We all want a clean home away from pests and insects. But, unfortunately, you will find pests that annoy your home, mess the place, and spread diseases. The article is on pest control, its methods, and how integrated pest control can help clean your domestic, agricultural, and commercial areas.
What is pest control?
Pests are organisms that interfere in places and harm human occupancy, territorial paths, and human health. They transmit diseases to humans and animals too. Pests can be bacteria, fungus, birds, weeds, rodents, invertebrates like mites, insects, ticks to nematodes causing harm to human life and property.
Pest control definition states regulation of a species defined as pests impacting human activities adversely.
Pest control means protecting the environment, human property, and human life from harmful pests and insects. The idea is to eliminate unwanted pests and insects in and around your surroundings.
Pests you often see at your home
Pests harm the home surroundings, livestock and crops to a large extent. It causes health issues too. Knowing what Pest Control in Housekeeping is necessary to keep the surroundings clean lets us understand the common pests that we see in our homes and the damage they cause:
1. Cockroaches
These pests are found near food and water. They are a cause of allergies, asthma attacks, and the spread of bacterial infections.
2. Rodents
The rodents like mice and rats are known for teeth and eat seeds, fruits, and grains. Some eat animal products too. They damage the household furniture, walls, pipes, and crops. Rodents trigger Plague, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Lassa fever, Salmonellosis, and Leptospirosis.
3. Termites
The small insects chew the woods and spoil the furniture. The presence of termites causes skin allergies, respiratory problems and asthma.
4. Bed bugs
The family of Cimicidae love the space around beds and slowly to the mattresses, pillow, clothes, bag and other areas. They spoil the furnishings and clothing. They irritate the skin and trigger allergies.
5. Ticks and fleas
Those with pets will find ticks and fleas on their dogs or cats. These animals spread diseases like cat scratch fever, and flea-borne diseases and plagues can rise.
6. Ants
Ants carry bacteria like Streptococcus, Shigella, and Salmonella. Food exposed to ants can lead to many diseases. A colony of ants is suitable for destroying sweets, vegetables, meat and more.
How to get rid of pests?
The question about How to do pest control at home by you is simple. But unfortunately, a few of the common ways to get rid of pests are explained as under:
1. The traditional way of using plants
Plants like marigold, lemongrass, citronella, and eucalyptus are helpful to keep bugs and rodents away. They work as a repellent.
2. Use of chemicals
You get bottled chemicals and insecticides to spray in areas you suspect of pests. They are a short-term remedy but can be handy in an emergency.
3. Setting a trap
Bait is the most common way of trapping mice or rats. There are glue boards where food is trapped for the rodents to come and eat. The rodents get trapped, and it can be good to set them off.
4. Use of chalk
It is scented, and food chalks you get for cockroaches, ants, and beetles to stay away. Apply in and around the kitchen cabinets to refrain cockroaches and ants from entering the designated area.
How to control pests in the home?
Although the above tricks and ideas do make a difference but do not eliminate pests, you will find them coming and disturbing your entire home atmosphere with embarrassment and plight. Therefore, it is better to have a pest control system in homes to avoid re-occurring pests and insects.
Besides, by following certain practices, one can prevent pests, rodents and insects.
- Deep cleaning
- Routine cleaning
- Disposing of garbage daily
- Reduce clutter
- Survey the roof and basement of the home/offices/buildings regularly
- Seal cracks and holes
- Never leave food open
- Store food items in air-tight containers.
Why do we need pest control?
Pest control is a must to reduce diseases, keeping the area clean and staying in a clean and uncluttered area for health reasons. It aids in keeping the property undamaged. It also becomes a structural integrity thing to have pests at home. You are stooped upon, and people will never wish to visit your home.
Do-It -Yourself thing is a temporary solution. You are bound to get tired and not get the desired results. Therefore, it is advisable to have a professional Pest control unit that knows how pests can be controlled. They take care of every type of pests and rodents. The solutions to them are at their fingertips.
Are pest control and pest management the same thing?
Pest control is an act where the treatment happens in the presence of pests, insects and rodents around the surrounding human activity. Pest control takes place using various methods like biological pest control, integrated pest control and other methods.
