Some natural forces affect pest populations, keeping them below harmful levels. These include climate, natural enemies, and availability of food and shelter.

Physical Pezz Pest Control methods remove or alter the pest’s environment by creating barriers and eliminating sources of food, water and shelter. Examples include traps, screens, fences and radiation.

Proper identification is an important part of pest control. Not only does it tell us what kind of organism we are dealing with, but it can also provide clues to its biology and habits. Knowing what foods a pest eats, its harborage conditions, its response to environmental changes, and other important information can help map out an IPM plan that effectively manages the pest without using toxic chemicals.

Insects are the most common household pests and they often come into homes through windows, doors, vents or cracks in the walls. They can destroy plants and cause damage to homes and other structures. Many pests can be controlled by removing their food sources, eliminating the environment in which they live or sealing up entry points.

To identify a pest, start by noting its physical characteristics, such as shape, color and number of legs or wings. Then, compare these characteristics to the pest images in our pest guide. Click on the image that most closely matches your pest, and read more about it to discover its habits, habitats, threats, signs of an infestation and prevention and control measures.

Vertebrate Pests

While it is important to appreciate the wildlife, some vertebrate animals can become pests in gardens, parks, schools, and homes. These animals can cause damage to people and property and can ruin valuable collections. In addition, they can carry diseases or introduce invasive species. Use this online tool to help you narrow down potential vertebrate pests by the typical damage they cause and other identifying characteristics.

Pest Prevention

The goal of pest prevention is to prevent pests from gaining entry into your home or business. The best way to prevent pests is to deny them access to food, water, shelter and places to roost and nest. Preventative measures include sanitation, cleaning, cultural practices, maintenance and other environmental strategies. Implementing preventative strategies requires a team approach. It is important for all members of a facility to be aware of what attracts pests, and how to reduce these factors. It is also necessary to understand the pest life cycle and what stage of development they are in, so that control methods can be applied at the proper time.

For example, when a wasp’s nest is discovered, a simple trap crop of zinnia may be sufficient to kill them and prevent future problems. However, if the nest is in a place that is frequented by employees and customers, extermination might be necessary. Threshold-based decision making is critical for determining when to take action against a pest problem.

An essential tool for inspecting and identifying pests is a flashlight, which helps to reveal dark or secluded harborage areas, and a magnifier, which aids in confirming the presence of insect parts, frass (excrement) or other evidence of pest activity. A telescoping mirror can also help to facilitate inspection behind and underneath equipment or furniture.

Keep food in sealed containers to deny pests food. Prune and trim bushes and shrubs to eliminate places for pests to hide or live near structures. Keep garbage receptacles closed to deny pests food and other material to eat or nest in. Regularly vacuum or sweep floors and clean countertops to remove crumbs, spills, or other food sources that can draw pests into living spaces.

Ensure that doors and windows are closed and sealed to prevent pests from entering buildings. Maintain proper ventilation to reduce humidity and moisture that can invite pests. Consider a perimeter treatment to deter pests from entering facilities, especially in autumn when cooling temperatures cause them to seek shelter indoors, suggests Adam’s.

It is also important to know what types of products are available and when to use them, says Domingos. A pest trend analysis can reveal what types of materials and practices are attracting the pests, and an integrated pest management plan can incorporate preventative and extermination treatments to keep the pests away from your property.

Pesticides

A pesticide is any chemical substance that kills or controls a pest. It can take the form of a solid, liquid or powder. There are many types of pesticides, including insecticides (bug killers), herbicides (weed killers) and fungicides.

The type of pesticide you use will depend on the pest and the location. For example, you may need a very strong weed killer to get rid of tough weeds in the vegetable garden while a milder herbicide will do the trick in the flower beds. The type of pesticide will also influence how you apply it. For example, you’ll need to be careful when using indoor pesticides so that they don’t drift onto food or furniture and contaminate areas where family members may touch them.

If you do decide to use pesticides, always follow the directions on the label. This is not only a legal requirement, but it’s also the best way to ensure that you get the most from the product while minimizing your exposure to chemicals. Never exceed the recommended amount. Doing so can lead to resistance and environmental damage.

Always wear protective clothing when handling pesticides, including long pants, sleeves and gloves. Also, be sure to remove children and pets from the area before treating and keep them away until the spray has dried or as recommended on the label. When applying pesticides outdoors, choose a time when the wind is light and the temperature is cool. This will reduce the chance of drifting onto food, plants and pets.

Insecticides work on the nervous system of the targeted pest, while herbicides act on the plant itself. They are grouped into chemical families; for example, organophosphates interfere with nerve-impulse transmissions, while pyrethrins attack the waxy coating of the pest’s exoskeleton.

Be sure to properly mix pesticides before application. This is important to achieve the correct concentration and to avoid damaging your plants. Use a scale to measure wettable powders by weight and a measuring cup to mix liquids. It’s a good idea to test a small amount of the mixture on a non-critical surface before using it on your plants. This will help you determine if the spray is effective and safe to use.

Treatment

The goal of pest control is to eradicate the presence of pests by a combination of preventive strategies and reactive treatments. This may include baiting, spraying and/or trapping, depending on the pest type and severity of infestation.

Pests are organisms that damage property or introduce disease, spoil food and other materials, or disrupt the natural environment. They may cause structural or aesthetic damage, contaminate water or soil, and transmit diseases such as salmonella, hantavirus, leptospirosis and more. Preventive pest control seeks to keep pests from entering your property by excluding them, removing their sources of food and shelter, or altering their environment with barriers, screens, fences, traps, nets, radiation, or electricity. Pesticides are often used in conjunction with these other controls to reduce the risk of exposure.

Before your pest control professional visits, clear the area of clutter to ensure they can work effectively and efficiently. This includes storing items away from the baseboards, under sinks, and behind appliances. It is also important to cover any fish tanks as pesticides can be very corrosive to them.

It is normal to see a spike in pest activity immediately after a treatment, particularly for cockroaches and ants. This is due to the vast number of pests that are now being flushed out from their hiding places within walls and cavities. It is a good idea to follow any instructions given to you by your pest control technician, including staying out of the treated areas or ventilating your home.

During an inspection, your pest control professional will identify entry points and areas of heavy infestation, as well as the extent of the problem. This will then be used to formulate a customized treatment plan that best suits your home and pest issues. This will typically include a combination of preventive measures and a targeted spray or bait application in the most affected areas.

Pest control sprays are usually not designed to be contact-kill products, but rather leave traces of the active ingredient on surfaces that pests come into contact with. However, they will inevitably spread the residual to other surfaces through contact with other pests, or as they move throughout your home. This is why it’s best to minimize the amount of areas that are sprayed, and only use low-risk products.