Coquitlam Pest Control aims to reduce pests to an acceptable level while causing as little harm to people, property, and the environment as possible. Methods include prevention, suppression, and eradication.

Natural forces affect all organisms and cause pest populations to rise and fall. Pest control professionals consider the effects of these factors on treatment sites.

A pest control program’s main focus should be on prevention — identifying and reducing attractants that would encourage an infestation. This is often done through a combination of methods that includes physical barriers and chemical deterrents.

For example, physical barriers such as putting caulk around pencil-width cracks and installing door sweeps can help to prevent entry points for rodents. Other measures include installing window screens to keep insects out and removing wood piles from areas where beetles or termites are a concern. Using scented oils like peppermint and lemongrass can also act as natural repellents for certain insects.

Regular inspections of residential and commercial properties are one of the best ways to prevent pest infestations. These inspections aren’t just a quick glance around the property; they involve examining every crevice and corner to look for signs of pest activity. The frequency of these inspections depends on the type of property and specific needs. For example, a food processing plant will need a more robust prevention program than an office building.

Preventative measures should also focus on denying pests the essential ingredients they need for survival. This includes storing food properly in sealed containers and promptly cleaning up crumbs and spills to deny pests a food source and hiding place. It also means eliminating access to water by fixing leaky pipes, maintaining a dry atmosphere through the use of dehumidifiers in damp areas and regularly emptying trash bins.

A plant should also consider removing all potential breeding grounds for pests, such as compost heaps and leaf piles that may harbor beetles and other insects. In addition, trees and shrubs should be kept away from buildings to eliminate easy access to the structure. Lastly, keeping outdoor surfaces clean of debris, removing weeds and regularly sweeping and mopping sidewalks and patios will help to deny pests a roosting area and a path to the interior.

Finally, a good preventative program should also include regularly scheduled pest treatments that are appropriate for the property and pests. This is particularly important during warm weather when some pests are more active and can cause damage before they are noticed.

Pest Identification

Pests can cause serious damage to living and working environments. In addition to damaging buildings and the environment, they also threaten human health. Pests such as cockroaches and mice carry disease, and their droppings and body parts can affect indoor air quality. They can also trigger asthma attacks in some people.

The first step in pest control is to identify the pest. This can be done by examining physical specimens or by using remote identification technology or molecular techniques. It is also important to know what kind of pest you are dealing with, so that the proper steps can be taken to prevent or control it.

Physical barriers can be effective in preventing pests from entering buildings, such as securing doors and windows with tight seals, cleaning drains to keep water away from foundations, blocking access points where pipes enter walls, and keeping wood scraps and debris away from houses. Increasing the amount of insulation in a home can help prevent pests from entering and nesting inside.

Chemicals are another way to control pests. These include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and fumigants. Insecticides kill pests by attacking them directly. Fungicides, on the other hand, work by killing the fungi that a pest needs to complete its life cycle. Herbicides kill weeds by disrupting their growth and/or making them less nutritious.

Fumigants and gasses can be used to kill pests in enclosed spaces, such as warehouses, museums, and theaters. For example, phosgene can be used to kill rodents and fleas. Fumigants can also be used to kill fungi that cause rot in wood and other structures.

Biological methods of pest control are often used in conjunction with other control measures. These include introducing natural enemies of a pest, which can compete with it for food or water or parasitize it, or augmenting the existing population of natural enemies in an area to provide more effective control.

Pheromones can be used to monitor pest populations or to deter them from a particular location. For example, pheromones can confuse male insects and prevent mating, which can reduce pest numbers.

Pest Control Methods

Pest control methods aim to keep pests below damaging levels using physical, biological or chemical techniques. Physical controls include removing food and water sources, blocking pest access to the host plant or structure, and using barriers to entry. Biological control involves introducing organisms that naturally occur in nature to reduce pest populations, such as predators and parasitoids. Examples of biological control include nematodes that consume the roots of weeds, bacteria that produce toxins to kill or debilitate caterpillars (Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus kurstaki), and viruses that attack the nervous systems of insects.

Chemical pest control includes applying pesticides to kill or inhibit the growth of targeted organisms. This approach may use natural products, synthetic mimics of natural products or completely synthetic chemicals. Chemicals are usually applied through spraying or fogging, although fumigation may be used when a whole building is threatened by an insect infestation. Chemicals that are harmful to non-target plants or animals should be avoided whenever possible.

Biological and physical control methods can also be employed in combination with one another to manage a pest population. For example, trapping and swatting can be combined to catch and remove rodents from a home or garden, and weed-free beds can make it harder for slugs and snails to feed on plants. Physical pest control also includes reducing clutter, which provides hiding and breeding sites for insects and other pests.

Threshold-based decision-making involves regularly observing and monitoring pest populations. A few wasps flying around a patio probably don’t warrant pesticide application, but seeing them daily and in increasing numbers might indicate it’s time to set traps or swatters.

It is important to note that most pests are part of the natural environment and that removing them entirely would be impossible. For this reason, most IPM programs employ a balance of preventative and control measures to minimize the amount of pesticide needed to keep pest populations below damaging levels. This is known as integrated pest management (IPM). Scouting and identification of beneficial organisms can help avoid the need for pesticides altogether. Similarly, by identifying the specific pest, IPM programs can ensure that the correct pesticide is being used.

Post-Control Measures

Pest control is not only about preventing pest infestations, but also managing the risk associated with them. Pests have a role to play in our food supply and ecosystems, and they often pose a health risk to people when they invade our homes or businesses. There are a number of laws that impact how we manage different pests, depending on the type and the location.

The first step in any pest management plan is monitoring. This involves checking fields, landscapes, forests, buildings, and other sites to identify the pests and assess whether or not they are causing damage. Correctly identifying pests is important because it allows us to determine whether the pest can be tolerated, should be controlled with non-chemical methods, or if pesticides are needed.

Monitoring and pest identification are essential parts of integrated pest management (IPM). IPM is an ecosystem-based approach to pest management that relies on a combination of biological control, habitat manipulation, cropping system design, cultural controls, and use of resistant varieties to prevent the emergence of damaging insects or diseases. Pesticides are used only when monitoring indicates they are needed, according to established guidelines, and treatments are made in a way that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial organisms, and the environment.

Physical barriers and traps are effective for controlling many household pests without introducing toxic chemicals into the home or garden. Sealing entry points with caulk or steel wool is effective for preventing rodents from entering buildings, while spike strips and bird netting can keep birds away from ledges, roofs, and gardens.

Chemical pesticides are the most common and widely-used form of pest control. They are generally formulated to be specific to the pest and come in a variety of forms, from granules to gels or liquids that can be injected into cracks or crevices. Some of these chemicals may have a low risk to humans, as long as they are kept out of the reach of children and pets.

When hiring a pest control company, make sure they are licensed and able to provide information on the pesticides they use in your home. The label should have the name and EPA registration number of the chemical, as well as safety warnings and instructions.