Pest management takes care of the survival and reproduction of the pests. The pests’ presence can be limited by removing their origin sources, such as food, shelter, and water.
What are integrated pest management and natural pest control methods?
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based strategy. The objective is to prevent pests from a long-term point of view. It does not use harsh chemicals. It is controlled by natural pest control methods like biological control, changing cultural practices, habitat manipulation and usage of resistant processes. This strategy first monitors the root cause of the pests, studies them, and chooses the proper pest management method needed per the tolerance level of the presence of the pests in that area. Then, based on the kind of control requirement, IPM programs get escalated.
Programs like biological control where parasites, predators, and pathogens are used. Cultural controls involve a reduction in the reproduction of pests and changing irrigation practices. Chemical controls use pesticides only when it is a need and is spent as a bait station or spot spray. Other methods include mechanical and physical control, wherein the pests are killed to block their entrance to their area of interest.
Types of pest control methods
Hygienic, biological, and physical methods are the types of pest control methods.
1. Hygienic pest control
Hygienic pest control methods remove weed infestations and create a sterile environment. Pesticides control such pests. A combination of physical traps and baits is used to curate pest control. Chemical pesticides are used by professionals so that no human may ingest them. Fogging methods combat insects and infections. Fumigation in the buildings must be done regularly.
2. Biological pest control
Biological pest control involves maintaining the pest population under control. This kind of pest control provides mass rearing of natural enemies like parasitoids, pathogens, and predators. It releases the natural enemies seasonally or ad hoc basis.
3. Physical pest control
Physical pest control entails hand control of the pest by trapping them or destroying them. It is popular in weed control.
What is biological pest control?
Biological pest control definition states the method of controlling pests using other organisms like parasitism, herbivory, and other such natural organisms with an active human management role.
Biological pest control includes controlling pests under the damaging line. It mainly aims at preventing plant diseases. Pathogens cause plant disease making a healthy plant sink. Bacteria, fungi, viruses, nematodes, phytoplasmas, parasitic plants and other organisms are responsible for plant disease. Control of pests like mites, ticks, insects, and weeds usually depends on natural mechanisms like predation, herbivory, and parasitism. Biological pest controls the quality of the plants. Therefore, it is a must to safeguard.
What is integrated pest control?
Integrated pest control, known as IPM, is an approach that follows a systematic plan and combines common-sense practices. It first identifies the pests. Then, the program uses current and comprehensive information about the pests and their life-cycle. Based on the observation, monitoring of the number, their whereabouts, and availability of the pests are found. Finally, there is a unit that plans the infestation. The idea is to get into the root shelter of the pests to take controlling actions accordingly.
IPM chooses the three pest control methods: biological, physical and chemical. After the pest control action, the program manifests proper prevention of the pests in future.
Benefits of the natural method
People opt for natural methods as it is organic and better than chemical sprays. The benefits of biological processes are much more significant than that. To sum up a few, here are its benefits:
1. Maintains green health
As there is no spray of chemicals or pesticides, the environment remains healthy. The living location becomes likeable. The natural pest control methods use organic ingredients; it keeps the other living organisms, the soil, water, crops and other surrounding areas unharmed and prevents damage.
2. Results for a longer duration
Natural methods involve going into the roots of the pests to understand the place it is coming from. It provides long-lasting results thereof. Natural methods use ingredients that forbid the pests from entering the premises anymore.
3. Prevention of toxins
Despite being careful, chemical pesticides do cause harm to human and animal life. There are toxins present in the chemical sprays that are dangerous for human and animal life. With natural methods, there is a surety of not undergoing the risk of health issues.
4. Cost-effective
Natural methods of pest control are less expensive than chemical ones. They are mostly home remedies made up of natural products. Therefore, it does not cost much.
Disadvantages of the natural method
A list of benefits of using the natural method has its cons too.
1. Slow process
If you are looking at quick action, the natural method does not do so. It is a slower process as compared to the chemical method. However, it provides a long-lasting effect, and the results are excellent.
