Pests find their way into homes through the tiniest cracks, crevices and holes. Inspect the exterior of your home, including the foundation and around windows, doors, and crawl spaces, regularly and seal with caulking as needed.
Properly store all food in sealed containers. Clean up crumbs and spills promptly, and remove trash regularly. Contact Springfield MO Pest Control now!
Accurate pest identification is an important first step in any pest control program. It allows the user to determine basic information about the pest, such as its life cycle and when it is most susceptible to control methods. Proper identification can also help in selecting the appropriate application method and the timing of applications for effective control of pests. Pest identification includes observing the pest’s physical features and examining signs of damage caused by the pest.
Some pests, such as rodents and insects, can leave visible signs of infesting a home or workplace. These may include droppings, cast-off skins and other body parts. A quick tour around your property can often reveal signs of infestation, especially in hard-to-reach places like pantries, attics and basements. These signs’ appearance clearly indicates that it’s time to call your local pest control company.
The best way to identify a pest is to visit the online pest guides on the website of your preferred pest control service. These guides feature pictures and descriptions of common pests and provide helpful information about their behavior, damage, signs of an infestation, and prevention and control measures. Many of these sites have additional links to other pest guides and resources.
Depending on the species of pest, it can be beneficial to learn about its life cycle, habitat requirements, time of occurrence and other characteristics in order to make accurate pest identification. Pests can also change their appearance during different stages of the life cycle or as they grow, and it is necessary to be able to distinguish between these forms in order to implement effective control tactics.
Observing the physical form of a pest can be particularly difficult in situations when multiple forms exist, such as when an insect hatches from eggs and matures into its adult form. In these situations, it is essential to use additional resources to ensure accuracy in identification. Incorrect pest identification can lead to ineffective pesticide applications or the misuse of a pesticide by applying it to the incorrect species, stage of life or location of an infestation.
Pest Prevention
Pests include animals that harm people or damage their property. They may carry diseases, contaminate food or spoil crops, cause injuries or destroy structures. Pests can be small mammals (such as mice, rats and squirrels), insects (cockroaches, ants and beetles), spiders, mites, ticks, plant pathogens, nematodes, disease-causing bacteria (such as listeria and salmonella) or even bats.
Preventing pest infestations is the most effective way to control pests and reduce their damaging effects. Prevention involves eliminating sources of food, water and shelter for pests, sealing entry points into buildings and keeping garbage receptacles properly covered. It also includes regular inspections and maintenance tasks that minimize pest habitat.
Some preventive measures are easy to implement. Others require diligence and consistent effort over time. A good start is to familiarize yourself with the life cycles and biology of the pests in your area and determine options available for their control.
Taking steps to avoid pests can help you decide whether or not pesticides are needed. Remember that it is always easier to prevent pests than to treat an infestation once they have taken hold.
Pests often enter buildings through the smallest cracks and openings. Sealing such entryways can reduce the need for treatment. Other preventive measures include storing food in sealed containers, removing rubbish regularly and keeping outdoor trash bins tightly closed. In the garden, maintaining proper soil pH and avoiding over-fertilizing can limit the growth of unwanted plants. Regularly weeding and mulching can keep weeds from crowding out desired plants, as well as reducing the amount of water that is lost to evaporation. Regularly mowing and trimming hedges, shrubs and lawns can keep them looking neater and more attractive. In addition, using nontoxic alternatives to weed killers can help reduce reliance on chemicals. It is important to read product labels carefully. Never use more than recommended. Also, do not transfer pesticide products into other containers. This can result in accidental ingestion by children and pets and increases exposure to the active ingredient. Always purchase pesticides from a reputable dealer. Do not buy them from street vendors, as they may be illegal and dangerous.
Pest Control Methods
Many pests can be controlled without pesticides by removing their food, water or shelter. Physical methods of control include trapping or netting (to catch rodents, birds and other vertebrates) and barriers such as screens to keep pests out. These measures must be regularly checked and maintained to be effective. They also prevent an infestation from developing in the first place by eliminating a pest’s breeding ground or stopping the spread of an existing infestation.
Regular scouting and monitoring are essential to determining the need for pest control. A good way to do this is by creating a route and checking all areas where pests might occur such as under leaves, in cracks or crevices, near the foundation of buildings, at bait stations and so on. Scouting should be done on a regular basis such as daily or weekly depending on the pest and the environment.
Scouting can be done by observing the pests and assessing their numbers, damage, or other traits such as activity level. It can also be done by listening to the site: scurrying or whining noises from mice or squirrels indicate they are around and should prompt action. Other sounds like fluttering wings from mosquitoes are another sign of pest presence, as is increased feeding by caterpillars or beetles.
Monitoring can also be based on a threshold: not seeing pests or only seeing one of them doesn’t mean that they are not present, but seeing several of them or observing damage may indicate it is time to take action. The information gathered from scouting and monitoring will help in deciding which control method to use and when.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based approach to managing pests and their impact on people, plants and the environment. IPM emphasizes prevention through a combination of biological, cultural and mechanical controls, and only using chemical control when necessary and when the target pest is identified correctly. It is also important to be open to non-chemical strategies and to know when they are more effective than a chemical solution. Natural controls such as weather or topography limit pest populations, and biological controls such as natural enemies injure or consume target species to manage population sizes. Chemical controls are used only when other methods cannot be used, and they are designed to minimize risks to human health, beneficial organisms, pets and livestock.
Pesticides
Pesticides are chemical substances used to kill or control pests (insects, weeds, rodents and other organisms). These can be natural or synthetic. Chemical pesticides are usually manufactured in large quantities by people and are more widely used than natural ones. They can also be more toxic, which is why they are regulated by the government. Depending on the kind of pesticide and the amount applied, it may have a variety of side effects. It is important to avoid exposure as much as possible and follow the label directions exactly when using pesticides.
Biological pesticides are made from living organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi that suppress or kill insects or other harmful organisms. These can be applied as a spray or injected into soil. They are not a quick solution and require some practice, but they can help reduce the use of chemical pesticides.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of pesticides in the United States. It reviews and approves pesticides for sale, controls the distribution of federal funds for pest control research, sponsors partnerships, conducts research on environmental issues, publishes information and educates the public. In addition, state governments review and approve pesticide products before they are sold or distributed in that state.
There are many types of organic and natural pesticides. They have a more positive impact on the environment, but they may be less effective at controlling pests. Many are also difficult to obtain in large amounts for commercial use.
Some organic pesticides include elemental sulphur, pyrethrum derived from chrysanthemums and rotenone derived from the roots of tropical plants. More common organic and natural pesticides include horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps, which can be effective if applied at the correct time.
Insecticides, herbicides, nematicides, and fungicides are all types of pesticides. They are generally used to prevent, destroy, or repel pests from crops and gardens. Herbicides are used to control weeds; fungicides are mainly used to combat fungal diseases; and insecticides kill insects.
When selecting a pesticide, read the label carefully to be sure it can be used on the target pest and that it is safe for other organisms, including humans and pets. It is also essential to follow the directions on the label exactly when applying pesticides, as failure to do so can cause harm or even death.