Pests are unwanted organisms that damage or devalue crops, landscapes, and human structures. They also displace native plants and alter ecosystems.
Prevention is the primary goal of IPM. However, suppression and eradication are necessary when pest populations build up to unacceptable levels. Contact Pest Control Olathe now!
Insects are a major pest of many crops and home gardens. In addition to direct damage, they can transmit plant diseases. Many insect pests can be controlled through cultural, physical or chemical means. Others can be controlled through biological or other natural means, such as pheromones, herbivory, parasitism, and predatory behavior. Biological pest control methods are often a part of integrated pest management plans.
Predatory insects, like the aphid-eating ladybug species Adalia bipunctata, can be used to provide natural pest control. Ladybugs find aphid populations through their sense of smell and feed on them with their specialized mouthparts. They are especially effective in high-infestation areas where they can quickly consume aphids.
Observing pests and their numbers is the first step in any pest management strategy. Regularly checking a field, garden, or landscape to identify which pests are present, how many there are, and what damage they have caused is called monitoring or scouting. This helps to determine whether a particular pest is a nuisance or if the pest population is large enough that control measures are warranted.
Monitoring also provides important information about the pest’s biology and environmental factors. This helps to select the most appropriate control method(s) and to evaluate how well control methods work over time.
Other pest control techniques include crop rotation, which prevents an insect from becoming a dominant species and thus limiting its ability to cause damage; proper planting depth to reduce the chance of overcrowding; physical controls such as weeding and hand picking; and baits and traps. Various chemical pesticides are available, but they often have side effects. They also can be ineffective, especially if the wrong type of pesticide is used.
Some pests are naturally controlled by weather conditions, such as extreme cold or heat, rain or drought. These conditions affect the growth rate of the plants they feed on and their ability to reproduce.
Rodents
Rodents like mice and rats are common pests in and around homes. They can cause damage by chewing through pipes and wires, and they can spread dangerous diseases through their droppings and urine. They are also carriers of ticks, mites, and fleas that can transmit the same illnesses to humans. In addition, rodents can create a fire risk by chewing through wood and flammable materials in the home.
Mice and rats can enter a home through cracks and crevices as well as through open windows and doors. Sealing these entry points can significantly reduce the number of rodents in the house. Regular maintenance and inspections for signs of rodents, such as droppings, gnaw marks, and nesting material can help prevent an infestation.
The most common rodents that we see in and around structures are house mice and Norway or black rats. These are considered commensal rodents, meaning they coexist with humans and feed on the same food sources. Other rodents, such as squirrels and pocket gophers, are semi-commensal, coexisting with humans but feeding on different types of food.
Keeping a clean environment and removing food sources is the best way to prevent rodents from invading a home. Often, the first sign of a rodent problem is seen by noticing rodent droppings inside cabinets or drawers. The odor of mouse and rat urine is also a strong indicator of their presence.
Rats and mice carry at least 35 diseases that can be transmitted to people and pets, including Lyme Disease, salmonella, leptospirosis, hantavirus, and rat-bite fever. They can also transmit diseases through their saliva and urine, as well as by biting.
To avoid rodents, store foods in sealed jars or tins. Keep firewood elevated a few inches off the ground, and remove weeds and overgrown vegetation from near your home. Rinse food and drink containers before discarding them. Keep crumbs and other debris to a minimum, and vacuum or wipe surfaces frequently.
A professional rodent control service can help evaluate your property for rodent signs and determine the best removal and prevention methods for your needs. Integrated rodent management typically involves sanitation, exclusion, trapping, and lethal control.
Weeds
Weeds are unwanted plants that invade cultivated garden space and compete with crops for water, sunlight and nutrients. They can be a nuisance in a home garden and can block access to vegetable patches, hinder crop production, and even deter the growth of new seedlings. In addition, they can harbor insects that attack crops and impede airflow. Weeds also take up valuable farmland and can impact the environment, economy and natural ecosystem.
The weed problem is especially serious on conventional farms, where farmers spray crops with chemicals to control weeds, insects, diseases and pathogens. Heavy pesticide use has raised concerns about human health and environmental impacts, and resistant weeds have developed to some synthetic herbicides. To reduce the amount of pesticides used, farmers have turned to other methods. In organic and transitioning farms, this consists of tilling soils, rotating crops and scouting fields to ensure that weeds don’t grow to the point where they interfere with harvesting.
Perennial weeds are the most difficult to control since they produce a lot of seeds that sprout over time. To reduce their numbers, cultivate the soil to bring up buried propagules (stems, rhizomes and tubers). A light tilling will break up these weeds, which can be dug out by hand or pulled with a hoe or rototiller.
Using herbicides is another way to destroy weeds, but this method is more hazardous than other forms of pest control. Some types of herbicides are broad spectrum, killing everything in a category (such as grasses, sedges and broadleaf plants) while others are selective, targeting one plant type (like acetic acid, an organic herbicide that kills grasses but not berries). Herbicides can also be systemic, which moves through the weed and disrupts chemical processes in the plant, starving it to death.
When applying herbicides, always follow the directions on the label. Wear a face mask, rubber gloves, and appropriate clothing for the specific type of herbicide you are using. Be sure to wash the chemical off your clothing immediately after application and to dispose of it properly so that it doesn’t pollute water bodies or harm wildlife.
Other
Pest control may involve the use of chemicals such as insecticides, but many pest control companies have begun to incorporate non-chemical methods in their services. These can include physical barriers such as traps and barrier systems, changing cultural practices, or using natural enemies to reduce pest populations. These methods are known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
The goal of pest control is to protect crops, health, and property by managing organisms that damage these things. This is achieved through the use of monitoring, inspection and surveillance to identify pests, followed by an action plan to either prevent or manage them. Pest control measures include prevention – keeping pests from occurring; suppression – reducing the number of pests to an acceptable level; and eradication – eliminating an entire pest population.
Ideally, pests are prevented from damaging plants by selecting crops that are well-adapted to the climate and soil; maintaining healthy plant growth through good cultural practices such as fertilization and irrigation; and early detection and intervention through pest monitoring and inspection. This can reduce the need for chemical controls that often harm beneficial insects and other organisms, as well as pollute our waterways.
When pests do occur, they should be controlled as soon as possible to limit damage and economic loss. Pesticides should be used only when other controls are ineffective and with great care to minimize risks to human health, beneficial insects, wildlife, and the environment. Pesticides should be used only when the risk of adverse effects to the environment is lower than the cost of controlling the pest.
Other controls to consider include squashing, washing off or trapping pests; removing harborage sites; denying access to food and shelter; and planting flowering plants and wild herbs that attract beneficial insects. Beneficial insects are predators, parasites and pollinators that can significantly reduce pest populations in horticulture, agriculture, and viticulture, as well as in landscapes and forests. Examples include earthworms, wasps that lay their eggs inside aphids and caterpillars, and bees that feed on nectar or pollen.
In addition to the need for pest control, businesses have a legal responsibility to keep premises free from vermin and other undesirable substances. This includes office buildings, food service locations, hospitality sites and healthcare establishments. This is governed by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, which requires business owners to take necessary steps to ensure that pests do not pose a threat to employees and members of the public.