Pest-Termite Control Technology
This article discusses the progress made in pest control technology over the last 60 years, and how this has led to a shift back to universal technicians who provide a broad range of pest control services. There has been a shift back to specialized services – particularly in “termite bait” – with technicians serving as general pest control or termite technicians, but not necessarily performing both services. DDT and chlordane served as the “fuel” for the industry dramatic growth as PCOs developed new business models designed to enhance profitability and grow the market for professional pest control services. – This growth in the pest control industry continued until the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to ban the use of certain chemicals in the 1970s. Since then, advances in pest management technology have been driven by biological breakthroughs that have allowed pest control companies to offer targeted applications for specific pests using universal technicians and specialized equipment. The introduction of more sophisticated tools and technology has allowed PCOs to continue their growth despite the changes in regulations. Today, the pest control industry has made tremendous progress towards using safer products while still allowing variety and accessibility. Manufacturers are constantly refining and fine tuning existing technologies while continuing to develop new ones that can be used by PCOs to grow their businesses.
The beginning of the pest control industry saw termite pest control treatments as their primary focus. As professional pest control services grew, they hired more control termite technicians to provide perimeter pest control programs like Termidor Termite Control. Later on, termite baiting was developed and with it came new business models for PCOs to use. This made general pest control services more accessible to a larger number of customers. Universal technicians were also deployed in homes, which allowed for a single technician to serve multiple customers in one day. This allowed the market to grow exponentially and witness a shift from specialized services towards more generalized ones. This proved especially beneficial in regions such as the United States’ South East, known as the nation’s termite belt.
The evolution of pest control technology has gained momentum over the years. Initially, pest management industry developed rudimentary home pest control methods to combat insects and other invasive species. Later, entomologists and chemists began using chemical pesticides to kill insects, leading to the eradication of pests using chemical pesticides. In the mid-20th century, scientists championed an ecological approach towards pest control best practices by domesticating mongooses to eradicate rodents and snakes. This practice was used by ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago as a way of controlling pests. As a result, modern scientists have been able to create chemical pesticides for effective killing of insects and invasive rodents in order to promote better pest control practices.
From ancient Chinese and Egyptian societies, we have seen experimentation with different herbs to use for controlling invasive pests. In Chinese societies around 1200 BC and 1500 BC, using herbs oils for pest control was common practice. Scheduling crop rotations and using different herbs to kill crop feeding pests were also implemented during this time period. The Egyptians used natural maintenance techniques such as burning crops in order to reduce the number of pests in their fields.
Pest Control during the Roman Empire really advanced. Herbal insecticides and solutions in such manner gave way to the evolution of pest control methods. To control pests, farmers can use natural enemies such as ladybugs, praying mantises and certain bird species to protect their crops. Exclusion and physical removal are also effective methods of pest control. Citrus growers may use mechanical tools to remove citrus mites that attack their crop.
This involves using simple equipment, such as hand clippers, to get rid of the mites. Biological pest control involves using other organisms to control pests and is becoming increasingly popular among farmers. This method relies on the introduction of natural enemies such as beneficial insects, plants, or mites that prey on the target pest species in order to reduce their population numbers.
The use of herbicides, insecticides and other biocides is an important part of modern pest control solutions. Insect pests have been controlled since ancient times using traditional, nonselective methods such as burning sulphur or arsenic, infusions of herbs, and by planting crops in close proximity to keep insects away from the crops. Since BC, humans have been using herbs as a way to control insect pests. In the early days of organized pest control in the United States, tobacco infusions and nicotine infusions were popular solutions for controlling crop-destroying insects.
However, these solutions were replaced by the use of pesticides and chemicals, which offered more effective and faster results. Unfortunately, this resulted in harmful side effects to humans and the environment. In recent years, pest control technology has evolved to allow for less environmental impact. Newer approaches focus on modifying pests behavior rather than removing them from their environment altogether. This includes tactics such as trapping, baiting, and exclusion that allow for more controlled results than broad-spectrum chemical applications. Additionally, newer technologies such as genetic modification technologies allow for the elimination of certain troublesome pests.
The use of pest control methods such as the introduction of natural predators, or the use of new chemical agents is also being explored. As a result, the pest control business has been revolutionized. Given the potential risks posed by harmful pest control products to both public health and the environment, companies involved in this industry must be aware of and comply with local policies regarding pesticide use. Furthermore, many companies are now focusing on environmentally friendly solutions that involve minimal amounts of pesticides while still achieving effective pest management. In addition to working on environmental concerns, businesses can improve their efficiency by minimizing the amount of chemicals used in their operations. To this end, governments have implemented public policies that require companies to adhere to an overhaul of their existing practices or invest in new solutions that will reduce manpower requirements and minimize harmful pesticide use.
One such approach is preventative pest management, which focuses on using baits and pesticides to combat infestations before they can spread. Repellents are also used to keep mosquitos and fleas away, while traps and baits can help contain infestations. Sanitation is another important aspect of pest control, as it helps reduce the number of unwanted animals that can spread diseases. Advanced procedures like growth regulators and garbage control can be used to modify habitats so as to make them less attractive to pests.
Pest control has been seen since the time of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, who used various synthetic insecticides and methods to control insect pests. Today, there are a variety of pesticides, herbicides, seed treatments, and other methods to kill pests. Professional rat catchers have been replaced by heat treatment, which uses high temperatures to kill rodents in places like flour mills. As technology has evolved so have pest control methods; modern technology uses thermal analyses and temperature trend models to help identify areas with potential pest infestations. Herbs are also used as natural alternatives in pest control that can be effective against certain insects. Fungicides can also be used for specific fungi-related problems.
The evolution of pest control technology has been an ongoing process for centuries. The oldest methods of pest control include cultivation and tillage which exposes wireworms, a very destructive pest, to predators such as birds and other animals. This is carried out in newly ploughed grassland to help with weed control. Other mechanical pest control methods referred to as ‘repeated cultivation’, exposes the larvae of the common click beetle at the same time period.