biological pest control Archives - Pest Control Philippines

What are effective pest control strategies you could try?

Baiting – put some food on the traps you laid out to lure pests to go to them.
Pesticides – spray this on the infected areas.
Biological Pest Control – this is the use of parasites, predators, and pathogens to get rid of pests.

Caring for your home is one of your daily responsibilities in life. Although many find satisfaction in keeping their household clean and pest-free, a few others are struggling with their pest control methods. As a result, they end up with unwanted insects living in the very home they live in.

Fortunately, there are a couple of cockroach prevention tips that will make your home life easier and cleaner. Of course, this would include ways on how you could make other pests leave your home for good.

To help you out, here are some pest control strategies that you could try:

Baiting

In order to get rid of pests that infest your home, the first thing you’ll need to do is to get them out in plain sight. Only then will you truly be able to get rid of them completely.

Depending on the insect that infests your home, there are different baiting methods you could use. For example, you can mix sugar with some boric acid to draw out ants and cockroaches out in the open. Basically, the sugar baits them while the boric acid kills them. To get rid of rats and other pests of the sort, you could add bits of foods to the traps you’ve laid out in order to trick them into getting into them.

Pesticides

This type of pest control strategy is one of the most-used in the industry. Pesticides are chemically engineered to eliminate the pests that invade the sanctity of your home. Most of the time, these things are used in order to get rid of pests on a massive scale.

However, you must take note that using pesticides does not mean you have to spray your entire home in a haphazard manner. To use pesticides, all you have to do is simply spray it on the areas, where pests are usually seen. By doing so, you’ll be able to keep your valuables safe from any residue pesticides may leave behind. Also, make sure to wear masks as you spray because the smell of pesticides can be quite strong and toxic.

Sources: Scientific India

Biological Pest Control

Before baits and pesticides were invented, the best pest control method people were using is the use of parasites, predators, and pathogens. They utilized these things in order to get rid of their infestation problems. This natural practice dates back to ancient times. If you are planning on doing this kind of technique, here are some of the things you should know:

Parasites

These are being used on pests that are attracted to them. The pests will then acquire them, and eventually they will be killed because the parasites will have to use their hosts in order to feed.

Predators

The best example of this is having a cat get rid of the mice infestation in your home. However, if you are planning to use this tactic, you have to make sure that you trained your predator properly in order to ensure the safety of your family, especially young children (if you have one).

Pathogens

Pathogens can be purchased from numerous pharmaceuticals. Although you got to be careful in using them in your own household, this is because they could easily be misused, which will then lead to unwanted diseases in your family. When utilized properly, you could get rid of pests down to the molecular scale because they take care of all traces of DNA left by those unwanted critters.

While complicated to use, controlling the pest situation through biological methods can be an effective strategy to use. There will be little to no traces left of the pests that invade your household. You could be assured that they would have to try extra hard to infest your house again.

Key Takeaway

These strategies are some of the best methods for you and your family to try. Plus, you can be sure that it will keep your home clean, orderly, and free from any kind of pest infestation. Just be sure to do your research before you apply them to your house because, as mentioned above, they could be tricky and dangerous to use, especially if you don’t know how to use them properly. Once you know how to do so, you are guaranteed to have a home that you deserve!

Importation

Also known as classical biological control, this involves introducing the natural enemies (that don’t naturally live in that area) of the pest you’re targetting into the environment. This is usually done by or with the approval of government authorities, as introducing a new species is a risky action. It is possible for the new species to eventually take over and become pests themselves!
The process of importation usually starts off by determining the origin of the species that are about to be introduced, and then collecting them by legal means. They will then be put through rigorous assessment to determine whether they are suitable for the ‘mission’. Once all the necessary procedures have been done and the project has been approved, the natural enemies will be massed produced and released into the wild. The biological control agents need to have colonizing ability to allow it to adapt to the sudden change of habitat. If they survive and end up preying on the pests, then the project is a success! This is one of the most long lasting and inexpensive means of controlling pests.

Augmentation

Augmentation on the other hand involves the use of supplemental release of natural enemies that already occur naturally in the area (but in small numbers) in order to boost the population. There are two options for augmentation. The first is releasing relatively few natural enemies at a critical time of the season. This is called inoculative release. The second option is for millions to be released at a time, also called inundative release.
The spraying of octopamine analogues (such as 3-FMC) is sometimes practiced to increase the effecteness of this biological pest control. This is because the octopamine activates the pests’ flight-or-flight response.

Conservation

The conservation of existing natural enemies in an environment is the third method of biological pest control. Sometimes referred to habitat manipulation, conservation is the act of creating a strategized cropping system that is modified to favour the natural enemies. Providing host plants or artificial housing will support the natural predators and encourage its growth in numbers. The large number of the natural predators will help reduce the number of the original pests. It is one of the most important and readily available biological control that is available for homeowners and gardeners.

Successfully established biological control species will maintain stable populations for generations without a need for additional investments by humans. Although chemical controls are applied more often in every season this could cost you money. There are a lot of means to strategically manage pest control, all you need is a little more knowledge about it.

Tag: biological pest control

3 Effective Pest Control Strategies