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Eradication is rarely a goal in outdoor pest situations. Prevention and suppression are more realistic goals.
Sanitation practices can reduce pest problems in urban and industrial areas. This includes reducing food debris and improving garbage collection.
Identifying pests is the first step in designing an effective pest management strategy. Proper identification helps in determining basic information about the pest, including its life cycle, damage it causes, and factors that affect its growth and development. It also enables more targeted control methods that minimize injury to beneficial organisms and the environment.
If you have questions about the correct identification of a plant, insect or microorganism, consult your local commodity or industry organization, Cooperative Extension agent, State land grant university or pest management professional. Some of these resources can help you with free or low cost pest identification services.
To properly identify a pest, you need to look at the shape of its body parts, where it lives or breeds, what it eats or drinks and other characteristics that make it unique. If possible, get close enough to see the specific features that differentiate it from similar species. Look for the species name, which is sometimes accompanied by its common name, on a website like this to ensure you have the right one.
The identification of the pest is important because if you apply an insecticide or other biological control, the product needs to be specific to that pest. For example, the insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis has very specific activity against caterpillars of the order Lepidoptera. It is not effective against other caterpillars or beetles, which is why it is so important to correctly identify the pest before selecting an appropriate product for its treatment.
A pest is any organism that impedes human activities or the natural balance of nature. Many of the organisms that are considered pests are inherently part of the environment, but they become problems when they invade crops or landscapes. Many organisms can be controlled with non-chemical methods, such as removing infested plants, changing planting locations, or using horticultural oils and soaps to prevent pests from damaging plants.
In IPM, we emphasize prevention because controlling a pest before it becomes a significant problem saves time and money and is safer for people and the environment. Regular scouting and monitoring are the keys to preventive pest control. Scouting involves examining the environment, looking for pests and checking the extent of their damage on a regular basis – anywhere from daily to weekly, depending on the pest and its habitat.
Pest Prevention
Pests are undesirable organisms (insects, viruses, fungi, bacteria, rodents and vertebrate animals) that damage crops, soil, food stores, clothing and furniture; disturb human health and safety; displace native plant species; and negatively impact terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Pests are also undesirable because they alter environmental factors such as soil health, nutrient content and available moisture, which ultimately affect plant or animal species that humans value (EPA, 2014).
Preventive pest control measures focus on eliminating the conditions that allow pests to thrive. This is more difficult to do than simply eradicating a pest infestation, and it will often require several different preventive methods working together.
Inspecting all potential pest entryways is the first step in any pest prevention plan. This can include screening windows, closing doors and sealing any cracks or holes found around the foundation, roof or utility lines. Inspecting the inside of a building, including crawl spaces and attics, is also important.
Other preventive measures may include regular cleaning to remove food sources and other attractants. This can include regularly wiping down counters, floors and other surfaces; disposing of rotting garbage promptly; keeping wood piles away from structures; and trimming bushes and shrubbery to eliminate hiding places for pests. It is also a good idea to have an extendable mirror and a magnifying lens to enable inspection of hard-to-reach areas like under sinks and behind appliances.
Many pests are controlled by natural forces that regulate their populations, such as climate, competition from other organisms, the availability of food and water and shelter, and natural barriers. It is important to understand these natural processes and take advantage of them where possible.
Pesticides are synthetic or natural chemical substances that are used to repel or kill pests. They are the most common form of pest control, and are usually the first line of defense in a pest management program. Some common pesticides include abrasives, fumigants, herbicides and insecticides.
A specialized form of pest control, called Integrated Pest Management, uses the least amount of pesticides while providing maximum protection against pests. This involves combining preventive, suppression and eradication strategies to achieve the best results.
Pest Control
Pests are unwanted organisms that damage or devalue crops, lawns, gardens, structures, and property. They also contaminate food, cause disease, interfere with natural processes, and displace native plants and animals. The goal of pest control is to use methods that reduce the pest population below a threshold that’s acceptable for environmental, health, and economic considerations. The principles of pest control include prevention, suppression, and eradication.
The first step is to identify the pest and its impact on your property. This involves scouting, monitoring, and sampling. A threshold for action is defined, and decisions made based on the pest’s impact on your property. For example, seeing a few wasps flying around in your yard doesn’t justify spraying the area with insecticide. But, if you see their numbers increasing and their nest is close by, it’s time to take action.
A preventative approach to pest control uses physical barriers and repellents. These include installing rodent exclusion devices and modifying irrigation practices to discourage the growth of plants that attract insects. Planting resistant varieties or implementing crop rotations can also be effective at preventing pest infestations.
Another type of pest control is biological, which relies on introducing a pest’s natural enemies into the environment to limit its population. This includes parasites, predators, and pathogens. It can be supplemented with chemical methods such as pheromones and juvenile hormones to speed up the rate of control.
Microbial pesticides, such as bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), are engineered into strains that target specific insects. These microbes are then sprayed on the soil, where they infect and kill the insect larvae. These products are more environmentally friendly than conventional pesticides, but they have a shorter shelf life and require repeated applications.
Physical and chemical pest control methods involve a number of tactics, including baits, sprays, traps, and fumigation. They are aimed at removing or disrupting the pests’ food, water, or shelter sources, while causing minimal harm to other organisms. It’s important to understand that no single method is universally effective or safe. The key is to carefully evaluate the benefits and risks of each tactic in the context of your own situation, and to follow local, State, and Federal pest management regulations.
Pest Monitoring
Pest monitoring is the key component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and helps you determine when to take action. Monitoring allows you to assess whether a problem has reached damaging levels, evaluate current prevention and control tactics, and develop site history information to help anticipate future problems.
Monitoring can be done with a variety of tools, including a clipboard and record-keeping sheet, a magnifying glass, and a flashlight to inspect dark or secluded areas where pests hide and nest. A telescoping mirror is also useful to easily inspect behind equipment and in other difficult-to-reach places.
The most important tool for pest monitoring is a good understanding of the biology of the specific species you are trying to detect. This will allow you to better exploit habits, such as where they prefer to hide or feed, so you can increase capture rates. For example, when monitoring for cigarette beetles in food processing facilities, knowing that they are more active during the day than at night can help you focus your efforts to catch them when they are most active.
As you scout, consider the following questions:
Is the pest causing damage? Is the damage unacceptable? Is the population high enough to require control? Threshold-based decision-making is a fundamental element that distinguishes IPM from other pest control strategies.
Once you know the threshold and if it is time for control, implementation involves choosing the best physical, biological, or chemical techniques to minimize disruption of the environment and your operations. These may include cultural practices, planting resistant varieties, trap crops, mating disruption, soil insecticides, or other techniques. It is also critical to follow product labels and personal protective equipment (PPE) recommendations. This will limit the risk of exposure to a harmful substance, preventing injuries and potential liability claims. For example, long-sleeved shirts, pants, closed-toe shoes, face and eye protection, and gloves should be worn when handling all products and applying pesticides. It is also recommended to have a first aid kit available for any accidental exposures. Depending on the situation, additional PPE may be needed.