Pests are undesirable organisms (insects, diseases, fungi, nematodes, viruses, or even vertebrate animals) that damage crops or landscapes. They may also negatively affect human health and/or quality of life, disrupt ecosystems, and displace native plants and wildlife. Contact Pest Control O’fallon MO now!

Pest control techniques can be natural, biological, chemical, or cultural. They may also include mechanical and physical controls.

Identification is the first step in designing a pest control strategy, whether the pests are found in homes, equine facilities, gardens, or agricultural settings. A proper pest ID helps you learn more about the species, such as its biology and life cycle. This can help you develop better pest management tactics without using harmful chemicals.

Many species change appearance significantly during their life cycles. For example, a weed seedling looks very different from the mature plant that it becomes. Insects go through similar changes as they develop from eggs, larvae, and pupae to adult forms. Proper pest identification helps you distinguish between these stages, and ensure that management tactics are applied at the most vulnerable time of the pest’s life cycle.

Correct pest identification can also help you identify the most effective pesticide for use in controlling a specific species. For instance, biological insecticides (e.g. Bacillus thuringiensis) require accurate identification to the order level to ensure they work on the intended species. Similarly, chemical insecticides require specific identification to avoid damaging other plants and animals.

Pest identification can be done by a variety of methods, including visual examination, microscopes, and traps. Often, pests are recognizable by their physical characteristics, such as wings, eyes, legs, body, and antennae. Some pests have distinct odors that can be detected by sniffers, and some emit pheromones, chemical signals used to attract or repel other members of their species.

Certain varieties of plants, materials, and structures are naturally resistant to some pests. Choosing pest-resistant varieties of plants, food, and materials can help keep pest populations below harmful levels, especially when combined with other control measures.

Some natural forces influence pest populations, such as weather, natural enemies, barriers, and available food and water. These forces may help or hinder human efforts to control pests, but they should be considered when determining the best strategies for any situation. For instance, a drought can cause a pest population to explode due to limited food sources, but if the pests are protected by a nearby stream or lake, their numbers may stay low.

Pesticides

Pesticides are any chemical used to control insects, weeds or other organisms that damage crops and food storage. They are designed to kill or incapacitate the targeted pests, but can also impact other living and nonliving things in the surrounding area. For example, birds may eat the insects killed by an insecticide or become poisoned themselves when they come into contact with the chemicals. These are called secondary pesticide impacts. This is why it is important to only use pesticides that are specifically designed for the problem, follow all instructions carefully and apply them as sparingly as possible.

The type of pesticide and the way it is applied affects both the secondary and direct effects. For instance, some pesticides, such as space sprays and termite treatments, linger in the environment for days or even weeks after application. This lingering can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem by reducing populations of natural enemies (parasitoid wasps, predatory mites and ladybugs) that would normally control these pest species. Seed-treatments with neonicotinoid insecticides and fungicides can have similar impacts, killing natural enemies and indirectly increasing the number of herbivorous pest species.

Other pesticides, such as organochlorine insecticides and carbamates, are persistent in soil, water and the body of humans and animals (do not break down quickly) and can build up in fatty tissue. Many of these are now banned or phased out due to their detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Modern synthetic insecticides such as organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids are less toxic to humans and break down more rapidly in the environment.

All pesticides, regardless of their form, are dangerous to people when improperly handled and disposed of. They can lead to poisoning with symptoms that include changes in the heart rate, chest tightness and muscle weakness and twitching. In severe cases, poisoning can lead to seizures and unconsciousness.

Whenever possible, work with your neighbours to avoid using pesticides or other forms of poisons. If you must, consult the OSH Answers document Pesticides – Working Safely. Always read the label and wear protective equipment as instructed.

Barriers and Exclusion

When it comes to pest control, it is much easier and safer for the environment to prevent a pest infestation in the first place rather than using powerful chemicals to eradicate an infestation after it has already formed. This is the concept behind exclusion, also called pest proofing, which focuses on sealing off the entry points that pests use to invade a home or business. Whether it’s rodents, ants or other insects, there are many ways pests can find their way inside your property, and they tend to take advantage of the small cracks and holes around doors, windows, electrical outlets and pipes that are often difficult for you to see.

These areas can be sealed with caulking, sealant or metal screens to keep pests out. Other exclusionary measures include keeping outdoor trash cans tightly closed, storing firewood away from the structure and reducing the amount of organic material stored in and around your property. Moisture is another issue that can attract pests, so be sure to fix leaks promptly and eliminate standing water on your property where possible. Lastly, keeping lawns and landscaping trimmed properly can reduce potential hiding places and pathways for pests to enter.

In addition to physical barriers, there are also chemical barriers that can be used to repel or deter pests from your premises. These can be in the form of sprays, gels or baits. Biological barriers, which are a bit more unconventional, involve the introduction of natural predators or competing species to keep pest numbers under control.

Some of these barriers are easy to do yourself, while others can be time-consuming and require a ladder you may not want to climb or products you may not have access to. That’s where a professional can come in handy. Pest exclusion services typically include a comprehensive inspection and a plan to address your specific vulnerabilities, and they can be customized to meet the needs of each property. They can also supply you with materials that you may not be able to get on your own, like professional-grade door sweeps and screens that are tougher for pests to chew through.

Traps

Traps are an important tool for pest control, especially when paired with effective repellents and barriers. They can help reduce the amount of chemical spraying needed and provide a more sustainable approach to pest management. The emergence of smart technology has allowed for advances in trapping, which offer new possibilities and benefits.

Smart traps operate with minimal human intervention, making them more accurate and consistent than traditional methods. They also provide real-time alerts to allow for more timely and targeted treatment. This allows growers to react faster to pest issues and improve the overall efficiency of their pest control.

In addition to providing real-time alerts, smart traps can monitor pest activity continuously. This means that they can detect pests at any stage of their life cycle, giving growers a more holistic picture of their crop health. This can be particularly helpful for horticultural crops, which are often sensitive to changes in insect populations.

Sticky traps come in a wide variety of shapes and colors, with different attractants to suit specific species or crop needs. The type of trap and its placement are key to maximizing their effectiveness. For example, plastic pitfall traps are useful for monitoring crawling pests in the field, while pheromone traps provide greater flexibility in deployment. Many growers use a combination of both to maximize their potential.

Monitoring traps should be checked on a regular schedule, and their captures noted. This information can be used for decision-making, such as predicting periods of risk or determining the threshold number of pests that can cause damage (e.g., UK strawberry crops are at risk for economic fruit damage once thrips numbers exceed 4 per flower without predators).

For preventive pest management, interplanting trap crops can be highly effective. They can be used to lure pests away from main crops or to deter them from entering the field altogether. They are most effective when planted early and when the target pests are nymphs or larvae, so they can be effective in stopping an infestation before it even begins. For best results, trap crop plants should be positioned a short distance from the main crop, and the quantity of trap crop plantings should not be more than 20% of the area that will be under attack.