Pests can be harmful to humans, plants, and animals. They can damage crops and buildings and even cause diseases such as rat-borne hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Contact Pest Control Trophy Club TX now!
Control methods are used to prevent or eliminate unwanted organisms. Based on esthetic or health considerations, threshold levels are established for some pests to force action. Control usually involves prevention and suppression, with eradication only rarely attempted.
Biological control uses living organisms (predators, parasitoids, pathogens, or disease agents) to reduce pest populations. Unlike chemical treatments, biocontrol agents usually do not damage the crops they attack. They also are environmentally friendly and do not leave toxic residues, can be reused. They can reduce the need for expensive and hazardous chemicals in agriculture and may also be used in combination with them. Examples of biocontrol include the use of predatory fish to control mosquitoes in salt marshes and the planting of specific plants for the purpose of attracting natural enemies to deter insect pests.
Historically, biological control has reduced the need for harsh chemical treatments in many agricultural situations. It has also provided cost-effective, environmentally benign, long-term control of many pests in a variety of cropping systems. It is also useful for controlling wildland weeds such as kudzu and St. Johnswort.
This method of pest control is called augmentation biological control because it introduces new organisms into an environment where the species is not naturally occurring. It involves seeking out the natural enemies of an invasive plant and introducing them to counter its effect on native ecosystems in the new region.
The basic principle is that a natural enemy of a pest will usually be attracted to the same habitats that provide food and shelter to its own population. For example, the frogs that prey on caterpillars require shallow pools of water where they can lay their eggs. In order to encourage a suitable population of natural enemies, the frogs’ habitat should be maintained in the area where the caterpillars are present.
Another important consideration is that any new organism introduced into the environment must not be harmful to the existing ecosystems. For this reason, a high degree of host-specificity is sought for any potential biological control agent. It is important to avoid using herbicides and other chemicals around the areas where biological control agents are to be released, especially up to one week before the release date.
Microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria and plant extracts can also be used as biological control agents. They can reduce the growth of a pest by killing or repelling it or by blocking the pest’s ability to absorb nutrients from its host. These substances are called biopesticides.
Chemical Control
Chemical pest control involves the use of synthetic or natural substances to kill or repel specific types of insects, weeds and other pests that can damage crops, gardens, homes or other structures. These chemicals must undergo rigorous testing and comply with regulations before they are sold. The most common chemical products include insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Each of these chemicals is targeted towards a different type of pest, with the specific organism killed revealed in the name; for example, insecticides kill insects, herbicides kill weeds and fungicides kill fungal pathogens.
These chemical products are highly effective against specific pests, but they often come with a host of side effects that can be harmful to humans and animals. Residues from these products can be inhaled or ingested, which can lead to respiratory problems, skin irritation and other health issues. Furthermore, these chemicals can be detrimental to the environment as they can contaminate soil and water sources, harm other forms of wildlife and contribute to air pollution.
The effectiveness of chemical pest control methods depends on the formulation of the active ingredient and the environmental conditions where it is used. Liquid formulations are commonly used in spray applications and are effective for targeting pests on leaves, flowers and other surfaces. Granular formulations can be used to target pests that crawl on the ground, such as ants, termites and bed bugs. These can be applied using a duster or powder applicator. Fumigation is also an option for confined spaces, such as termite tunnels or cockroach colonies.
Regardless of the formulation, all chemical products have the potential to be dangerous and should only be used by trained professionals. They should also be stored properly to ensure that they are not exposed to moisture or heat. Proper application of these chemicals is also critical, as overuse or misuse can result in the development of resistant pests.
Although they are highly effective against certain pests, the long-term health risks and environmental impact of chemical control methods make them an unsustainable choice for many homeowners. Non-toxic alternatives, such as biological or mechanical control techniques, are generally safer and offer quicker results.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
IPM is an ecosystem-based strategy that aims to prevent pests and their damage through a variety of techniques, including biological control, habitat manipulation, change in cultural practices and use of resistant plant varieties. Chemical controls are used sparingly and only after monitoring reveals they are needed according to established guidelines. IPM programs are often more expensive than traditional chemical approaches, but they are also more sustainable in the long run and can have fewer risks to human health and the environment.
Proper identification of pests is the first step in effective IPM. The UC IPM website provides specific guidelines for monitoring most pest species, and Cooperative Extension staff can provide trainings and information. A good IPM program is flexible and may change over time as weather conditions, pest biology, and other factors influence management decisions.
To limit the impact of a pest, it’s important to deny it what it needs: food, water, shelter, proper temperature and space, etc. The right combination of physical and mechanical controls, for example, can keep most pest populations below unacceptable levels. Stretching netting over your berry bushes will stop marauding birds from spoiling your crop, while easy-to-use products like Amdro gopher traps can stop pocket gophers from digging up your veggies and flowers. Destroying eggs and larvae with pheromones (insect attractants) and applying pheromone strips around crops can prevent insects from becoming pests in the first place.
Biological methods of controlling pests involve deliberately releasing predators or parasitoids to reduce harmful insect populations without killing them off entirely. This technique is best employed by experienced pest managers, since it is crucial to know how and when to release these organisms. It is also essential to have a good understanding of pest biology and ecology, and the effect of climate changes on pest activity.
IPM plans are constantly reevaluated to minimize economic costs and environmental risk. For example, as landscape plants mature and their roots occupy more space, they can become shaded and less attractive to many pests. As a result, pesticide applications can be reduced or eliminated.
Physical Control
Physical pest control removes the pest from the environment, either by killing or catching it and relocating it. Methods like trapping rodents, removing their nests, steam sterilization of soil to kill disease organisms, and barriers such as fences and screens are common examples of physical controls. Biological and physical controls also help to make the environment unsuitable for pests by changing the food, water, or shelter supply. For example, crops seeded to a more rapid-maturing variety can concentrate corn borer larvae away from the main crop and provide effective control with insecticides. Likewise, planting attractive crops such as zinnias to attract cabbage maggots or fennel to draw carrot root fly larvae away from field production can improve yields while reducing pest damage.
Natural enemies of pests can sometimes help to control them, as can parasitic plants and bacteria. For instance, aphids are often managed by introducing predatory insects, and many plant diseases can be controlled with parasitic or pathogenic organisms that attack the disease-causing pests.
Environmental factors can affect pest populations as well, including weather conditions such as rainfall, temperature, and wind. For example, the movement of air currents stirs up dust and rubs against cuticular waxes on the skin of insect pests, causing them to dehydrate. This simple principle explains why crops planted near dirt roads often suffer less insect injury than those in adjacent fields.
The information gained from monitoring and scouting enables managers to make threshold-based decisions about when and how to control pests. Scouting and monitoring include searching for, identifying, counting, and assessing pests. It also involves determining whether the presence of a pest warrants control and if so, what management strategies should be employed.
Threshold-based decision making helps a manager decide how and when to implement physical, biological, and chemical control methods. The choice of methods depends on the type of business, such as a restaurant or retail store, and the location, such as in a forest or on a farm. The decision may also depend on the size of the infestation. A few wasps in a backyard garden probably do not need control, but a colony that is building a large nest on the roof of a grocery store will likely require prompt attention.