Pests can damage your plants in many ways. They can cause plants to look less than healthy, and they may spread disease or fungi.
Effective pest control requires a combination of prevention, suppression and eradication techniques. These methods are referred to as integrated pest management (IPM).
Prevention
Keeping an apartment building pest-free is one of the biggest challenges that apartment owners and landlords face. Between fulfilling tenant needs, maintaining the buildings’ integrity and basic property-owner requirements, pest control is an added responsibility that adds to the already busy schedule of building managers and maintenance personnel.
In general, pest prevention is all about making sure your building is free from weak spots that might provide shelter for pests. These include garbage areas, storage and janitorial areas, laundry rooms, and any other places that may become prime targets for pest activity.
Suppression
Pests are the insects and other animals that attack crops, plants or other organisms. They are often destructive and can cause disease.
One way to control these problems is by using suppression techniques. These methods can be applied to natural enemies, such as parasites or predators of pests, or to chemical control agents.
Suppression of pests involves reducing the number of pests in a given area and keeping them from re-establishing. It can also involve controlling the movement of pests to a new location, such as through quarantine measures.
Some of the most effective suppression methods can be implemented by conserving or encouraging natural enemies of pests in a particular area. Some examples of conservation include planting native plants, avoiding spraying, and maintaining habitat patches.
Eradication
Eradication is the process of removing pests from a particular environment. It is a powerful strategy, and a crucial part of pest management.
Eradication success depends on a variety of factors, including the species involved and the environmental setting. This means that eradication can be a daunting task.
To increase the likelihood of eradication, managers should initiate campaigns before the extent of an invasion reaches a critical threshold. Moreover, paying special attention to plant species that were introduced as ornamentals and applying sanitary measures can increase the probability of success.
Managing authorities should also record socioeconomic data for each pest they designate for eradication. This data can help them to determine the effectiveness of an eradication program.
Treatment
Pests can become a serious problem once they have invaded your home, lawn, or garden. Depending on the pest, treatment can include mechanical controls, biorational methods, or conventional chemical control.
First, try to eliminate the pest from your environment. This could mean removing its sources of food, water, and shelter, or blocking access to your building or plants.
If you still need to use a chemical control, choose one that doesn’t harm people or pets. Look for a label that lists the most safe and effective options.
Alternatively, you can ask your licensed pest management professional for help. They may be able to recommend one of these residual or contact insecticides for application to cracks and crevices in your collection storage areas or exhibit spaces. They can also assist you in evaluating treatment options for other pest problems.