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The first step in pest control is to correctly identify the organism that needs to be managed. This is important because different organisms have different characteristics that impact how and when pest management tactics are used. Misidentification can cost time and money as well as result in unnecessary risks to people and the environment. If you are unsure about the identification of a particular pest, contact your local county Extension office or ask a pest management professional for help.
The next step in pest control is monitoring the pest to determine if it is damaging crops, natural resources or human structures and facilities. This is done by observing the pests, collecting samples and/or analyzing existing data. This information allows the operator to make decisions about whether or not a pest is causing damage that needs to be controlled and what control methods are needed if the decision is made to manage the pest.
A good monitoring program will help you detect a pest problem early and develop a control strategy before the damage becomes unacceptable. Sampling should be conducted throughout the growing season and focused in areas where pests have historically occurred to get the best picture of pest populations and activity.
During the monitoring process, it is important to evaluate the benefits and risks of any control tactic that may be used. Control options include prevention, suppression, or eradication. The goal of any control strategy is to cause the least amount of harm to non-target organisms and to our environment.
In addition to being correctly identified, it is also essential to understand the biology and life cycle of a pest to be able to manage it effectively. For example, many insect species look very different at various stages of their life cycle. Immature beetles often resemble caterpillars, and mature beetles can sometimes resemble worms. Knowing the pest’s life cycle and behavior will allow you to discover weaknesses in the pest’s development or life history that can be exploited with appropriate controls.
Pests can be a serious threat to our cropland, forests, landscapes and home gardens. They can destroy or displace desirable plants, interfere with animal life, and create health hazards. They can also impact water quality and wildlife habitat. In addition, they can contribute to soil erosion and degradation.
Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals used to kill organisms that invade or damage crops, food stores or homes. They include insecticides (killers of insects), herbicides (weed killers), rodenticides (control of destruction and contamination by rodents) and fungicides (control of diseases such as mildews, rusts, molds and rots). Some household products also contain pesticides, including some weed killers, dishwashing liquids and fruit and vegetable sprays.
When choosing a pesticide, consider not only the effectiveness against the specific pest you are trying to get rid of, but also its effect on other organisms, including pets and native plants. The toxicity of the pesticide is affected by the form it takes, the way it is applied and whether it is absorbed through the skin. The label on a pesticide container is helpful in making this determination. For example, a skull and crossbones symbol on the label indicates an extremely toxic compound that can be fatal at very low doses. A label that says “may cause eye and skin irritation” is less hazardous.
Another factor that can affect the safety of a pesticide is the extent to which it contaminates soil and water. Regardless of how well the pesticide is formulated to limit such contamination, it can still occur from runoff or drifting spray and can harm ecosystems in rivers, lakes, streams and the groundwater supply.
In addition to the actual pesticide, pesticide products may contain solvents, diluents and other ingredients that are not active against the specific pest you are trying to control. In fact, the inert ingredients often make up more than 95% of a pesticide product and can be as toxic or more so than the active pesticide.
Whenever possible, try non-chemical methods to control pests before resorting to chemicals. Also, when using any kind of pesticide, read and follow the instructions carefully. Store pesticides in a safe place where children and pets cannot reach them and use only as much as is needed.
Preventive Measures
Keeping buildings and grounds clean, in good repair, and avoiding waste is the best prevention against pests. Pest control is only necessary when a pest population becomes a nuisance or causes damage that exceeds an acceptable level. Preventive measures are usually less expensive than treatment. Integrated pest management (IPM) emphasizes prevention and monitoring, rather than extermination.
IPM programs include routine inspections to detect pest problems and provide recommendations for improvement. These services are often provided at a low cost or free of charge to homeowners and businesses. Inspections are conducted by trained personnel who evaluate sites for possible infestations. They look for the presence of pests and note signs such as holes in plants or walls, discarded nests, and scurrying sounds. They also inspect for the presence of birds, which can cause significant damage in large numbers by pecking and droppings.
Weather conditions affect pests by killing or suppressing them. The availability of food, water and shelter also influences the size of a pest population.
Many insects and other pests can be controlled by predators and parasites that feed on them. Pathogens can also reduce pest populations by attacking or infecting them. Natural landscape features such as mountains and bodies of water restrict the movement of some pests.
The most effective way to prevent pests is to remove their food, water, or shelter sources. This includes removing waste, keeping trash cans tightly closed and emptied frequently, repairing leaky plumbing, and storing food in sealed plastic or glass containers. It is important to keep landscape areas well-groomed and to remove or trim bushes, trees, and other tall vegetation that can serve as hiding places or pathways for pests.
In addition, it is important to maintain garbage and compost bins in a closed or covered container. Finally, it is a good idea to not let water accumulate around homes or buildings, especially under houseplants or in the refrigerator. Regularly cleaning gutters can also help to avoid water accumulating in places where pests may nest. The most important thing to remember when it comes to pest control is that preventing an infestation is much cheaper and easier than dealing with one once it starts.
Biological Control
Biological control involves the introduction of natural enemies (predators, parasitoids and pathogens) to kill pest insects or disease organisms. Natural enemies are not prone to resistance like chemical pesticides and therefore can be more effective. The cost of developing and releasing a biological control agent is also lower than that for producing and evaluating new chemical pesticides.
Unlike chemical pesticides, which can have unpredictable and toxic side effects, biological controls generally do not damage native species or ecosystems. This is because the species of predator or parasitoid introduced to control a particular pest is highly host-specific, killing only the targeted insect. However, it is important to accurately identify the target pest to the species level so that the correct natural enemy can be purchased for mass production and released.
The success of biological control has led to a worldwide commitment to reduce pesticide use and promote integrated pest management. It is a key part of a’systems approach’ to pest control that includes a range of preventive measures and the development of crops with built-in pest resistance or tolerance.
A number of different techniques for introducing and deploying biological control agents have been developed, including classical, augmentative and conservation biological control. Classical biological control is used mainly against exotic pests that have become established in a new region or country. Small numbers of a suitable natural enemy are collected from the region of origin of the pest, and then ‘inoculated’ into the local environment in order to establish a population that will provide long term control.
Augmentative biological control is a more widespread technique, where large numbers of the natural enemy are released in order to quickly overwhelm and suppress the target pest population. This is a more efficient way to control pests than the inoculative method and is used against a wide range of pests including Cotesia parasitoids against sugar cane borer, Trichogramma tephritidis against soya bean caterpillar and Anticarsia gemmatalis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus against citrus green mite.
The main limitation of biological control is that it takes longer than spraying with a chemical pesticide to suppress target populations, because the natural enemies have to feed and breed before attacking. A further challenge is that many of the most effective natural enemies are rare or endangered, so there is a need to develop more efficient methods of identification and evaluation, and more efficient ways to distribute useful predators and parasitoids to farmers.