The best pest control companies offer a range of treatment options. Look for reviews from Angi Certified pros that indicate price transparency, scheduling flexibility and overall customer satisfaction.
Identify pests and tailor control methods to the specific species. For example, a wasp infestation probably requires a targeted spray rather than a barrier. Contact Bed Bug Control Boise now!
A pesticide is any substance used to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate any pests, including organisms that transmit diseases to plants or animals or interfere with human activities and structures. Pesticides can be inorganic, organic or biogenic. Inorganic chemicals are made from minerals or synthetic compounds; organic chemicals are derived from plants or animal materials; and biogenic chemicals are made from living things. The most common pesticides are fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. Other types of pesticides include drenches, desiccants and fumigants.
While the primary benefit of pesticides is protecting crops from disease and other pests, many of these chemicals are harmful to humans and the environment. These impacts range from short-term irritations to long-term chronic conditions such as cancer and reproductive harm. The vast majority of human exposure to pesticides is through dermal (skin), inhalation or oral contact with the chemical.
The toxic effects of pesticides are determined mainly by their acute toxicity and their persistence in the environment, both of which depend on their chemical structure. The chemical properties of a pesticide are classified into chemical families, and one pesticide may contain active ingredients from several different families.
Some of the most widely used pesticides are organochlorines, such as DDT and DDE. These are very persistent and have a high risk of damaging the environment; they also build up in the tissues of animals and humans, which is called bioaccumulation. Most modern pesticides, such as the commonly used azinphos-methyl (RoundUp) and atrazine, are non-organochlorine compounds that pose much lower environmental risks and human health hazards.
Most provinces and territories regulate the sale, use, storage, transportation and disposal of pesticides, and require pesticide applicators, vendors and growers to be trained and certified. The provincial/territorial governments are also responsible for responding to incidents and spills. When working with pesticides, the use of protective gear is recommended. The minimum dermal protection consists of a long-sleeved shirt, pants and gloves; additional protection includes a rain suit or a coverall with unlined chemical-resistant gloves. It is important to keep any liquid pesticides away from children and pets, and to always follow the application directions and warnings on the label.
Biological Pesticides
Biological pesticides control or suppress organisms that are damaging crops. They are generally more selective and nontoxic than chemical pesticides, although they may need to be applied more frequently. They are usually based on natural materials such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and nematodes. They can also be produced by plants, such as neem oil (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, 2014).
There are many different types of biopesticides. Some are derived from naturally occurring chemicals, such as insect sex pheromones and scented plant extracts that attract and trap insects and other pests. Others are microbial in nature, consisting of the living organisms or their toxins, which can be used against insects, weeds and plant pathogens.
Microbial pesticides, which include bactericides, fungicides and herbicides, are often formulated into sprays, powders or granules for use on specific crop pests. They contain the actual microorganism or the toxin it produces and can kill or repel a wide variety of organisms that are damaging crops, including weeds, fungi and plant-parasitic nematodes.
Another type of microbial pesticide is a genetically modified “biopesticide” that incorporates the gene for the toxin into a crop’s own genetic material, such as corn or cotton plants, so that the plant manufactures and secretes the toxin. The most widely known example of a genetically modified biopesticide is the Bacillus thuringiensis bacterium, called Bt for short. The Bt bacterium produces a protein that binds to certain insect larvae, preventing them from absorbing the nutrients they need and starving them to death.
A number of different microbial species are currently under development for use as biopesticides, and a few are already in commercial production. However, the regulation of microbial pesticides is based on the regulations for synthetic chemicals, which makes it difficult to develop and launch new biopesticide products quickly. This needs to be changed, with evaluation and authorization requirements focused on food safety and environmental protection and recognizing the unique characteristics of biologically derived pesticides. The IR-4 Project is one organization that works to develop and provide biopesticides for specialty crop growers.
Predatory Insects and Invertebrates
Predatory insects and parasitoids can be an effective part of a pest control strategy. These natural enemies are often less expensive and easier to use than chemical agents. They are also more ecologically friendly and do not leave residues on plants and soil. However, they require an adequate supply of food to reproduce and grow their populations. Some predators and parasitoids feed only on other arthropods (prey), while others are omnivorous or even carnivorous as adults, and some eat both plants and pollen or honeydew (produced by aphids). Moreover, the dietary requirements of many predators and parasitoids change during different growth stages, and they may also have specific preferences for a particular crop plant. As a result, the success of a biological control program often depends on the presence of suitable habitats within or near the field for these organisms to find food.
When the right combination of predators and parasitoids are selected for a biocontrol program, they must first be mass-reared to produce large numbers for release. This requires extensive research into the biology of the pest, the predators and parasitoids, as well as their potential negative impact on native species that are not pests or other natural enemies. Then, they must be released with care, in a place where the environment and life cycles of the target pest are similar to those of the predators and parasitoids, and disturbance is minimized.
Once established, biological control programs generally operate on thresholds, which are determined by the minimum population levels below which a pest is considered to cause economic damage. This approach is more flexible than other pest management strategies, since the threshold level can be adjusted in response to the dynamics of a given pest outbreak.
Another advantage of threshold-based decisions is that it makes scouting and monitoring activities more important than ever. When a pest population starts to increase rapidly, thresholds should be lowered, and controls applied at the earliest opportunity. This will prevent the pest from reaching economically damaging levels and requiring more intensive efforts to contain it. A threshold-based system also reduces the need for chemical spraying, which in turn lowers the risk of adverse effects on non-target organisms and the environment.
Barriers and Exclusion Methods
Using barriers and exclusion methods prevents pests from accessing a property, which minimizes the need for chemical control. Exclusion methods can include the use of netting, rodent exclusion, the use of threshold-based decision making, and biological techniques.
In general, exclusion strategies are proactive, which means they are used to address infestations before they occur. This is in contrast to many traditional control measures, which are reactive, meaning they are used after an infestation has already occurred.
The most effective way to implement a barrier system is to identify the entry points for the pest and then seal those entrances. This can be accomplished by performing a thorough inspection, looking for cracks and gaps around doors, windows, foundations, and other structures. This is followed by sealing those areas with caulk, elastomeric products, sheet metal or woven hardware cloth.
It’s important to remember that some building materials or features are designed to accommodate airflow, water drainage and movement, so sealing them off may lead to new moisture problems that can degrade the integrity of a structure. This is why it is critical to always choose breathable materials, such as a waterproof sealant for weep holes, or a breathable material such as woven hardware cloth for soffit and ridge vents.
Other barriers include keeping facilities clean and trimmed to remove hiding places for pests and to reduce the likelihood of their finding food or water. This includes regularly cleaning up crumbs, spills, and other debris in indoor and outdoor spaces. It’s also a good idea to keep landscaping and vegetation well-maintained, so that pests don’t find refuge in dense foliage or brush piles.
The use of behaviorally-based approaches is the latest paradigm in pest management and is receiving the most attention in tree fruit production, primarily due to their ecological and agronomical advantages. The three methods currently being studied are exclusion (netting), sterile insect release, and mating disruption. Each has unique characteristics and agronomical applications, but all offer a paradigm shift from the “kill everything” approach to managing pests, while still maintaining yield and quality.