Pest control is the activity of reducing or eliminating pests in human habitats. This may be done through exclusion, chemical control or physical removal.
A common sign of a pest problem is an unpleasant or foul smell, caused by urine and droppings. Also look for gnaw marks, nighttime noises, sagging wood or doors and bitten-up wires.
Pest Identification
Pests are organisms that damage or interfere with desirable plants in fields and orchards, landscapes and gardens; harm livestock, wildlife or people; or damage buildings, structures or other objects. Pests may also transmit diseases or impact human health.
Identifying a pest is essential to planning an effective control strategy. Often pests look very similar as they go through their life stages, so identification can be difficult. There are many online and printed identification guides available to help with pest identification.
Once a pest has been identified, it is possible to prevent the problem by modifying the conditions that enable it to exist and grow. For example, flies that breed in decaying organic material and come indoors to feed can be controlled by installing sweeps or astragals to fill gaps under doors; sealing cracks and holes; and screening vents and windows.
Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals used to kill or repel organisms that cause damage to crops, plants, people or animals. The term can refer to a wide variety of products, from the chemicals used in agriculture to combat weeds and insects to disinfectants and mildew killers found around the home.
Each year, billions of pounds of pesticides are applied to crops, forests, lawns and golf courses. Many of these are synthetic chemical compounds that have come under increasing scrutiny for their potential risks to human health and the environment.
Pesticides can be ingested, absorbed through the skin or inhaled and they can have both acute (immediate) and chronic (ongoing, low-level exposure) effects on people and animals. They can also contaminate soil, water and air and ultimately enter our food supply. They can affect our mental and physical well being by causing cancers, birth defects and infertility, neurological and respiratory problems and disrupting the natural hormone system. All pesticides are toxic and the recommendations and safety precautions on their labels must be followed.
Pest Control Technicians
Pests can cause damage to buildings and structures. Rodents chew through wires and home insulation; termites destroy wood and eat away at the structure of a building. And mosquitoes, fleas, earwigs, ants and spiders can cause painful bites and irritation to people. Jaipur pest control services technicians help protect homes and businesses from these unwanted creatures.
Routine pest maintenance work often involves a technician driving to their assigned service route for the day and inspecting buildings, making minor exclusions and setting rodent traps. They also observe their customers’ properties to monitor the results of previous treatments and answer questions or concerns.
If a customer has a more serious infestation, it may require more advanced techniques and knowledge of pesticides. For example, termite technicians use chemicals and baiting strategies designed to eliminate this type of pest; fumigators use lethal gases to kill large-scale pests in an entire building. These technicians have special training and licenses for their specialty areas.
Prevention
Taking preventive steps will make it much easier to avoid infestations. This is especially true of pests that carry germs or diseases, as the longer an uncontrolled pest problem goes on, the more difficult it is to control and eradicate.
Preventing pests can be as simple as regularly removing food scraps and trash from inside the facility and closing off places where pests can breed, feed and hide. In addition, cleaning and sanitizing the facility can help to reduce contamination.
Biological methods, which include predators and parasites, can also be used to control pests. Adding more of a pest’s enemies, or using synthetic versions of the pheromones that a female insect uses to attract males (or vice versa), can help reduce pest populations as well. IPM programs also incorporate regular scouting and monitoring to identify problems and adjust management strategies as necessary. Integrated pest management is an ecosystem-based approach to solving pest problems with minimal risk to people and the environment.
