Pest Control Burnaby BC involves preventing or controlling unwanted organisms. Usually, this is done with a combination of tactics, including prevention, suppression, and, in rare cases, eradication.
Sometimes, pheromones and juvenile hormones can be used to reduce pest numbers without killing them. Changes to the environment can also control some pests.
Liability insurance is important for any company offering pest control services. A good policy will cover accidental damages without damaging your business’ bottom line.
Insects, the most diverse and numerous animals on Earth, are vital members of ecosystems as pollinators, decomposers, food sources for other animals and pest control agents. But, while most insects are beneficial to humans – such as honeybees that pollinate crops and control disease-causing insect pests or ladybugs that kill pests in greenhouses – others can have negative impacts on human activities (see Importance of Insects).
Most insects undergo complete metamorphosis with four life stages – egg, larva, pupa and adult – but some have incomplete or no metamorphosis. Insects have two pairs of wings, although some have reduced wings that can only be used for flight or are wingless. Insects have one or two eyes and a pair of antennae, which help them detect sound, vibrations and other environmental factors.
Like plants and other animals, insects are susceptible to diseases caused by bacteria, fungi and protozoans that can reduce their rate of growth or reproduction, sicken them or even kill them. Some pathogens, such as nematodes, can also be spread by insects and infect other insects and plants.
Many insects are predators, which feed on a wide range of species, including other insects and some vertebrates. They can control pest populations through natural selection, competition and predation.
Other predators, such as parasitoid wasps, lay their eggs inside host pests, where they grow and eventually cause the host to die. These natural controls can be enhanced through habitat enhancement and conservation measures, as well as by reducing the use of chemical pesticides. In addition, it is important to correctly time the release of these natural enemies so that they can successfully suppress pests during their most vulnerable stage.
Rodents
Rodents (rodents) are a worldwide problem, causing billions of dollars in crop damage each year. They are also secondary hosts for many of the diseases that plague people. In addition, rodents are a major cause of island extinctions. They are often portrayed in a negative light, and their presence is associated with pests, diseases, and destruction.
Aside from their destructive habits, rodents provide a number of benefits to humans. They help grow crops, they store carbon in soil, and some species of rodents help to propagate plants through collecting seeds and storing them in their burrows. They also help to control pests by acting as prey for some birds and insects.
Rats, mice, and other rodents have been around since prehistoric times. Their global distribution is a result of their ability to adapt to almost any environment. They are found in the driest deserts and the wettest tropical forests. They can live wherever there is food, water and shelter.
Rodents are a nuisance around homes and commercial buildings because they can cause structural damage, contamination of foods, and create fire hazards by chewing on electrical wires. They are carriers of contagious diseases and host to a wide variety of infectious parasites.
Rats and other rodents can be controlled using sanitation, exclusion techniques and traps or baits. Food sources can be reduced by removing clutter and covering trash containers. The use of tamper-resistant bait stations will allow for the placement of rodenticides in areas where children and pets cannot reach them. It is also important to inspect and maintain all sewer lines on a regular basis for rodent entry points. If you suspect a problem with your sewer line, contact the city department responsible for this service.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are tiny, reddish-brown wingless insects that feed on humans and other warm-blooded hosts at night. They are very difficult to control. Integrated pest management practices that include regular monitoring, using a variety of treatment methods and re-treating when necessary are recommended for managing serious infestations.
Vacuum and thoroughly clean living areas regularly, paying special attention to cracks and crevices where bed bugs may hide. Look for shed skins, dark fecal spots and tiny white eggs on bedding and in mattress seams. Infestations often are concentrated within 6 or fewer feet of the sleeping area, but they can spread to adjacent rooms and other furniture, such as nightstands, dressers and chairs. Bed bug nymphs and adults can harbor in wood joints or cracks; in the wood inlets of box springs and beds; behind baseboards; and in loose wallpaper, pictures and wall hangings.
People may unknowingly bring home bed bugs when traveling on infested means of transport or staying in infested lodging. Visitors should check their shoes and change into clean clothes when leaving an infested site. They also should put clothing in a suitcase on a stand rather than letting it lie on the floor. Heat treatments (at least 120 oF for 90 minutes) can kill both adult and nymph bed bugs and their eggs.
Select a pesticide that is labeled for use against bed bugs and read and follow all safety directions. Never use a pesticide intended for garden or outdoor use indoors; doing so can pose health risks to household members and children. For assistance finding a pesticide that is registered for use against bed bugs, visit the Bed Bug Product Search tool on the EPA website or contact your local Cooperative Extension Service office.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are a fascinating and complex insect, well-adapted to the environmental niches they exploit. Their life cycle, anatomy and physiology make them both an intriguing subject of scientific study and important components in many of our everyday lives.
Adult mosquitoes require water to breed and can be found in a wide range of habitats, from rivers and ponds to rain gardens and sewage treatment plants. Inland floodwater mosquitoes, for example, may travel more than 10 miles from their larval development sites in search of blood meals. They are particularly problematic when conditions are favorable for flooding, such as during spring and after heavy rainfall.
Most mosquitoes are most likely to bite humans during dusk and after dark, although they will also feed on mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and frogs. Some species of mosquitoes transmit dangerous diseases, including West Nile virus, dengue fever, and zika virus.
Controlling mosquito populations typically involves removing or treating standing water sources, which is best done by county or local government agencies. Large-scale larviciding (treatment of water with bactericides) programs can be expensive and are often accompanied by environmental concerns, such as harming aquatic invertebrates and affecting human health.
Mosquito control can also involve the use of adulticides, which are typically applied with truck-mounted or aerial sprayers. These treatments can be effective but are often poorly targeted and may be harmful to non-target insects, such as pollinators. The chemicals used to produce these treatments are also a concern for human and animal health, and the odor can be irritating or toxic to some people.
The most effective method of controlling mosquitoes is to prevent them from breeding in the first place, and this can be accomplished with mechanical barriers. For instance, homeowners can keep windows and doors tightly screened (16-18 mesh), and can make sure that awnings, lawn furniture, table umbrellas and similar items don’t hold water.
Fleas
Fleas are tiny, jumping pests about 1/12th to 1/8th of an inch long with flat bodies and two antennae. They have six legs and can jump long distances. For every flea you see on your pet, there are hundreds or thousands of eggs, larvae, pupae and adults elsewhere in the home or yard.
After a few weeks, the eggs hatch into larvae that live by consuming the blood of the host animal. Larvae eventually spin a silk-like cocoon where they enter the pupal stage, which may last up to one year. When conditions are right, adult fleas emerge from the cocoon and search for a host to feed on.
Flea bites are painful and itchy to dogs, cats and people. Some individuals have a hypersensitive reaction to the saliva of fleas, called flea bite hypersensitivity (flea allergy dermatitis). This condition causes intense itching and redness around each bite site, sometimes causing secondary infections.
Effective treatment involves the use of medications and routine cleaning to eliminate fleas. Products include oral/chewable tablets, topical solutions (spot treatments) and collars that are applied monthly to pets.
When treating a pet for fleas, it is important to follow the product instructions exactly. It is also a good idea to regularly vacuum carpeting, upholstered furniture and pet bedding areas. Vacuuming stimulates insecticide-resistant flea eggs and pupae to hatch, allowing the treatment to be effective sooner.
If a house is plagued with fleas but there are no pets present, raccoons, opossums, skunks and squirrels may be the culprits. They can harbor and transmit fleas to other animals, including humans, and subsequently infest homes and yards. Nuisance wildlife control and pest management professionals can remove these animals, as well as treat for fleas throughout the property to reduce the problem.