Pest Control Abbotsford BC involves eliminating or managing unwanted creatures, such as pests or vermin. Pests can cause biological and physical contamination of food and damage to property.
Threshold-based decision-making helps determine whether to use barriers, exclusion, trapping, repulsion or chemical controls. Physical and biological methods are safer for the environment than chemical ones.
Pest identification is the first step in developing a pest management plan. Proper pest identification helps to target control methods that are least harmful to humans and beneficial organisms. This is especially important in integrated pest management (IPM) approaches, where treating only for observed pests and targeting specific pest behaviors can reduce the overall impact of treatments on the environment.
Scouting and monitoring practices should focus on identifying pests early in the season, before their populations build to damaging levels. This involves observing the plants they damage and comparing their behavior to that of known pests. It also means determining if the pests have chewing or sucking mouthparts and whether their damage is caused by feeding on leaves, flowers, fruit, roots, or stems.
Crawling pests are usually easier to identify. Observe them and note their size, color, number of legs, and other physical characteristics. Then, compare their characteristics to images in a pest identification guide. Once you find a match, click on it to learn about the pest’s habitats and other behavioral traits, such as signs of an infestation or prevention and control measures.
Similarly, consider what types of crops the pests eat and their favored environmental conditions. This will help you narrow down your search for a possible pest, such as by ruling out animals that generally feed on other types of plant and highlighting those that favor particular crop species. This will allow you to quickly identify a potential pest and then decide on a suitable treatment strategy. It’s also worth noting that different pests will attack a particular crop at certain times of the year or season, or in response to particular environmental factors.
Pest Control Methods
The first step in pest control is to identify what type of pest you are dealing with. This will help you decide what methods are best to control it.
Physical and mechanical pest control techniques kill or block a pest or make the environment unsuitable for it. Examples include removing or destroying the pest’s nest, trapping or catching it, and blocking its access to food or water. This can also include changing the environment to reduce its suitability for a pest, such as using mulches in gardening, steam sterilization of soil in farming, or keeping birds away from gardens.
Biological pest control relies on natural enemies such as parasites, predators, and pathogens to control a pest population. This can also include introducing new enemies to the environment, or using chemicals such as pheromones or juvenile hormones to change the behavior of a pest.
Chemical pest control uses a wide range of products to destroy or repel a pest, including baits, sprays, and dusts. The most effective pesticides are selective and targeted, so that they only affect the organism to which they are applied. This minimizes the risk of harm to other organisms, humans, pets, or plants.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach that integrates physical, biological, and chemical controls to manage pests. It starts with scouting and monitoring to assess pest populations. It then utilizes threshold-based decision making to determine when action is needed. For example, noticing a few wasps at the garden fence may not require any action, but noticing them every day for an extended period of time should trigger a search and removal of their nest. This can be followed by a targeted application of a chemical product, such as ultra-low volume fogging.
Chemical Pesticides
A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances that is intended for preventing, destroying or controlling a pest (NPIC). Pesticides include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and other chemicals. They can be organic or synthetic. Some natural pesticides are also used, such as pheromones that interfere with mating or bacteria that kill caterpillars (Bacillus thuringiensis).
Chemical pesticides have the potential to harm humans and other living things as well as nonliving things. Therefore, they must be used only when necessary and always in a safe manner. Before using any pesticide, read the label and follow the directions exactly. Always apply pesticides in the smallest amount possible, and use protective clothing when handling them. Store all pesticides in a place that is out of the reach of children and pets, and dispose of them properly after each use.
Whenever possible, select varieties of plants, animals, wood and structures that are more resistant to pests. This can help keep pest populations below harmful levels without resorting to chemicals.
Many different types of pesticides are available, and the choice depends on the type of pest, its life cycle and the environmental conditions in which it lives. Some pesticides are systemic and move throughout the plant, while others remain on the surface and act only upon direct contact with a particular pest.
Most pesticides have some risk to human health and the environment, but proper application decreases these risks to a level acceptable by federal law and other regulations. Pesticides are most effective when used as part of an integrated pest management plan, which combines routine scouting with physical barriers like netting and other tactics. This helps ensure that the best and least toxic method is chosen for each situation.
Baits
Baiting is the practice of using food or other materials as lures to capture a target species. It’s an effective and economical method for achieving pest control, particularly where liquid treatments are impractical or questionable. It can also be effective for controlling invasive species. However, baits can be problematic for the environment if they contain non-native ingredients that can cause ecosystem change (e.g. zebra mussels and crayfish).
There are many different types of baits available to control a wide range of pests, including mice, rats, ants and cockroaches. These can be purchased in various forms, such as pellets, blocks and gels. They are often used in conjunction with other treatments, such as termite barriers, to provide comprehensive pest control.
Unlike live baits, dead bait is less likely to attract local predators, which can reduce the effectiveness of the bait. It’s also much cheaper and easier to store and maintain, particularly in situations where the target species is not actively consuming the food. In some cases, excess dead bait can be used as chum in a fishing pond to draw other species to the area and improve catch rates.
Single-Dose Poisons
There are a number of single-dose poisons available to kill rodents, including bromethalin, brodifacoum and zinc phosphide. These are typically placed in bait stations where the target animal must access them. These products pose a significant risk for pets and children, so extreme caution should be taken when using these.
Gels and powders are easier to apply than live baits, making them standard methods in the professional pest-control industry. They are less goopy than gels, but still require the insect to move it around in order to be consumed. We recommend the Terro T360 Ant and Roach Bait, which contains both ant and roach baits in one unit. It has a see-through lid for monitoring, and comes with adhesive pads to make it easy to place in a crevice or crack.
Prevention
Infestations can be treated with a variety of methods, including spraying, baits and traps. However, once a pest infestation has begun to form, it is much more difficult and expensive to control than an infestation that has yet to start. That’s why prevention is a key part of any pest control program.
In the case of homes, preventative pest control focuses on removing things that attract pests in the first place. It also involves reducing the food, water and shelter that pests find in your home. For example, storing all foods in sealed containers and disposing of trash regularly, fixing leaky pipes, and clearing clutter are just a few of the many steps that can be taken to make a home less appealing to pests.
Prevention is the best method for avoiding costly and dangerous pest problems. Pests can cause structural damage, contaminate food and present health hazards, so pest control is necessary to protect you and your loved ones.
Even though maintenance crews and building occupants take great care to keep facilities clean, pests can still infest buildings. Birds, rodents and insects can cause damage with droppings, chewed materials and nesting, while cockroaches, fleas and mosquitoes can spread diseases like salmonella or pose serious allergies.
Whether it is a roach, mouse or bird, a pest infestation doubles your costs and triples your inconvenience. Preventative pest control reduces the risk of infestations and allows you to enjoy your home without dealing with the stress, expense and health concerns that come along with them. It also reduces the need for pesticides, which can be hazardous to your family’s health if improperly handled. So, instead of worrying about the next time a pest invades your home, be proactive and contact Hulett’s Healthy Home program for a comprehensive pest prevention plan.