Pests can be a real nuisance, causing damage to property. They can also spread diseases and trigger allergies and asthma.
Pests like termites, cockroaches, and ants can damage your home or business; fleas and ticks can itch and sting; and mosquitoes can spread dangerous viruses and diseases. Pest control services help keep them away. Contact Apex Pest Solutions now!
The most effective and cost-efficient way to combat pest problems is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Getting a jump on pests means they won’t have a chance to gain a foothold in your home and become unmanageable. Regular preventive pest control services ensure that pests don’t find your house appealing, helping you avoid the hassle of a full infestation. These services can also detect other issues like mildew and rot that attract pests, so you can take care of them before they get out of hand.
Pests like cockroaches, ants, and mice are common household pests that can cause serious health problems and property damage. They breed in warm, humid places and are a source of disease and contamination. Rodents and insects can also cause structural damage to homes and businesses and chew through wiring, posing fire risks. These pests are difficult to detect and treat once they’ve gained a foothold in your living space, but they can be prevented with regular inspections.
Integrated pest management, or IPM, is an eco-friendly approach that prioritizes prevention over reactive treatments. This strategy uses biological controls, habitat manipulation, and natural deterrents to prevent pests while minimizing environmental impacts. It also focuses on the safe use of pesticide products and rodent baits, reducing the need for aggressive treatments.
Preventative measures include removing food sources, sealing entry points, and preventing moisture build-up in your home or business. Incorporating these sustainable practices into your everyday routine can significantly reduce the risk of pest infestations.
Sealing entry points is a key preventative measure, as pests often enter through the smallest cracks and gaps. It’s important to regularly inspect and seal these openings so pests can’t access food and water sources. Keeping garbage cans and trash bins tightly closed and disposed of promptly can help prevent rodents from finding shelter and food. Landscaping maintenance and removing debris can also help keep pest pathways clear.
Natural deterrents like coffee grounds, caulking, or a layer of crushed egg shells around entry points can also be used to deter pests in an environmentally conscious manner. These natural solutions can be customized to specific pests and can also work in conjunction with other preventative measures.
Detection
It’s important to identify pest problems early, before the problem becomes more severe. The best place to start is by looking at the types of damage caused. Many pest species have specific eating patterns that help to determine which crop they’re targeting. For instance, a weevil may chew around the edges of leafy plants, while caterpillars leave distinctive holes throughout a whole leaf. Also, some pests have different physical forms depending on where they are in their life cycle. For example, a weed seedling looks very different from its mature form.
Next, consider any environmental conditions that could be contributing to the pest problem. Often, some basic maintenance can drastically reduce pest activity. For example, securing the perimeter of your home by fixing door and window seals and repairing any damaged screens eliminates common entry points for pests. Cleaning debris and clutter from the surrounding area of your home can also deter pests.
Finally, consider any changes in the appearance of your home’s interior. If you notice a smear of grease on your wall or a trail of droppings leading outside, it’s time to take action. If you see pests inside your home, it’s important to call a pest control professional right away to prevent a serious infestation.
While some pests can be controlled through various cultural and mechanical means, it is sometimes necessary to use chemical controls to get rid of them. However, if you can correctly identify the pest and understand their habits and life cycle, it’s possible to develop a pest management strategy that uses chemicals only where they’re needed and minimizes risks to people and the environment. In these cases, the pest technician will choose a product that is safest for humans and the environment, but also effective at eliminating the pest problem.
Treatment
When pests invade a home or business, they are often looking for food, water or shelter. They may also spread disease or cause property damage. Most pests are annoying, and some can even be dangerous, especially to children or elderly people. It is important to identify and treat them as soon as possible.
Many pest problems can be solved without the use of chemical pesticides. The key is to understand the pests, where they live and how they reproduce. This will help to determine the best treatment approach.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally sound approach to pest control that combines preventative measures with the appropriate use of pesticides when necessary. The first step is to determine the source of the problem by conducting a thorough inspection. This will include identifying the type of pest and their preferred habitats. Often, this can be done by simply walking around the premises and noting areas where pest activity is highest. Once the source has been identified, corrective measures can be taken, such as sealing or closing entry points and removing any food and water sources.
For indoor problems the most effective general DIY pest control treatment is a semi-annual preventative spray with Novacide Aerosol. This product not only delivers a quick knock down of any current pests but it carries an insect growth regulator that will prevent new pest populations from forming for up to 7 months. It is a low odor, water based, low VOC formula that is safe to use in the home and around your family and pets.
For outdoor pests, it is important to keep the lawn mowed and trimmed, remove debris, clean up spilled pet food or bird seed and reduce moisture levels in flower beds. It is also a good idea to trim back any crowded or overgrown vegetation to improve air flow and allow sunlight to reach the plant. If these simple steps do not provide sufficient control, the use of a low toxicity pesticide can be considered but only after a thorough inspection has been conducted and the use of a non-toxic alternative has been exhausted.
Prevention
A pest problem can ruin a product, cause a health or safety hazard and cost you money. The best way to avoid the stress, hassle, and expense of a pest infestation is through preventative strategies that reduce conducive conditions that attract pests.
Performing regular PEST analyses (pest element survey and treatment) is an effective means of developing a preventative program. A PEST analysis provides a snapshot of the risks facing a business and allows for more timely response to threats.
Preventative controls are a combination of environmental modifications and routine pesticide applications. The goal of these controls is to eliminate the food, water, and shelter needs of pests. This includes regularly cleaning spaces where pests are likely to breed and live and removing cluttered areas where nesting can occur. Sealing cracks and crevices in which pests may enter is another important control measure. Using caulk and other appropriate materials can help to prevent access to the inside of a structure by rodents, termites and other pests.
Many pests invade homes, offices and other buildings looking for food or water, or seeking a place to lay eggs. Practice proper sanitation by removing food particles from surfaces and regularly sanitizing kitchens, pantries and bathrooms. It’s also important to clean out closets and other storage areas periodically so that insects can’t find a safe nesting place there.
In addition to making facilities more attractive to pests, preventing the entry of pests into a facility is an essential part of pest prevention. This can be accomplished through regular visual inspection of incoming materials and by following established material inspection protocols.
For instance, if your facility receives products or raw materials from outside suppliers that have been infested by pests, it’s important to quarantine them in a designated area when they arrive at the facility. This will ensure that contaminated materials don’t infiltrate the rest of your inventory and damage your reputation.
To keep pests away from living or working spaces, a routine application of an insecticide like Supreme IT can be beneficial. This insecticide is a residual formula that can be applied every 3 months and will provide long-term control against common indoor pests such as ants, spiders, wasps, bees, hornets and fleas. For hard to reach or liquid-sensitive spots, a less toxic dust such as D-Fense Dust can be used in lieu of spraying with great results.