Pests are organisms that damage or spoil crops, damage property or cause disease in humans or animals. They can be continuously present, sporadic or potential.
Prevention and suppression are common goals in pest control. The action threshold, a point above which control is needed, is determined by scouting and monitoring activities. Contact Pest Control Overland Park now!
Insects are the largest group of animals, comprising more than a million described species. They are hexapod invertebrates with a hard chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs and compound eyes. They live almost everywhere on the planet, from the Arctic ice, hot rain forests, deserts and caves to our own backyards.
In the garden, insects are beneficial, consuming or parasitizing pests that would otherwise harm plants. Insects also remove decaying organic matter, making nutrients available for primary producers like plants and algae. In addition, they are a primary menu item for many reptiles, amphibians and birds.
A very small fraction of insects are considered pests, which are those that cause damage to people or plants. Insects can be difficult to identify, especially the smaller forms such as thrips and mites. A hand lens or microscope is useful in identifying these tiny specimens.
Some insects, such as aphids and stink bugs, have piercing-sucking mouthparts that insert into plant tissues to’suck’ nutrients from leaves, stems and fruit. This often results in discolored spotting or pimples on the surface of leaves, fruits and vegetables. Sucking damage may also lead to the formation of sooty mold on leaf and fruit surfaces.
Other insects, such as beetles and slugs, feed on roots or other parts of the plants that come into contact with soil. In large numbers, these pests can severely limit a harvest or even kill the crop. Using row covers and reflective mulch for new plantings and spraying with broad-spectrum insecticidal soaps or neem oil can help prevent these problems.
Finally, a number of insects prey on the seeds of weeds, such as annual bluegrass and perennial crabgrass. Seed treatment with neonicotinoid insecticides (imidacloprid, thiamethoxane and methyl bromide) reduces populations of these natural enemies, increasing weed populations in the fields. This, in turn, requires more spraying to control the weeds. Organic gardeners use less toxic methods of controlling these insects and weeds, such as crop rotation, soil amendments and cultivation techniques, reducing the need for chemical controls.
Rodents
Rodents like rats (Rattus norvegicus) and mice (Mus musculus) carry a host of diseases and contaminate food supplies, causing property damage. They also gnaw through wood, plaster and plastics, causing structural damage. Their droppings, urine and saliva contaminate living areas, foodstuffs and water with dangerous bacteria and viruses. The shedding skin of rodents causes indoor allergies and breathing problems, and they can spread germs with their teeth. In addition, their gnawing can destroy utility wires and create fire hazards.
The most common pests in and around houses are rat and mouse species, followed by squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and then birds (Larus argentius and Larus fuscus). A survey carried out by Rentokil showed that rat infestations are more prevalent in older dwellings, homes with pets and garden wildlife, and those with poor sanitation and drainage faults or unkempt gardens [2].
In terms of commercial properties, rats and mice are among the most significant pests that impact the reputation of a business, as well as operating costs and revenue. Rats and other rodents can transmit a wide range of serious diseases, including Salmonella, E-coli, Listeria, Hantavirus, Typhus, Rabies and Lassa Fever. They are also a major source of damage to stored goods, and can cause an enormous amount of waste through their gnawing and chewing habits.
Rodents are notoriously difficult to control and can live in a variety of places, from underground burrows to the spaces under and between floorboards. They are also very resourceful, and are good at tucking themselves into tight spaces that humans cannot reach. In addition, their babies grow fast, increasing the potential of an infestation.
The key to preventing rodents is regular inspections, particularly during the dark hours when they are most active. Look for signs of rodent activity, including droppings, gnaw marks, footprints and sebum marks, an oily residue left behind by rodents as they travel through an area.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown insects about the size of an apple seed that hide in cracks and crevices around beds, mattress seams and box springs and in upholstered furniture. These parasitic pests feed on human blood at night while people are sleeping and can be difficult to detect and eliminate. Bed bug bites are usually painless and go unnoticed by their hosts. The pests also spread to new locations by hitching rides in clothing, luggage and other personal items.
There are only two species of bed bugs, Cimex lectularius and Cimex hepterus. The former is a worldwide pest of humans; the latter is restricted to tropical areas. A third, related species is Leptocimex boueti, which lives with and feeds on bats but is not found in the United States.
While bed bugs are most often associated with sleep, they are also known to live in apartment complexes and commercial buildings, hospitals and other public places and can be brought home by people visiting these sites or by catching rides in buses and trains. The pests can also infest hotels and other lodgings.
During the day, bed bugs stay hidden in their hiding places until they are ready to feed at night. They are most active during the dark hours of the night, when they seek out their human host to bite and inject saliva to ensure that blood flow is sufficient for feeding. They then pierce their host’s skin with needle-like mouthparts, draw blood through the puncture and elongate as they ingest the fluid.
The bugs can be difficult to get rid of, as they can survive months without feeding. Isolating the bed by using a tightly woven, zippered cover for the mattress and box springs is one of the most effective prevention measures. Likewise, sealing cracks and crevices with silicon caulk can help prevent the bugs from entering the area.
If you suspect a bed bug infestation, contact Rentokil immediately. A professional can perform a thorough inspection of your property, including checking your vehicle and belongings for the pests, and recommend treatment methods that will eliminate the bugs and their eggs. Before your pest control professional arrives, prepare the infested area by vacuuming the entire room and putting infested linens in plastic bags for disposal. Also, remove upholstered furniture from the walls and place the pieces on rollers to make it easier for them to be treated with high heat.
Wasps
Often, gardeners see wasps as pests, but they actually serve as effective biological control agents. Like bees, wasps are pollinators, but they also help to control pest populations by consuming them and their larvae. As such, allowing foraging wasps to target a wide variety of insect prey is essential to promoting healthy ecosystems and protecting crops.
As a general rule, wasps are beneficial when their nests are not disturbed. For this reason, it’s important to leave natural areas undisturbed, as wasps will use the materials of nature and common household structures to build their nests. However, unkempt trash cans, exposed sugary drinks, and protein-rich foods can attract wasps, making it necessary to store food garbage in tightly sealed containers and avoid placing protein-rich snacks out on patio tables.
In addition, if the area around your home contains multiple hives or nests, you should stay away from them and keep children and pets inside. While the average wasp is not a threat, they can become aggressive when their hive or nest is threatened. If you get stung by a wasp, it may release pheromones that signal that you are an adversary and encourage other wasps to join in the attack. In most cases, the best way to deal with a wasp infestation is to contact your local pest control company.
Parasitic wasps are the primary predators of many common crop pest species, including aphids, whiteflies, stink bugs, and caterpillars. By using parasitic wasps, growers can significantly reduce their reliance on chemical fertilizers and insecticides. This can promote biodiversity and create a more balanced ecosystem in the growing environment, which in turn can increase overall plant health and resistance to disease and other stresses.
As you might expect, there are several different types of parasitic wasps and their methods for controlling pests. In general, these wasps rely on two primary strategies for capturing their host insects: parasitization and host feeding. After laying their eggs, the female parasitic wasp selects a suitable host pest for her offspring to target and carefully inserts them either into the body of the host or on its exterior. Upon reaching maturity, the parasitic wasp emerges from its host and consumes its internal tissues for nutrition, which eventually leads to the death of the host insect.
