Home Pest Control
Eric Ronning
In most cases, the average do-it-yourself pest control enthusiast can do a bang-up job of home pest control without calling in the help of any professionals. Just remember that the more different types of pest control that are employed, the better your chances of success will be.
For many of us, our home is our fortress. Even when bad things happen, we can still take comfort in the familiarity of our surroundings. Because of this, we get pretty damn upset when our fortresses are invaded by unwanted pests. Pests that by their nature, though not their intent, diminish the comfort levels we so desire. It's with that in mind that this article was written. It's a general resource for a better understanding of the various methods of house pest control. Each paragraph contains both a brief definition of a particular branch of residential pest control and some fundamental tactics for dealing with a wide variety of both insect and rodent pest populations.
Controlling House Pests
Use behavioral control methods for home pest control. Behavioral control refers to things you can change in your own behavior to help with home pest control. The most crucial change you can make is in regards to cleanliness. Dirty dishes, counters, and floors are an open invitation for small pests. Once they show up, larger pests are bound to come in, see the little pests, and eat them. After that, even larger pests are gonna . . . well, you get it. So, do the dishes; wipe the counters; sweep and mop; vacuum; clean the cupboards; store foods like cereals, crackers, cookies, chips, pastas, etc., in containers with tight-fitting lids; start taking the garbage out on a regular basis; and get yourself a new trash can with a tight-fitting lid. Next, start reducing clutter. Anything lying around (clothes, bedding, magazines, newspapers, etc.) is a potential hiding spot for pests.
Employ habitat control tactics for home pest control. This means changing the aspects of your home that make it a suitable place for pests to live. Start by reducing humidity and eliminating water sources. Set up a few dehumidifiers, put fans in rooms with otherwise low airflow, and check all pipes and faucets for leaks or drips. Next, go outside and clear as much plant material (shrubs, trees, weeds, grasses, flowers, ivy, mulch, etc.) away from the house as possible. All those things are doing is providing the shelter necessary to make pests comfortable near your home. If they are comfortable near it, they'll soon be comfortable in it. Finally, change any white outdoor lights you have to yellow bug lights, sodium lights, or LED lights. Plain white lights attract lots of insect pests to your house, which, in turn, attract other pests that like to eat them.
Apply some physical control methods. Physical control methods are those methods designed to exclude pests from your home either through the modification or repair of existing structures or through the application of pest barriers. Start by walking around your house with a caulking gun and looking for holes to fill. Pay close attention to areas around electrical components such as outdoor lights, outlets, and places where wires, cables, and phone lines enter the home. Also look for cracks or gaps in the foundation. Next, repair any damaged window screens, make sure the screens and windows are tight fitting, and install weather stripping. If there are gaps around the framing, caulk them. Do the same for doors. Once they're caulked, install door sweeps and weather stripping. Finally, install insect and pest screens on all of your home's vents and apply a chimney cap.
Use mechanical control tactics. Mechanical pest control is exactly as it sounds: using mechanical devices for pest control. The most common of these are traps. This is because there are a million different types of traps for a million different types of pests. There are snap traps, live traps, paper/cardboard traps, pit traps, harpoon traps, scissor traps, and sticky traps (just to name a few) for dealing with larger pests like mammals and lizards. For killing pests like insects, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, etc., there are light traps, wet traps, fly papers, pheromone traps, and, of course, sticky traps. And let's not forget the vacuum cleaner. A vacuum with a hose attachment works great for exterminating both large congregations of insect pests and individual pests. Using a vacuum's normal upright position is great for pests like fleas, lice, and carpet beetles. Ultrasonic pest control products have also become popular. It's difficult, however, to say how well they work.
Consider using biological control methods. Biological control relies solely on organic pest control products and natural pest control practices. Pyrethrins, made from certain chrysanthemum flowers; diatomaceous earth, made from the fossilized remains of microscopic ocean critters; and boric acid, made from the mineral borate, are the three most commonly used and effective green pest control products. As for natural pest control practices, consider letting predator pests such as earwigs, spiders, and house centipedes live. They eat a ridiculous number of pests. Also consider getting yourself a cat. Felines are amazing hunters and are generally pretty happy to kill and eat everything from rodents to spiders to beetles. Finally, there are a number of herbs and plants (e.g., cloves, bay leaves, eucalyptus, mint, hedge balls) that are reported to, when spread around the house, repel insect and spider pests. For more information, please see my article on Natural Pest Control.
Go nuclear with chemical pest control. Chemical control involves the use of chemical pest control products. Frequently, they're the same products, or at least have the same active ingredients, as those used by professional pest exterminators. The only differences are the packaging, quantities, and active ingredient percentages. Some are designed for use with a sprayer, some are granules, some are baits, and some are powders. Most kill pests by acting on their nervous, respiratory, or digestive system, or by disrupting growth, molting, and/or reproduction. Often, along with their immediate knockdown power, they'll continue to work residually. Because it's such a broad topic, and space here is limited, I strongly recommend that you search out our articles on specific pests you're looking to control. In them you'll find the specific chemical control recommendations you're looking for. Always remember to read and follow the directions and heed all warnings.