Pest Control St Charles MO involves preventing and controlling unwanted organisms. The organisms that cause the harm are called pests, and the desired plants, animals and structures are known as hosts.
Preventive steps include eliminating clutter where pests can breed and hide. Then, caulking cracks and crevices to close off access points. Monitoring pest populations is essential. Threshold levels that trigger action — such as injury or economic damage — have been determined for many pests.
Identifying pests is the first step in any successful pest control program. Accurate identification of pests allows a pest management plan to be developed that matches the specific life cycle, habits and habitat requirements of that particular organism. This prevents unnecesary use of pesticides and minimizes harm to non-target organisms and the environment.
Proper pest identification begins with careful observation of a problem and notes of important characteristics such as appearance, behavior and location of the pest. Observation of the pest in question can help determine whether it is a weed, insect, disease or vertebrate animal and what stage of development it is in.
A visual identification guide may be useful for assisting in the identification process. These guides can include photographs, illustrations or descriptive text that correlate to key physical features of the pest such as size, shape and color. A pest guide can also provide important information such as what food source it consumes, its threat to humans and the environment, the conditions it prefers to live in, signs of infestation and prevention or control measures.
Often, the best way to identify a pest is to consult a pest expert such as a commodity or industry organization, Cooperative Extension agent or State land grant university entomology specialist. These experts can use morphological methods to accurately and rapidly identify organisms. Molecular methods such as DNA fingerprinting are used to further enhance the speed and accuracy of the identification process, especially when it is necessary to rapidly and accurately identify foreign pests for import and export.
It is often the case that an incorrect pest identification can lead to improper pesticide applications. This can occur because the wrong pesticide is applied or because the pesticide is not being used at the correct time in the life cycle of the pest.
Correct pest identification can also help in the selection of the most effective pest control products and techniques. This includes ensuring that the product is labeled for the specific pest and that it will be effective at controlling it. It can also ensure that other tools needed for pest control are available, such as traps or a misting system for mosquitoes and that the proper application methods are used to reduce any potential risks from the pesticides being applied.
Pest Prevention
Identifying pests early on enables proactive treatment before an infestation becomes severe and costly. Depending on the industry, a facility’s products and the types of pests, preventive measures can include:
A good place to start is by addressing how pests enter and exit buildings. Sealing entry points, routine inspections and a clean facility can all help limit pest-related contamination and damage to facilities and products.
Food processing environments are especially vulnerable to pest infestations. They must meet strict sanitary requirements that, if compromised by a pest, can lead to product recalls and lost revenue. In addition, pests can physically contaminate food with rodent droppings and other debris or contaminate it with disease causing organisms from their bodies or external surfaces.
For plant-eating pests, long-term prevention strategies are often the most cost-effective, and can even save production capacity and yield. These may include biological control — predators, parasites and pathogens — or environmental modification — altering the habitat, irrigation practices, etc.
Other pests can be prevented by modifying the environment to discourage their activity or suppress their reproduction. For example, weeds can be controlled by changing the soil conditions in which they grow or by applying herbicides.
Pests that damage structures or products can be controlled with hygienic, physical and chemical methods, including trapping, exclusion and bait stations. In addition, pest-specific cultural controls (e.g., removing attracting materials or changing planting methods) and physical barriers can also be used to block pests from entering a facility.
A company’s reputation is also at risk when they are subject to a pest-related recall or have their products rejected by customers because of pest-related issues. Plant and QA managers and upper management will be happy to find that a strong preventive pest program can help keep their brands’ integrity intact. In addition, it can help a business stay in line with the fundamental mandates of FSMA. The good news is that pest prevention programs can be implemented quickly and effectively with the right partner. It just takes a little more effort and commitment from all parties to make it work.
Pest Control Methods
Pest control methods include natural, biological, cultural, physical and chemical controls. Natural controls, such as weather and topography, limit pest populations by making their environment less suitable. Biological controls use organisms like predators, parasites and pathogens to manage pest populations. This is a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to pest management.
Physical controls kill or block pests or make their environment unsuitable. These controls include traps, screens, barriers and fences. Cultural controls reduce the conditions that promote pest infestations, such as overwatering or improper crop spacing. Chemical controls are often used to provide immediate or short-term pest control. These chemicals may be organic, biorational or synthetic.
Eradication is a goal in some outdoor situations where pests threaten human health, safety or economic well-being, such as with the Mediterranean fruit fly or the gypsy moth. Eradication is also the goal in certain indoor situations, such as operating rooms and other sterile areas of health care, food processing and office buildings.
Prevention is a common goal in many pest management strategies. When a pest can be predicted to occur under specific environmental conditions, steps can be taken to prevent its presence or damage, such as by selecting crops that are less likely to be attacked by plant diseases, by using resistant varieties of plants and by preventing insect infestations by removing food, water or shelter sources.
Monitoring is a key element in pest control. By checking fields, landscapes, forests or buildings regularly to determine whether a pest is present and how much damage it has caused, managers can decide whether to take action or to try to tolerate the pest. Monitoring also provides important information about the pest, such as its biology and life cycle, which can help managers select the best control techniques and to determine when to apply them.
When pesticides are used, it is important to follow label instructions and use personal protective equipment when necessary. When spraying for insects, always target the pest directly rather than an area larger than a single individual. When possible, select a ready-to-use product (i.e., one that does not require mixing) to avoid adding unnecessary risk and to ensure the product is mixed correctly. When using a pesticide in a home or garden, always remove or cover food, cooking utensils and other personal items, and store them away from the area to be treated.
Pesticides
When most people think of pesticides, they imagine the bug killers, weed killers and fungus killers they buy in stores. However, there is much more to a pesticide than its active ingredients.
All pesticides are toxic to some extent to humans, pets and plants. Human toxicity depends on the dose, frequency, route of exposure and how the compound breaks down in the body. Insecticides, for example, are usually acutely (immediately) toxic, attacking an insect’s brain and nervous system. The organophosphate family of insecticides, for instance, works by inhibiting the enzyme cholinesterase, which breaks down acetylcholine at nerve synapses. This causes tremors, paralysis and confusion.
Many pesticides are also persistent in the environment, lingering for days or weeks after application. They can be absorbed through the skin and ingested or inhaled, and can also accumulate in the tissues of animals and humans. Chronically high exposures can increase the risk of certain diseases or disorders, such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease and infertility.
Pesticides may be formulated in liquid, solid or gaseous forms. Liquid formulations include suspensions, solutions and emulsifiable concentrates. Solid formulations include dusts, powders, pellets and granules. Some pesticides are mixed into a carrier material, which increases their stability or allows them to be applied more accurately. Other pesticides may break down under certain environmental conditions to form metabolites that are less toxic than the parent compound.
Generally, organic or botanical pesticides are safer than synthetic chemical pesticides. However, they can be slow to work.
Most pesticides attack specific pathways in a pest’s body, such as disrupting nerve transmission, development or metabolism. As a result, pests can develop resistance to these substances over time. To reduce the chance of developing resistance, use pesticides with non-specific modes of action, such as horticultural oils or bactericides.
Always read pesticide labels and follow directions carefully. When using a spray, apply it when there is little wind to prevent drift. Store pesticides out of the reach of children and pets, and away from food and water supplies. If a pesticide is no longer needed, dispose of it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Some local governments have special drop-off sites for household hazardous wastes. Contact your municipality for information.