There are many different types of pest control, including baits, traps, and less-toxic dust. To effectively control pests, the baits must be placed in close proximity to where the pests hide. The baits should not be sprayed with pesticides, as the chemicals will only deter the pests from eating them. The labels of pesticides also contain valuable information on proper use. Monitoring and ongoing management are essential for successful pest control.
Biological control
Biological control for trusted pest management is the use of living organisms as predators and deterrents. These agents are usually insects, parasites, or microorganisms that cause the death of pests through disease or other means. This approach to pest control is an effective alternative to using chemicals such as pesticides. Biological control agents are never native to the environment. They are usually alien species and do not enter the human food chain.
The use of biological control for pest management has gained popularity due to the risks associated with the use of chemicals in agriculture. Moreover, the emergence of insect pests with increasing resistance to chemical and biological control agents has increased the awareness of the use of natural enemies as a solution to controlling pests. By learning about these natural enemies, it is possible to choose the most effective biological control agent for any pest problem. Here are some common examples of biological control:
Chemical control
Although chemical control generally refers to synthetic chemical pesticides, it can also include botanical and microbial chemicals. Botanical extracts and microbe-derived toxic metabolites are both biologicals and share many of the same safety concerns as synthetic chemicals. Here are some ways to avoid over-use of chemical pesticides:
Biotic control entails using natural enemies to eradicate a pest. These include pathogens, parasites, and predators. Although biological control does not entail eradication, it can eliminate the pest as a threat to plants and animals. Biological control techniques may include using sterile males, pheromones, and juvenile hormones. Biological control agents are not always effective, but they can eliminate pests in certain situations.
Intercropping
Many studies have demonstrated that intercropping can improve the pest management process in a variety of agricultural settings. The use of associated plants may reduce the number of beneficial insects and diseases in the intercrop. The productivity of the component being attacked may increase several-fold. Intercropping can reduce LERs by using disease-carrier plants that are symptomless. It may also reduce the overall cost of pest control. Visit pest control near me for more information. The benefits of intercropping are numerous.
It has been shown that diversified flora reduces the number of insect pests in a crop and reduces the use of chemical insecticides. Asmanm and Sullivan also proposed that intercropping would increase predator populations by decreasing insect populations. The difference between crops in the agro-ecosystem results from the different semiochemicals released by the plants. Insect populations are minimized in agroecosystems with more than one species of crop.
Delaying planting times
Generally, the choice of planting date depends on the availability of labour, weather, and markets. However, if pest problems are a big concern, delaying planting times can help farmers avoid them. In addition to avoiding the peak season, planting later can help prevent problems caused by key insects. If you’re planting winter wheat, for example, delaying planting times until “fly-free” dates in the fall may reduce the damage caused by Hessian fly.
Many scientists have conducted trials on the effects of delaying planting dates for pest management. While the results of these studies are highly dependent on the local conditions, they can provide some guidance to growers. A recent study from the USDA Agricultural Resource Service in Stoneville, Mississippi showed that crops planted two weeks later had a 59% yield reduction, compared to a 28% yield reduction in the same trial in 2016.
Insecticides
While some people use insecticides for pest control, they can cause harm to humans. The chemicals used to kill pests are toxic and cannot control every stage of a pest’s life cycle. For example, fleas can take months to hatch, develop into larvae, and then pupae before they emerge as adults. Conventional flea treatments target the adult stage, whereas alternative methods can kill the eggs and larvae as they develop. Additionally, pesticides can cause dizziness, vomiting, and long-term effects on learning.
Insecticides may also end up in water bodies through runoff from irrigated fields, storms, and manufacturing. The concentrations of organic insecticides are often so high in surface water that they can persist for decades. Further, the insecticides may affect benthic organisms, which are known to transport toxins to fish. Insecticides are a common part of the pest management industry, and they are used in many different ways to control insects.