Pest Control Eagle Idaho is the process of eliminating or managing unwanted creatures such as rodents, weeds and insects. These creatures can cause damage to crops, property and health problems.
Physical pest control methods include traps, barriers and exclusion techniques. Biological pest control methods use microorganisms such as the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis to reduce or eradicate pest populations.
Pest identification is the first step in effective pest control. Whether the pest is an insect, mite, disease, weed, vertebrate or any other organism that interferes with human activities by causing annoyance, discomfort, injury or economic loss, accurate pest identification allows for control measures that are targeted to specific species and are less likely to harm beneficial organisms.
Correct identification requires a thorough examination of the pest, including its size and behavior. It also means examining the environment where it was found for clues such as muddy trails, gnawed wood, or signs of infestation like droppings. Using a flashlight and a magnifying glass is often helpful, especially when inspecting secluded or inaccessible areas such as behind equipment, or in the crevices of walls. Collecting the pest and examining it under a microscope is sometimes required to see how many legs or wings it has, its color, the number of antennae, or other physical characteristics that distinguish it from similar organisms.
Using a pest identification guide is another way to determine the pest type. These guides provide photos and descriptions that can help users correlate the pest’s characteristics to its type. These guides are available online, or from Cooperative Extension offices or universities that specialize in entomology.
Some of these guides are targeted to specific crops, with information about the insects that affect the growth and development of certain crops. Others are broader and generalized. The accuracy of these guides depends on the level of expertise of the user, so they should be used in conjunction with other sources of information.
If a pest is identified as an insect, the next step in identifying it is to determine the insect order or family. Each insect order or family has specific traits that differentiate it from other members of the group. For example, ants and bees have six legs, while bed bugs have eight. Insects are categorized into 32 groups or orders, with each group containing sub-groups with more specific traits. Knowing the specific characteristics of a particular pest helps you to match them to a pest identification guide or a reference, so that you can identify it and find the best control methods.
Pest Prevention
Pests are more than just an unwelcome inconvenience: They can spread germs and cause structural damage. That’s why it’s best to prevent them in the first place. To do this, learn about the pests and options available to control them. Taking steps to keep them out also helps reduce the need for toxic chemicals.
Preventing pests requires removing food, water and shelter sources. This can be as simple as removing trash regularly and making sure to close off any entryways pests may use. For example, pests love a wet environment, so it’s important to remove or patch leaky pipes as soon as they’re discovered.
Clutter can also provide hiding spots for pests and breeding grounds. Regularly clean and wipe down surfaces, including floors, counters, walls, furniture and appliances. It’s also a good idea to use tote bins for recycling instead of open bins, and make sure to mark your waste collection day so you don’t miss it.
In the yard, woodpiles should be kept away from buildings, gutters should be cleaned out regularly and grass should be trimmed to minimize the opportunity for pests to find refuge. A regular sanitizing rinse for mattresses, pillows, rugs and upholstery can help too.
Keeping plants and animals healthy can also help prevent pest problems. Certain varieties of plants, trees and animals are naturally resistant to some pests. This means they can sustain larger populations than other types before suffering serious damage. Planting these resistant varieties can also help reduce the need for toxic chemicals in a facility.
The goal of a pest prevention program is to eliminate the need for pesticides in a facility or home. To do this, a comprehensive plan needs to be in place from the very beginning. It should include an inspection and evaluation of the facility, including its physical condition, to determine how easy it is for pests to move in and out. It should also include ongoing scouting and monitoring to identify pests in their earliest stages of development, when they’re easier to kill or prevent from multiplying.
While the initial investment to implement a pest prevention program is greater than that of simply treating pest infestations as they arise, the long-term savings and reduction in potential health risks will pay for itself. It will also avoid the costs of product recalls and the embarrassment of having incoming products rejected by clients due to a pest-related issue.
Pest Control Methods
Various techniques are used in pest control, depending on the type of pest and the environment. Techniques may be physical, biological, chemical or a combination of these. The goal is to cause as little harm as possible to the environment and to human beings. Pesticides are only used when necessary. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a method of controlling pests that tries to reduce the need for chemical treatments by altering the conditions that make them necessary. This includes detailed examination of conducive conditions, making environmental changes and employing beneficial organisms to help control pests.
Physical pest control involves trapping, removing or killing pests with devices like traps and screens or by scouting and monitoring. It may also include changing the environment to reduce its hospitability to pests, such as by cleaning up breeding grounds or eliminating dark and damp areas where they are found. It may also involve introducing plants or other organisms that are natural predators of the pest, such as using ladybugs to eliminate aphids.
The Biological pest control method relies on the use of living organisms, usually viruses or bacteria, to control populations of unwanted plants or animals. The organisms are selected and introduced into the environment in a controlled way, with attention to their life cycles and the ability to interfere with the target pest species without harming non-target organisms. Bacillus thuringiensis, for example, is a naturally occurring bacterium that is used to control caterpillars by targeting their digestive system when ingested.
Chemical pest controls involve the use of poisons, often in the form of granules or baits, that kill or debilitate the pests by interfering with their nervous systems. These chemicals are typically available only to licensed pest control technicians and are used carefully with the objective of causing the least amount of damage to humans, pets, livestock and other wildlife.
There are three goals for pest control: prevention – keeping a pest from becoming a problem; suppression – reducing the number of pests to an acceptable level; and eradication – destroying all pests. In general, it is less costly to prevent pests than to treat a population once they have become established.
Pesticides
Pesticides are the chemicals used to kill germs, insects, rodents, weeds and mildew that can damage crops or hurt people, pets and property. They can be natural or synthetic and come in liquid, powder or spray form. Natural or organic pesticides are less toxic than chemical ones and may be derived from plant products, bacteria, viruses or minerals. They are also less likely to pollute water or air, and break down quickly in the environment.
Always read and follow the product label. It tells you when, where and how to use a product safely. If you do not understand the directions, ask a knowledgeable person for help. It is against the law to use any pesticide for a purpose or in a way that is not specified on the label.
If you must use a pesticide, choose the least harmful product and apply it in a manner that will minimize exposure to humans, pets, livestock or wildlife. Wear the protective clothing listed on the label. Avoid applying pesticides near (or splashing onto) food, utensils and cooking equipment. Clean up spills immediately, and rinse skin and clothes that have been exposed to pesticides with soap and water. Do not launder contaminated clothing with other items, as this can spread the pesticide.
Spray pesticides only on windless days to prevent spray drift, which can contaminate adjacent plants or areas. Do not spray near ponds, streams, wells or other water sources, as pesticides can enter them and pose health risks. Be sure to water the soil after spraying to wash pesticides into the ground where they will be less likely to resurface in runoff or reach water bodies and human populations.
Rotate insecticides with different modes of action to prevent the build-up of resistance. Modes of action refer to the specific biological process that a pesticide disrupts. For example, a pesticide that kills insects by poisoning their nervous system works by interrupting the flow of nerve impulses.
Give personnel, students or parents notice when pesticides will be used around school grounds. Be especially careful when using pesticides around children and pets. Provide first aid information in a readily accessible location, and make sure everyone knows how to treat for exposure to any pesticides they may have touched or inhaled. Keep pesticides out of the reach of children and animals, and store them in a locked shed or cabinet.