Pest Control Coquitlam BC involves managing pests that damage plants or disrupt human activities. Effective pest control reduces health and safety risks, safeguards property, and maintains a comfortable living and working environment.
Pest control methods include biological, physical, cultural and chemical controls. Natural controls such as weather and topography restrict the growth of pest populations, while biological controls (natural enemies that kill or injure pests) or pheromones can manage pest behavior.
One of the first steps in pest control is accurately identifying the pest. This is critical because it is the basis for planning and selecting appropriate pest management strategies. In addition, proper identification helps to ensure that any controls used are targeted at the problem and do not damage other parts of a plant or harm people or animals.
Accurate pest identification requires a combination of factors such as shape, size, color and markings. In addition, a pest’s stage of development can affect how it looks. For example, aphids in their immature stages are more like mites than an insect.
Other important information to know is what the pest does and how it does it. For example, aphids feed on plant tissues, while mites feed on the back of leaves and stems. Pests can also cause indirect damage to plants by carrying pathogens on their mouthparts, which then infect other plant tissue. The damage may result in weakened or distorted plants, holes in the leaves, fruit, flowers or stems and wilted plants.
Incorrect pest identification can lead to poor management decisions and unnecessary risks for people and the environment. In fact, most pest control failures are attributed to misidentification. For this reason, it is recommended that individuals use the information in this guide along with other references, such as printed guides available at libraries and Cooperative Extension offices, or contact a pest control professional.
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a pest control strategy that is based on monitoring, prediction and understanding of pest population dynamics. IPM is an essential part of any agricultural production system, and pest identification is a key aspect of monitoring and scouting practices.
Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals that kill or control unwanted organisms such as insects, weeds and fungi. They are used in agriculture and in the home garden to protect crops and vegetables, destroy rats and mice, and clean contaminated surfaces. Pesticides are also used to reduce the spread of diseases carried by mosquitoes, ticks and rodents. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the manufacture, sale, use and application of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act of 1972, or FIFRA. State laws may be more stringent than the federal standards.
Every pesticide has an associated risk. The level of this risk decreases with proper pesticide use and a reduced dosage, but can become dangerous when overused or misused. A number of factors affect the toxicity and risks of each pesticide, including the active ingredient, the chemical compound itself and how it is applied.
The active ingredient in a pesticide is the one that directly kills or controls the target organism. It is mixed with other components to make a pesticide, which can be liquid, powder or gaseous and is then applied to plants through sprays, dips, wipes, dusting and burial. Some pesticides are biodegradable, breaking down naturally into harmless substances, while others are persistent or slow-to-breakdown.
Some pesticides have “side effects” when they come into contact with non-target organisms. These effects can be acute — killing or poisoning the organisms immediately, but can also be chronic, meaning they damage or interfere with the health of an organism over time. These side effects are usually caused by the metabolites that form when the pesticide breaks down in the environment and enter air, water or soil and then are ingested or absorbed by living creatures.
The metabolites may be more toxic than the parent pesticide. A pesticide can also enter the environment as a residue on produce or soil and then be ingested by humans, pets and wild animals who eat these products. Residues are also found in groundwater and can contaminate drinking water supplies, posing a potential health threat to people.
Environmental Hazards
The use of pesticides can cause adverse environmental effects, including contamination of air, soil and water, bioaccumulation in animals and people and damage to non-target species. The nature and severity of these environmental hazards depends on many factors, including the toxicity of the pesticide, its handling, application and disposal, and weather conditions after spraying.
The major adverse environmental impacts of pesticides are caused by leaching into ground water, runoff into rivers and streams and the spray drift that can carry pesticides to places where they are not wanted. The occurrence of these impacts also depends on the specific chemistry of each pesticide, its sensitivity to weather conditions and the measures taken to limit exposure during and after spraying.
Health risks associated with pesticides include direct poisoning (ingesting food or drinking water contaminated with pesticide residues) and indirect exposure through the inhalation of chemical vapours and aerosols. The most serious human health effects from pesticides are found among agricultural and industrial workers who are exposed to high levels of concentrated chemicals, often on a daily basis. Long-term, chronic exposure can lead to a variety of health problems, from nervous system disorders to cancer and other immune diseases.
Children are particularly susceptible to the acute toxic effects of many pesticides and may be especially vulnerable to the chronic, long-term, neurodevelopmental damage caused by some organophosphate pesticides. The most common symptoms of exposure are irritation of the eyes, throat and skin and headaches, as well as nausea and a general feeling of unwellness. More severe consequences, such as seizures and brain damage, can occur with very high exposures or repeated, long-term exposures.
The most important factor in minimizing the effects of pesticides is to follow all instructions on the product label and take extra precautions when spraying in or near homes, schools and public areas where children are present. In particular, never mix sprays or apply more than is recommended on the product label, and always wear protective clothing and equipment when applying pesticides. Careful disposal of unused pesticides at a household hazardous waste facility will also help to minimize environmental risks.
Prevention
Whenever possible, pest control should focus on prevention rather than treatment. A preventive approach to pest control includes inspections, monitoring and eliminating the conditions that make it possible for a pest infestation to occur. This includes finding and sealing entry points, reducing attractants, and keeping structures tidy. It also involves regularly inspecting food shipments for evidence of pests and taking action as needed.
Pests are not always bad and can play a role in natural food chains and habitats. However, they can cause health problems when they invade homes or food establishments. Some pests can even be considered parasites, causing disease in host organisms. There are many different methods of preventing a pest infestation, including monitoring, inspection, traps, baits, and insecticides. However, the most effective method is preventing pests from entering in the first place.
The best way to do this is by creating barriers that make it difficult for them to get in. This can include caulking cracks, regularly removing trash from a building, maintaining sanitation and properly disposing of waste, and altering the environment with light, heat, refrigeration, or electricity.
There are also a number of mechanical controls, such as traps, screens, fences, and barriers that block or deter pests. These can be particularly useful in industrial settings where contamination and sanitary issues can be a major concern.
If a pest infestation is not prevented or controlled in time, it may be necessary to use a more aggressive response. This could include fumigation, which is the application of chemicals to kill insects or rodents. It is important that this be done with great care as long-term exposure to toxins can be damaging.
It is vital to keep in mind that pesticides are harmful to people and pets, and can also damage the environment and human health. As such, they should be used only when the benefits of controlling a pest outweigh the risks. These risks can include disease, destruction of property, and disruption of ecosystems. A pest control operator should be trained to evaluate the risk of using a certain pesticide before applying it in a residential or commercial setting.