Pests come in many forms, including mosquitoes, fungus, fleas, flies, rats, and any living organism harmful to humans. The best line of defense against pests is good hygiene. This includes being careful where you throw trash, removing stagnant water, and keeping lawns, floors, and food storage areas clean.
However, if you already have a pest problem, you can deal with it by hiring a pest control service. Some methods used for controlling pests include insect growth regulators, biological control, and organic pest control.
Insect Growth Regulators
Insects pass through different phases before they mature into adults. Most begin their transition to adulthood as eggs, and after the eggs hatch, the larvae are released. A larva forms a cocoon to protect itself as it turns into an adult. Insect growth regulators interrupt the transition of the egg. When eggs are treated with this pesticide, they never hatch.
When the larvae are exposed to these growth regulators, they die. This means the pupae don't reproduce. A pest control professional may use this method to control a small pest infestation.
Biological Control
This control method involves the use of living organisms to destroy pests. For example, a predator, parasite, or disease organism is introduced in the area with a pest infestation. A good example of biological control is the destruction of the citrophilus mealybug pest by a parasitic species of wasps imported from Australia.
Methods of biological control need to be carefully considered before releasing organisms into the environment. Some of these parasites may end up being invasive, like the cane toads that were used in Australia. Hire a pest control professional who applies tried and tested methods to avoid destructive species.
Organic Pest Control Method
Some homeowners prefer natural methods to control pests. One of the major advantages of these methods is they don't harm plants or animals. Organic pest control involves the use of potent and efficient baits and traps to kill pests.
For instance, sodium fluoroacetate, a biodegradable poison that's mixed into baits and used to kill a wide range of pests. This poison is a cost-effective way of controlling pests over difficult areas. Other products that can be used for organic pest control are parasitic nematodes, oil sprays, insecticidal soap, and floating row covers.
If you want to handle your pest infestation through an organic method, ask your professional to give you a list of the best products with a description of their pros and cons. This will help you choose the product you're comfortable with.
Pest control is a complex topic. To really master the subject, you need to know about many different pests, how they all react to different control measures, and how to prevent pest infestations in the first place. It's really helpful to break this topic down into smaller chunks. That's what we aim to do on this website. We offer a wide range of articles on particular pest control subjects. No one article will teach you everything you need to know, but they all include bits and pieces of knowledge which, when added together, will teach you quite a lot. Start reading to learn more about pest control and pests.