Insects, Wasps, Mosquitoes and Other Pests

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Pest Control Woodland Hills CA is the management of harmful organisms that spoil food, damage property, or threaten human health. It can be achieved by prevention—keeping pests from causing harm—suppression—reducing the number of pests to an acceptable level—or eradication—destroying the pests themselves.

Regular pest control services can provide homeowners with peace of mind and help preserve home value by preventing damage to furniture and fixtures. They can also help protect families and their pets from dangerous pathogens, allergens, and irritants.

Insects are the most numerous organisms on Earth and form more than 80% of all known living species. While a small fraction are considered pests, their presence is crucial to ecosystems around the globe. Insects pollinate plants and play an essential role in the production of seeds, fruits and vegetables. In addition, they are important decomposers, transforming organic matter into simpler forms that are used by plants and other organisms.

In general, insect populations fluctuate depending on temperature, rainfall, host plant availability and natural enemies. Therefore, pest control methods must consider these factors and other environmental influences.

Many vegetable producers employ cultural controls, such as proper soil preparation and careful plant selection, to reduce losses from insects. These methods can be combined with biological and physical controls to minimize the use of pesticides.

Chemical control involves the use of chemicals to kill or inhibit insect feeding, mating and other vital behaviors. These chemicals can be natural products, synthesized mimics of natural products or completely synthetic materials.

The IAEA helps nations by offering radiation-based technologies, such as selective insect breeding, inherited sterility and genetic manipulation, to improve agricultural practices. These techniques reduce reliance on pesticides, contributing to safer food for the world’s population.

Rodents

Rodents are small mammals that carry diseases that can be transmitted to people. They also cause damage and chew holes through walls and insulation, resulting in exposed wires and leaky pipes, which can lead to expensive repair costs. Rodents are known to cause fires by gnawing on electrical wires. They can also transmit pathogens like the bacteria that causes bubonic plague, and cause allergies and asthma triggers in humans.

Rodents enter homes and buildings looking for food, water and shelter. They are attracted to dry food crumbs, spills, tin and cardboard objects, garbage, compost, and other materials that provide nesting materials. Keep all food in tightly-closed containers and store it in rodent-proof containers. Keep trash in sealed bins, with a lid where applicable. Trim and remove overgrown lawns and vegetation to eliminate shelter.

Rats can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter, while mice can fit through dime-sized spaces. Close up these areas by caulking and sealing with sheet metal or 1/4-inch mesh galvanized hardware cloth. Report any conditions that attract rats or mice, such as water leaks or unsecured debris, to your landlord or property manager and request these be fixed promptly. Place effective, low hazard traps around your home and in open areas where rats or mice are known to run.

Wasps

The key to preventing a wasp infestation is eliminating the food sources that attract these insects. Trimming back bushes, twigs, and shrubs reduces nest sites. Eliminating flies, spiders and other insects that feed on wasps, also limits their numbers. Preventing relapses of wasp infestations is accomplished by removing old nests before the start of the season. In addition, removing the waste products of these insects — discarded fruit, rotting meat, and other food scraps — from around structures eliminates attracting sources of odor and food for wasps.

Structural wasp nests may be controlled with standard pressurized sprays containing resmethrin, permethrin, cyfluthrin, pyrethrins, and DDVP (or Wasp Freeze). If possible, it is best to treat these nests at night when the wasps are less active. Ideally, the entrance of the nest can be plugged with cotton or dusted with 5% carbaryl to prevent re-entry and kill returning wasps.

Social wasps are important predators of pests, especially caterpillars, which destroy many small crops and are often considered the most serious horticultural crop pest. However, these wasps require a certain level of environmental complexity to maintain high populations, and their performance as biological control is limited in monocrop landscapes by ecological thresholds.

Ants

Ants are fascinating insects that form highly organized colonies, displaying remarkable cooperation and efficiency. Unfortunately, ants also can become pests in homes and gardens by foraging for food indoors and damaging crops. Some species also irritate humans with their stinging behavior.

Identifying the type of ant infesting your property is key to tailoring treatment methods effectively. Keep ant infestations at bay by promptly cleaning up food residue and spills, storing food in airtight containers, and regularly emptying trash bins. In addition, you can help prevent ant entry by sealing cracks and gaps around your home or commercial facility.

It is important to distinguish ants from termites, which are often mistaken for one another. Generally, ants are darker than termites and have jointed antennae that are pinched at the ends. Also, ants tend to have a small gap between their abdomen and thorax. Ants may also have a distinct scent.

If you find ant nests in your indoor spaces, treat them with enclosed, tamper-resistant bait traps that contain a premixed mixture of the pesticide hydramethylnon and/or fipronil along with food. Worker ants will carry the poison back to their colony and kill the queen, effectively eliminating the problem. Avoid using sprays or bombs/foggers that can irritate lungs and leave chemical residue on surfaces.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are small insects that bite to feed on blood and transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika and Dengue. They are hard to kill with traditional pesticides, so EPA and Centers for Disease Control work closely with state mosquito control departments to develop pesticides that kill mosquitoes quickly when the public’s health is at risk.

