Pests pose a serious threat to humans, plants, and animals. There are different types of pests, including rats, mosquitoes, fleas, flies, termites, fungus, and any living organism that negatively affects humans and their surroundings. Here are some of the basic pest control methods you should know.
Biological Methods
Biological techniques are effective in controlling pests. One common biological method used for pest control is the use of Australian native fish. This fish is fed to mosquito larvae thriving in water bodies. Another method is the use of dung beetles for burying cow faeces to keep flies away.
Biological methods are environmentally safe for you, plants, and wildlife when compared to the hazards that may be caused by pesticides. The success of this method is dependent on the use of the right species under the right conditions. For example, BTI can be used for controlling mosquito larvae. This larvicide has a toxin that produces bacteria that kills mosquito larvae. However, this species cannot be used to kill mosquito pupae.
Chemical Pesticides
Chemical pesticides contaminate food, water, land, and air. Pesticides are also hazardous to those using them and the living organisms around the area where they're used. These pest control products are available in liquid, solid, and aerosol form.
Pesticides are grouped according to the pest they are meant to kill. For example, insecticides are used to kill insects, whereas bactericides are used to eliminate bacteria. Pesticides can either kill pests through the mouth (oral entry), breath (respiratory entry), or skin (dermal entry). It's important to read the label on any pesticide you choose to use. For safety reasons, you should leave the use of pesticides to pest control experts.
Physical Methods
Physical control is the use of hand or mechanical controls to attack and destroy pests. These methods are mainly used for weed control. With physical control, fire, tillage, mowing, and grazing are used to prevent reproduction and to destroy weeds. Physical methods also include the uses of traps, mulches, steam sterilization, and barriers. Traps can be used for insects and pest animals, mulches for managing weeds, and steam sterilization for managing soil diseases. Lastly, barriers like fences are used to keep insects and animals out.
There are many different methods used to control pests. However, the first line of defence against pests is to maintain basic hygiene like cleaning up after meals, making sure your toilets are clean, keeping food sealed with tight-fitting lids, and disposing of dirt properly. If you're experiencing a pest problem, make sure you call a pest control service before it turns into a full-blown infestation.
No one wants to work in an office or to live in a home which is infested with pests. Not only can pests creep and freak you out, they can also pose a serious risk to your health. This blog has been set up to provide you with all the info you need to successfully prevent infestations of pests. I'm not a pest control contractor but I have done plenty of research into this topic. I have watched countless hours of instructional videos and listened to podcasts. I have also read many articles. Thank you for checking out this blog.