Pest control methods aim to reduce pests and their damage to an acceptable level without harming beneficial organisms, the environment, or human health. Methods include prevention, which keeps pests from causing damage; suppression, which reduces their numbers to an acceptable level; and eradication, which destroys all of the pests.
Physical or mechanical controls include barriers and traps. Cleaning up clutter and sealing cracks, crevices and other openings helps prevent many pest problems. Contact Pest Control Columbia MO now!
Insects are the most numerous animal group on Earth and occupy nearly every habitat. They provide a fundamental ecological service by pollinating crops and natural plants, decomposing organic matter, and controlling populations of pest insects and other organisms.
In addition, insects have been important objects of study, providing valuable insights into genetics, hormone action, nerve and sense organ function, and many other physiological processes. Unfortunately, some insect species can negatively impact food production by causing direct losses to crops, fruit, seeds, and other foods by biting and stinging or carrying disease-causing pathogens.
Beneficial insects are an effective alternative to chemical pesticides, as they selectively prey on specific pest species while leaving non-target organisms unharmed. Proper selection, release and monitoring of beneficial insects is critical for a successful greenhouse IPM program. In addition, growers should carefully consider biosecurity measures based on the intended use of each beneficial insect and its stage of development (e.g., separate containment strategies for larvae and adults of winged insects).
Rodent
Rodents are small mammals that live and feed in close association with humans. They have sharp front teeth that grow continually through gnawing and chewing and they leave droppings in areas where they go. Rodents also carry diseases that can affect people.
Some rodents are pests that invade homes and businesses. These include house mice, Norway rats and roof rats. Other rodents such as squirrels and chipmunks usually use human properties for shelter and food, but are not considered to be pests because of their commensal relationship with people.
Public education is an important component of a successful rodent control program. Information can be disseminated in a variety of ways including informational fact sheets mailed to private residences, landlords and property owners; enclosed in city mailings such as utility bills; posted on the city Web site; and in educational presentations for schools, food-handling facilities and businesses. A rodent hotline could also be established to provide a single, convenient way for the public to seek information and report problems. This would save time and resources for staff that might otherwise be spent answering questions from the public, special interest groups or media.
Birds
Birds provide numerous ecosystem services, including dispersing seeds and acting as natural pest predators. If they decline, the ecosystem is disrupted and other species suffer.
Pesticides are also a risk to birds, particularly because they can ingest toxic chemicals and be exposed through direct contact or ingestion of their prey. Ingesting small amounts of pesticides can poison them, or even kill them if they eat enough.
Using fecal samples collected over twenty years (1999-2021) from breeding birds at Donana National Park (DNP), we analyzed temporal trends in the concentration of organochlorine (OCPs), organophosphate and pyrethroid (PYR) pesticides. Concentrations of the banned neonic insecticides (4,4′-DDE and oxyfluorfen) declined significantly, but concentrations of other OCPs, such as cypermethrin and fluazine, increased over time.
Song sparrow, gray catbird and common yellowthroat consumption of pest natural enemies were significantly impacted by site and year for PERMANOVA tests and by site and bird age for GLMs. Because bird age and DOY are correlated, they were tested for collinearity before being included in the model.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are among humanity’s most dangerous animals, able to transmit pathogens that cause diseases such as encephalitis and malaria. Female mosquitoes feed on blood, which is required for egg-laying. Some species are particular about whose blood they consume, though the majority of mosquitoes will bite humans.
Most mosquito control companies use pyrethrins (natural chemicals from chrysanthemum flowers that are toxic to insects) or pyrethroids (synthetic chemical compounds that mimic pyrethrins). These pesticides are broad-spectrum, killing many other insects in addition to the target insect, resulting in calls to poison control centers.
Removing standing water where mosquito larvae grow and lay eggs is key to managing mosquito populations. A surface film of oil can be applied to bodies of water to clog the breathing tubes of wrigglers, and larvicides or biological controls (i.e., bacillus thuringiensis) can be used to kill the larvae or suffocate adults. These preventive measures reduce the need for adulticide spraying.
