There has been a progressive push towards eco-sustainability recently. This has unfortunately not done much to decrease the pest menace faced in most homes, gardens, and commercial property owners face. While pests were only controlled using toxic chemicals in the past, most people are not sold on this option. This is because of the adverse effects these chemicals have on the environment and human and pet health.
Thankfully, providers of pest control services in Virginia Beach now have eco-friendly alternatives for pest control. When most people hear of this option, they erroneously assume it is an ineffective and slow-acting one. Eco-friendly pest control employs methods with proven efficacy for the eradication of pests. The initial step pest exterminators will recommend when using these techniques is the establishment of an environment that deters pest infestation. This might mean proper storage of food, repair of broken entry points, and keeping your interiors and exteriors clean. The following are the commonly used eco-friendly pest control methods they will then employ.
Microbial Insecticides
These cause targeted pests to fall sick and do not affect other plant or animal life. One of the most common microbial insecticides is Bacillus thuringiensis. This is used to get rid of worm larvae that can prove hard to eradicate in your garden. The pesticide will paralyze the worm’s digestive tract and cause it to stop eating hence starve to death within a few days.
Insecticidal Soaps
These use fatty acids and salts to destroy soft-bodied pests like bugs, flies, and aphids in their early development stages. The soaps will penetrate the pests’ outer shells and damage their cell membranes. This heralds their breakdown, dehydration and eventual death. Some soaps are nonetheless toxic to specific plants, and care is thus essential when using them. The soaps are used to clean the infested areas of your property.
Insecticidal Oils
These work by suffocating pests. The oil will coat the target pest with a petroleum-based product and cut off its oxygen supply. Insecticidal oils are primarily used for managing pests in immature development stages and killing their eggs. They are quite effective since they spread very well and disintegrate quickly. The oils are sprayed on cold days on the infested area since temperatures above 85 degrees denature them.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is comprised of fossilized algae silica shells. Though the shells are microscopic, they have sharp projections that penetrate the bodies of pests. This causes the leakage of body fluids and the pest’s dehydration and death. Diatomaceous earth is used for eradicating soft-bodied pests like caterpillars, snails, slugs, and aphids. It is applied to soil when targeting ground-dwelling pests and moist areas for other pests.
Pest control does not necessarily mean toxicity to plant and animal life. With the above alternatives, you can effectively and safely get rid of even the most dangerous of pests. The products are nonetheless best handled and applied by a professional. This minimizes the risk of adverse effects on beneficial insects, and human and pet life and boosts their efficacy.
