Author: Morgan Schneider

Treasure Valley Pest Control involves managing the presence of pests to reduce harm to the environment and human health. This can be achieved through prevention, suppression, and eradication.

To deter rodents and other pests, keep garbage bins and compost piles away from the house. Also, clean out closets and other storage areas frequently.

A pest infestation can cause health problems and property damage. In addition to being unsightly, rats can gnaw on electrical wires, mice can chew through drywall and wood, and spiders, scorpions, and bees can carry diseases such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, and Salmonella. Preventing pest infestations is easier than you might think. Various things can be done to keep pests away from your home or business, including proper sanitation and targeted treatment methods such as gel baits and insecticides.

The first step is preventing pests from accessing food, water, and shelter. This can be achieved by storing food in sealed containers, disposing of garbage frequently, and sealing trash bins. Also, regularly check your home for cracks and openings that can serve as entry points for pests and repair them immediately.

Another way to prevent pests is to look for leaking pipes—this can be particularly important in areas where food is stored. If you notice a leak, it’s essential to fix it right away, as it could lead to spoiled goods, structural damage, and health risks.

Finally, the use of pest predators, parasites and pathogens can be a great way to control pest populations. These organisms can help reduce pest numbers by feeding on them or causing disease, and many of these are found in nature and can be harnessed to provide natural pest control.

The most effective way to manage pests is by using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach that includes prevention, suppression and eradication techniques. This is an environmentally friendly method of managing pests and emphasizes treating only those areas where pests are found, rather than blanket spraying areas. It also relies on a partnership between the pest control operator and the customer, with both parties working together to identify the problem and address it. During routine IPM inspections, it’s important to report any pest sightings and indicators so that the PCO can treat them effectively. This will allow for more precise treatments and limit the amount of products required. It will also minimize the potential risk to employees, customers, and visitors and maintain a safe environment.

Suppression

Pests are organisms that invade and damage crops, ornamental plants, turfgrass and home landscapes. Several techniques are available to control or eliminate these pests, including preventive, suppression and eradication methods. Preventive techniques deprive pests of comfortable habitats and prevent them from spreading while suppression reduces the population of current infestations and eradication eradicates them entirely.

Natural, biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical controls are used to limit pests in their environment. Natural controls such as weather and topography act to limit the number of pests while cultural practices such as plowing, crop rotation, frequent cleaning of greenhouse and tillage equipment, composting and mulching alter the environment to make it unsuitable for pests. Chemicals such as herbicides and insecticides may be used to kill or deter pests, but are most often applied to stop them from damaging crops.

Many pests are parasites or predators that attack their host or other pests. Conserving and releasing these organisms to maintain or boost populations helps control pests. Examples of biological control include beneficial mites that kill harmful mites in orchards, nematodes that kill soil grubs and wasps that parasitize greenhouse whitefly.

The resistance of plants, trees and buildings to insects and other pests also can help control or eliminate them. Using resistant varieties of plants, wood and structures can deprive the pests of their desirable environments and prevent them from invading.

Suppression techniques include monitoring pests to determine the economic injury level or threshold at which damage or losses begin to occur. Threshold-based decision-making allows growers to use control measures only when necessary, reducing the amount of pesticides used.

Observation and inspection are essential to prevent, identify, and monitor pests. This information enables the implementation of pest management techniques that are most appropriate for the situation and minimize risks to human health, the environment and beneficial organisms. It is important to follow product labels and wear basic personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling pest control materials to avoid exposure and injury. These basic precautions should include long-sleeved shirts, pants, closed toe shoes and gloves, face and eye protection, and a full facial shield or mask to reduce the risk of inhalation.

Eradication

Unlike prevention and suppression, eradication is the ultimate goal in some pest situations. Eradication techniques attempt to wipe out an entire population of a particular pest, usually in a large geographic area. This approach is most often used when a new disease or insect threatens human health and well-being. Examples include the Mediterranean fruit fly, gypsy moth and fire ants. In some cases, eradication is also attempted in indoor environments where zero tolerance is required, such as operating rooms and other sterile areas of medical facilities.

When a pesticide is used over a wide geographical area, it may be possible that a portion of the pest population will develop resistance to the chemical. In addition, if the pesticide is used over an extended period of time, the target pests may be in a different life cycle stage or location when exposed to the chemical. To reduce the chances of pesticide resistance, it is important to rotate pest control chemicals when using them and to always follow label instructions.

Some people avoid using pesticides because of their potential toxicity and other adverse effects. Others use home remedies to prevent pests, such as placing twigs in birdbaths to deter mosquitoes or filling them with water to discourage fleas and ticks. If you must use a pesticide, only a qualified pest control technician should apply it. When choosing a pesticide, look for an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered formula that targets the specific pest you wish to control. Also consider the type of application: liquids, powders or sprays and whether it will come into direct contact with your skin.

