The term pest control refers to the activities that humans take to limit the impact of certain organisms on living or otherwise valuable plants and animals. Pests include rodents, birds and insects that invade homes or commercial buildings, spoil food or destroy vegetation, and cause other nuisance problems. Pest control can be achieved through exclusion, deterrence, physical removal or chemical controls. The first step is to identify the pests and find out what is attracting them.
The second step is to remove sources of food, water and shelter that can lure the pests into a structure or area. This includes storing food in sealed containers and removing garbage regularly. It is also a good idea to trim bushes and trees to reduce the places pests can hide or use as bridges to enter a building. Sealing cracks and crevices is also helpful, as is weather stripping around doors and windows. Drainage issues should be addressed as well — pests can get into buildings through sink or tub traps, shower and toilet drains, and floor and basement floods.
Other natural forces affect pest control London populations — the climate, competition from other organisms, predators and parasites, availability of food and water and natural barriers. These factors are often more important than human efforts to control a pest population, but controlling these elements can help in some situations.
Eradication is a rare goal in outdoor pest situations, although it can be accomplished if there are enough resources available to kill or suppress the pests. Suppression is more common, and this involves lowering the number of pests to an acceptable level. This may be achieved through baits, traps, deterrence, physical removal or chemicals.
There are thousands of different chemical products on the market that are designed to repel, kill or disrupt the reproduction or life cycle of a specific pest. These are generally called chemical pesticides, and they come in many forms, including liquid sprays, powders, granules, baits and concentrates. Many of these are very toxic to people, pets and plants, and are therefore best used by professionals.
In addition to the chemical options, there are biological and microbial pest control methods. These use microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi to suppress pest populations. One of the most interesting biological pest control tools is nematodes, which are microscopic, eel-like worms that can be applied to soil to kill or inhibit insect larvae.
The key to using a non-chemical approach to pest control is to understand the pest’s life cycle and what conditions are most favorable for it to reproduce. This information can help in selecting the most appropriate control measures and determining when, where and how to apply them. It is also helpful in designing preventive measures that will be more effective than the application of chemicals. This is particularly true of microbial pest control, which is most effective when conditions are right for it to work. For example, nematodes can be more effective when soil is moist and aerated.
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