Home   |  Slug Killer  |  Arion Lusitanicus   |   Spanish Slug   |   Slugs and Snail  |   Get Rid of Slugs

Pest Control Methods

Pest control refers to the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest, usually because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person's health, the ecology or the economy. Pest control is at least as old as agriculture, as there has always been a need to keep crops free from pests. In order to maximize food production, it is advantageous to protect crops from competing species of plants, as well as from herbivores competing with humans. Pests are not pests because of what they are (bedbug, yellow Jacket), but because of what they do (suck blood, sting). According to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), a pest can be any insect, rodent, fungus, or weed as well as other organisms. Most simply defined in The Dictionary of Pest Control, a pest is "An unwanted organism”.

TYPES OF PEST CONTROL METHODS

There are many variations and combinations of methods used to control pests. These methods are divided into following categories:-

Physical control methods such as fly screens; physical means of proofing for birds, possums and rodents or physical means of pest detection, such as trapping, can sometimes be a more effective and appropriate means of pest control in gaining long term control over a particular pest infestation. Traps have been used for killing off mice found in houses, for killing wolves, and for capturing raccoons and stray cats and dogs for disposal by town officials.

Cultural control methods of pest control such as improving ventilation to deter attack by termites or improving hygiene and sanitation measures to reduce the risk of cockroach infestation should always be undertaken, where possible, to make conditions less favourable for nuisance pests. Proper waste management and drainage of still water, eliminates the breeding ground of many pests. Garbage provides food and shelter for many unwanted organisms, as well as an area where still water might collect and be used as a breeding ground by mosquitoes. Communities that have proper garbage collection and disposal, have far less of a problem with rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes, flies and other pests than those that don't. Open air sewers are ample breeding ground for various pests as well. By building and maintaining a proper sewer system, this problem is eliminated.

Chemical control of pests, while often necessary, should be undertaken judiciously using the appropriate pesticide and means of application to minimise any risk to human, animal or plant life. Spraying poisons by planes, hand held units, or trucks that carry the spraying equipment, is a common method of pest control. Throughout the United States of America, towns often drive a town owned truck around once or twice a week to each street, spraying for mosquitoes. Crop dusters commonly fly over farmland and spray poison to kill off pest that would threaten the crops. Many find spraying poison around their yard, homes, or businesses, far more desirable than allowing insects to thrive there.