Pest control includes prevention, suppression, and eradication. Its goal is to reduce the number of pests to an acceptable level without causing unacceptable harm to people, plants, animals or property.
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Insects
The ubiquity of insects and their plethora of ecological niches make them one of the most important groups of organisms on the planet. Insects are vital to natural systems, pollinating and recycling soil nutrients. However, insects can also damage cultivated crops and impact livestock causing food losses (pests).
Insects are most commonly managed with insecticides, which act directly on pests to prevent or control plant damage. Insecticides are generally applied when a significant pest outbreak threatens a crop. The use of insecticides should be considered carefully and responsibly. Detailed directions for use of all insecticides are available on the product labels and should be followed completely.
Most plants are defended by natural mechanisms that prevent indiscriminate insect damage. For example, many insects, such as bees and the larvae of most beetles, flies, moths, butterflies and ants, are designed to feed on and protect their host plants. In addition, predatory insects, such as hawk moths and praying mantises, hunt, kill and consume harmful insects. Parasitic wasps, such as flower flies and hover flies, also parasitize pests by laying eggs in the bodies of their hosts, which later hatch into parasitoids that feed on the pests and kill them.
Some insects, such as caterpillars and aphids, are harmful to plants because they are herbivorous. Likewise, some mites, such as spider mites and thrips, are also considered to be pests because they attack the leaves of some crops and vegetables.
Beneficial insects such as predatory bugs, ladybugs and lacewings have piercing mouthparts that allow them to specifically target harmful insects. For example, Koppert offers Aphidend, featuring the species Macrolophus pygmaeus, to naturally reduce aphid populations in greenhouses. Gall midges, such as the species Feltiella acarisuga, are effective in reducing spider mite populations.
Some insects can carry and disseminate pathogens that cause disease in humans and livestock. Arthropods, which are insects, are responsible for more than 700,000 deaths worldwide each year from vector-borne diseases. These pathogens are carried and spread by insects such as ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, flies and sand flies.
Rodents
Rodents are among the most widespread and adaptable mammals. They have evolved to live in a diverse array of habitats, including forests and grasslands, deserts, and urban environments. They are opportunistic feeders and are able to survive by taking advantage of whatever food they can find, whether that is seeds, grains, fruits or other crops. Rodents have a high reproductive rate, often producing several litters of offspring each year. They can be diurnal or nocturnal, depending on the species.
Rodents cause billions of dollars in losses each year to farmers worldwide. They consume crops, damage structures, and can be carriers of diseases that can infect humans. Diseases can spread to people from direct contact with rodents (such as breathing in contaminated air or touching an infected mouse or rat) or through indirect contact, such as from ticks, mites, and fleas that have fed on infected mice and rats.
Rats are the most common rodent pest found in homes and businesses. They are opportunistic and can survive by taking food from other animals, crops, or even garbage bags. They can also infect humans with diseases such as bubonic plague, typhus, and Hanta virus.
In developing countries, farmers view rodents as their biggest impediment to higher crop yields. Every year, a single rat in Asia destroys enough rice to feed 200 million people for an entire year (Singleton 2003).
The economics of rodent control are complex. For example, a high level of control reduces crop damage and increases profits, but it also raises control costs. And a high level of rodent control can lead to unintended consequences, such as disrupting local ecosystems or increasing weed growth.
Rodents are difficult to control using conventional pesticides. They are intelligent and can develop resistance to certain products. Therefore, the best way to control them is through integrated pest management techniques. This includes prevention, sanitation, and exclusion, as well as the use of granular baits or traps. For optimal results, it is important to understand rodent behavior and the factors that influence it. This information can help determine the best strategy for your situation.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs have traditionally been associated with crowded and dilapidated housing, but they can be found in many types of residential and commercial accommodations. Their resurgence appears to be related to increased global travel and commerce, improved pesticide resistance and changing environmental conditions. They can be very difficult to eliminate, and may recur even after extensive treatment.
Adult bed bugs are easily spotted with the naked eye, but young nymphs and eggs are nearly invisible to the unaided eye. In early infestations, they are usually found around the seams, folds and crevices of mattresses, bedding and sleeping bags. As their numbers grow, they move into smaller hiding places such as crevices of bed frames and headboards, wood molding near baseboards, cracks in plaster and the tiniest spaces inside drawers and closets.
Often, the first indication of a bed bug infestation is itching at night. The itching sensations are caused by bites as the insect pierces the skin with its mouth part to feed. Each bite is accompanied by a red welt that eventually disappears. The bites are most common at night, but the insects can be active during the day as well if they are hungry.
A specialized vacuum cleaner with a high powered, HEPA filter is recommended for cleaning up the bugs and their excrement. A mattress protector can also help to prevent the bugs from returning. In addition to cleaning and encasing, professional pest control services can use a variety of sprays intended specifically for bed bugs that are available in liquid, aerosol and powder formulations. These products must be sprayed in all areas where the pests are found and frequently require repeat applications.
Bed bug control requires cooperation from both the owners and occupants of infested buildings. Bed bugs hide in hard-to-reach locations such as cluttered rooms, the edges of carpeting and beneath sagging furniture. Nightstands and dressers should be emptied and inspected for signs of bugs and nymphs. Clutter in closets should be removed, and clothing and linens double bagged for safe disposal. Marking or defacing infested items discourages their pickup by others, and helps to limit their spread.
Fleas
Fleas are tiny, wingless parasitic insects that can turn your peaceful home into an itchy battleground. The pests can also transmit a number of diseases and cause serious health problems in pets and humans.
Fleas belong to the order Siphonaptera and have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The eggs hatch into larvae after a blood meal from a host animal. Larvae are worm-like with no legs and chewing mouthparts and live in carpet fibers, pet bedding, and lawns. Pupae are silky cocoons covered with debris and are hard to kill with pesticides.
During their search for food, fleas detect the body heat, movement, and breathing of potential hosts. The pests then jump onto the host and begin sucking blood. When the host tries to get away, the fleas release a sedative that renders it unconscious. The host may die from shock or suffocation. The sedative also impairs the host’s coordination and causes it to behave erratically. The fleas then crawl back to their nest and lay more eggs.
After several weeks, the larvae develop into pupae and enter a resting stage. The pupae are not affected by insecticides and can survive for months. Pest control specialists can use insect growth regulators to prevent the development of fleas into adults. These products are usually incorporated into carpet fiber treatments, or applied with hand sprayers to infested areas.
In addition to chemical treatments, pest control professionals recommend regular vacuuming, steam cleaning and laundering of fabrics to disrupt the flea’s life cycle. The professionals will also inspect common outdoor resting areas where cats and dogs typically sleep, such as under porches or in shady, cool places with minimal vegetation and powdery soil.
Fleas are difficult to treat because they have such small, compressed bodies that they can easily hide in fur and feathers. However, you can help to reduce the number of fleas on your pets by using vet-recommended topical treatments or oral medications. You can also wash your pet’s bedding and linens in hot water to remove fleas, their eggs, and their larvae.
