Pest Control is The Practice of Managing Pests

Pests such as rodents, cockroaches, flies and bees cause property damage and pose health risks. They can also spread diseases such as rat-bite fever, salmonella, trichinosis, murine typhus and leptospirosis. They can also contaminate food, cause fires by chewing on electrical wires and make it difficult to store and use flammable or hazardous chemicals.

Commercial Pest Management Whittier is the best method of managing a pest problem. This is possible when you understand the life cycle of the pest and take steps to stop its reproduction or migration. Preventive measures include the removal of things that attract or harbor a pest, and the blocking of entry points into structures. This may include using screens or traps in homes, sealing cracks and removing weeds around buildings. It is also a good idea to dispose of trash and debris regularly and keep garbage cans tightly closed.

Natural forces such as climate, natural enemies, overwintering sites, shelter and food supply affect all organisms including pests. In general, populations of most pests rise and fall based on environmental conditions. Monitoring pest numbers can help you determine when control is needed.

Threshold levels, based on esthetic or economic considerations, have been set for many pests to determine when action should be taken. It is important to remember that even a single pest in an outdoor setting can cause unacceptable injury or damage. In enclosed settings such as residential and commercial structures and warehouses, schools, office buildings and medical and food processing facilities, eradication is often the goal.

Pests are everywhere. They travel easily from the surrounding countryside, bringing disease and disrupting normal functions. Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers that invade homes, hotels and apartment complexes from down the street to states away. They multiply quickly and leave itchy welts behind. Roaches scurry from sewers and trash cans to infest homes and restaurants, spreading a variety of illnesses including diarrheal diseases.

Mechanical and physical controls kill a pest directly or block it from reaching its target. They are the most common types of pest control. Examples of mechanical and physical controls include netting for berry beetles, soil steam sterilization for nematodes and traps for mice. Chemical controls are a last resort, and should only be used when other methods fail or when the safety of people and pets is at risk.

When pesticides are used, they should be applied only by trained and qualified specialists. Always follow product label instructions, and never apply more than recommended. Ensure that all personnel are aware of the hazards associated with pesticides and are properly trained in their handling.

Some pests, such as plant diseases, only occur under certain environmental conditions. When these conditions are present, you can usually predict when the pest will appear. You can also try to prevent the condition from occurring by ensuring that your planting site has good air and water circulation, maintaining healthy plants and keeping weeds out of fields and gardens. Biological control is the use of natural enemies, parasites and pathogens to kill or reduce a harmful organism. This usually requires a time lag between the increase in pest population and the corresponding increase in natural enemies.