Before applying a pesticide, it is essential to wear the proper safety equipment. Gloves protect hands from contact with pesticides and can prevent bites or stings. A respirator filters out particles from chemicals and helps prevent respiratory problems. Safety boots protect against spills and other accidents. A helmet prevents head injuries due to falling objects and offers protection from flying chemicals or pest waste. Goggles shield your eyes from splashes and foreign substances.

Eradication is a difficult and expensive goal for most pests, but it can be accomplished when it is the only reasonable option to protect public health or improve quality of life. The costs of eradication must be weighed against the benefits of avoided infection, vaccination and other economic losses.

Biological Control

Biological control uses natural enemies—predators, parasitoids, pathogens, or competitors—to reduce pest populations. These organisms can be found in the environment or are produced by research programs at APHIS Plant Protection Science and Technology Centers, universities, or other institutions. Biological control is an important part of IPM because it reduces the need for chemical pesticides.

Many insect natural enemies are bacteria, fungi, viruses, or nematodes that infect and kill their host species. Some of these microorganisms are commercially available as “biological” or “microbial” pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), entomopathogenic nematodes, and granulosis viruses. Some are also used as contact or systemic pesticides, such as spinosad, which is a fermentation product of a naturally occurring bacterium.

A common biological control strategy is classical biological control or inoculative biology, which involves the importation from the pest’s native habitat of natural enemies that have been studied for their ability to suppress it. This approach is often successful against exotic, or invasive, pests that have become established in new areas. For example, the introduction of predatory ladybugs Rodolia cardinalis in Europe helped control the invasive apple maggot Icerya purchasi in the 1920s. This method has been most effective in long-term perennial crops, where natural enemy populations can build up to suppress the pests over time.

Another form of biological control is augmentation, which involves periodically introducing more natural enemies to an area. This approach is most useful for crops that have critical periods in their development, such as bud burst and flowering. This type of biological control is typically applied only after careful scouting and sampling to determine the current population of the target pest and its interaction with natural enemies.

Augmentation is the most common technique for implementing biocontrol in IPM, but there are other ways to use it as well. For example, an APHIS PPQ-funded biological control program is developing agents to suppress the potato tuber moth (Tuta absoluta). The agent works by inhibiting the moth’s growth hormones. It is being tested against other species of the genus as well as in field tests to see how well it performs.

Pest Control Ballwin MO manages pests, organisms that damage or spoil property or introduce diseases. Pest control goals include prevention, suppression, and eradication.

Natural forces such as climate, natural enemies, and the availability of food and shelter influence pest populations. Threshold levels, representing the level of harm a pest can cause acceptable to humans, also guide pest control decisions.

Insects are tiny parasitic insects from the genus Cimex that feed on blood, usually at night. They’re most likely to be brought into the home on clothing, luggage, and other personal belongings in infested hotels or lodgings. They also hitch rides on public transportation and in the backs of trucks or cars. Practicing caution while traveling is the best way to avoid bringing bed bugs home. Check shoes before entering a hotel room, change clothes before getting into bed, and place a protective cover on suitcases to keep bugs from crawling inside.

Detecting a bed bug infestation requires a thorough inspection with a flashlight. Look for eggs under bedding, in cracks and crevices around beds and in the seams of mattresses, box springs and headboards. Inspect area rugs, carpet tack strips and wall-mounted items such as clocks, picture frames and smoke detectors. Bed bugs can also hide in recessed screw holes in headboards, dressers and other furniture.

Wash all infested items in hot water and dry them on high heat settings. Discard clothing that can’t be washed, as well as any infested pillows, pet beds and stuffed animals. If a mattress or box spring is badly infested, consider replacing it. A tightly woven mattress cover will help prevent bed bugs from escaping.

Pesticides can be used to treat serious bed bug infestations, but only if the proper safety instructions are followed carefully. Several products are registered for use against bed bugs, including over-the-counter total release aerosol foggers. These are not considered effective for treating serious infestations, however, and can be harmful to people and pets. Contact a certified pest control professional for more effective long-term management of bed bugs.

After treatment, continue to monitor the situation for recurrence. Inspect rooms regularly, and keep records through the process so that any problems can be quickly identified and treated. This is particularly important as the insecticide treatment can take weeks to fully work, and it may be difficult to tell if the problem is completely resolved until after all the chemicals have had time to dissipate.

Termites

Each year, termites cause billions in damage to homes and other structures. These destructive pests are more active in warmer weather as they search for food to store for winter. Termites live in underground colonies, composed of worker and soldier termites with large heads and jaws to chew through wood. These insects are cream-colored with no eyes, but they communicate through a system of pheromones and secretions.

