Let's face it: Most "green" products don't work all that well. They cost more and people who use them generally take a mightier opinion of themselves, just because they are using some green product.

Green products are what marketers call Lifestyle Products. They are meant to make somebody feel better about themselves simply because they are being "environmentally responsible." At least, they think they are, but take a look at some "green" initiatives:

DDT - Millions have died due to malaria and crop failures since it was banned. Proved safe before it was banned, the possibility of it being a carcinogen (it is not) combined with the false belief that it was killing California Condors kept this bug-killer off the market.

Low-Flow Toilets - Intended to save water, these toilets often have to be flushed multiple times to work properly, saving nothing.

Pest Control Service - Apex Pest Control Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK

Are you looking for PestControl in Leeds?

Find out more about Apex Pest Control Leeds and to book a visit. NPTA member and professional pest experts.

Pest Control Service

Pest management is the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest, an animal member of the kingdom which has an adverse effect on a persons activities. The response by humans depends on the severity of the harm caused, and will vary from tolerating, to containing, and managing, to trying to eliminate a pest entirely. Pest management measures can be implemented as part of an integrated pest management strategy.

In agriculture, pests are controlled through cultural, chemical, and biological means. Tilling soil prior to planting reduces pest loads, and a contemporary tendency is toward restricting pesticides wherever possible. This can be achieved by monitoring crops, applying pesticides only if needed, and growing varieties and crops that are resistant to pests.

Where feasible, biological means are used, encouraging the natural enemies of pests, and by introducing appropriate predators or parasites. In domestic and urban environments, pests are rodents, birds, insects, and other organisms that share the habitat with humans, as well as feeding on and defiling property. Controlling these pests is attempted by exclusion, exclusion, physical removal, or chemical means. Alternatively, a variety of biological control methods including sterilization programs may be used.

Modern pest management was spurred on by the expansion across the US of the Colorado potato beetle. After considerable debate, arsenical compounds were used to control the beetle, and the predicted poisoning of human populations did not occur. This led to widespread adoption of insecticides throughout the continent.

Biological pest control is the technique for controlling pests, such as insects and ticks, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, pestody, or other natural mechanisms, but usually involves an active human management role, too. Classical biological control involves introducing P-natural enemies, which are cultured in the laboratory and released in the environment. An alternate approach is to amplify the natural enemies occurring in a specific region by releasing many more, either in small, repeated batches, or a large-scale, one-time release. Ideally, the released organisms will multiply and persist, providing a lasting control.

Biological controls can be a critical component of an integrated pest control program. For example: Mosquitoes are frequently controlled by the application of Bacillus Thuringiensis SSP, which is Bt. Tilling crops opens insects pests up to predators, like black-headed gulls. The tree-dwelling soldier spruce budworm (adults and pupae shown), a major pest in forests, can be monitored with pheromone traps. Mechanical insect management is the use of manual techniques, along with equipment and simple devices, which creates a protective barrier between plants and insects.

This is called tilling, and is one of the oldest methods of controlling weeds, and is also helpful in controlling pests; Wireworms, the larvae of the common clicking bug, are highly disruptive pests on freshly tilled meadows, and repeated tilling exposes them to birds and other predators who feed on them. Crop rotation helps control pests by denying them a host plant. It is the primary control tactic for corn rootworms, and has reduced the early-season potato beetle infestations as much as 95 percent.

A trap crop is a crop on one plant that attracts pests, attracting them away from neighbouring crops. However, cropping with a trap alone has generally failed to cost-effectively reduce pest densities at large, commercial scales, without using pesticides, perhaps because of pests ability to spread back to main fields. Pesticides are applied to crops either from agricultural planes, tractor-mounted crop sprayers, aerial spraying from modern jets, or as seed dressings for pest control.

However, pesticides are not easily controlled successfully; proper formulations need to be chosen, timing is often crucial, the application method is important, adequate cover and residues need to be maintained over crops. The killing of the natural enemies of the targeted pest should be minimised. This is especially important in countries that have natural reservoirs of pests and their enemies in the countryside surrounding the planted crops, and they exist in delicate equilibrium. Often, in less developed countries, crops are well-adapted to local conditions, and no pesticides are needed.

