Pests contaminate food, cause damage to buildings and aggravate asthma and allergies. They also carry pathogens such as hantavirus and salmonella and leave behind droppings that can be toxic to children and pets.
Pest control methods begin with physical or mechanical controls. These include sticky barriers, temperature controls and flooding (for wood-damaging pests). Biological control uses natural enemies of the pest, such as insect predators or disease-causing microbes.
Pest Identification
Accurate pest identification is the first step in any jaipur pest control services situation. Proper identification allows for targeted and effective management of weeds, insects, and diseases that may affect crops.
For example, identifying that you have a cockroach problem and knowing what species it is can help your Rentokil professional determine the best commercial pest control solution for your business. It’s also important to identify pests in your home, such as flies and rodents, so that you can take preventative measures like eliminating areas where they breed and nest.
Natural landscapes such as bodies of water, tall grassy fields, and forested areas are frequent breeding sites for insects. The closer your house is to these landscapes, the more likely you are to require regular pest control. Accurate pest identification can help you develop a comprehensive integrated pest management (IPM) plan to eliminate pests and protect people, pets, plants, and collection items from damage.
Pest Control Methods
There are a variety of methods used to achieve pest control results. Some are natural while others are man-made and rely on chemicals. The natural method is to remove or limit the number of resources available to the pest such as food, water and shelter. This can be done with traps, barriers, netting and fences. It may also be accomplished by removing the pest’s host plant such as fern-leaf yarrow (Achillea filipendulina).
Chemical pest control uses poisonous substances to kill the pest that consumes or is exposed to them. Pesticides come in many forms such as liquid spray, powders or baits.
Physical pest control includes devices such as screens, traps, barriers, netting and mulches that prevent or deter the infiltration of pests. It can also include scouting and monitoring of insect, invertebrate and mollusk pests. These methods can be augmented with biological control techniques such as the release of natural enemies or the use of pheromones or juvenile hormones that affect a pest’s behavior.
Pest Prevention
Pests, whether rodents or insects, can carry diseases and annoy people in residential homes and commercial buildings. They can also damage plants and property and spoil food. Identifying the pest is an important first step to successful pest control. Often, the best way to minimize pests is to avoid providing them with food, water and shelter. For example, store food in tightly sealed containers and use screens on doors and windows. Thoroughly clean kitchen benches and reduce clutter where pests might hide.
It is also helpful to know the life cycle of a pest. This can help prevent the use of pesticides when other methods would be just as effective. Integrated pest management (IPM) involves a combination of techniques to minimize the use of chemical controls. These include enhancing natural enemies of pests, changing environmental conditions and introducing plant disease organisms that are resistant to the pest. The goal is to reduce the population of a pest to an acceptable level without harming desirable plants or people.
Choosing a Pest Control Company
Choosing the right pest control company for your property is an important decision. Ask for customer testimonials and check out the company’s website. Look for information about the products they use and if they are certified. Ask the company to explain their pricing structure. If it is unclear, choose another company.
A good pest control company will identify the problem and make recommendations that are based on scientifically sound methods and industry standards. Look for a company that is licensed and certified and uses Integrated Pest Management techniques. They should also provide a written contract that includes the details of each treatment and a breakeven pricing.
Ask if the person who inspects your property is a salesperson or a technician. Many companies use salaried employees to perform the initial inspection and answer questions, while technicians do the actual pest control treatments. If the technician is a salesperson, ask if they work on commission or are salaried.
