Pest control services, such as those offered by B’s Pest Control of Reno, refer to the management and elimination of pests, which are unwanted organisms that pose a threat to human health, property, or the environment. Pests can include insects, rodents, birds, and other animals that can cause damage, spread diseases, contaminate food, or disrupt our living or working environments.
In agriculture, pests are kept at bay by cultural, chemical and biological means. Ploughing and cultivation of the soil before sowing mitigate the pest burden and there is a modern trend to limit the use of pesticides as far as possible. This can be achieved by monitoring the crop, only applying insecticides when necessary, and by growing varieties and crops which are resistant to pests. Where possible, biological means are used, encouraging the natural enemies of the pests and introducing suitable predators or parasites.
Call B’s Pest Control Service: 775-828-9660
How Effective Is Pest Control?
The effectiveness of pest control services depends on various factors, including the type of pest, the severity of the infestation, and the specific circumstances of the property. Different pests may require different approaches for effective control. However, here are some of the most commonly employed and effective types of pest control services:
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Integrated Pest Management is a comprehensive approach that focuses on long-term pest control and prevention. It combines various strategies such as inspection, monitoring, sanitation, exclusion, and targeted treatments. IPM aims to minimize the use of pesticides while effectively managing pest populations and reducing their impact on the environment.
- Biological Control: Biological control involves the use of natural enemies, such as predators, parasites, or pathogens, to control pest populations. This approach leverages the natural biological interactions between pests and their natural predators or diseases to regulate pest populations. Biological control methods are often used in agricultural settings, and can be effective for certain pests.
- Physical Control: Physical control methods involve the use of physical barriers, traps, or devices to prevent pests from entering or to capture and remove them. Examples include using screens on windows to keep out insects, installing door sweeps to block entry points, or employing sticky traps to catch crawling insects.
- Chemical Control: Chemical control, including insecticides and pesticides, is a common method used in pest control. It involves the use of chemical substances to kill or repel pests. Chemical control can be effective for various pests, but it should be applied by trained professionals who can select the appropriate products, apply them safely, and follow regulations to minimize risks to humans and the environment.
- Heat and Cold Treatments: Heat treatments involve using high temperatures to eliminate pests. This method is particularly effective for bed bugs, as they are sensitive to heat. Cold treatments, on the other hand, use extreme cold temperatures to freeze and kill pests. These methods can be highly effective for localized infestations in specific areas.
- Fumigation: Fumigation is a technique used to control pests in enclosed spaces. It involves the use of gaseous pesticides to penetrate the area and eliminate pests. Fumigation pest control services are commonly used for severe infestations, especially in commercial settings or for certain types of pests, such as termites.
It’s important to note that the most effective pest control approach often involves a combination of methods tailored to the specific pest and situation. Professional pest control services like B’s Pest Control can assess the situation, determine the most suitable methods, and provide customized solutions to effectively control pests and prevent future infestations.
In homes and urban environments, the pests are the rodents, birds, insects and other organisms that share the habitat with humans, and that feed on and spoil possessions. Practitioners of pest control (exterminators) use exclusion, repulsion, physical removal or chemical means. Alternatively, various methods of biological control can be used including sterilization programs.
Pest control services are at least as old as agriculture, as there has always been a need to keep crops free from pests. As long ago as 3000 BC in Egypt, cats were used to control pests of grain stores such as rodents. Ferrets were domesticated by 500 AD in Europe for use as mousers. Mongooses were introduced into homes to control rodents and snakes, probably by the ancient Egyptians.
Physical Pest Control
Physical pest control services involve trapping or killing pests such as insects and rodents. Historically, local people or paid rat-catchers caught and killed rodents using dogs and traps. On a domestic scale, sticky flypapers are used to trap flies. In larger buildings, insects may be trapped using such means as pheromones, synthetic volatile chemicals or ultraviolet light to attract the insects; some have a sticky base or an electrically charged grid to kill them.
Poisoned Bait
Poisoned bait is a common method for controlling rats, mice, birds, slugs, snails, ants, cockroaches, and other pests. The basic granules, or other formulation, contains a food attractant for the target species and a suitable poison. For ants, a slow-acting toxin is needed so that the workers have time to carry the substance back to the colony, and for flies, a quick-acting substance to prevent further egg-laying and nuisance. Baits for slugs and snails often contain the molluscide metaldehyde, dangerous to children and household pets.
An article in Scientific American in 1885 described effective elimination of a cockroach infestation using fresh cucumber peels.
Fumigation
Fumigation, among the most popular pest control services, is the treatment of a structure to kill pests such as wood-boring beetles by sealing it or surrounding it with an airtight cover such as a tent, and fogging with liquid insecticide for an extended period, typically of 24–72 hours. This is costly and inconvenient as the structure cannot be used during the treatment, but it targets all life stages of pests.
An alternative, space treatment, is fogging or misting to disperse a liquid insecticide in the atmosphere within a building without evacuation or airtight sealing, allowing most work within the building to continue, at the cost of reduced penetration. Contact insecticides are generally used to minimize long-lasting residual effects.
Sterilization
Populations of pest insects can sometimes be dramatically reduced by the release of sterile individuals. This involves the mass rearing of a pest, sterilizing it by means of X-rays or some other means, and releasing it into a wild population. It is particularly useful where a female only mates once and where the insect does not disperse widely. Considered one of the more advanced pest control services, this technique has been successfully used against the New World screw-worm fly, some species of tsetse fly, tropical fruit flies, the pink bollworm and the codling moth, among others.
Insulation
Boron, a known pesticide can be impregnated into the paper fibers of cellulose insulation at certain levels to achieve a mechanical kill factor for self-grooming insects such as ants, cockroaches, termites, and more. The addition of insulation into the attic and walls of a structure can provide control of common pests in addition to known insulation benefits such a robust thermal envelope and acoustic noise-canceling properties.
The EPA regulates this type of general-use pesticide within the United States, allowing it to only be sold and installed by licensed pest management professionals as part of an integrated pest management program. Simply adding Boron or an EPA-registered pesticide to an insulation does not qualify it as a pesticide. The dosage and method must be carefully controlled and monitored.
B’s Pest Control Services Near Reno
B’s Pest Control Services, a family-operated business, has been serving residential and commercial customers near Reno, Nevada, since 2002. With their expertise in pest management, including roach control, termite treatment, bed bug eradication, rodent control, ant management, spider reduction, mosquito control, and wasp or bee removal, B’s Pest Control Services offer comprehensive exterminator services for a pest-free environment.
By relying on their experienced technicians, customers can trust that their pest problems will be effectively addressed, ensuring peace of mind and the well-being of their homes and businesses. Contact B’s Pest Control Services today, and say goodbye to pests once and for all.
⇔ Travel back in time to visit the old B’s Weed & Pest Control website. ⇔