Often, organisms become pests when they escape normal control by natural regulating agents, such as when they are accidentally introduced to a new region or when their populations build up to levels that cause damage. Monitoring and accurately identifying pests allows appropriate control strategies to be selected. Contact Armis Pest Management now!
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach that uses all available control methods, including mechanical, cultural, biological, and chemical treatments. Its goal is management, not eradication of pests.
Identifying pests is the first step in deciding how to manage them. Pest identification enables you to select control methods that minimize harm to beneficial organisms and the environment. Accurate pest identification requires observation and learning about the biology, behavior, habitat, and environmental conditions that promote or support the pest population.
Look closely at the pest to note characteristics such as shape, size, color, and damage caused by the pest. You should also become familiar with the pest’s life cycle, damage symptoms, habitat requirements, time and location of occurrence and reproductive habits.
Observation is important because it allows you to monitor pest populations and conditions over time. Using an insect scouting record from previous years can predict when key pest and beneficial insects will be present, which is helpful for planning preventative management practices.
The best way to control pests without toxic chemicals is through prevention. This is possible through good sanitation, managing moisture, properly storing firewood and sealing off entry points into the home. It is also possible to encourage natural predators of pests and use less toxic baits and traps.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a long-term approach that combines elements of monitoring, identification and control to reduce the need for chemical applications. It is a safe and effective way to manage pests by combining biological control, habitat manipulation and change of cultural practices with the use of resistant plant varieties and avoiding overuse of synthetic chemicals.
To develop an IPM program, first determine whether a pest is damaging your crops. If it is, consider desired outcomes to guide pest control efforts and help you decide if pest management is necessary. You may find that the problem is not caused by a pest. It could be the result of nutrient deficiencies, disease, or competition with other plants for water and space. Evaluate your options carefully, and be sure to weigh the risks and benefits of each method. Always choose the least hazardous method first. Integrated pest management techniques can be used for the control of nearly all plant problems, including weeds.
Developing a Management Plan
The first step in pest control is to identify the problem and assess the severity. This includes determining the type of pests, how they are affecting the property, and any environmental issues that may be involved. This information should be documented and shared with all stakeholders in the pest management process.
The next step is to develop a comprehensive pest management plan. This should be based on an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. IPM programs are designed to reduce the need for pesticides by focusing on preventative measures. These can include inspecting incoming materials for pest contamination, assessing storage areas and limiting access points to buildings by sealing gaps in walls, roofs and doors. In addition, IPM programs stress the use of non-chemical options such as exclusion or trapping before turning to chemical treatment methods. When pesticides are used, they should be applied in the least volatile formulations possible and in limited quantities to eliminate pests while minimizing the risk of damage to the environment and food safety programs.
A good pest control management plan should address all the factors that make a property a haven for unwanted pests. Preventative measures should include the removal of weeds and other natural plants that can become a nuisance, maintaining barriers to entry including fence lines, drains, sumps, puddles and other water sources, keeping waste material away from the property and addressing food sources such as composting facilities and firewood piles. Inspecting incoming materials for pest contamination and ensuring that employees are aware of proper sanitation and safety procedures when handling food or plant products should also be included.
Some steps should be repeated on a regular basis, such as checking to see that physical barriers are intact and addressing any other areas of vulnerability. Pest control providers should also be available to perform follow-up inspections and repellent activities when necessary. These inspections should be documented, including a record of the actions taken, as well as the results achieved. This will help to demonstrate that a pest control professional has adhered to industry standards and has been transparent with clients.
Implementing a Management Plan
Once a pest management strategy is developed and put into practice, it is important to monitor progress. Monitoring is necessary to assess the success of control methods, determine when changes are needed and to ensure that desired outcomes are being achieved. Monitoring is a key component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
In IPM, biological, cultural, and chemical pest control strategies are used in conjunction to manage pests over time rather than just treating an infestation. IPM also takes into account the impact of pests on the environment and human health.
Pesticides are a part of an IPM program, but they are only used when they are the most cost-effective and safest way to achieve control goals. IPM emphasizes less toxic practices such as crop rotation, using beneficial insects, introducing predators and parasitoids, and altering environmental conditions.
In addition to IPM, federal agencies promote and encourage the use of less-toxic pest management strategies through educational programs, outreach, regulatory activities, research initiatives, and funding opportunities. For example, the Federal Integrated Pest Management Coordinating Committee provides leadership and management of a national effort to reduce the economic and environmental risks associated with pests in agricultural and natural resource ecosystems.
When modern pesticides were first introduced, they were used widely and quickly killed all pests that were susceptible to them. Overuse of pesticides caused many species of insects to develop resistance, leading scientists to develop IPM.
Cultural pest management strategies include planting crops in different fields, incorporating organic matter into soil to improve its health, keeping tools and work areas clean, and managing weeds. These practices often help to keep weeds and unwanted plants at bay and can make crops more resistant to insect damage.
Biological pest control includes the deliberate release of organisms that kill or harm pests such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens. This is a highly specialized area of IPM and requires careful study and knowledge of the biology of the pests, when and where to release the organisms, and which organisms they will target.
A common biological control is the use of pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and nematodes that infect or destroy pests. This group of controls can be very effective in reducing pest numbers, but should always be used as a last resort. Parasitoids, microscopic wasps and flies that infest and attack the bodies of pests to eat or debilitate them, are another commonly used type of biological control.
Prevention
Pest problems can often be prevented with simple steps. Pests typically invade homes and businesses if easy entry points, food and water are available, or places to hide. The best preventive measures include: reducing food and water sources, cleaning up spills, closing off places where pests can enter and hide, and regularly cleaning areas to remove nests or fecal droppings. It is also important to eliminate any sources of moisture, such as leaky pipes or humid rooms.
Keeping storage areas clean and eliminating clutter is another important preventive measure. It is especially important to regularly inspect and clean around the outside of buildings to locate and close cracks or holes that pests may use to gain entrance. It is also important to trim bushes and trees that touch the building, as well as to keep trash cans in a secure location where pests cannot access them.
Insects and rodents are the most common pests in residential and commercial settings, but other pests such as spiders, ants, bees, fleas, termites, and other vertebrates can also cause damage and pose health concerns. In addition to physical damage, many pests carry diseases and can cause allergic reactions in people.
Prevention is an important part of integrated pest management (IPM), which emphasizes treating only those areas where pests are causing harm. This targeted approach reduces the overall amount of chemicals used, and it minimizes the disruption to the environment.
After a thorough inspection, the provider can develop a plan to prevent pest invasions, such as tips on sanitation products and practices, hot spots to watch for (such as under leaves or along foundations), and preventing entrance through cracks and crevices. The provider should then use a combination of physical, biological and chemical control methods to manage the pests in an effective and economical manner.
There are a number of different ways to control pests, and the best way to choose the method that is right for your property is to consult with an experienced, licensed professional who can advise you on the appropriate methods based on the type and severity of the infestation. The use of the wrong control method can increase the problem and even lead to a worse situation.