A pest control program begins with accurate identification. Clutter provides hiding places for pests and makes it hard to find and kill them. Drain or replace standing water (birdbaths, ornamental ponds) to reduce mosquito breeding.
Preventing pests from occurring is the best goal. But, when this is not possible, suppression and/or eradication are goals to consider.
Prevention
The best way to avoid pest problems is through preventive measures. Taking simple steps like regularly cleaning crumbs and spills, storing food in sealed containers, and reducing indoor and outdoor clutter can greatly decrease the chance of pest infestation.
Regularly inspecting your property is also important for pest control. Look for the smallest cracks and gaps that can be entry points for pests, especially around doors and windows. Seal these areas with caulking or weather stripping. Also, be sure to inspect and repair any exterior openings where pipes, wires, or utility lines enter your home.
Other preventive measures include removing outside sources of water for pests, such as bird feeders or baths, and keeping garbage cans tightly closed and sanitized inside. Additionally, it is important to keep grass and shrubs properly trimmed and away from the house to prevent rodents and other pests from nesting or hiding near the foundation.
It is also important to recognize the natural cycles of pests and take precautions accordingly. For example, rats and mice are more likely to enter homes in the winter because they seek warmth and shelter; cockroaches tend to increase their population during warmer months; and mosquitoes are more active during summer. These seasonal variations can impact the effectiveness of pest controls. Biological methods that use living organisms to control pest populations are usually safer and more environmentally friendly than chemical treatments.
Suppression
Pests interfere with food production by eating or damaging crops and by transmitting diseases to humans, animals, and other organisms. They also degrade the environment by consuming and spoiling natural resources or damaging structures. Losses from pest damage to stored food alone exceed billions of dollars each year. In addition, some pests, such as cockroaches, rodents, and mosquitoes, directly threaten human health by contaminating food and water supplies.
Pest management options include physical barriers, biocontrol (using natural predators and parasitoids), and chemical control. For example, physical controls include removing clutter that provides breeding sites and hiding places for pests; caulking cracks; sealing gaps; and placing traps and bait stations. In biocontrol, planting beneficial weeds that attract natural enemies can help suppress pest populations. For example, planting Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) or London rocket (Sisymbrium iriocarpum) near aphid-infested plants can attract and harbor natural predators that will attack the aphids.
Chemical control includes spraying insecticides, miticides, herbicides, fungicides, or other compounds that kill or repel pests. Before any chemicals are used, they must be researched to determine their effectiveness and safety. Most commercially available products are sold in bottles with label instructions and warnings that should be read carefully to maximize the effectiveness and minimize the risks of using them. If chemical treatments are needed, they must be applied with great care and skill to avoid damaging nearby vegetation or exposing children or pets to harmful chemicals.
Eradication
An eradication goal is rarely attempted in outdoor pest control, except when an accidental introduction of a foreign insect has reached an unacceptable level (Mediterranean fruit fly, gypsy moth) or when it presents a health threat (fire ants). Eradication can be accomplished through physical removal methods such as trapping or barriers, but this is difficult to achieve in large areas with extensive infestations and usually requires repeated treatments.
The best way to avoid pest problems is to prevent them from getting started in the first place. Keep food scraps and garbage tightly sealed. Regularly wipe surfaces with a disinfectant cleaner. Keep pet food, water, and poop contained so that pests can’t reach them. Seal any cracks or crevices where pests could enter your home.
Keep your yard free of debris, trash, weeds, and overgrown grass that can provide shelter for pests. Maintain your roof and gutters, and drain any collected puddles or standing water where mosquitoes breed.
Whenever possible, use old-fashioned, nontoxic methods to get rid of pests. Many pests, such as silverfish and house centipedes, aren’t a health risk and can be eliminated with a flyswatter or vacuum. For critters that are a health risk, such as rodents and cockroaches, try mousetraps, jar or pheromone traps, or even nontoxic baits. If these aren’t effective, use ultra-low volume fogging to suffocate pests with a fine mist of insecticide.
Treatment
When pests are present, their actions must be controlled to prevent disease, food contamination, property damage, and ecological disruption. Pest control methods include prevention – keeping pests from entering buildings or environments; suppression – reducing pest numbers to an acceptable level; and eradication – destroying the pests themselves.
A thorough inspection by a trained technician is the first step in any pest control program. This helps identify entry points, nesting areas, and signs of infestation. It also allows the technician to create a customized treatment plan. Interior and exterior treatments may be used, depending on the pests and their locations.
Preventing pests from gaining access to your home is the best way to keep them at bay. A few simple steps can make your property less welcoming to cockroaches, rodents, and other unwanted guests:
Sealing gaps and cracks in walls, floors, and trim reduces pest entrance. Changing the type of lighting used in your home can deter pests. Eliminating clutter in and around your house can deny pests shelter and food sources. Putting away twigs, branches, and leaf litter can discourage mice from chewing through wires in your home’s walls.
Using non-chemical pest control techniques before resorting to pesticides is always preferable. But if pesticides are used, they should be applied sparingly and with great care. Choosing a pesticide that is labeled for the specific pest you are trying to control is essential, as well as following the manufacturer’s instructions and safety warnings.