Pest Control

Pest Control is managing or regulating pests which are detrimental to our health, economy or ecology. Pest Control Methods have been used for hundreds of years now and is as old as agriculture. Maximization of food production is another reason as to why Pest Control becomes essential. Crops are thus protected from the competing plant species as well as the herbivores that compete with humans. The conventional Pest Control method is to eliminate the Pests by burning weeds or plowing them and kill seed eating birds like crows. Some of the age old Pest Control Methods to be employed include:

• Selectively breeding the pest resistant cultivars
• Companion planting
• Crop rotation

Human Activity vis-à-vis Pest Infestation

Pests are often found in areas where human activity is present. Here are a few examples:

• In the USA, the raccoons are a nuisance as they tear open sacks of refuse which are controlled by householders introducing bins with locked lids.
• Houseflies accumulate wherever there is human activity especially with the exposure of food and waste.
• Seagulls are pests in seaside resorts, with tourists feeding the birds with scraps of fish and chips

Gradually environmentalists are taking up the issue of Pest Control with the help of animal psychology, instead of through destruction. Territorial behavior is being experimented with alongside non injurious chemical repellents.

Pest Control Methods

Eliminating Breeding Grounds

This can be done through proper waste management and draining accumulated water. Garbage breeds unwanted organisms, and still water breeds mosquitoes, rats, flies, cockroaches and flies. Open air sewers are problems too.

Burning Fields

This is done traditionally after sugarcane harvest for killing eggs or insects in the field.

Space Fumigation

This is expensive, but can be targeted for all kinds of pests. The required structure is sealed airtight and a deadly gas is penetrated for 24 to 72 hours.

Poisoned Baits

This controls rats and rodents and doesn’t work with garbage around. Poisoned meats are traditionally used for killing birds and wolves that menace crops.

Sterilization

Soil steaming and sterilization is used in which hot steam is induced into the soil.

Poison Sprays

Done with hand held units, planes or trucks this is a common Pest Control method in USA where trucks spray for mosquitoes. Crop dusters fly over farms to kill crop threatening pests.

Space Treatment

This involves misting or fogging with liquid insecticide dispersed within the structure. Airtight sealing or evacuation is not required; contact insecticides are used to minimize the penetrating effects.

Hunting

Some countries have rat chasers to kill the rodents with hand tools and dogs.

Traps

Traps are Pest Control Methods for killing mice, capturing raccoons and wolves, stray cats and dogs to be disposed by town officials.

Destroying Infected Plants

Forest services destroy infected plants in insect affected areas to prevent the species of insects from preventing. Insect infected farms are entirely burned as means of Pest Control.

Natural Rodent Control

This Pest Control method has been adopted by wildlife rehabilitation organizations for preventing secondary poisoning.