Flies
Flies (of the order Diptera) can be nuisance pests, but they are also carriers of disease organisms. They feed on animal wastes and decaying organic materials and, in the case of house flies, can transfer harmful bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli directly to food by landing on it and touching it with their legs.
Effective fly control requires sanitation in the sense of eliminating breeding sites, not just spraying surfaces with liquid residuals. For example, drain flies lay eggs in dirty toilets and in waste pipes that aren’t flushed regularly; phorid fly larvae can be found in moist soil of potted plants or in cracks and crevices where they hibernate over the winter. Food facilities need to keep trash cans closed, emptied and away from the building, and doors and windows should be kept closed as much as possible. Automatic door closing devices and air curtains that blow air away from entrances can help.
Beetles
Beetles are small insects whose hardened wing cases distinguish them from other insect groups. They are often a nuisance in homes and gardens, consuming items like wool, fruit, grain and vegetables. Some types of beetles, such as the stink bug, are serious agricultural pests, while others, such as wood beetles and grubs, can destroy entire lawns.
Our entomologists can help you identify the type of beetle in your home and determine the best treatment method. We will also educate you about preventing beetle infestations by storing food in airtight containers and keeping pantries and cabinets clean.
We may recommend pyrethrin traps, which lure beetles in with their scent and then kill them by dehydrating them. We can also use diatomaceous earth, a powder made from fossilized algae that is safe for pets and children. Alternatively, we can simply remove the beetles with gloved hands. The simplest solution, however, is to prevent beetles from entering your home by sealing cracks and crevices.
Wasps
We often think of wasps as stinging hordes that terrorize our lives, but this depiction is misleading. While social wasps do sting humans and other animals that enter their habitat, they also serve to control pest insects such as flies, mosquitoes, rodents and spiders.
Solitary wasps, on the other hand, are less threatening and have no stingers. These carnivorous wasps eat insects and other wasps, which help to balance the insect population. Some solitary wasps even lay their eggs inside the shells of prey insects such as cockroaches and aphids, killing them before their hatchlings eat their way out.
If you have a wasp or hornet nest around your home or business, we recommend calling a pest management professional for removal services. If you do choose to remove a wasp or hornet’s nest on your own, be sure to wear protective clothing, observe the nest until night when they are most active and use a pesticide formulated for these types of insects.
Termites
Termites are wood-eating insects that can cause serious damage to buildings. They have existed on Earth for 250 million years and are a vital part of the planet’s ecosystem. While they do cause destruction, they also recycle dead parts of trees and decompose cellulose—a natural plant material.
There are several families of termites. Subterranean termites in the eastern United States and Formosan termites in the west are responsible for most of the damage to homes. Both dampwood and drywood termites can infest buildings.
Preventive measures include keeping wood piles away from structures, diverting rainwater runoff from buildings and repairing leaky plumbing pipes. It is important to have a qualified pest control expert inspect your home and treat when necessary. Annual inspections and treatment are the best way to keep your home termite-free. Warning signs of a possible infestation include hollow-sounding wood, mud tubes on the outside of your home or crawl space walls and swarmers of winged termites in or around your house.
Other
Pests can cause damage to crops, forests, livestock, and property. They also transmit diseases and can contaminate food and water supplies. Pest control reduces the damage they do through preventive and active management techniques.
Preventive measures include changing cultural practices and physical controls. For example, regular cleaning reduces pest access to food and shelter by eliminating crumbs, spilled seeds, and stagnant water. Planting pest-resistant varieties can prevent the need for chemical controls.
Biological controls use a pest’s natural enemies, such as predators, pathogens, parasitoids, and sterile insects, to manage the pest population. These organisms are introduced, often from the pest’s region of origin, to where they are needed. They are then released in a controlled way, such as spot applications in areas of high pest density, to minimize contact with other species. There is usually a lag between the introduction of new natural enemies and the impact on the pest. Other methods of biological control involve introducing juvenile hormones, mycoplasmas, and nematodes.