their technicians are certified by industry associations and have proper state licensing.
Ask for copies of pesticide labels listing the chemicals and how they will be used. Follow all directions carefully to prevent health problems and environmental damage. Contact St Charles Pest Control now!
Identifying the type of pest is the first step in controlling it. Some pests have distinctive physical appearances, but this method is not always reliable since similar-looking insects and arachnids exist. For example, some types of spiders look very similar to ticks, and ants can be hard to distinguish from each other. A professional exterminator can catch or collect the invader to get a better look at it. Then, counting the legs and comparing the pest to photos of its specific species online or in an insect identification book can provide the answer.
Observing damage to plants or buildings can also help determine the kind of pest that is causing the problem. For instance, if a tree is damaged by wormlike caterpillars that look like beetles, then the caterpillars are most likely tent caterpillars (Liriomyza trifoliate).
Some pests can cause disease in humans or other animals. Rodents, for example, carry salmonella bacteria that can be dangerous to infants and those with compromised immune systems. These animals can also cause fire hazards by chewing on electrical wires or gnawing through flammable materials. In addition, certain kinds of pests can displace native organisms by competing for food or shelter or blocking sunlight. This can lead to habitat destruction, soil erosion and diminished biodiversity.
Knowing the pest’s life cycle can also be important for determining the best control methods. For example, a leafminer that damages chrysanthemum plants may not respond to the same insecticide used for other plant-damaging leafminers because it is not in the same stage of development as those other pests.
In addition, many pests can be controlled by removing or preventing conditions that encourage them. For example, removing wood piles near the house; ensuring that basements have adequate drainage; and directing surface water away from foundation walls can deter some pests. A thorough pest identification process can help homeowners and professionals develop a comprehensive pest management strategy that reduces the need for more drastic control measures. Shop for a pest control company just as you would any other service, beginning with recommendations from friends and neighbors. Compare estimates, treatment plans, and warranties before choosing a company to work with.
Pest Prevention
Pests are more easily controlled when they are prevented from entering a home or business. This involves routine inspections to find areas where pests may enter and taking steps to eliminate these pathways, such as caulking openings and removing clutter that provides hiding places for pests. It is also important to keep garbage cans tightly sealed and compost bins away from the house to prevent rodents from getting inside.
To avoid attracting pests, never leave food out on countertops or other surfaces and wipe down toys and other objects that children or pets might play with before bringing them indoors. Keep garbage cans closed and tightly sealed, and clean them regularly to minimize odors that might attract rodents and other pests. Regularly remove weeds and brush from around buildings to limit the breeding sites for insects, such as birds, squirrels and mice.
Keeping the outside of the house and its foundation free of cracks, holes and other openings is another important part of prevention. This can be accomplished by repairing cracks and caulking holes, as well as preventing water accumulation in soil near the foundation by draining gutters and diverting downspouts. It is also important to keep trees and shrubs pruned and away from the house to reduce its attractiveness to pests.
In many cases, eradication is not a realistic goal for outdoor pests, but prevention and suppression are. For example, gypsy moth and Mediterranean fruit fly control programs are prevention-based and not designed to eradicate these pests. However, eradication is often a goal for pests in enclosed environments such as dwellings; schools; offices; health care, food preparation and storage facilities; and retail stores.
When a building becomes infested with pests, the first step is to determine what kind of pest. This is done by looking for clues, such as droppings or a soiled appearance that might indicate rodents, cockroaches or flies; an oily sheen that might be from ants; or chew marks or a musty smell that could be from termites or mold. This information is used to develop a pest control plan that is specific to the type of pest.
Pest Control Methods
There are a variety of pest control methods available. They include physical, biological, and chemical approaches. These can be applied in combinations, depending on the pest, growing conditions and environment. Some of the most effective methods involve changing the environment to prevent pests from growing, or using barriers to keep them away from plants or structures. Others use predators and parasites to reduce pest populations or kill them. Chemical pesticides can be very effective and are typically faster acting than natural controls. However, they can pose health and environmental risks when improperly used or if the wrong type of product is used.
Physical pest control methods use screens and other barriers to keep pests out of buildings, gardens or crops. They can be very cost-effective and easy to use, but may not work against all types of pests. Examples of physical pest control methods are window screens to keep rodents out of homes, netting to cover vegetable gardens, and floating row covers for many horticultural crops. Traps are also often used for monitoring and/or controlling pests. These can be very cost-effective, but are difficult to use for larger pests, such as codling moth larvae or earwigs. They can be used in conjunction with other control methods, such as a sticky trap and a piece of cardboard to lure codling moths or earwigs into a red sphere trap.
Biological pest control uses natural enemies, such as predators, parasites and disease organisms, to reduce or eliminate pest populations. This type of control usually takes a longer time to produce results, and requires extensive research on the biology of potential natural enemies and pests to make sure they are introduced in the right environment with the correct timing of their life cycles. This control method also often fails to achieve eradication of the target pest, and may require supplementation with chemical control methods.
The best approach to pest control is to use prevention techniques. It is most costly to deal with problems when they are small, and it is more environmentally sound to take steps to stop them from getting out of hand. Threshold-based decision-making involves observing pest numbers and damage to decide when action should be taken. For example, a few wasps in a garden don’t necessarily warrant action, but seeing them every day in increasing numbers probably does.
Pesticides
A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances used to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any kind of pest. Pesticides are most often sprayed on crops or animals, but they also can be placed in the water or soil to kill or control other organisms such as algae, bacteria, and microorganisms that might harm plants or animals.
A wide variety of substances are considered pesticides, from chemical insecticides, herbicides and fungicides to biological insect controls such as nematodes, viruses and mites. Some pesticides act quickly, while others take days or weeks to break down and dissipate. Still others linger in the environment, potentially contaminating air and water.
All pesticides are toxic to some extent, but proper use decreases their associated risks to levels deemed acceptable by federal and provincial/territorial governments. Proper use includes following all label directions, wearing protective equipment, and applying the minimum amount needed to control the problem.
Some pesticides contaminate air, water and soil, poisoning or damaging non-target plants, animals and other organisms. Pesticides can enter the environment in a number of ways, including runoff from treated soil and water, spills or splashes, and drift from aircraft and equipment. The toxins can also get into bodies of water, contaminating fish and other wildlife that may be consumed by humans.
Pesticides can have long-term effects as well, reducing the biodiversity of natural ecosystems and decreasing the quality of agricultural soil. They can disrupt the natural food chain by killing or otherwise affecting organisms that are not pests but are vital to crop production, such as bees, birds and insects that pollinate plants.
Chemical pesticides can also contaminate soil, destroying the microorganisms that make it healthy for growing crops. They can also affect the quality of water by altering its chemistry or by removing the oxygen that plants need to grow.
Pesticides can also be used to kill or deter disease-carrying organisms, such as mosquitoes, ticks and rodents that carry and spread diseases such as West Nile virus, Lyme disease and rabies. EPA regulates products, such as repellents and baits, that are registered to control these organisms.