Trying to get rid of household pests, whether they are just nuisances like ants, cockroaches and mice or potential house-destroyers like termites, exacts a toll in time, frustration and cost. And often, it means turning to professionals.
Even under ideal circumstances, human intervention does not always have much impact on pest mortality: More than 500 of the most dominant insect pests are resistant to one or more chemical classes of pesticides.
So these days, while exterminators (now also called pest control operators, or PCOs) still use chemicals or pesticides, there is a growing movement that focuses on “integrated pest management.” This simply means fighting infestations in ways that are the least toxic to humans and to the environment.
The two schools are not mutually exclusive. Some old-school exterminators have begun responding to widespread consumer demand for less toxic chemical weapons by modifying their standard arsenals.
“Most products we use are ecologically balanced,” says Walter Schroeder, executive director of the Professional Pest Control Association of New York State, a trade group. “But they’re not as long lasting.”
Create a detour
While traditional exterminators lean toward chemical destruction, those using the integrated system prefer to detour pests, analyzing what attracts them in a particular home or apartment and why they congregate where they do.
“The aim is to reduce the food, water and shelter of pests by fixing leaks and caulking cracks so you close up their habitats,” says Sheila Daar, executive director of the Bio-Integral Resource Center, a Berkeley, Calif., non-profit group that provides information on the least toxic methods of managing pests.
Daar, a co-author of “Common-Sense Pest Control” (Taunton Press, 1991), adds: “For those areas you can’t reach easily, you can use low-toxic and non-toxic dusts, like silica aerogel, white packets that absorb water, which can be put in areas hard to caulk. Or you can use another non-toxic material, diatomaceous earth. These materials dehydrate insects. Boric acid is low in toxicity, too.”
Non-toxic glue traps for insects and mice are also recommended for those who want to avoid chemical warfare.
All these steps can be taken by the homeowner or apartment dweller or by specially trained exterminators. Integrated pest management is a long-term approach and so, the treatments “may take longer and you don’t get the control you may desire in a rapid fashion,” says Richard Kramer, director of research for the National Pest Control Association, in Dunn Loring, Va.
Prevention
Both schools of pest control agree that a preventive approach is preferable. The key is to reduce conditions that attract the pests by taking steps like these:
– Fixing leaks and keeping drains unclogged.
– Caulking cracks and crevices, like openings around pipes, fixtures and cabinetry.
– Vacuuming frequently.
– Putting food away in pest-proof containers and keeping counters, cabinets, garbage pails and ovens clean.
– Inspecting grocery bags and boxes for infestation, and not allowing recyclables, including newspapers and magazines, to accumulate.
If a pet owner must leave food out, Daar suggests placing the dish in a pie pan filled with soapy water. “This creates a moat that drowns roaches,” she says.
Outside, homeowners should store firewood off the ground and away from the house, trim tree limbs so they don’t hang over the house and drain standing water that can be a pest breeding ground.
When is a professional needed?
“If you see a single insect, you can probably handle it yourself with chemicals,” says Schroeder of the New York association. “But if you see four or so, you have an infestation and your best bet is to call a professional.”
And how is one chosen most intelligently?
Federal law requires pest control companies to have supervisory personnel certified by the states. Many state and local authorities also license pest control companies.
Hiring an exterminator
A good starting point in hiring an exterminator is to ask neighbors or friends for recommendations. Ask the professionals whether they have state certifications, local pest control licenses or memberships in local trade groups, which would show an interest in proper procedures. Some states require learning about environmentally safe procedures in their licensing process.
Check for complaints with the local Better Business Bureau and question the exterminator about any possible dangers or side effects from the chemicals that will be used. Ask for copies of the chemical labels to check the information.
A request to avoid the use of pesticides should be made early. “Ask if they will first use non-pesticides before going to pesticides,” says Anne Goldweber, a New York state assistant attorney general in the Environmental Protection Bureau. “If pesticides are necessary, request they use the least toxic method possible.”
It is standard procedure in cases involving certain chemicals for exterminators to ask whether any pregnant women, infants or elderly people live in the home. If so, and if they cannot be relocated for a day or two, an exterminator may refuse to treat the house.
There is no industry standard for contracts, so consumers should read all documents carefully and question anything that is unclear. Contracts should detail the period covered, the pests covered and the methods to be used. A general household pest control contract may well exclude carpenter ants and termites, which are more difficult to control.
Make sure the exterminator thoroughly inspects for conditions that may be contributing to pest problems. Homeowners should consider having a termite inspection every year, says Richard Weir, program manager of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Plainview, N.Y., and that will probably be included in your contract. Termites require close monitoring because they can destroy a building.