2. Need an expert to perform the natural method
If you thought you could do it organically at home, you are sadly mistaken. Unlike chemical ways where you can bring spray and spray out everywhere, the natural approach has limitations. The technique requires expertise to act. It is a professional task, from which ingredient to take to where to apply it and how to apply it.
3. Labour intensive
The natural method of pest control requires a prolonged effort to see tangible results. There are basic processes that need to be in place, you may have to wait for some things to grow, and it is not instantaneous in its technique or results. Controlling the growth and direction of some natural methods, especially when they are plant or animal based, requires some supervision and effort.
Chemical pest control methods
With the industrial revolution came the efficient use of pest treatments. Chemical pest control methods are a practice of pest control using pesticides, insecticides and rodenticides. The method uses synthetic chemicals. The objective is to control or kill pests without harming the crops. The substances are toxic to the pests. Chemical pest control methods are popular and have been used for many years.
Following are the types of chemical pest control methods used in various segments from domestic, agriculture to commercial.
1. Insecticides
These are mainly used for insect termination. They aim to eliminate the insect from any of its life cycle stages. For a greener planet, healthy planet cause, insecticides with organic means are preferred. The insecticides are classified as with residual effect and without residual effect. Similarly, based on the replant quality, insecticide is classified as repellent and non-repellent. There are synthetic insecticides such as Organophosphates and carbonates, Neonicotinoids, Ryanoids, Organochlorides, and Pyrethroids.
2. Fungicides
Fungi can disrupt crops. Fungicides have biological properties to eradicate fungi or their spores. Fungicidescure the fungal infection in animals. Fungicides kill fungi and control mycotoxin-producing pathogens. Fungicides use natural ingredients such as Nimbin, Tea tree oil, Citronella oil, Jojoba oil, Rosemary oil, Monocerin, and Oregano Oil.
3. Rodenticides
They exterminate rats and mice. The contaminated food is served for the rodents to consume. A rodenticide has chemical pesticides. Some common rodenticides are Anticoagulants, Metal phosphides, Hypercalcemia-causing Pesticides, Barium carbonate, Chloralose, Endrin, Fluoroacetamide, and Phosacetim, Pyrinuron, Scilliroside, Sodium fluoroacetate, Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine, Thallium sulfate, and Nitrophenols.
4. Nematicides
This method is used to kill nematodes. They are effective when inserted into the soil. However, they parasitise the plant making the crops unworthy. There are non-fumigant nematicides that can be diffused through the ground with a low instability rate. With the use of nematicides, there can be toxins in the groundwater.
Benefits of chemical pest control method
Chemical pest control provides the best methods for crops. It is apt for agricultural use. But it has become a must for domestic and commercial use for years. Following are the benefits of chemical pest control methods:
1. Quicker action
Chemical pest control provides faster action and more immediate results. The results can be seen in 3-4 days.
2. Specific target area
This method allows the professional to go to the target location to eradicate the pest.
3. Higher efficiency
Using chemical pest control is more effective as it is easy to apply, and the results can be seen in no time. In addition, they help in destroying pests hidden in the tiniest of shelters.
4. DIY
This method answers the how to do pest control at home? There are ready-to-use products that are easy to use. You can use them for the crops, at home or at your workplace. It is best to read the instructions before using pesticides, insecticides or other methods.
Disadvantages of the chemical method
1. Misuse
Chemicals are lethal and can harm humans and domestic animals. If the method is misused or human-handled, the repercussions are severe. There can also be collateral damage with natural pest antagonists, honey bees, fisheries, groundwater pollution, and damage to adjacent crops so on.
2. Invitation to cancerous diseases
Humans who touch pesticides, insecticides, and other methods are constantly exposed to chemicals. As a result, they induce immunotoxicity leading to allergies and cancerous diseases.
3. Pests become resistant
One of the disadvantages of using a chemical method is that pests become immune to that type of pesticide. Therefore, it ruins the purpose of using that particular pesticide, causing a loss of money and workforce.
Summing up on pest control
Pests have been the cause of worry for many people. Getting the proper pest control done at the home, office or on agricultural land is imperative. Experts in this field know the best way to do so. It is advisable to have periodic pest control at your premises.