Your Pest Control Guide

Environmentally Safe and Effective Pest Control

Pest control techniques have moved away from the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides or chemicals that kill or repel pests, to an emphasis on more environmentally safe pest management system. Known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the new avatar of pest control adopts a system combining common pest prevention techniques with a controlled use of insecticides – both organic and chemical.

The world today has recognized the harmful effects of chemical pesticides on human health, on some animal and bird species, as well as the long-term devastating effect on the environment. It is important that chemical pesticides are used minimally.

The zappests.com gives you a comprehensive view of a variety of pest control techniques including organic and electronic pest control. Read on for an introduction to various types of pest control devices and pesticides. Harmful Effects of Chemical Pesticides Chemical pesticides can cause to the health of people and to the environment. Pest Control UK is one of the sources that offers more updated information on the pest and its controlling techniques.

Harmful chemical pesticides include

Carbamates - Carbamate compounds such as Carbaryl and Oxamyl affects an enzyme in our body called cholinesterase. This can cause disorders in our nervous system.

Organophosphates – Pesticides based on Organophosphates such as Malathion and Ethyl Parathion also affect the human nervous system.

Symptoms in carbamate and organophosphate exposure can be headaches, diarrhea and nausea and vision disturbance. Some types of chemical pesticides such as organochlorine compounds can harm the environment and have been banned in many countries, for example DDT. Chemical pesticides can also cause cancer and infant deformities.

Organic Pest Control or Biopesticides

Organic pest control techniques involve the use of natural materials for killing or repelling pests. The natural substances can be plant or animal based. It can also be a naturally-occurring mineral. Organic or natural pesticides are also called biopesticides.

Let's look at some other biopesticides in use:

Substances such as baking soda, Neem-based pesticide products such as Neem oil and boric acid are effective in repelling or destroying household pests such as ants and cockroaches.

Use of insect pheromones in organic pesticides can interfere with the reproduction of the insect pest, therefore reducing their populations.

Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt is a type of bacteria which is used for insect pest control. Genetic material is taken from Bt and injected into plants. The plants then can destroy pests' larvae such as moths and flies. Bt.Cotton and Bt.Brinjal are examples of the use of Bt. as a pesticide.

Electronic Pest Control Devices

The two types of electronic pest control devices are:-
Ultrasonic Pest Control Devices - These devices emit ultrasonic sound waves in frequencies that the human ear cannot hear. These high-frequency sound waves can be heard by insects, birds and rodents. The ultrasonic pest control devices can repel pests or can disrupt their reproduction, thus reducing their population.

Eletromagnetic Pest Control Devices - These devices create altered electromagnetic fields using the house wiring. This has an effect of repelling pests such as rodents.

Integrated Pest Management combines all these techniques to repel or eradicate pests with least harm to our health and environment.