Where progressive farmers are using chemical fertilizers to develop better varieties of crops, they are usually more vulnerable to insect damage, but the indiscriminate use of pesticides can have a long-term damaging effect. The effectiveness of chemical pesticides generally decreases with time. This is because every organism that can survive an initial application will pass its genes on to its descendants, and a resistant strain will be developed.

In this way, some of the worst pests have developed resistance, and are no longer killed by pesticides that once killed their ancestors. This has required higher concentrations of chemicals, more frequent applications, and the move toward higher-cost formulations.

Pesticides are designed to kill the pest, but many have harmful effects on non-target species; damage done to honeybees, solitary bees, and other pollinating insects is particularly concerning, and the timing of the application can be significant in this respect. The commonly used neonicotinoids are banned from flower crops in some countries due to their effects on bees. Some pesticides can cause cancer and other health problems in humans, and are also harmful to wildlife.

A modern wood engraving showing vermin hunters shooting passenger pigeons, a species of vermin known for damaging crops. Overhunting led to a total extinction of the species.

Pest control could also be achieved through the harvesting of P-type animals--generally wild or feral mammals or birds that occupy an ecological niche close to farms, ranches, or other human habitation--by hiring human hunters or trappers to physically hunt, kill, and remove them from an area. The animals being culled, known as vermin, can be targeted because they are considered detrimental to crop, livestock, or industrial crops; serve as hosts or vectors for transmitting disease organisms between species or among humans; or to population control as a means to protect other species and fragile ecosystems. Pest control through hunting, as with all forms of harvest, has placed an artificial selective pressure on the target organism.

Forest pests pose a considerable challenge, as accessing canopy areas and monitoring the population of pests is difficult. In addition, forestry pests, such as bark beetles, which are controlled by natural enemies within their native range, can be transported long distances on chopped wood to places that do not have natural predators, thus making it possible for them to inflict significant economic harm. Pheromone traps have been used to monitor infestations of pests within the canopy.

These emit a volatile chemical which attracts the males. Pheromone traps may be used to detect a pests arrival, or to warn forestry managers about an outbreak.

Many unwanted animals visit or make homes in residences, industrial sites, and urban areas. Some have been found to be harmful to food, damaging structural wood, chewing fabric, or contaminated stored dried goods. Some inflict large economic losses, others transmit diseases or create fire hazards, while others are simply an inconvenience. Controlling these pests has been attempted through improved sanitation and trash management, modification of habitat, and use of repellents, growth regulators, traps, baits, and pesticides.

Mouse infestations in are common during the winter when they infest lofts, wall cavities, and out buildings. As the mouse moves around your home they will contaminate the area with urine and droppings. When mice are present in the kitchen there is a risk of food poisoning.

Mice are able to squeeze through the smallest of gaps if you can fit a pen or pencil into a hole, then a mouse will be able to squeeze through it. Two species of mice are common pests in the Leeds and Yorkshire areas they are house mouse and the wood mouse. House mice are as the name suggests is most often found indoors. The wood mouse generally lives in the countryside but is more than happy to share your home. Rodents including mice have a compulsive need to gnaw this is in order to keep their incisor teeth down to a constant length.

Mice live in nests which they often built inside your home. The mouse will make its nest wherever there is access to a good food source. Spaces under floors wall cavities and lofts are favoured places for mice to make their home the nests are made of cloth, wool, paper and plastics in fact any suitable material the mouse can find.

Mice are sporadic feeders, They will eat little and often nibbling at many sources of food rather than taking repeated meals from any one source. The mouses traditional food is cereal grain seeds etc. but they will will eat almost anything. Mice do not need to regularly drink water they will obtain moisture from their food.

Pest control is the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest, a member of the animal kingdom that impacts adversely on human activities. The human response depends on the importance of the damage done and will range from tolerance, through deterrence and management, to attempts to completely eradicate the pest. Pest control measures may be performed as part of an integrated pest management strategy.

In agriculture, pests are kept at bay by cultural, chemical and biological means. Ploughing and cultivation of the soil before sowing mitigate the pest burden and there is a modern trend to limit the use of pesticides as far as possible.

This can be achieved by monitoring the crop, only applying insecticides when necessary, and by growing varieties and crops which are resistant to pests. Where possible, biological means are used, encouraging the natural enemies of the pests and introducing suitable predators or parasites.

In homes and urban environments, the pests are the rodents, birds, insects and other organisms that share the habitat with humans, and that feed on and spoil possessions. Control of these pests is attempted through exclusion, repulsion, physical removal or chemical means. Alternatively, various methods of biological control can be used including sterilisation programmes.

