Pests can be more than just a nuisance, they may cause property damage and even health problems. Rodents like rats and mice are known to spread diseases like hantavirus, leptospirosis, and salmonella. Spiders and bugs are also known to carry pathogens that can cause serious intestinal and urinary tract infections. Contact Pest Control Meridian ID now!
Pest Identification
Accurate pest identification is the first step in controlling infestations. Pest identification can help determine whether a pest poses a risk to health and property, as well as the most appropriate management strategy. Pest identification is based on an understanding of the biology of pests, such as their life cycles and feeding habits. Pest identification can also include information about habitat requirements, which can aid in determining the most appropriate control measures.
Many pests can be difficult to identify, particularly as they develop through their life stages. For example, an immature beetle can look very similar to a butterfly or a caterpillar. The type of damage a pest causes, as well as the location where it occurs, can also aid in identification. Pests can also leave identifying signs, such as discoloration from disease or reduced plant growth.
Using a pest identification guide or contacting your local extension agent can assist with pest identification. However, online resources can be inaccurate; it is recommended that you use two to three sources for confirmation of your pest identification. Pest identification is a key component of integrated pest management (IPM). IPM relies on monitoring to assess pest populations and crop development and on proper identification prior to taking any action to manage the pests.
If a pest population is low and does not pose a significant risk, it may be best to tolerate the pest and take preventive actions. Examples of preventive actions include sanitation, avoiding over-fertilizing, sealing entry points into buildings and cleaning out garbage cans regularly. If the pest population is high, IPM includes a combination of cultural, physical and chemical control methods to reduce or eliminate the infestation.
Managing pests by identifying them and understanding their biology is the first step in any pest control program. IPM is a practical and environmentally responsible approach to pest management that promotes minimal pesticide use and environmental hazards. In addition to minimizing risks, implementing IPM practices can also save time and money by reducing the need for costly treatments and increasing the effectiveness of those that are needed.
Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals that are designed to kill or control organisms we consider pests, but they have many other impacts on ecosystems. Many are toxic to living things, including humans. These chemicals also reach destinations other than their targets, such as air, water and sediments, where they can be absorbed by plants, ingested by animals and end up in our food. Human health risks range from short-term impacts, such as headaches and nausea, to chronic impacts like cancer, reproductive harm and endocrine disruption.
Pesticides can be liquid, solid or gaseous and come in various forms. Liquid formulations include solutions, emulsifiable concentrates, microencapsulated suspensions and aerosols. Solid formulations include powders, granules, pellets, dry flowables and baits. Gaseous pesticides are usually fumigants.
There are over 800 pesticides registered for use in the United States. Each has its own mode of action, with a different method of targeting the organism we are trying to control. Herbicides destroy or control weeds and unwanted vegetation, insecticides target insects, miticides target mites, fungicides target fungi, and rodenticides target mice, rats and other rodents.
In the event of a pesticide exposure, look for specific first aid instructions on the label. If they are not available, the general guidelines for treatment are to drench the skin and clothing with plenty of clean water (any source will do, such as a ditch or pond) until the victim can be rinsed off. Remove personal protective equipment and wash exposed skin in a mild detergent and clean water. If eye contact occurs, wash with a gentle stream of clean running water positioned so that the water flows across the eyes rather than directly into them. Keep the victim warm and dry until medical help arrives.
Most pesticides have been shown to have negative impacts on wildlife, even at exposure levels deemed safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Deformities that have been linked to hormone-mimicking pesticides include pseudohermaphroditic frogs with penis-like stumps, intersex fish in streams and rivers across the country, and hermaphrodite polar bears with atrophied testicles. Other impacts have included altered behavior and reduced ability to reproduce. Groups such as Beyond Pesticides are working to hold federal agencies accountable for their duty to consult with wildlife agencies under the Endangered Species Act.
Suppression
The goal of pest control is to bring pest populations below an unacceptable level, while doing as little harm as possible to other organisms. Accurate identification of a pest is the first step in this process. The next step is to determine whether the pest causes a problem. This involves evaluating its damage, threat or nuisance value and considering how often it occurs and how severe the problems are. This evaluation usually includes a comparison of the potential economic impact of the pest and its damage to the property owner.
If pests are not controlled, they may damage crops, livestock, wildlife or the environment. Damage or nuisance values can be based on the number of plants affected, the extent of the damage, the amount of time the damage occurs or the effect of the pest on the quality of life. The decision to control a pest must consider the costs and benefits of the control effort as well as local, State and Federal regulations.
Suppression methods include physical, biological and chemical controls. Physical controls involve blocking pests from reaching desirable locations or cutting off their access to food, water or shelter. Chemical controls include spraying insecticides or the use of herbicides, fungicides, or other chemicals that kill or reduce the growth of targeted organisms. Biological control includes the introduction of natural enemies to help suppress pests. These natural organisms are introduced with care and sensitivity to their biology, the possibility of unintended impacts on other native species that may also be pests, and to the habitat where they will be released.
In addition to reducing pest damage, many suppression strategies have environmental and economic benefits. Some of these include:
Prevention
Pests are more than just annoying: they can carry dangerous bacteria, germs and diseases that put people, pets and livestock at risk. They damage buildings and cause structural problems. And they can contaminate food and products.
The best way to manage pests is to prevent them from entering in the first place. But this isn’t always easy. Cockroaches, for example, have five times as many odor receptors as humans, according to Terminix—meaning that leftovers left out on the counter can attract them from a mile away. Preventing pests requires regular inspection and sanitary practices. Trash should be disposed of regularly, and items that can attract pests should be placed in secure containers or stored in the garage. Regular washing and sanitizing of bedding, pillows and cushions can also help reduce pest populations.
Threshold-based decision-making refers to determining when pests are present at a level that requires action. This may be done by scouting or monitoring, and it can involve knowing the pest’s life cycle and reproduction rates, as well as its sensitivity to weather conditions (e.g., temperature, day length and humidity).
Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is an ecosystem-based approach that relies on prevention, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, use of resistant varieties, and chemical control. Pesticides are used only when necessary, and they are applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health and the environment.
Natural enemies such as parasites, predators and pathogens can be introduced into an ecosystem to suppress pest populations. These organisms can be introduced in the form of “biological controls,” such as ladybeetles, lacewings and nematodes—or by direct methods, such as using sterile males to disrupt the pest population’s mating habits.
Pest prevention can also include scouting and monitoring and correcting environmental factors that may favor pests, such as poor drainage or soil moisture. It can also include reducing entry points, such as by installing door sweeps and sealing expansion joints. It can also include removing weeds that provide cover for pests, and it can be as simple as keeping clutter to a minimum.