Pest Control Vancouver BC involves preventing, suppressing or eradicating pests. It should cause minimal harm to people, property and the environment.
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Accurate pest identification is the first step in any effective management plan. Whether it’s a plant, insect, rodent, microorganism, or other organism, the proper identification of the problem will guide your efforts to control it and prevent unnecessary risks to people and the environment.
To identify your pest, carefully observe its physical characteristics. Then compare your observations to photos in an identification guide, available online or at a library or Cooperative Extension office. In some cases, precise identification may require a visit to an expert or sending samples to a laboratory for testing.
Many pests are difficult to recognize, particularly when they are in the early stages of development or have a moth-like appearance. In addition, a pest’s appearance can change as it matures. For example, an immature beetle can look very similar to a caterpillar or worm. It is important to know exactly what you’re dealing with because pests can damage crops in a variety of ways, and there is no one-size-fits-all response.
Identifying the type of pest can also help you select the best management strategies. For example, the presence of a particular pest on a certain crop can lead to the selection of specific control tactics, such as crop rotation, planting resistant varieties or utilizing repellents.
In addition, pest identification can help you identify a disease. Many diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms and can destroy plants and cause human health problems.
For home owners, identification of pests can also help you decide how to control them. Often, a simple action such as regular sanitation, managing moisture in and around the house, sealing entry points into the home, keeping firewood stored properly or dehumidifying can reduce the number of pests that invade your living space.
Vertebrate pests (mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians) can be a problem in gardens, schools, parks and other natural areas. The online identification tool allows you to narrow down potential vertebrate pests based on typical damage, tracks or droppings. If you can’t determine what species of pest you have, contact your local County Extension office or a pest management professional for help.
Pest Prevention
Pest prevention is a proactive approach that involves taking steps to prevent or eliminate pest infestations rather than waiting for a pest problem to occur. This method of pest control is typically less costly than extermination and may be more effective, especially in closed environments like dwellings; schools; office buildings; health care, food processing, and food preparation facilities.
Preventive measures can include physical barriers, sanitation and maintenance practices, and pest repellents. Pests are attracted to sources of food, water and shelter, and preventing access to these resources will discourage them from infesting a building. Physical barriers may include keeping garbage cans and ice cream containers tightly sealed, trimming bushes and removing debris from the building’s exterior, and caulking cracks and crevices. Maintaining sanitation will also deter some pests, such as rodents. This includes washing dishes promptly after use, regularly emptying trash, and ensuring that areas where food is handled are clean and free of clutter. Sealing leaky pipes and drains, and insulating crawl spaces are also effective preventive measures.
Routine inspections should be conducted to identify and correct conditions that favor pest activity. This should include identifying the pest and determining how they entered the facility, as well as eliminating any attractants. For example, it is important to keep garbage and compost cans tightly closed and to remove them from the building on a regular basis. It is important to store foods in sealed containers, to not leave pet food out overnight, and to clean up crumbs from counters, tables, floors, and other surfaces.
It is also important to know the life cycles of different pests, as some types of interventions are only effective at certain stages of their development. Knowing if the pest is an egg, larva, nymph, or adult will help determine what control measures are most appropriate.
A successful preventive program should also involve educating staff about pests and their behavior, including how to recognize and report pest sightings or indicators. Reporting to a pest control operator as soon as possible after an incident will help ensure that the pest is not allowed to spread.
Pest Control Methods
Pest control involves strategies to eliminate or reduce nuisance pests that damage or spoil crops, plants, buildings or structures, or cause human health problems. These strategies include exclusion, repellence, physical removal, and a range of chemical methods such as pesticides.
In general, preventive or proactive strategies are more effective than reactive treatments. Preventive methods are also less expensive than remedial treatments. Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a systematic approach that promotes long-term prevention of pests by using monitoring and assessment tools to guide decisions about when to treat. This reduces risks to people, the environment, and beneficial insects.
Exclusion methods keep pests out by blocking them from entry or preventing them from accessing areas where they are unwanted. This may be as simple as placing rodent traps or fly swatters in a garden, or sealing cracks around the house. Barriers such as fences or netting can be used to keep pests from accessing an area, and changing cultural practices like irrigation or fertilization can alter the conditions that lead to pest infestation.
Many plants and animals are naturally resistant to pests, and selecting or planting these varieties can help manage a problem. For example, some berries are resistant to insects that can destroy them. Resistant weeds are more vigorous or tolerant than other types, and their presence can help reduce the need for herbicides.
Biological controls, including predators, parasites, and pathogens, are often used to control pests because they are less damaging than chemicals. They can be as simple as adding natural enemies to an area, or as complex as introducing disease-causing microorganisms to an ecosystem. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, sold as Bt, is a widely used biopesticide that targets certain caterpillars and other insects without harming the plants they do not attack.
Eradication is rarely the goal of pest control in outdoor settings, as it is very difficult to achieve. Instead, control efforts are focused on prevention and suppression. For example, a recurrent infestation of cockroaches in a home can be prevented by regularly scouting and checking for them. If the cockroaches are found in a specific location, such as under leaves or along a foundation, a bait station can be placed there to target them more directly.
Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill or control pests, and can be hazardous to the environment and human health. The goal of using pesticides is to achieve a balance between the benefits they provide and their impact on non-target organisms, including humans. Pesticides are most effective when they are used to prevent or interrupt the life cycle of the targeted pest.
There are many types of pesticides, each with its own application. Insecticides kill insects, fungicides kill fungi, and herbicides kill plants. Some of these are short term, others provide long term control. Some are delivered as granules that can be spread on the ground, others as liquid sprays. They may be biodegradable or persistent (take months or years to break down).
When choosing a pesticide, read the label carefully. The product description should include the target pest and how it is controlled. The label will also list a warning statement (the most severe warning level), the hazards involved, and application instructions. Always follow the directions for use. Applying more pesticide than the instructions recommend will not make it more effective, and could cause a chemical interaction that is dangerous or even toxic to the user.
Avoid contact with pesticides by wearing rubber gloves when handling them, and washing immediately after applying. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing (long pants, long sleeves, and a hat for outdoor applications), and have the proper equipment available. Work in a well-ventilated area where spray drift is not likely to occur. Mix or apply pesticides quickly to reduce splashing, spilling or leaking, and do not let them sit overnight before spraying. Keep a sprayer in good working order to prevent clogging. Avoid spray drift by keeping the nozzle pointed away from people, plants or vehicles.
Inspect and clean tools before and after each use. Store them in a dry place, out of reach of children and pets. Dispose of any unused pesticides according to the label directions. Wash and rinse your hands after handling pesticides, and change clothes if they become soiled. Clean up spills promptly, and sweep up granules or spray residues and put them in a plastic bag for disposal in an outdoor trash can.