pest

A crop duster applies low-insecticide bait that is targeted against Western corn rootworms

Pest control refers to the regulation or management of another species defined as a pest, usually because it is believed to be detrimental to a person's health, the ecology or the economy

Pest control is at least as old as agriculture. In order to maximize food production, it can be economically advantageous to protect crops from competing species of plants, as well as from herbivores competing with humans.

The conventional approach was probably the first to be employed, since it is comparatively easy to destroy weeds by burning them or plowing them under, and to kill larger competing herbivores, such as crows and other birds eating seeds. Techniques such as crop rotation, companion planting, also known as intercropping or mixed cropping, and the selective breeding of pest-resistant cultivars also have a long history.

Many pests have only become a problem because of the direct actions of humans. Modifying these actions can often substantially reduce the pest problem. In the USA, raccoons caused a nuisance by tearing open refuse sacks. Many householders introduced bins with locking lids, which deterred the raccoons from visiting. House flies tend to accumulate wherever there is human activity and is virtually a global phenomenon, especially where food or food waste is exposed. Similarly, seagulls have become a pest at many seaside resorts. Tourists would often feed the birds with scraps of fish and chips, and before long, the birds would become dependent on this food source and act aggressively towards humans.

In the UK, following concern about animal welfare, humane pest control and deterrence is gaining ground through the use of animal psychology rather than destruction. For instance, with the urban Red Fox which territorial behaviour is used against the animal, usually in conjunction with non-injurious chemical repellents.

Chemical pest control dates back 4,500 years, when the Sumerians used sulfur compounds as insecticides. The Rig Veda, which is about 4,000 years old, also mentions the use of poisonous plants for pest control. And the ancient Chinese and Egyptians are also known to have used chemical pest control. But it was only with the industrialization and mechanization of agriculture in the 18th and 19th century, and the introduction of the insecticides pyrethrum and derris that chemical pest control became the method of choice. In the 20th century, the discovery of several synthetic insecticides, such as DDT, and herbicides boosted this development. Chemical pest control is still the predominant type of pest control today, although its long-term effects led to a renewed interest in traditional and biological pest control towards the end of the 20th century.

Sign in Ilfracombe, England designed to help control Seagull presence

Choosing a Pest Professional

The American National Pest Management Association offers the following tips for selecting a qualified pest professional:

• Ask friends and neighbors to recommend pest control companies they have used successfully and how satisfied they were with the service.
• Be wary of the operator who comes to your home uninvited and offers to give your house a free inspection for pests. He or she may try to scare you into authorizing immediate and costly treatments.
• If a sizeable amount of money is involved, get bids from several pest control firms.
• Don’t rush a decision. Since you are paying for professional knowledge, look for someone whose judgement you can trust.
• Before signing a contract, be sure to fully understand the nature of the pest to be exterminated, the extent of the infestation, and the work necessary to solve the problem.
• Find out if the pest control company has liability insurance to cover any damages to your house
• Choose a pest professional that is a part of an established pest management association. Such pest professionals should have taken steps in education and training.
• If a guarantee is given, know what it covers, how long it lasts, what you must do to keep it in force, and what kind of continuing control, prevention and management are necessary.
• Buy value, not price. Beware of bargains that sound too good to be true.
• United States federal law requires commercial applicators of “restricted use” pest control products to be certified. The certification program is left up to the state. American homeowners can call the certifying state agencies for information. (In Nebraska and Colorado, they call the Environmental Protection Agency).

See also

• Biological pest control, for the control of one species through the control of its predators
  • Hedgehog, animal used as pest control against insects
• Crop rotation
• Invasive species
• List of common household pests
• Pesticide
• Sterile insect technique
• Weed control
• Rat-catcher
• Varminter
• Wildlife management
• Insectary plants
• List of politically endorsed exterminations of animals

External links

• National Pest Management Association
• History of Pest Management
• Pest control tactics
• Bed Bug infestations
• Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers - trade association of the biological control industry
• Pest management information from Preservation Department of Stanford University Libraries

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