Green pest control does not mean ineffective pest control; rather, it is an integrated pest management or IPM. A pest control company that adopts IPM believes that prevention, customer awareness and education, and building inspections are just as important as pest control.
What is green pest control
Integrated pest management begins with learning how and why a pest entered a home or building. Professionals in this field know the life cycle of pests and their preferred nesting sites. Therefore, they can use innovative pest prevention techniques that are the least dangerous to plant life, property, pets, and people.
IPM uses common sense practices in coordination with environmentally sensitive chemicals. For example, instead of using harmful chemicals to prevent a pest from returning, pest control specialists can install preventative materials like new window and door screens, fresh caulk, new door sweeps, etc. Professionals can also set traps to learn about additional areas a pest can live in or install solar repellants as an alternative to using harmful chemicals.
The benefits of green pest control
Green pest control products are made from natural, organic ingredients. Additionally, these products are designed to be biodegradable and just as effective as their non-eco-friendly counterparts.
Green pest management practices help promote plant health and structure by providing a bio-based alternative to chemical sprays. The control tactics used in IPM are benign and therefore reduce the environmental risk that is often associated with traditional pest management, such as groundwater contamination. IPM also helps reduce the risk of an infestation and is a cost-effective solution.
How does it work
Rather than spraying a multipurpose pesticide all over an infested property, IPM experts use a process that establishes a threshold for action, monitors pests to identify them, prevents their return, and uses control methods.
When a threshold for action is established, the practitioner learns how large an infestation is, how dangerous the pests pose, and determines the type of immediate action needed.
When an IPM professional monitors for pests, they make sure they are identifying the pest correctly. Proper identification of a pest helps ensure the correct types of pesticides are used, but pesticides are avoided if they are not needed.
Preventing pest invasions is one of the key components to ecological pest control. IPM includes identifying and correcting problems that make a home or building welcoming to pests. Prevention is profitable and does not put the health of people or the earth at risk.
If pest prevention methods are ineffective on their own, control methods are required. When professionals implement a control method, they first assess its risk and effectiveness. Methods that pose the least risk are used first, such as cheating or using pheromones to interrupt mating. If established thresholds indicate that these methods are not effective, the control process shifts to the use of pesticides in specific areas.
What to look for in a green pest control company
When looking for a green pest control company, look for one that creates a plan that meets your needs. The company must consider the type of pest, the size of the infestation, and the environment in which the pests live.
Know the process and chemicals a company uses before hiring them. Some professionals use green pest control products initially and then follow them up with traditional chemicals, which you may not want. A good environmentally friendly exterminator should focus on using quality products that are low or non-toxic rather than products that are the least expensive, which are often highly toxic. In addition, quality green pest control companies educate their customers on how to prevent the return of pests, help correct conditions that attract them, and offer to install pest-proof materials.
The observation, prevention and intervention approach to the control of green pests helps consumers to have the peace of mind of knowing that removing pests from the home does not mean damaging the environment. Whenever you need the help of professionals to help with unwanted pests, keep in mind that green pest management is the only method that has your personal and financial well-being in mind.
~ Flora Richards-Gustafson, 2010