Contents

• In agriculture, horticulture, and forestry

• Control methods

• Biological pest control

• Cultural control

• Trap cropping

• Pesticides

• Hunting

• Forestry

• in homes and cities

• General methods

• Physical pest control

• Poisoned bait

• Fumigation

• Sterilization

• Insulation

• Methods for specific pests

• Rodent control

• Urban rodent control

• Natural rodent control

• Pantry pests

• Clothes moths

• Carpet beetles

• Bookworms

• Beetles

• Termites

• Mosquitoes

United Kingdom

Modern pest control was stimulated by the spread across the United States of the Colorado potato beetle. After much discussion, arsenical compounds were used to control the beetle and the predicted poisoning of the human population did not occur.

This led the way to a widespread acceptance of insecticides across the continent. With the industrialisation and mechanization of agriculture in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the introduction of the insecticides pyrethrum and derris, chemical pest control became widespread. 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 a renewed interest in traditional and biological pest control developed towards the end of the 20th century and continues to this day.

In agriculture, horticulture, and forestry

Control methods

Biological pest control

Biological pest control: parasitoid wasp (Cotesia congregata) adult with pupal cocoons on its host, a tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta (green background)

Biological pest control is a method of controlling pests such as insects and mites by using other organisms.

It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, parasitody or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. Classical biological control involves the introduction of natural enemies of the pest that are bred in the laboratory and released into the environment.

An alternative approach is to augment the natural enemies that occur in a particular area by releasing more, either in small, repeated batches, or in a single large-scale release.

Ideally, the released organism will breed and survive, and provide long-term control. Biological control can be an important component of an integrated pest management programme.

For example: mosquitoes are often controlled by putting Bt Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis, a bacterium that infects and kills mosquito larvae, in local water sources.

Trap cropping

Main article: Trap crop

A trap crop is a crop of a plant that attracts pests, diverting them from nearby crops.[13] Pests aggregated on the trap crop can be more easily controlled using pesticides or other methods.

However, trap-cropping, on its own, has often failed to cost effectively reduce pest densities on large commercial scales, without the use of pesticides, possibly due to the pests' ability to disperse back into the main field.

Pesticides

Main article: Pesticide

Spraying pine logs with insecticide against Ips sexdentatus, a pine engraver beetle

Pesticides are applied to crops by agricultural aircraft, tractor-mounted crop sprayers, aerial spray by modern aircraft or as seed dressings to control pests.

However, successful control by pesticides is not easy; the right formulation must be chosen, the timing is often critical, the method of application is important, adequate coverage and retention on the crop are necessary. The killing of natural enemies of the target pest should be minimized.

This is particularly important in countries where there are natural reservoirs of pests and their enemies in the countryside surrounding plantation crops, and these co-exist in a delicate balance. Often in less-developed countries, the crops are well adapted to the local situation and no pesticides are needed.

Where progressive farmers are using fertilizers to grow improved crop varieties, these are often more susceptible to pest damage, but the indiscriminate application of pesticides may be detrimental in the longer term.

The efficacy of chemical pesticides tends to diminish over time. This is because any organism that manages to survive the initial application will pass on its genes to its offspring and a resistant strain will be developed.

In this way, some of the most serious pests have developed resistance and are no longer killed by pesticides that used to kill their ancestors.

This necessitates higher concentrations of chemical, more frequent applications and a movement to more expensive formulations.

Pesticides are formulated to kill pests, but many have detrimental effects on non-target species; of particular concern is the damage done to honey-bees, solitary bees and other pollinating insects and in this regard, the time of day when the spray is applied can be important.

The widely used neonicotinoids have been banned on flowering crops in some countries because of their effects on bee

Some pesticides may cause cancer and other health problems in humans, as well as being harmful to wildlife. There can be acute effects immediately after exposure or chronic effects after continuous low-level, or occasional exposure.Maximum residue limits for pesticides in foodstuffs and animal feed are set by many nations.

Forestry

Further information: Forestry

Forest pests present a significant problem because it is not easy to access the canopy and monitor pest populations. In addition, forestry pests such as bark beetles, kept under control by natural enemies in their native range, may be transported large distances in cut timber to places where they have no natural predators, enabling them to cause extensive economic damage.

