When pests invade your home, they’re not just annoying—they can cause property damage, and threaten health. If you’re plagued by rats gnawing on your electrical wires, termites eating away at your home’s structure or bees and wasps building hives in the corner of your porch, you need to take action. Professional pest control services are your best bet for getting rid of these uninvited guests. But how do you know which company to call? In this article, we’ll walk you through the basics of pest control so you can choose the service that’s right for your needs.
When hiring a pest control company, ask whether they offer organic or non-toxic treatments. While these may be more expensive than traditional sprays, they can provide long-term benefits by reducing your family’s exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. Likewise, look for a pest control company that offers preventative or maintenance packages on a regular schedule throughout the year.
Physical controls are devices, machines this website, or structures that physically restrict the movement of a pest or block access to food, water, or shelter. Fences, nets, barriers, radiation, and heat can all be used to reduce pest populations or keep them from reaching unacceptable levels.
Preventative measures include keeping woodpiles far from your house, cleaning gutters regularly and trimming grass so that it’s not overgrown, all of which can deter pests from approaching your property. Also, be sure to seal any cracks or openings in your walls and foundation that pests might use as entrance points.
Scouting, or monitoring pest numbers, is another important aspect of preventative pest control. Keeping track of the number of pests you see and hearing reports from neighbors can help you determine if the problem has reached an unacceptable level. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for the appearance of pests in other areas of your yard. For example, if you notice a lot of fruit flies around your tomato plants, try hanging plastic bottles with fruit fly-sized holes in them from the trees about a month before the fruit will be ripe. The flies will enter the bottles but won’t be able to escape, and the fruit flies will die in the process.
Biological pest control uses natural organisms to reduce or eliminate pests, including predators, parasites, and pathogens. This method can be especially useful in controlling plant diseases, as it can minimize or even eliminate the need for chemical controls. It’s usually not effective against invasive species, however, as there is often a lag between the population of the pest and the number of its enemies.
Using chemical pesticides is the most common way to kill unwanted organisms, but it’s important to use them responsibly. Always follow the label’s instructions, and be sure to read all safety warnings. Also, be sure to remove or cover food, utensils and other items before applying surface sprays, and make sure to use baits or traps instead of sprays. Finally, when using pesticides in the home, avoid sprayed surfaces that are frequently touched by family members. It’s also wise to open windows while spraying and to leave the room while the pesticide takes effect.