Pest Control Springfield MO is the process of controlling unwanted organisms. The goal is to limit the damage they cause to plants, animals and people.
Choosing the best pest control company starts with knowing which type of service you need. Some companies specialize in certain pests, while others offer a range of services.
Whether they are rodents chewing on wires in your home or mosquitoes buzzing in your ear, pests are more than just an annoyance. They can damage property, threaten people’s health and even spread diseases. Rats carry a number of dangerous illnesses, including hantavirus, leptospirosis and salmonella. And cockroaches can contaminate food, pose a threat to human health through illness and cause allergic reactions in some people.
Prevention is the primary goal of IPM, and it encompasses all of the actions you can take to prevent a problem before it starts. Keeping your home or business clean, storing foods in airtight containers and removing any attracting elements will keep pests away. Regular pest inspections can help identify potential problems, such as cracks in foundations, leaky pipes and ductwork and disorganized garbage storage.
Pests are drawn to places where they can find food, water and shelter. Identifying the places where they are most likely to occur and eliminating those resources will help prevent pests from becoming a problem. For example, putting out an open compost pile, disposing of trash promptly and regularly and trimming trees and shrubs to eliminate hiding places will decrease the likelihood of pests entering your home.
Regular scouting and monitoring can also help prevent pest infestations. Scouting involves systematically searching for pests and assessing their numbers and the damage they are causing. It may involve checking for signs of pests such as droppings, egg sacs or webs – familiarizing yourself with what different pests look like will allow you to recognize them more easily. Creating sanitary lines of sight around your property through an organized layout of shelving and cabinets, a clear path along walls and keeping garbage cans tightly closed will also make it easier to detect pest activity.
If you choose to use a pesticide, always read and follow the product label’s instructions and safety warnings. Be aware that pesticides can be harmful to people and pets, so using them sparingly and responsibly will ensure safety for everyone. Never buy or sell pesticides from street vendors; they are often illegal and could contain contaminants.
Suppression
Pests are rodents, insects and other organisms that harm plants or animals, spoil food, and damage property. They are a serious problem for farmers, gardeners and homeowners. In homes, pests such as rats, cockroaches, and mice, can trigger asthma attacks and allergies. They can also spread diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, leptospirosis, and salmonella.
Pest control consists of preventing pests from entering the area, suppressing them when they are present and eradicating them when they are a threat to health or property. Preventive measures include scouting and monitoring, cleaning up debris and eliminating conditions that attract them. Suppression methods include trapping and killing, as well as applying pesticides in targeted areas.
Eradication is rarely a goal in outdoor pest control situations, but it can be used to rid indoor environments of some species that are considered to be public health hazards. For example, a public health program may aim to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly or gypsy moth.
The key to successful pest control lies in understanding the habits and life cycles of the pests. This is important because pests often develop and behave in predictable ways. It is helpful to refer to information sources, such as books or the internet, to learn more about a specific pest.
Many pests have natural enemies that injure or consume them to manage their populations. These are called natural enemies or “predators”. Using them as part of the management plan reduces the need for chemical controls. Other cultural controls decrease the conditions that promote pest infestations, such as changing irrigation practices to prevent excessive watering that can lead to root disease or weed problems.
Mechanical and physical controls kill pests directly or make the environment unsuitable for them. Examples include trapping for rodents and spraying for insects, as well as the use of mulches to keep soil healthy and deter weeds. Biological controls, such as the use of pathogens to infect or destroy pests, are also an effective method of controlling pests. Bacillus thuringiensis, commonly known as Bt, is one of the most common microbial control agents.
Eradication
Sometimes pests can do so much damage that it’s necessary to eradicate them. The goal is to eliminate the pests without harming other beneficial organisms, plants and animals in the process. Eradication methods can include the use of physical traps and netting, or chemicals such as insecticides or fungicides.
Before you resort to pesticides, consider whether eradication is really what’s needed. It may be possible to reduce the amount of damage from a particular pest, and you can do so by eliminating some of its food sources or by changing conditions that encourage its growth.
If the damage is severe and no other preventive steps have been taken, chemical controls may be used to kill or prevent a pest population from growing. However, this isn’t a good idea because it can also change the balance of the ecosystem, causing problems for other species.
Chemical pest control solutions can be effective, but they also pose health and environmental threats to humans. Typical chemical products include repellents that deter pests, fungicides that remove fungus from crops and herbicides that destroy weeds.
Biological Pest Control
Biological pest control uses other organisms to control harmful insects, nematodes, weeds and diseases. It includes natural mechanisms such as predation, parasitism and herbivory. Biological pest control can be very cost-effective and is usually safe for the environment.
A common mistake that people make when trying to get rid of pests is to use poison immediately, before taking the time to think about other options. This type of knee-jerk reaction is often unnecessary, and there are many safer, nonchemical control methods available that can work well for a wide range of pests.
A good place to start is by denying the pests their food, water and shelter. Get rid of piles of rotting garbage, stacks of paper or cardboard, old clothing and other clutter. Regularly fortify your home against pests by caulking cracks and repairing crevices. Store food in sealed containers and remove garbage regularly. Keep pet foods and water in tightly closed containers and don’t leave dishes of standing water out overnight.
IPM
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally sound way to keep plants healthy and reduce the need for pesticides. IPM programs use a combination of preventive and curative methods to manage herbivores, pathogens, and weeds. Using several methods simultaneously can improve the effectiveness of control and reduce the risks to people, pets, livestock, beneficial insects, and the environment.
IPM focuses on long-term prevention of pests through environmental, biological, and cultural controls. Chemicals are used only when monitoring and scouting indicate that pest populations or damage is threatening human health, property, or plant viability. Pesticides are only applied when their benefits outweigh the risks and costs.
Preventive measures include soil preparation techniques, planting schedules, crop rotations, weed suppression through mulches and cover crops, use of disease-resistant cultivars, plant barriers, and other means. Keeping the population of a problem pest low by creating an unfavorable environment will often prevent it from reaching the point where it requires pesticide intervention.
When IPM is successful, it will slow the development of resistance to pesticides, protect our natural resources, and safeguard the quality of our food. A successful IPM program requires an ongoing relationship between growers, researchers, and extension agents.
Pests that have escaped the preventive measures of IPM will often require additional pest control methods. A granular or liquid insecticide can provide rapid control, while a more targeted product such as a miticide, fungicide, or herbicide may be needed to manage a particular pest population. When using these products, careful reading of the label will ensure that the correct product is being used and that it is being used properly.
It is also important to remember that when a pesticide is required, it is not a quick fix. It will take time for the pesticide to reach its target and kill the pest. This is why it is important to check the pest population frequently and apply only enough of the product to get immediate results. In addition, using less of the product over a longer period of time will help to avoid the buildup of resistant pests and allow the product to continue to be effective.