The first step in mosquito control is eliminating areas where they breed. Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, discarded tires and other containers that can hold rainwater or animal urine. Keep brush piles and other brush away from houses and other buildings.

Female mosquitoes detect carbon dioxide in our breath, then land on us and probe with their mouthparts (called a proboscis) to locate the best capillaries for sucking blood. They are often attracted to octenol, a chemical released in sweat, but also can be lured by perfume, skin lotions and certain bacteria. Mosquitoes can bite day or night but typically begin biting at dusk and continue through the dark.

Some species, such as the inland floodwater mosquito (Aedes vexans), Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and tree hole mosquito (Ochlerotatus triseriatus) are container-breeding mosquitoes that lay their eggs in water-filled containers, such as stumps, logs, tree holes and artificial containers like discarded tires. The CDC recommends an integrated pest management approach to control these species, emphasizing habitat reduction and larval control.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color and have flattened bodies, making them hard to see with the naked eye (particularly in their early nymph stages). They hide during the day in crevices and cracks. Infestations are common in multi-occupancy buildings such as hostels, hotels, and blocks of apartments with rapid resident turnover. They can be spread on luggage, backpacks, clothing and furniture or by people moving from infested to uninfested rooms or apartments.

Bed bug infestations are difficult to control because the pests can be mobile and disperse building-wide. Cooperation by owners and occupants is crucial during treatment. Extensive preparation may be necessary, and occupants must remove items from beds and living areas so that the entire area can be treated. Clutter and belongings strewn about the apartment impede treatment, affording more places for the pests to hide, and should be removed.

Unlike other insects, bed bugs cannot be killed by hot water or heat, bleach, alcohol, or cigarette lighters. Sprays such as ‘bug bombs’ (also known as fogging or incorrectly referred to as ‘fumigating’) are ineffective and present a fire and safety hazard. Unless the product label allows it, do not spray mattresses and bedding; instead, launder these items frequently and thoroughly in hot water.

Termites

Termites are wood-eating pests that can damage structures and cause severe structural damage to homes. They are primarily active during warm weather, when they can move more quickly to reach food sources.

Unlike ants, termites do not travel across the soil surface or through open air. Instead, they tunnel into the ground and into wood or other materials, traveling in small mud tubes made of droppings, saliva and soil. Mud tubes are often found on foundation walls, floor joists and ceilings. In a home, mud tubes can create an inconvenient and unsightly entry point for termites.

When a termite colony is mature, it produces winged reproductive males and females (also known as alates). These swarmers are poor fliers but can be attracted to light, and they may fly into your house looking for mates and places to establish new colonies.

Although it is best to prevent termite infestations with a full treatment by a professional, homeowners can take simple steps to minimize the risk. For example, keep firewood and lumber away from the house, install screens on exterior vents, slop the soil around the house to help it drain properly, and fix plumbing fixtures that are prone to leaking.

The Importance of Regular Pest Control

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Pest Control is the practice of eliminating or managing unwanted creatures like cockroaches, rats, fleas, flies, ticks etc. Pests cause damage to crops, plants and structures. They also spread diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, leptospirosis and salmonella. Contact Pest Control Masters for professional help.

Pest Control

Natural, biological, cultural, mechanical and chemical controls are used for pest management. Natural factors limit population sizes of some pests, while others are more sensitive to weather conditions and other environmental influences.

The goal of prevention is to keep pest populations below damaging thresholds. Preventive strategies include identifying and eliminating entry points to a property, removing conditions that attract or encourage pest activity and preventing pest reproduction. Preventive strategies are less costly than control methods applied after an infestation occurs.

In a business or home, preventive pest management starts with routine inspections to identify potential problems and address them before they become widespread. Cleaning and sanitation practices are critical to eliminate food, water and shelter sources that attract pests. Sealing cracks and gaps in walls and foundations, fixing leaky plumbing and storing garbage tightly in sealed containers can deter many types of pests. Regular sweeping and vacuuming can remove soil residues that may attract pests. Keeping garbage cans and trash bins closed, removing them regularly and securing dumpsters will also reduce pest activity. Keeping indoor areas free of clutter will discourage pests from hiding or nesting. Adding weather stripping to doors and windows can help prevent pests from entering a home or business. Using dehumidifiers in damp areas will decrease the moisture that some pests, such as termites and ants, thrive in.

Pests are not necessarily bad. They often play an important role in nature, maintaining food chains and habitats or regulating populations of other organisms. Some pests are even vital to the growth of some crops and plants. Eradication of pests is rarely the goal in outdoor pest situations, but eradication is possible in enclosed areas such as dwellings, schools and office buildings; hospitals and other health care facilities; or retail and food preparation environments.

Some pests are very difficult to eradicate once they have entered a building or other structure. This is especially true of invasive species, such as weeds or diseases that attack and destroy crops or natural resources. Monitoring and detection are the most important elements of any pest control program, followed by a treatment plan to minimize the population. The plan may involve increased sanitation, quarantine of affected areas, pesticide application and other techniques that will eliminate the unwanted organism without destroying the environment it inhabits.