Homeowners can avoid costly termite infestation by keeping an eye out for warning signs. These include wood that sounds hollow when tapped, cracking or bubbling paint on walls and floors, mud tubes that run from the ground to a structure’s foundation, and a temporary swarm of winged termites in or around a home or office.

Termites love moist wood, so eliminating moisture is one way to deter them. Keep gutters and downspouts working properly, seal any leaky pipes and make sure crawl spaces are ventilated. Don’t store wood or cardboard in crawl spaces, and stack firewood away from the house. Dryer vents that aren’t cleaned can also create the moist, humid environment that attracts some species of termites, so make sure to clean the dryer duct regularly.

Another preventive measure is to remove rotting wood and replace it with termite-resistant materials. Also, trim overgrown shrubs and keep them away from the foundation of the house. Inspect all wood structures for any signs of termite activity, and schedule regular inspections from a professional.

The type of termite treatment depends on the type of infestation. Subterranean termites and dampwood termites require access to wood with a high moisture content, so they are attracted to mulch, overgrown shrubs, and firewood placed too close to buildings. They are also more likely to infest houses with exposed foundations.

A soil-applied termiticide can be a great preventative, as it acts like a barrier that the pests cannot cross. The most common products are Termidor, Premise and Altriset (chlorantraniliprole). In addition to these preventative methods, direct chemicals can be sprayed into crevices and cracks that may be hiding termites. The odorless foam expands and kills the termites as they attempt to enter the home.

Ants

Ants are social insects that live in colonies with a queen and thousands of workers. They are most often seen invading indoors looking for food and water sources, but they can also be a problem outdoors in gardens, lawns, and in other places around the house where they aren’t wanted. Ants can cause damage to plants by eating the roots, and ant hills or tunnels in the soil can disturb or even kill grass and other vegetation.

Like any insect, ants can be controlled using a variety of methods, from baits to dusts to sprays. Some of these products can be used safely by homeowners, while others are only available to licensed pesticide applicators. It is important to correctly identify the ant species in order to choose the most effective control measures.

In many cases, ants can be controlled by simply removing the food source. For instance, a clean kitchen and storing food properly will prevent ants from being attracted to it.

The use of soaps and detergents in the kitchen and bathroom will also help to keep ants away, as will cleaning up spills immediately and not leaving them on surfaces where ants can walk over them. Caulking cracks and plugging holes is another effective way to prevent ant entry into the home.

Other effective ant controls include barrier, perimeter, and direct insecticide treatments of ants’ nests. However, these treatments can be risky to people, pets, and beneficial insects such as pollinators if they aren’t done correctly and in the right conditions.

It is important for homeowners to follow all label instructions when using ant control products. Never treat entire walls, floors, cupboards, or other areas where ants can walk over them. This will only contaminate the food in those areas and may attract other ants. Instead, apply dusts or baits to ant entry points, such as in wall voids or under flooring.

A popular, natural method of ant control involves using a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. The vinegar smells to the ants and repels them while killing them. The ants will carry the poison back to the colony and poison other ants, ultimately killing the whole population.

Rodents

Rats are a major pest because they can carry fleas, ticks and mites that may bite humans and pets and cause diseases including typhus, plague, trichinosis and salmonella. They can also chew through wires and pipes to gain access to interior structures where they breed and find food.

Rodents love to nest in attics and basements, under piles of paper, cloth, trash, or other material and behind walls where they can chew holes. They also gnaw through exterior and foundation walls to get into homes, buildings and other structures.

An integrated rodent control program includes the removal of food, water and shelter from rats’ natural habitats; using poison baits to reduce their population; and building them out to prevent their re-entry into homes, buildings and other structures. This last step is known as exclusion or “rodent-proofing.”

When it comes to preventing rodents from entering a structure, the best approach is to keep it clean. Remove potential rodent hiding spots and nesting materials, such as discarded cardboard boxes, fabric scraps and old newspaper. Keep kitchen garbage and compost piles tightly sealed, with the contents rotated to prevent them from drawing rodents.

The most effective, long term form of rat control is trapping and building them out. Wooden snap traps placed along runways at right angles to walls and other structures and in secluded locations, such as dark corners, are most effective. These should be checked frequently and dead rodents promptly disposed of. Poison baits can be used with caution and only when necessary to control existing populations, but they must be properly stored away from children, pets and nontarget wildlife and in tamper-resistant bait stations as specified on product labels.

For long term rat control, fumigants are also available. These products release a deadly gas that quickly and silently kills the rodents underground or in their tunnels, leaving no ill effects to others. These are typically only recommended by professional pest control companies and can only be applied by them to commercial or residential properties where the threat of secondary poisoning is considered low.