Pests can threaten hygiene and health, causing serious damage to plants or food. Pest Control in Garland TX measures can be as simple as blocking holes or as complex as fumigating the whole premises.
Try this simple onion brew to repel pests: Finely chop four cups of onions in two liters of water, steep, strain and apply.
Insects
Many people think of insects only as disease carriers and pests, such as houseflies, clothes moths, mosquitoes, beetles, hornets, stink bugs, ants1, and corn earworms2. But in fact, many insects are beneficial: they pollinate plants, make honey, spin silk, Pest Control in Garland TX, act as scavengers, help with decomposition and serve as food for other animals.
Often, gardeners don’t even need to try to keep pest populations under control because natural enemies such as ladybugs, lacewings, dragonflies, praying mantises and bees, can do the job for them. However, if the population of beneficial insects is too low to provide adequate control, spraying a non-native insecticide such as carbaryl can increase aphid and mite problems because the natural enemies are killed.
Insects have a wide range of mouthparts that allow them to feed on different types of plant materials. Some drink nectar with a tube-like proboscis, others chew leaves or other plant parts. Some show maternal care, guarding their eggs or young. They can communicate with pheromones, sound or touch.
Some insects, such as the tomato fruitworm and melon worm, may bore into vegetables or fruit, reducing their size and causing them to wilt. Control is possible with insecticides such as malathion, diamide (Bt) and spinosad. In addition, eliminating the places where these pests can hide, such as piles of firewood or compost, will help.
Weeds
Weeds are opportunistic and invasive plants that compete with desirable crops for water, sunlight and nutrients. They are also excellent at producing and dispersing seeds. This makes them a problem in home gardens as well as farmer’s fields. Preventative weed control is essential in keeping them from becoming established. It includes using certified weed free seed, only transporting hay that is weed free, screening irrigation water to prevent the transfer of weed seeds from farm equipment or by wind, and crop rotation. Cultural weed control techniques are also important.
Herbicides are useful in controlling weeds but should be used as a last resort. They can be used in combination with preventative practices or alone. There are many types of herbicides, with different ones being used depending on the crop and weed growth stage. Preplant herbicides are used to kill weeds before they grow above ground, while postemergence herbicides kill weeds that are already growing.
For non-chemical weed control, boiling water can be effective for some weeds. Just boil some tap water and pour it directly on the weeds. This will usually kill them but may take a few applications. Another natural weed killer is vinegar. Just pour some hot vinegar on the weeds and it will usually kill them. This method is less damaging to the environment and more natural than chemical sprays.
Diseases
Diseases are caused by bacteria, viruses or other germs. They can be spread directly from person to person, such as the influenza virus or the common cold, or indirectly when an infected person touches an object (like a doorknob) that another person then touches. They can also be spread by insects, such as mosquitoes that carry malaria parasites or deer ticks that carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. They can also be spread by fungi that infect the skin, such as athlete’s foot or ringworm; or by reptiles and amphibians that may carry salmonella or other harmful organisms.
Some diseases are specific to certain types of animals, plants or people and are referred to as “zoonotic” diseases. Examples include rabies, a fatal disease that affects the nervous system of mammals; chlamydiosis in companion birds, such as parrots and cockatoos; and Blastomycosis, a fungal infection that can infect humans with a rash and a lung condition called pulmonary blastomycosis.
To control pests that pose a risk to people’s health, preventive methods such as removing food and water sources, sealing entry points, and repelling with safe substances are generally preferred to chemical pesticides. Pesticides should be used only as a last resort when other methods are ineffective, and always according to the label. Proper identification of the pest is critical before any controls are applied.
Pesticides
Pesticides are chemical compounds that kill or control unwanted plants, insects, and other organisms. They are often used in agriculture and by homeowners. They are available as sprays, dusts, baits, and other products. Some are biodegradable and break down naturally, while others are persistent and do not. Some examples of pesticides include rodenticides (for mice and other rodents), herbicides (for weeds), and fungicides (for fungi).
Insecticides kill by targeting very specific chemical pathways in the insect (e.g. nerve transmission, development, metabolism). The more targeted the pesticide is, the more likely that genetic mutations will occur and lead to resistant pest populations. Therefore, it is important to use the least-toxic chemicals when possible.
The use of nonchemical strategies, such as crop rotation, host-free periods, and pest exclusion, can reduce the need for frequent pesticide applications. Likewise, good record keeping of pest presence/abundance can help guide decisions regarding application timing and frequency.
Whenever possible, use pesticides with low toxicity to bees. Apply pesticides at night when bees are not foraging and follow all bee advisory requirements on the product label. Also, be careful when using herbicides with a high water solubility (e.g., RoundUp) as they may runoff into storm drains or into bodies of water and negatively impact fish and wildlife. Lastly, use landscaping techniques that increase native habitat and reduce the need for fertilizer and pesticides.