Suppression

Some natural forces, like climate, can help or hinder pest control. Weather conditions can affect the growth rate of a pest’s host plants or even kill them, as in the case of sudden frost or drought. The presence of predators and parasitic species can suppress pest populations, as in the case of birds, reptiles, amphibians, or fish. In addition, the availability of food and water may influence pest numbers.

Preventive measures restrict pest activity and inhibit population growth by removing conditions that promote infestation. These tactics include storing seeds and transplants in sealed containers, removing garbage regularly from the property, cleaning tillage and harvesting equipment between fields or operations, field sanitation procedures, and eliminating alternate hosts and hiding sites for insect pests. Accurate pest identification is a critical first step for effective preventive methods.

Insect pathogens (viruses, fungi, etc) can also be used as biological controls to reduce pest population growth and damage. They usually have short life cycles and require a specific host for survival.

Biological control is an alternative to chemical pesticides. It involves releasing natural enemies of the target pest, such as predators, parasitoids, or disease organisms, to reduce the size of the targeted pest population. These agents may be found in the pest’s home range, or they can be introduced from other areas.

Biological control is often less expensive than chemical controls and can provide long-term management of the targeted pests. A key to success is the careful study and selection of potential natural enemies, ensuring that they will be compatible with their new environment, have the proper biology for controlling the pest, and are capable of being raised and released in large quantities on a timely basis. The PPQ program supports these activities by funding research and development of natural enemy species against plant pests or noxious weeds, testing and rearing them, and releasing them in controlled settings. This is a complex and costly process that takes many people working together. The results do not always achieve desired control levels, because there is a lag between when the natural enemy is released and when it begins to have an impact on the pest population.

Eradication

For some people, the very word “pest” evokes images of horror. It is easy to see why, when pests like rodents, cockroaches, termites and bed bugs invade homes or commercial buildings, they cause health problems for people and damage property. Many pests also transmit diseases and are carriers of pathogens. For these reasons, the prevention, suppression and eradication of pests are important public health goals.

In outdoor pest situations, eradication is rare as the focus is usually on prevention and suppression. However, when a foreign species is accidentally introduced to an area and becomes established, eradication strategies may be initiated. These are often government-supported initiatives, such as the eradication efforts of the Mediterranean fruit fly and gypsy moth.

Eradication involves eliminating the entire population of a pest. It requires an enormous investment in time and resources. Efforts are often made at local, community, national, and international levels. Eradication benefits are calculated in terms of future savings from avoided infection and vaccination costs-a “dividend”-that must be weighed against the cost of eradicating the pest.

Frequently cleaning and disinfecting areas where food is prepared, stored or served can prevent the accumulation of debris that can lead to the harborage of pests. It is also helpful to rotate cropping and to plow under or rototill the soil in order to reduce pest infestations.

When a pest problem persists, a wide range of chemical control options are available. These include herbicides to kill weeds, insecticides to kill insects and fungicides to kill fungal diseases. Most chemical controls require the proper application to be effective, including good sanitation and scouting to ensure that the correct spray is applied at the right time and in the right amount.

The most economical and environmentally responsible method of controlling pests is to prevent them from entering the environment in the first place. Preventive measures include adjusting the conditions that favor pest infestations and using cultural, biological or mechanical techniques to eliminate them as soon as they appear. These measures can be simple, such as removing debris from fields to discourage rodents, or they can involve sophisticated technology, such as ultra-low volume (ULV) fogging that uses small amounts of chemicals to destroy insect infestations.

Management

In the case of pests that can’t be eliminated, management strategies aim to reduce their numbers to acceptable levels. These tactics are usually more flexible and less destructive than eradication techniques. For example, a property owner may choose to spray a small area of a building with a highly targeted insecticide in order to control an infestation that is affecting production in a specific part of the facility.

Before any treatment begins, the pest problem must be surveyed and carefully assessed. This process includes evaluating the environmental conditions that led to the infestation, including food sources, water sources, shelter, and overwintering sites for the pests. It also involves determining the pest population levels, or “thresholds,” at which action needs to be taken. Threshold levels are often based on esthetic, health, or economic considerations.

Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies use a combination of control tactics to reduce pest populations to an acceptable level, without undue harm to people, plants, or animals. These control tactics can include biological, cultural, mechanical, sanitation, and chemical, or pesticide, controls.

For example, a property owner can prevent insect pests by removing the food and water sources they need to survive. This may include caulking or sealing cracks around the home, storing food in tightly closed containers, and regularly taking out the garbage. Creating an environment that is not conducive to pests can also help, for instance, by fixing leaky plumbing and keeping humidity levels low in areas where insects and vertebrates tend to thrive.

When pesticides are used, it is important to follow the product labels and all applicable safety warnings. It is also recommended that a person using pesticides wear basic personal protective equipment, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, close-toed shoes, face and eye protection, and gloves.

Other forms of pest control involve encouraging natural predators and parasites that will kill or debilitate the unwanted organisms. Examples of biological controls include planting nectar-producing flowers, such as asters (Aster spp.), which attract insect predators, or fruiting shrubs such as serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) that attract birds, to discourage pests; and introducing pathogens that will attack or destroy the target pest, such as the bacteria Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) to control caterpillars.