Pest Control involves managing plants and animals that damage or spoil property or food. It is typically applied to outdoor areas but can also be done in enclosed spaces such as homes and offices. Contact Facility Pest Control now!

Eradication is rarely the goal, except in cases of introduced pests. Prevention and suppression are usually the goals, along with limiting factors such as weather, environment, and natural enemies.

Pest control is the process of preventing pests from infesting buildings, food establishments, and homes. Preventive measures, such as sealing gaps, setting traps, or spraying with chemicals, can be very effective at keeping unwanted pests at bay.

In addition to these preventive methods, regular inspections and timely maintenance can also be very useful tools for keeping pest populations low. Many pests are attracted to specific environmental conditions and food sources and will be more likely to invade a property when those conditions are present. This is why it is important to keep these conditions as minimal as possible.

Some of these conditions include temperature, humidity, and water supplies. It is very difficult to change the natural environment around a building, but it is often possible to limit the conditions that encourage infestations by pests. For example, reducing the moisture in the air and removing food crumbs can dramatically reduce the likelihood of pest infestations.

Other conditions that can be controlled are the amount of available water and light. It is possible to install screens and barriers that block the flow of water and light, which can help deter pests. It is also a good idea to regularly clean up trash and tidily store food items in the kitchen and in storage areas. Keeping trash cans tightly sealed and moving waste to an outdoor dumpster as soon as possible eliminates access to food for pests, while maintaining neat landscaping helps prevent hiding spots for pests to use as bridges to your building.

Chemicals are often used as a last resort in cases where preventive and environmental measures have failed. These can include repellents, which are solutions that deter pests from coming into an area, and insecticides, which kill insects. Using chemicals wisely can greatly minimize their impact on the environment and human health. Chemicals should be selected carefully and applied according to label instructions so that only the targeted pest is affected.

Some pests are very resilient and can develop resistance to certain types of chemicals. To avoid this, it is a good idea to rotate pesticides when spraying. Also, pesticides may harm non-targeted organisms if used incorrectly, so it is important to follow proper application instructions.

Suppression

In pest control, the aim is to reduce pest populations below a level that causes unacceptable harm. Threshold levels may be based on esthetic, health or economic considerations. For example, many homeowners will take action to prevent rodents from chewing through electrical wires or invading a home. In some commercial situations, such as in operating rooms and other sterile areas of health care facilities, the tolerance for pests is zero.

Identifying the type of pest and understanding its life cycle are critical to developing an effective pest management plan. A comprehensive plan should incorporate prevention, suppression, and eradication goals. Prevention keeps a pest from becoming a problem; suppression reduces the number of pests to an acceptable level; and eradication destroys the entire population of the pest.

Natural controls can be as important as chemical pesticides in managing pest infestations. Weather and topography restrict the movement of some pests, and limiting the supply of water, food or shelter can impact their populations as well. Sanitation practices can help with prevention by improving cleanliness and eliminating pest harborage, and good manure management practices can also help prevent the spread of some agricultural pests.

There are a variety of biological controls that can be used to manage pest infestations as well. These include parasitoids, predators and pathogens that injure or kill target pests to keep their numbers low. These can be supplemented by introducing new enemies to the environment or by genetically altering the target pest, such as by producing sterile insect males or using pheromones.

Cultural practices can also help prevent and suppress pests. For instance, in citrus cultivation, crop rotation and planting tolerant or resistant varieties can help reduce the presence of HLB-causing citrus psyllids. And in urban and industrial settings, sanitation practices can reduce pest infestations by improving cleanliness, removing food sources and shelter and increasing the frequency of garbage pickup. And traps can be a useful tool to supplement barriers and exclusion methods, by targeting pests along their regular routes. For example, if you know where a cockroach population moves regularly, then baits placed at their most frequented route can increase the chances of being captured.

Detection

As mentioned earlier, it’s important to regularly inspect your property for pest infestation signs. Some of the most common indicators include scurrying or scratching sounds, particularly at night when pests are more active. Additionally, odors can be a warning sign of pests in your home. Other signs include physical damage to your property, like gnawed wires and holes in walls or floors.

Other visual markers include droppings and nesting areas. Rodents produce small, pellet-shaped droppings, while cockroaches leave dark, coffee-ground-like specks. Look for these droppings in kitchen cabinets and along baseboards. Additionally, look for rodent burrows and trails in your yard, termite mud tubes or wasps’ nests.

In addition to being unsightly, certain pests can also carry disease-causing pathogens and allergens. Therefore, routine inspections and prompt treatment of pests can help reduce the health risks they pose to your family and pets.

The best way to prevent pests from infesting your property is to eliminate their food and water sources. This includes keeping your kitchen clean, storing foods in airtight containers, and disposing of waste promptly. It’s also important to keep your home and yard free of clutter, as pests often seek out hiding spots such as piles of dirt or debris. In addition, fixing leaks promptly and using dehumidifiers in damp areas can make your property less appealing to pests that seek out moisture. Lastly, making sure doors and windows seal tightly can prevent pests from finding entry points into your home.

Treatment

After identifying entry points and nesting areas, a pest control expert will apply both indoor and outdoor treatments to create a protective barrier against pests. This may include spraying, baiting, dusting, trapping and more depending on your situation. If you have a serious problem with pests like bedbugs, it may require fumigation or other more invasive treatments.

Routine pest control helps protect your health and preserves the value of your property. Pests carry disease-causing pathogens and allergens, as well as damaging your home’s structure, furniture and belongings. Pests also destroy crops and disrupt the natural balance of local ecosystems.

The best way to avoid a pest infestation is to prevent them from getting into your property in the first place. Prevention methods include keeping food in sealed containers and storing them away from pest-attracting sources, blocking holes in the home with metal that is rodent resistant, fitting gnaw-proof screens on doors and windows, and regularly inspecting your property for signs of pests.

Structural pest control involves preventing rodents and insects from entering your property by modifying the structure of the building or making it less attractive to them. This can be done by sealing gaps, adding weather stripping and repairing damaged window frames and door sills.

Chemical pest control uses toxic substances to kill or repel unwanted organisms. It is most commonly used around the home, but is also an important component of agricultural and forest pest control. Agricultural chemicals are designed to protect crops from diseases and to make them more productive, while forest chemicals prevent destructive insect pests from eating trees and other plants.

Pesticides can have a range of harmful side effects when exposed to humans or pets, including skin problems, breathing difficulties and nausea. However, when used by trained professionals in a controlled manner, and according to the product label instructions, pesticides are safe for everyone.

Before a professional pest control technician arrives at your home, remove or cover all food items, cooking utensils and personal items. It’s a good idea to mop your floors before treatment, as this provides a clean surface that the pesticide can bind to. Also, avoid mopping the area where a perimeter spray has been applied along skirting boards or the edges of walls for several weeks.