Pests can be a nuisance or even a health hazard. Often, a few strategically placed traps (like drain flies) are all you need, but sometimes, you’ll need more than just a quick trip to the hardware store with spray insecticide. Contact Killian Pest Control now!
The most effective pest solutions include prevention – keeping the pests out; suppression – reducing their numbers to an acceptable level; and eradication – eliminating the pest population.
Prevention is the best way to deal with pest problems. It can involve practical pest control tips that prevent pests from getting into a space or treatment methods that keep pests away once they have invaded. Pest prevention can also be as simple as cleaning up and reducing clutter or areas where pests like to hide.
Regular property inspections are a great tool for pest prevention. Look for signs of pests, such as droppings or gnaw marks, and address issues as soon as they are observed. This can help stop a small problem from growing into a larger one, such as a few ants becoming an infestation of cockroaches.
Food, water and shelter are often the primary attractions for most pests, so removing these things can prevent infestation. Keep trash receptacles tightly sealed, clean up spills and crumbs, and reduce indoor and outdoor clutter. Make sure to also regularly clean up compost, and move bird feeders and baths away from the house to keep nocturnal rodents and wildlife from being attracted to your home.
Other preventive measures include keeping wood piles away from the house and trimming bushes and shrubs so that they are not touching the house. The house should be well-sealed and insulated to keep out cold air, but pests can use gaps and cracks to gain access. It is also helpful to repair any broken screens or vents in the house to keep out insects and rodents.
There are a lot of different types of pests that can cause a variety of problems in residential and commercial spaces. For example, rodents can cause structural damage and spread diseases such as salmonella. Cockroaches and flies can contaminate food, as well as cause health problems. A good pest prevention program will take into account all of these issues, and it will focus on preventing them rather than treating them once they have arrived. This might involve things like implementing a pest monitoring system, or it might mean installing door sweeps and sealing expansion joints in the building. It might also mean determining what types of plants will be grown in the facility, or it might include identifying specific cleaning techniques that are designed to not attract pests.
Suppression
When pests are detected, preventive and suppression tactics must be used to minimize damage. The objectives of control strategies should be to cause as little harm as possible to non-target organisms, the environment and human enterprises. In general, prevention of pest problems should always be a primary objective. Control tactics should be applied when the threat is high enough to justify action, and they should focus on reducing pest populations to an acceptable level.
There are three broad categories of pest control tactics: cultural, physical and chemical. Cultural controls deprive pests of food, water and shelter to limit their numbers. Plowing, crop rotation, cleaning greenhouse and tillage equipment, and the removal of infected plant material can all be effective cultural controls. In addition, adjusting irrigation schedules to avoid long periods of wet, highly humid conditions that encourage disease pest development can also be helpful.
Physical or mechanical controls include traps, screens, barriers, fences, and other devices that block or remove pests. Radiation and electricity can also be used to alter the environment, preventing pests from inhabiting an area. These techniques are often more economical than chemical solutions and can be very effective.
Chemical pest control is the use of chemicals to eliminate pests. These can include repellents that reduce damage from insects and vertebrates, or fungicides that protect plants from fungal diseases. There are also a number of relatively low-risk pesticides that can be used in baits, traps or mists to kill targeted pests. These can be very effective in the right circumstances and have less impact on the environment than many other pesticides.
All pest control methods carry some risk of damaging human health and the environment, but proper application of integrated pest management (IPM) practices can cut pest-removal costs and customer complaints by as much as 90 percent. This approach, outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, involves a combination of prevention, monitoring, and suppression tactics with the goal of minimizing the need for pesticides. Proper product selection, application and disposal can further decrease risks to human and environmental health. Always read and follow product labels, and use basic personal protective equipment (PPE) when applying pesticides.
Eradication
If prevention and suppression are ineffective, it may be necessary to eradicate a pest problem. This will require a more active approach, such as a bait solution to get rid of ants or cockroaches. Homeowners can also try microbial control agents, like bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, which are cultivated to target specific insect pests. These are often safer and less toxic than traditional pesticides, but the host range is limited, and they must be applied frequently for best results.
Other eradication techniques include removing food sources and water sources. This can be as simple as putting trash in sealed containers, raking out moisture-wicking soil or mulch around the foundation of buildings and keeping bushes trimmed. Leaking pipes and other sources of moisture should be repaired as well.
There are a number of companies that offer eradication services, including Arrow Pest Management and Ehrlich Pest Control (formerly JC Ehrlich). These firms specialize in the treatment of a variety of standard pests, as well as bedbugs. They also employ baits, exclusion methods, and other targeted treatments to provide long-lasting relief.
Choosing a pest control company requires careful consideration. It is important to understand the company’s philosophy, treatment methods, and guarantees before making a decision. It’s also a good idea to ask the company what steps it will take to re-treat your home in the event that the initial treatment fails. In the end, you want a pest-free and safe environment. A reputable pest control company will work with you to develop a pest elimination program that fits your lifestyle and budget.
Environmentally Friendly
Many people today choose to use green pest control services because they want to protect themselves, their family, and their property without the negative effects of chemical solutions. It is also a great way to contribute to a healthier planet, supporting a balance of nature and all the species that call it home. Some people, however, are concerned that eco-friendly pest control methods may not be as effective as more traditional ones. The truth is that both options have their merits and it is simply a matter of weighing the pros and cons of each.
Green pest solutions utilize natural ingredients and non-toxic methods of eradicating or repelling pests rather than using chemical pesticides. They are safe for the environment, humans, and animals and can be just as effective in controlling pests such as termites as their chemical counterparts.
The main benefit of choosing an eco-friendly approach is the reduced environmental impact. Chemical pesticides have a much wider impact than their target species and can often damage water sources, ecosystems, or non-targeted organisms. Green approaches reduce this effect by focusing on the specific pest at hand and targeting it directly.
Many of these techniques are also less invasive than traditional chemical treatments. For example, orange peels contain a natural substance called D-limonene that kills many different pests and smells just like citrus fruit. Other environmentally friendly treatments include releasing ladybugs to control aphid populations or using nematodes such as Bacillus thuringiensis to eradicate grubs and other soil-feeding pests.
While there are a few exceptions, most professional pest control companies now offer green pest solutions as part of their standard service. This debunks the myth that professional services must always rely on harsh chemicals to do their job. In addition to eliminating pests, many of these green methods address the root causes of the infestation so that it won’t return once the treatment is over.
Green pest control is now more than just a trend; it’s a necessity. From reducing the risk of diseases carried by pests to contributing to a healthy world, going green has never been easier.