Pests destroy crops, damage buildings and personal property, and carry diseases. Pest control methods include prevention, suppression and eradication.

scouting – regularly searching for, identifying and assessing pest numbers and damage. This includes monitoring for new pests and determining their tolerance levels (for example, seeing one or two house centipedes doesn’t warrant action). Click the Kansas City Pest Control to learn more.

Mechanical and physical controls kill or block pest populations directly or make the environment unsuitable for them. Examples include using traps for rodents, steam sterilizing soil, and barriers such as screens to keep birds out of gardens.

Pest Identification

Identifying pests is the first step in developing a pest management strategy. Whether you’re dealing with a weed, disease, insect, mite, rodent or vertebrate animal, accurate identification is critical for determining if action is needed and for selecting the most appropriate control tactics. It’s also important for ensuring that the correct pest species is targeted, because some pests are more susceptible to treatment than others.

In some cases, a precise pest identification may require consulting with an expert or sending samples to a specialized laboratory. However, most pests can be identified using simple guidelines. This will allow you to be prepared with the cultural practices, tools, or pesticides that are most suitable for controlling the identified problem.

Start by taking a close look at the pest and note its physical characteristics. Look at how many legs or wings it has, its size and shape, and its coloration. Then, compare the specimen to images in a pest guide. Click on the category that most closely matches the pest’s characteristics. The pest guide will provide information about the pest’s life cycle, behavior, habitat and food sources. It will also include a description of the signs and symptoms that might indicate an infestation and prevention or control measures.

If you are still unsure of the pest’s identity, contact a local County Extension office or pest management professional. They should be able to help you with an identification or refer you to a specialist who can. In some instances, a digital image of the pest may be sufficient for identification. In other cases, specialists will need a live specimen for confirmation.

Pests can vary in appearance depending on their stage of development or time of year. For example, a weed seedling will look very different than the mature plant. Insects will also change form as they develop from eggs to larvae to adults. This makes it especially important to accurately identify a pest, because pest management strategies should be timed to coincide with the most vulnerable stages of the pest’s life cycle.

It is also important to identify pests to order because some biological insecticides (like Bacillus thuringiensis) are activity-specific and will only be effective against certain orders of insects. Incorrect identification can lead to ineffective or even dangerous chemical treatments.

Pesticides

Pesticides are products that kill or repel certain organisms. They may be applied to plants, soil or air to prevent or control pests. They can also be used to destroy or remove debris caused by a pest. Almost any substance that is intentionally released into the environment to kill or control pests qualifies as a pesticide, including weed killers, herbicides, insecticides and even household products such as disinfectants and toilet bowl cleaners. Some pesticides are so toxic that they can also be harmful to humans, pets or livestock.

When choosing a pesticide, make sure that the product is registered for use in your area and that you understand its risks. Consult with your provincial or territorial environmental department for information.

Be aware that any type of pesticide application can leave residues that affect the health of adjacent plants or wildlife and that runoff can leach into waterways. Avoid excessive pesticide applications and always follow the directions on the label. Applying pesticides at rates greater than those recommended will not control the pest any faster and will waste chemicals, money and your time. Excessive use can also lead to the development of resistance in target insects.

Some types of pesticides, particularly organochlorine and organophosphates, are persistent in soil and food and can accumulate in human or animal bodies. They are generally being phased out or used only in critical applications. Other pesticides, such as pyrethrins and carbamates, break down more quickly and can be less hazardous to people and wildlife.

Beneficial organisms (predators, parasites and competitors) often keep pest populations below damaging levels. When these natural controls are removed by broad-spectrum, non-selective pesticides, primary and secondary pest populations usually rise to damaging levels at a much faster rate.

Consider using alternative methods of pest control, such as traps or bait stations for ants and wick or shielded applicators for some herbicides. Never store pesticides near food, feed or water for pets and children; if you must, store them in a locked shed or cabinet. Never spray during windy conditions, which can carry the pesticides away from their intended targets and into other areas where they are not wanted.

Biological Control

Biological control uses natural organisms—microorganisms, insects, and plants—to reduce pest populations by predation, parasitism, or pathogenicity. It is an essential component of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Unlike chemical pesticides, biological products are safer for the environment, people, and pets. They also have a broader mode of action than chemical pesticides and are less likely to induce resistance in the pest population. PPQ supports the importation, screening, development, and release of biocontrol agents offshore to prevent the establishment or slow the spread of invasive pests that threaten crop production, environmental health, or food security.

A key to biological control success is the selection of the right organisms for a specific pest problem. This involves identifying and evaluating potential natural enemies from the pest’s native habitat and from similar habitats where it has established itself as a nuisance. PPQ scientists conduct this evaluation through extensive literature searches and consultations with subject-matter experts.

Once promising organisms are identified, the next step is to rear them in large enough numbers to be released into the field. This may involve a multistage process of testing and quarantine to ensure the organisms are safe and suitable for use. Once the organisms are ready, they can be incorporated into an IPM program and monitored for effectiveness.

For example, the parasitoid genus Encarsia formosa is used to control greenhouse whitefly. This predatory mite is introduced in a sachet, drenched on card, or placed in the growing area where it attacks incoming pests before they can develop and cause damage. Other microbial biological control products, such as Bacillus thuringiensis and nematodes, are applied to the soil or sprayed on the plant for a controlled release.

Invasive pests are becoming increasingly a concern for farmers because of their economic and ecological impacts on crops, wildlife, and human well-being. Increasingly, growers are turning to biological controls to increase sustainability and decrease the dependence on chemical pesticides that have adverse effects on the environment, people, and pets. PPQ scientists continue to identify new organisms that can be used as biocontrol agents and develop them into reliable tools for managing invasive pests.

Natural Forces

Biological control involves the use of organisms that naturally injure or consume target pests to manage their populations. It is a useful component of an integrated pest management (IPM) program and can be used in conjunction with other types of control methods, such as chemical, cultural, and physical.

In natural ecosystems, population and assemblage levels are controlled by bottom-up forces that are influenced by resource limitations (e.g., limited food supply). A pest can be controlled by predators that attack it directly or by pathogens that infect and destroy it. A variety of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes are natural enemies. Some of these are available as biological or microbial pesticides, including Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for caterpillar and beetle pests; entomopathogenic nematodes, such as Steinernema and Heterorhabditis; and nucleopolyhedrosis and granulosis viruses.

Predation is the primary natural control of many pests, such as birds, amphibians and reptiles, mammals, insects and arthropods, and aphids. Some of these predators have been released for pest control, such as lady beetles, green lacewings and their relatives, and flies that parasitize aphid mummies. Predation often is more effective than other natural controls, such as pathogens, at controlling aphids, and it can reduce the need for chemical control.

Another major natural control, parasitoids, infect and kill target pests by feeding on them or injecting toxins into their bodies. Common parasitoids include wasps, flies, dragonflies and damselflies, beetles, some thrips, true bugs, and mantids. Parasitic plants are also important, such as the genus Diabrotica that produces fungus-like extracts that deter some pests, such as caterpillars and cutworms.

Cultural and physical controls make the environment less hospitable for pests by making it more unsuitable for their growth or survival. This can include cultural practices such as planting in rows, avoiding over-watering and excessive fertilization, rotating crops and removing weeds to eliminate their food and shelter sources. In addition, traps, screens, barriers, fences, and mechanical devices such as nets, radiation, and electricity can be used to prevent pests or to limit their movement.