Home Pest Control: Pest Management

Home Pest Control: Pest Management

Prevention is where pest control should start, management is what we do for the ones that get by our prevention measures.

The first step in pest management is to be sure that the pest prevention measures we have taken are adequate and appropriate. If there are problems with this, they should be solved before any chemicals are used.

Pest management other than pest prevention

The progression should be from least hazardous to most hazardous, of course starting with:

• Pest Prevention.
• Soaps. It is possible to kill most insects with insecticidal soap, even dish soap and water will work in limited circumstances.
• Some botanical products consisting of various plant oils also work well, but may have a slightly overwhelming fragrance when used in tight quarters.
• Traps can be very effective when used properly, and are available for insects and rodents.
• Commercial chemicals.

Pest control, other than pest prevention should always be approached cautiously, and with safety in mind. It should be remembered that when it comes to pesticides, the label is the law. Pay special heed to the warning found on each and every EPA registered pesticide label:

"It is a violation of federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with it's labeling."

Keep in mind that the label instructions are not written solely for safety, but also for effectiveness. There are many cases where using more than the proper amount of a pesticide will result in lower product effectiveness. An example of this is the improper use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in "Roundup". If too much is used, it will result in the dessication of the top of the plant, without allowing time for the chemical to reach and kill the root.

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