When pests invade, it can be tempting to reach for the bug spray. But before you do, consider nonchemical pest control options.

Rats, mice and other rodents can contaminate food, chew through wires, strip insulation and spread diseases. They also cause structural damage and create unpleasant odors. Contact Pest Control South Lake TX now!

The first step in preventing them is to deny them shelter, food and water. For example, repair ripped window and door screens and seal cracks.

Pest Identification

Whether pests are insects, weeds, diseases or microbes, correct identification is the first step in developing an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. A correct identification allows the choice of a control tactic that is least likely to cause damage to people or the environment, while being effective against the pest. This is the basis for all good pest control.

A pest’s appearance may provide a clue to its identity, but some special equipment is needed for accurate field identification. A sweep net, forceps, and a jar of rubbing alcohol are helpful for collecting and killing specimens; a magnifying lens is also useful for identifying the physical characteristics of the pest. An online identifier may also be used to help with the identification process.

In many cases, a pest’s physical appearance changes during different stages in its life cycle. A weed seedling, for example, has a very different appearance than an adult weed. The time of year, food sources and breeding locations also affect the appearance of some species of pests. An identification to the level of species is important because different pests within a family or genera have very different behavior and host plant preferences, natural enemy complexes and damage symptoms.

Ideally, pest identification should be done by an expert, such as a Federal or State agency plant protection specialist, commodity or industry organization, Cooperative Extension agent or a local university entomology, botany or malacology department. Identified pests are then entered into the National Identification Services database and used to support APHIS’s regulatory programs, including quarantine action decisions.

Homeowners can improve their ability to identify pest problems by familiarizing themselves with basic identification techniques, such as studying photographs and learning the features that distinguish one pest from another. They can also learn to recognize the signs of pest presence, such as damage to plants or fruit, discoloration from disease, and other indicators. By observing pests and their activities over a period of time, homeowners can estimate thresholds, which are the levels of pest damage that a homeowner will tolerate. The use of thresholds helps to limit the amount of pesticide that needs to be applied and can help prevent the development of resistance to pesticides.

Pest Prevention

Pests are organisms, such as insects, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, weeds or vertebrates, that damage crops, lawns, trees, shrubs, buildings or homes; pose health concerns for people and pets; displace native plants and disrupt ecosystems. Pests may also contaminate food, water or other resources or interfere with recreational activities.

The best way to control pests is to prevent them from coming into your home or garden in the first place. Regular sanitization of inside areas can help eliminate germs that could attract them, and caulking cracks and crevices can help seal entry points. Yards should be free of clutter that offers rodents, spiders and other pests places to hide or nest; wood piles should be moved away from the house; and tree limbs that touch the roofline should be trimmed.

Scouting is another key element of IPM. This involves regularly searching for, identifying and assessing pests (and the damage they’re doing) – checking under leaves, along foundations, in and around bait stations. It also includes proactively looking for potential problem spots, such as places mosquitoes might lay eggs.

Eradication is rarely the goal in outdoor pest management, since it’s often impossible to achieve. However, in indoor environments such as office buildings, schools, hospitals and food processing and preparation facilities, it’s a more realistic objective.

Chemical pesticides are a common method of pest control. They’re available as aerosol sprays, dusts and baits and work by disrupting a pest’s nervous system, killing it or preventing reproduction. Chemicals are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and are usually safe for humans when used according to label instructions.

Biological pest controls are predators, parasitoids or disease organisms that naturally reduce the population of undesirable organisms. These natural enemies occur in nature and are sometimes introduced into landscapes to enhance existing pest-control methods.

A variety of soil-dwelling nematodes, such as the cockroach-eating nematode Steinernema carpocapsae, can be sprayed on lawns and gardens to kill or inhibit pests. These microscopic worms feed on a wide range of insects that cause garden and lawn damage, including fleas, grubs and ants.

Pest Control Methods

There are many ways to prevent pests from bothering plants, crops, buildings and homes. Many of these methods involve denying pests the food, water, shelter and other elements they need to survive or reproduce. Denying them the basics can cut their numbers enough to stop them from doing any harm.

Regular inspections can detect early signs of a problem. This allows prompt action to minimize damage and prevent it from getting worse. For example, a few wasps flying around in a yard do not warrant control measures; however, finding an entire wasp nest and removing it will stop the problem before it gets out of hand.

Pests can be prevented from gaining entry into a home by using screens on windows, keeping doors and vents tightly closed, and patching cracks or holes in the walls, roof or foundation. Keeping grass and other shrubs trimmed away from the house will help to reduce hiding places for rodents.

Physical pest control methods include traps and bait stations that lure and capture pests without killing them. These are most effective for reducing the numbers of insect and rodent pests, especially when used in combination with other controls.

There are also biological pest control methods that use living organisms to kill pests. These include certain microorganisms, such as the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which produces a toxin that is deadly to caterpillars when they eat Bt-treated foliage. These methods are useful when applied in combination with other control measures and are less disruptive to the environment than chemical treatments.

Natural forces, such as climate and the presence of natural enemies, affect all organisms and can help or hinder pest control. These forces can cause pest populations to rise and fall, making threshold-based decision-making important in determining whether control is needed at any given time.

In implementing threshold-based decision-making, building and site managers should consider all options that will most effectively manage pests while causing the least disturbance to the site and other organisms. This includes combining cultural, biological and chemical techniques where appropriate. This will result in a sustainable solution that protects people, property and the environment.

Pesticides

A pesticide is any substance (including a mixture of substances) that kills or controls pests. Pests include insects, mice or other rodents, unwanted plants, fungi and microorganisms (including viruses). Pesticides can be in the form of solids, liquids, powders or sprays. They can also be natural or artificial substances, such as a plant hormone or mineral.

Chemical pesticides can be very effective, but many come with a number of health and environmental concerns. They may be absorbed through the skin, inhaled or ingested. They can also leach into water or soil, contaminating groundwater or affecting the surrounding environment. Some pesticides are persistent, accumulating in the environment for long periods of time. Others degrade very quickly, releasing toxic metabolites into the environment.

The risk of exposure to pesticides is greatest when workers don’t follow recommended safety guidelines for handling and using the products. These include using personal protective equipment, following label instructions and practicing basic sanitation, such as washing hands after handling pesticides or before eating.

All pesticides pose some risk of harm to humans and other organisms. However, each product is carefully evaluated to ensure it carries a low enough risk to be used safely. If a pesticide does pose a significant threat, it will typically require extensive testing and registration before being sold for use in commercial applications.

In addition to controlling traditional pests, some pesticides are used to control diseases carried by mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and other vector species. These diseases include West Nile virus, Lyme disease and rabies. In some cases, bacterial infections such as anthrax spores can be controlled with pesticides.

When choosing a pesticide, consider the type of pest you’re trying to control and how that pest affects your garden or landscape. Some pests can be controlled with cultural practices, such as proper planting and establishment techniques.

Other pests are more difficult to control and often require specific types of pesticides. For example, nematodes that feed on root systems can be controlled with nematocide pesticides. Herbicides can be used to eliminate weeds that compete with crops for nutrients and moisture. And fungicides can kill fungi that cause disease in crops and ornamental plants.