Are they using eco-friendly practices or simply just spraying dangerous chemicals to keep pests off of your property? Regardless of what they are doing, you should know exactly what is offered so that you can choose the best pest control method for your home.
In this blog, we will discuss the pros and cons of eco-friendly pest control, as well as educate you on the goals of an integrated pest management program. That way, you can be armed with the information to fully understand what works best for you and your home.
What Is Integrated Pest Management?
Integrated pest management is a term that is often thrown around in the pest control industry. At its core, it is an effective, eco-friendly method of controlling pest populations by using information about their life cycles and their interaction with the environment.
“IPM” sets out to fight off pests while also mitigating the risk to humans, property, and the environment. Furthermore, IPM uses a variety of pest management methods that reduce the use of chemical pesticides and emphasizes natural pest control.
Some of the methods used in the IPM ecosystem include:
- To control pests, biological control employs natural predators and parasites. For example, ladybugs can be used to control aphids, while parasitic wasps can be used to control caterpillars.
- Making an environment less conducive to pest growth is part of cultural control. For instance, eliminating food and water sources, clearing clutter, and maintaining good hygiene can all help prevent pest infestations.
- Pests are subject to mechanical control by being physically removed or by barriers being put up to keep them out of a structure or area. Pests can be kept out of a building by, among other things, caulking cracks and crevices, using screens on windows and doors, and installing door sweeps.
- Pests can be controlled chemically by applying pesticides. However, in eco-friendly IPM, only low-risk and least-toxic pesticides are used, and they are applied sparingly and only when necessary.
- Eco-friendly IPM relies heavily on education and awareness. Educating building occupants on ways to prevent pest infestations, such as proper sanitation and storage of food, can help reduce the need for pesticides.
Overall, eco-friendly integrated pest management is an effective and sustainable approach to pest control that prioritizes the safety of humans and the environment. By using a combination of biological, cultural, mechanical, chemical, and educational methods, it is possible to prevent and manage pest infestations while minimizing the use of harmful chemicals and reducing the impact on the environment.
Pros and Cons of IPM
There are plenty of pros and cons in regard to the eco-friendly methods set out by using IPM. While the pros truly do outweigh the cons, there are a few things of which to be aware.
Cons
Price: IPM is not cheap, but that doesn't mean it isn't viable for long-term control. While many other methods cost less upfront, over time, you will pay less. IPM methods are long-term and can radically change the way pest control is needed over time.
Starts Slow: Because of the way that IPM methods work, it does take a while before you see results. Sure, you can bomb your property with pesticides and see immediate results, but at what cost? With a more holistic approach, you can ensure that safer, longer-lasting results can be achieved.
Pros
Environment: IPM is eco-friendly for a reason. For one, you are not using dangerous chemicals which are not only dangerous to you and your pets but also can seep into your groundwater and hurt the environment around you. You don't have to control pests without subjecting the Earth to toxic chemicals.
Healthier Landscape: In addition to lightening your carbon footprint, using natural pest solutions doesn’t hurt flora and fauna around your home. It just keeps pests from invading. One of the contributing factors to the dying off of honeybees is pesticide use, and a healthy yard needs a healthy honeybee population.
Less Resistance: Because of the nature of integrated pest management, pests don’t develop resistance. Over time pesticides lose their effectiveness as many pests will evolve to resist the chemicals over multiple generations. IPM beats that resistance by using multiple methods, instead of just spraying chemicals.
IPM and Eco-Friendly Pest Control at Rid-A-Bug
Rid-A-Bug is dedicated to providing the best pest control services in the industry, and with the shift towards more environmentally friendly practices, we know how important it is to implement eco-friendly pest control in North Carolina.
Rid-A-Bug Exterminating has been the go-to company for solving pest and wildlife issues since 1972. With LEED Certified Treatments that emphasize IPM and non-chemical solutions to treat the issue, we get results and take maintaining the environment's health inside and outside of your home seriously.
If you have a pest or wildlife problem of your own, let us help. Call us at 1-800-682-5901, or fill out our online contact form. We have a large service area, and we offer weekend and evening hours. We will do everything we can to see you as soon as possible in order to prevent harm to your home or health.