Pest Control Malibu involves preventing or eliminating pests from your home, garden, or workplace. This process must be balanced against other factors, such as esthetic and health considerations, which may lead to setting action threshold levels.
Ask companies for their licenses, copies of pesticide labels, and application rates to avoid overexposure or accidents. Be sure to discuss all options, including non-chemical methods.
Pests enter buildings in search of food, water and shelter. Thorough inspections and identifying pest “hot spots” can help you close off their entry points.
Cracks in foundations, basements, and around windows and doors provide pests with an easy way to get inside. Sealing these areas using caulking can be an effective way to prevent pests from entering a building. Door sweeps placed under exterior doors can also help seal gaps that might attract pests and rodents.
Vents found in attics, crawl spaces and basements can be another entry point for pests. Ensure that these vents have covers that will prevent pests from getting in while still allowing proper ventilation to reduce moisture build-up. Pipes can be entry points for pests as well. Ensure that these openings are sealed properly by using caulking or foam insulation.
Other potential entry points include gaps around electrical meters, which can be a way for mice to gain access to buildings. Filling gaps larger than a quarter inch with steel wool and caulking can deter mice from entering a property. Air conditioning compressor lines can also be a source of pest entry. Make sure that these openings are sealed with caulking or steel wool, and install vent covers to keep pests from nesting in attics.
In addition, ensuring that garbage bins are secured tightly can help to prevent pests from accessing your facility. Keeping these bins closed at all times and removing garbage frequently can help to prevent pest infestations as well.
It is important to inspect all areas of a building regularly for signs of pests, especially following severe weather and changing seasons. Regular maintenance and repair of doors, windows, screens and vents can greatly reduce the number of holes through which pests can access a building. It is also a good idea to regularly wipe down surfaces and store food in airtight containers to eliminate sticky residues that can attract pests. Finally, installing dehumidifiers in damp areas can help to decrease moisture levels that can promote the growth of some pests. These steps can dramatically reduce the amount of pests in a facility and allow for more targeted treatments against specific pests.
Eliminate Food Sources
The first step in controlling a pest is to eliminate the food that attracts it. Insects, rodents, birds, and other pests need to eat to survive and reproduce, so eliminating the food they need will stop them from coming in to your facility.
Eliminating food sources can also help prevent the need for pesticides. This can be done by storing ingredients in plastic containers rather than cardboard, cleaning up crumbs and spills, and ensuring trash receptacles are closed and sealed. It’s also a good idea to keep grass and weeds cut to remove roosting and nesting areas and deny pests shelter.
In food processing facilities, the main goal of pest control is to ensure that pests cannot access and contaminate the food being produced. These pests can carry harmful bacteria and diseases that put the health of workers and consumers at risk (rodents carry Salmonella and hantavirus; cockroaches trigger asthma symptoms). In addition, pests damage equipment by chewing through wires or boring holes through walls.
Regular inspections can make it easier to identify signs of pest infestation. Gnaw marks on packaging and holes in dry goods should be of particular concern. Rotating items and implementing the “first in, first out” rule helps prevent items from staying on shelves for too long, inviting pests to invade.
Some pests can be controlled without using chemical pesticides, reducing the potential for harm to people or the environment. These methods may include introducing predators or parasites that will kill the pest, modifying the environment by limiting its moisture or temperature, or using dusts that have pesticide properties.
If all these non-chemical measures fail, it may be necessary to use pesticides to eliminate the pest population and prevent them from returning. There are several types of pesticides, each with its own set of risks and benefits. The most common is spraying a liquid pesticide directly onto the pests, but there are also baits that can be placed at the point of entry into the building or structure, as well as fumigation with gas. The best choice will depend on the pest type, the severity of the problem, and what is permissible by local environmental regulations.
Eliminate Nests
Birds are usually fairly unobtrusive and easy to get along with, but when they choose to build a nest in a high-traffic area, like above a doorway or at the base of a tree, you may find yourself receiving angry rebukes from your winged neighbors. Similarly, hornets and wasps look for safe, sheltered areas to build their nests, such as unused hollow trees or under dense vegetation. If a wasp’s nest is found near your home, you will want to take prompt action. These stinging insects can be very aggressive when protecting their nests, and they can cause serious injuries if you are unlucky enough to come into close contact with them.
One common misconception is that a wasp’s nest can be safely burned, but this method is both ineffective and hazardous. Burning a nest can trigger a wasp’s natural protective instinct, increasing the likelihood of an attack and your risk of stings. The nest material is also extremely flammable and can quickly become a wildfire, damaging your property and endangering your family’s health.
A more effective method is to have your pest management professional treat the nests using insecticide dust or aerosol products. The specific product and application methods will depend on whether the nest is above ground or below ground, and your pest control professional will make the best decision based on your unique situation. For above-ground nests, your pest control professional will spray the pesticide on the outside of the nest, aiming for the entrance.
For below-ground nests, your pest control professional will apply the dust directly to the ground under the nest. The pesticide will be absorbed by the ground, and any returning wasps will be poisoned when they come into contact with it.
Depending on the size of the nest and its location, it may be difficult to treat it without expert assistance. For large nests or those located in hard-to-reach places, it is highly recommended that you contact a trusted pest control company, such as Bama Exterminating, to help you resolve the issue. We offer comprehensive pest control services, including termite control, ant control, rodent control, crawlspace care encapsulation, and wasp and hornet removal.
Apply Pesticides
A pesticide can be a liquid, powder or spray. When used correctly, they can control pests effectively without damaging healthy plants or harming the environment. The first step in applying pesticides is to identify the pest and decide whether or not control is warranted. You will also need to determine your goals for pest management.
Control tactics vary, but some common options include scouting, cultural, physical, biological and pesticidal methods. The goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is to use multiple tactics in combination to reduce pest populations to an acceptable level, with minimal disruption to the living and nonliving surrounding areas at the treatment site.
Relying only on pesticides often leads to resistance and can have other negative effects on the environment and surrounding organisms. Therefore, it is important to apply pesticides at a rate that will achieve the desired results and avoid damaging or killing beneficial insects. When using a pesticide, always follow the label instructions and never use more than what is recommended. Applying too much can cause environmental problems and is illegal. The label is the legal document that governs pesticide use and is written by a State agency.
Always read the label and take all precautions before applying a pesticide indoors or outdoors. During indoor applications, remove children, pets, and food items from the area being treated. If spraying outside, check the weather forecast before application and don’t spray during windy conditions. These conditions can cause the spray to move off the target area and contaminate surfaces, plants or water supplies. Fences, hedges, and other natural barriers can help minimize the spread of spray. If spraying near your home, be sure to close doors and windows so the chemical does not enter. During outdoor applications, use coarse droplet nozzles to reduce spray drift.
Be aware that repeated exposure to any pesticide can increase the risk of developing health issues, including cancer. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the State pesticide regulatory agency.