Homeowners frequently deal with pest infestations. When they invade our bedrooms, ruin wooden structures, or establish themselves in our sheds, pests can cause serious disruption and damage to our homes and/or gardens.
Any kind of pest infestation can be extremely unpleasant. If left untreated, it can result in damage worth thousands of dollars, destroy your quality of life, and put your family’s health in danger. Trying to treat these problems on your own can make matters worse.
To help you make an informed choice when looking for professional assistance, we will discuss what pest control is in this article.
What Is Pest Control?
Pest control aims to reduce the negative effects that different pest species may have on the environments in which they live, such as your home or business.
While many pests can be harmful to people’s health when present in homes, businesses, or food preparation areas, it’s also important to consider the role that these pests play in larger food chains and habitats. As a result, rather than being completely eradicated, some pest populations are “controlled.”
A pest control technician’s job is to identify and apply the best strategies for eliminating or managing pest populations in order to keep various environments safe.
Because of the potential harm that incorrect pest control methods can cause, only individuals with the necessary training and experience are permitted access to pest control equipment and products.
Legislation Concerning Pest Control
Numerous laws governing pest control have an impact on the appropriate courses of action and methods for managing infestations of different pest species. The “Prevention of Damage by Pest Act” (1949), which requires building owners to keep their structures free of pests and gives authorities the right to inspect any location, is one of the most important of these.
The “Food Safety Act” (1990) is another significant piece of legislation that requires food and catering establishments to ensure that the goods they serve and sell are safe to consume.
Lastly, under “The Public Health Act” (1961), local authorities have the power to issue a notice mandating immediate action to be taken if a premises is suspected of being vermin-infested.
Different Types of Pests
There are four main categories of pests: birds, insects, rodents, and other wildlife and each necessitates a different type of pest control method.
Rodents and other indoor pests are more prevalent than birds and other wildlife, which can be dangerous for homes with gardens and outdoor areas. And, because birds are less common as pests within your property’s perimeter, it’s best to concentrate on three major types of pests here.
Pest Control for Insects
Insects can transmit disease, contaminate feeds and stored food, and cause stress and harm to human and animal health. You require dependable solutions to meet your needs while also increasing your bottom line through the use of reputable and tested products.
Insect pest management can be approached in a few general ways. When developing a comprehensive pest management plan, it is advantageous to consider all options. These methods entail changing common gardening or farming practices to keep pests at bay or to create an environment that is less conducive to their presence.
Pest Control for Rodents
One distinguishing feature shared by all rodents is a pair of incisor teeth in the upper jaw. Despite their long tails and short legs, these pests can be distinguished by their distinct physical characteristics, which can be used to determine which one is causing damage to your property.
These pests are dangerous to your health because they can spread bacteria that cause illnesses such as typhus, salmonella, and hantavirus, as well as cause allergic reactions.
If you notice rodent droppings in your closets, basements, or attic, or if you hear them scuttling through your ceiling, floorboards, or walls, you should seek professional help.
Pest Control for Wildlife Animals
The vast majority of wild animals never bother humans and go about their daily lives. Many people enjoy their interactions with wildlife. While watching a woodland creature is entertaining, having one under your porch or tearing up your yard is not.
Most people associate “nuisance wildlife” with a destructive or dangerous animal. On private property, the annoyance may be much more visible. Squirrels frequently chew on electrical wires. Raccoons, bats, birds, and opossums can and do carry diseases like Histoplasmosis, Salmonella, and Leptospirosis that humans can and do contract.
We bear a large portion of the blame for this problem because urbanization is encroaching on wildlife habitats and increasing the risk of encounters with wild animals. Even if this is true, we must still safeguard our homes, loved ones, and families. When it comes to wildlife, getting expert help is critical.
Common Pest Control Methods
Different pest control methods will work better than others depending on the type of pest, region, severity, and areas of concern. Professional pest control services typically use the following specific methods within these broad guidelines:
Physical Pest Control
Physical methods of controlling pests involve capturing, killing, and removing them by minimizing their habitats and breeding grounds.
These techniques include getting rid of or demolishing nests, caulking openings such as windows or doors, regulating temperature to kill pests, and putting traps in place to catch and remove pests. Farming practices that use physical control include field burning and trap cropping.
Chemical Pest Control
Chemical pesticides are the most common method used by professional pest control services to treat infestations.
Because they usually poison and kill the pests that consume them or come into contact with them, the chemicals used to control pests are known as pesticides. These can be used in conjunction with real traps, or they can be put outside in known pest-gathering areas.
Biological Pest Control
Biological pest control methods are among the oldest. To manage the pest population, a pest’s natural predator is introduced into the same environment. Although it is not commonly used, it can be useful in controlling larger pest populations that may endanger nearby residents.
To keep pests away from homes and businesses, organic compounds or plants can be used as a common substitute for synthetic chemical solutions. Here are some examples:
- Bringing in natural predators: Introduce ladybugs, for example, to control aphids. This can be helped by planting the right plants to attract wildlife.
- Introducing pest-repelling plants: For example, there are bulbs that emit an odor that moles find repulsive, despite being undetectable to humans.
Biological pest control may be the most environmentally friendly method of pest control, but it must be used with caution because it may disrupt the ecosystem’s delicate balance.
When done correctly, it is also a more durable solution than a physical or chemical one. However, because it is not a quick fix, it may not be appropriate for truly destructive and unexpected infestations.
Organic and Green Pest Control
Modern pest control companies are developing new products and services to increase safety and effectiveness in response to the growing number of homeowners seeking eco-friendly, organic, and green pest control solutions.
Organic pest control products are a great alternative to chemical pest control for those concerned about the environment because they are made entirely of natural ingredients that are safe for people, pets, and the environment.
