Biological Pest Control – Is it the Answer to Pest Control-Related Environmental Concerns?

Before we can get into trying to understand whether biological pest control is the answer to the pest-control related environmental concerns, it would be proper to give ourselves a little background information on this whole pest control business; for the benefit of those who may be encountering it for the very first time.

Now, pests are organisms (typically insects) that are injurious to the interests of the people who refer to them as such. Thus to farmers, the insects that invade and eat up their crops (whether in the fields or during storage), would be termed as pests. On the other hand, the ‘domestic insects’ that tend to mess up with things in domestic settings (like moths, that can mess up with cloths in storage), are seen as pests by housekeepers. Worth keeping in mind is that although most pests are insects, there are also quite are number that are non-insects: with the likes of rodents (that can mess up with crops in farms of things stored in domestic settings) being seen as pests too, the fact that they are not insects notwithstanding.

Having seen that pests are injurious, it would be natural that the people who happen to ‘fall victim’ to them would want to get rid of them. In the meantime, people who haven’t yet fallen victim to pests would be keen to avoid such a ‘fate.’ Hosting pests, by the way, can be a serious fate: thousands of hectares of farmland have been known to be wasted by pests in a single day, leading to losses that often run into millions of dollars. It is the steps taken to avoid pest invasion then, or to resolve pest invasion if it has already taken place, that are referred to as constituting pest control.

Now pest control takes various forms, depending on the pests one is trying to get rid of (or to prevent the invasion of). And while bigger pests like rodents may be controlled through mechanical means like trapping, for a long period of time, it is chemical control that has worked for the vast majority of pests, which tend to be insects as previous mentioned. The chemicals used in this endeavor are what are termed as pesticides. And while pesticides are usually very effective in pest-control, the downside to them tends to come up when we consider the fact that they tend to be extremely environmentally unfriendly. Worth keeping in mind, at this point, is the fact that the chemicals referred to as pesticides tend to be very potent ones. So it often happens that traces of them remain where they were used, even after the pests are gone. Those traces are eventually washed down to the water bodies where they wreck great havoc to the (non pest) plants and animals resident in the water bodies.

It is concern about this environmental impact of chemical pest-control that led to questions as to whether a more environmentally friend method for controlling pests couldn’t be developed. The end result was the exploration of alternatives like the biological pest control, which we are trying to see whether it is really the answer to concerns raised about (chemical- based) pest control.

In biological pest-control, it is other organisms that are known to be predators to the ones viewed as pest that are unleashed upon the said pests; eating them up and therefore resolving the pest problem. Thus if the troublesome pests are aphids, the other organisms that are known to feed on aphids are introduced into the field where the problem is, to feed on the aphids, rather than spraying an environmentally unfriendly chemical.

The problem with biological pest-control, though, is that it tends to be of questionable efficiency. While chemical pest control tends to be thorough, leaving no pests or even traces of them, in biological pest control, that can’t quite be assured. Implementing biological pest control on a large scale basis (for instance on a thousand hectare plantation) can also prove to be a herculean task. Ultimately, it is considerations like these that make us keep on thinking of more environmentally friendly pest control approaches. This is because biological pest control, while definitely being an approach that addresses the environmental concerns raised about chemical pest control, it doesn’t seem to be efficient (or scalable) enough, in most people people’s view.

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Different Types of Pest Control Methods

Pest Control

Pest control is going to be a major threat for mankind in the coming future. Sooner or later we will all be affected by pests as it is omnisciently present everywhere. Whether it is ants or beetles in the kitchen or weeds in the vegetable garden, pests can be annoying. At the same time, many of us are not interested in pest control and the problems caused by pests as well as the pesticides we use to control pests.

Here are some questions most asked when thinking about pest control:-

- How can pests be reduced and controlled safely?

- Are the pesticides available, effective and safe?

- How and when should pesticides be used?

Pests are beneficial as well as a curse to mankind. Animals, bacteria and some insects are beneficial to people in many ways, but the same time they can also be pests. Pests such as rats, ants, cockroaches, mice and flies are common in houses and apartments. There should be an effective pest control to prevent pests in multiplying themselves in houses, which include effective pest management, pest control and pest prevention.

Pest Management

The best and most effective way for controlling pests is pest management which includes many steps. The first and most important step in Pest Control is to identify the pest problem. This includes finding out exactly what you are up against. Some pests (bacteria, animals) are really helpful to people, so it is very important to find out any harmful pests. The second thing is to decide how much pest control is necessary. Only the family who live in the affected area can judge how serious it is to take action. The third thing is to choose an available option for pest control such as chemical pest control or non chemical pest control.

You can control pests by many means; some of the options available are:-

Non Chemical pest control
Chemical pest control
Biological Methods
Another good solution for pest control is the use of chemical pesticides. It is not advisable in and around the home and commercial premises, as it will affect people adversely. The major drawback of this method is the result of the chemical pesticides treatment which are generally temporary, which in turn need repeated treatments. If used incorrectly, home-use pesticides can be poisonous to humans. While you are using chemical pesticides for pest control, the most important thing to remember is to take care in choosing the right pesticide product.

Another effective way in controlling pests is using the biological method. This is the method of using pest’s natural enemies to control them. Spiders, centipedes, ground beetles and ants are some of the beneficial bugs. This method is not harmful to people in any means and can be implemented effectively.

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