Pest Control Protects Residential and Commercial Properties

Pest control is the process of managing unwanted organisms that damage or interfere with crops, forests, landscapes, homes, or other natural resources. A pest can be any organism that negatively affects desirable plants or animals, including weeds, vertebrates (birds, rodents, and other mammals), invertebrates (insects, mites, and nematodes), or pathogens that cause disease or harm water quality or animal health.

Historically, Pest Control Services Whittier involved the use of toxic chemicals. Today, pest control professionals apply a wide range of tactics to prevent and/or eliminate pests using the least invasive techniques possible. A pest control technician should be knowledgeable about all available options to provide the best service to their customers.

Prevention is the most cost effective and environmentally sound method of pest management. This can be accomplished by removing the food, water, or shelter necessary for the pest to survive. Examples of prevention methods include:

Scouting and monitoring are key components of an integrated pest management (IPM) program. These involve regularly searching and identifying pests, assessing how many are present, and what damage they have caused. This information is used to determine whether a pest should be controlled and, if so, how often and with what controls.

Threshold-based decision making helps to ensure that pest control is targeted at the most serious problems. For example, a few wasps flying around in the yard once in a while probably doesn’t warrant control; but seeing them every day and noticing increased numbers indicates it may be time to find and destroy their nest.

Physical and mechanical controls are those that kill or block a pest directly, such as traps for rodents, sonic repellers for birds, and barriers such as screens to keep insects out of buildings. Biological controls, such as the introduction of beneficial organisms, can also be an effective way to manage certain pests. The use of parasitic nematodes to target root-knot nematodes, for instance, is an economical and environmentally friendly way to control these damaging insects.

Chemical controls are the most familiar form of pest management, and they can be very effective when used correctly. Pesticides can be delivered through a number of different means, including baits, sprays, and fogging devices. It is important to always read and follow product labels, and never apply more than the recommended amount. Increasing the amount of pesticide applied usually does not improve results and can increase hazards to people, pets, and wildlife.

Pesticides should be stored in a secure location, out of reach of children and other nontarget organisms. They should be disposed of properly, following local, state, and federal regulations.

Regular pest control protects residential and commercial properties, preserving their value over time. It also reduces health-related costs, such as those associated with diseases spread by unwanted pests. In addition, it reduces damage to buildings and their contents from infestations of termites, ants, and other wood-destroying pests. In business settings, pest control is vital to maintaining a good reputation and customer loyalty.