Pheromone traps have been used to monitor pest populations in the canopy. These release volatile chemicals that attract males. Pheromone traps can detect the arrival of pests or alert foresters to outbreaks.

For example, the spruce budworm, a destructive pest of spruce and balsam fir, has been monitored using pheromone traps in Canadian forests for several decades. In some regions, such as New Brunswick, areas of forest are sprayed with pesticide to control the budworm population and prevent the damage caused during outbreaks.

In homes and cities

Many unwelcome animals visit or make their home in residential buildings, industrial sites and urban areas. Some contaminate foodstuffs, damage structural timbers, chew through fabrics or infest stored dry goods.

Some inflict great economic loss, others carry diseases or cause fire hazards, and some are just a nuisance. Control of these pests has been attempted by improving sanitation and garbage control, modifying the habitat, and using repellents, growth regulators, traps, baits and pesticides.

General methods

Physical pest control

Main article: Physical pest control

Physical pest control involves trapping or killing pests such as insects and rodents. Historically, local people or paid rat-catchers caught and killed rodents using dogs and traps. On a domestic scale, sticky flypapers are used to trap flies.

In larger buildings, insects may be trapped using such means as pheromones, synthetic volatile chemicals or ultraviolet light to attract the insects; some have a sticky base or an electrically charged grid to kill them. Glueboards are sometimes used for monitoring cockroaches and to catch rodents.

Rodents can be killed by suitably baited spring traps and can be caught in cage traps for relocation. Talcum powder or "tracking powder" can be used to establish routes used by rodents inside buildings and acoustic devices can be used for detecting beetles in structural timbers.

Poisoned bait is a common method for controlling rats, mice, birds, slugs, snails, ants, cockroaches, and other pests. The basic granules, or other formulation, contains a food attractant for the target species and a suitable poison.

For ants, a slow-acting toxin is needed so that the workers have time to carry the substance back to the colony, and for flies, a quick-acting substance to prevent further egg-laying and nuisance.[29] Baits for slugs and snails often contain the molluscide metaldehyde, dangerous to children and household pets.

An article in Scientific American in 1885 described effective elimination of a cockroach infestation using fresh cucumber peels.

Bait being placed in a rodent bait box.

Warfarin has traditionally been used to kill rodents, but many populations have developed resistance to this anticoagulant, and difenacoum may be substituted. These are cumulative poisons, requiring bait stations to be topped up regularly. Poisoned meat has been used for centuries to kill animals such as wolves and birds of prey.

Poisoned carcasses however kill a wide range of carrion feeders, not only the targeted species.[32] Raptors in Israel were nearly wiped out following a period of intense poisoning of rats and other crop pests.

Fumigation

Main article: Fumigation

Tent fumigation of a house in America

Fumigation is the treatment of a structure to kill pests such as wood-boring beetles by sealing it or surrounding it with an airtight cover such as a tent, and fogging with liquid insecticide for an extended period, typically of 24–72 hours.

This is costly and inconvenient as the structure cannot be used during the treatment, but it targets all life stages of pests

An alternative, space treatment, is fogging or misting to disperse a liquid insecticide in the atmosphere within a building without evacuation or airtight sealing, allowing most work within the building to continue, at the cost of reduced penetration. Contact insecticides are generally used to minimize long-lasting residual effects.

Sterilization

Populations of pest insects can sometimes be dramatically reduced by the release of sterile individuals. This involves the mass rearing of a pest, sterilising it by means of X-rays or some other means, and releasing it into a wild population. It is particularly useful where a female only mates once and where the insect does not disperse widely.

This technique has been successfully used against the New World screw-worm fly, some species of tsetse fly, tropical fruit flies, the pink bollworm and the codling moth, among others.

Laboratory studies conducted with U-5897 (3-chloro-1,2-propanediol) were attempted in the early 1970s for rat control, although these proved unsuccessful.

In 2013, New York City tested sterilization traps,[39] demonstrating a 43% reduction in rat populations. The product ContraPest was approved for the sterilization of rodents by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in August 2016.

Urban rodent control

Rodent control is vital in cities.  New York City and cities across the state dramatically reduced their rodent populations in the early 1970s.  Rio de Janeiro claims a reduction of 80% over only 2 years shortly thereafter.

To better target efforts, London began scientifically surveying populations in 1972 and this was so useful that all Local Authorities in England and Wales soon followed.