Pests can be a health risk, and if they cause enough damage, we may need to control them. Generally, it’s best to prevent pests from entering homes and buildings. However, if that isn’t possible, then it’s important to know how to manage them effectively.
Pest controls are usually divided into three categories: prevention – keeping a pest from becoming a problem; suppression – reducing the numbers or damage to an acceptable level; and eradication – eliminating an entire pest population. Preventive measures include cleaning up crumbs, trash and other potential hiding places, sealing cracks and crevices to exclude pests, and regularly searching for and destroying eggs and larvae.
There are also many natural ways to manage pests, using predators and other living organisms. These methods don’t use chemicals and thus reduce the danger to human health and the environment. However, they’re only effective against small pest invasions and often take some time to work.
Natural enemies – parasites, predators and pathogens – can help control pests by attacking them directly or by preventing them from reproducing. They can also be used to supplement other Pest Control methods, as in the release of sterile males or pheromones. There is a lag between the increase in natural enemies and the corresponding decrease in pest populations, so this method does not usually achieve eradication.
Environmental factors – climate, natural barriers, the availability of food and water, shelter – influence pest populations. For example, mountains and large bodies of water restrict the spread of many pests. The amount of rain can affect the survival of some species of plants. The availability of roosts and places to hide from predators can also influence the size of pest populations.
When it comes to indoor pests, prevention and suppression are often the goals, but eradication is more common outdoors. Examples of outdoor eradication programs are those for Mediterranean fruit flies, gypsy moths and fire ants.
The best pesticides are those that pose the least danger to humans and other animals, plants and the environment. They are often targeted to specific parts of the organism and not the whole population, and are applied at the lowest possible dose. When using any pesticide, it is important to read and follow the label instructions and safety warnings.
Getting rid of pests takes time and effort, but it can be done safely and effectively with the right knowledge and tools. The key is to understand the habits and life cycle of each pest, then to remove their food and water sources, shelter and other factors that make them attractive or tolerated.
Clutter provides a place for pests to breed and hide, so remove stacks of newspapers, magazines or cardboard. Close off places where they can enter, such as cracks and crevices with caulking or steel wool. Educate yourself about the pest and the options for management, and discuss these with your pest control professional.