The pest control industry has evolved and seen a lot of modifications over the years. This is because it’s constantly seeking new ways to control and properly manage pests. The industry will continue to look for better ways to manage and prevent infestations using extensive, rigorous research and groundbreaking technology.
The main objective behind researching and implementing new pest control strategies is to reduce the impact that pests have on the environment and their hosts.
Looking forward, pest control will continue to evolve in the coming years. The average farmer and pet owner can anticipate a better life because of the new methods being developed. Beyond that, these newer methods are even more cost-effective than the systems currently in use.
Here are some of the newer methods being implemented in the management and prevention of pests.
Monitoring Devices
PestWatch is one tool among the monitoring devices currently out there. It’s a pest database that helps farmers monitor the kinds of pests that are common in their area.
The participating farmers set pheromone traps designed to attract all kinds of pests over a period of time. They then upload the data they have to the PestWatch database. It’s uploaded to an interactive map and made available for preventive measures.
Not only is the geographic information system (GIS) technology useful to the farmer, but it’s equally important to building professionals and homeowners. They can now have information about the pests that are common in a particular location. This will help everyone to create a pest control plan to manage and mitigate pest issues in their area.
Fertility Control
Moving away from the traditional methods, pest control experts can now combat some insects through fertility control. These methods use the insect’s biology to disrupt its normal life cycle. Replicated insect hormones and regulated growth ensure that the pests can’t reach full maturity. This method destroys their reproductive abilities and prevents an infestation from occurring.
Genetic Modifications
The discovery of new diseases, like the Zika virus, has kept the United States on its toes. Scientists are now developing new technologies to fight mosquito-borne diseases.
Oxitec, a research company, has introduced genetically modified male mosquitoes. Whenever these males mate with wild female mosquitoes, their offspring will die before maturity. According to the company, this method is quite effective and is better aimed at dealing with these insects than the methods currently in use.
But not everyone thinks it’s okay to have genetically modified mosquitoes in their communities. In fact, the FDA approved this method in Florida, which then met loud opposition. They slowed down the process to reconsider and modify the plan.
In another study on flies, scientists were able to remove a gene that could be useful in controlling infestations. These scientists from the University of Hawaii were able to remove this gene from adult flies and observed a 50% decrease in their lifespan. The flies began to stick to surfaces and couldn’t break free. This lack of freedom, on its own, is good news for the pest control industry.
Bedbug Infestation Control
Researchers from the University of California have observed patterns in the way that bed bugs shed their skin. According to the researchers, the bed bugs were often found close to the areas where they had previously shed their skin. This could be useful for controlling these pests.
They believe that these findings will be instrumental in developing monitoring devices to prevent infestations. This research is still in the early stages. While the technology still needs further testing and development, its potency and the fact that it will exist in the future are exciting. Commercial property owners will find this intriguing.
Introducing CO2
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a new pest control technology using CO2. Traditionally, pest control experts would fumigate using toxic chemicals. This method is effective at managing pests, but it costs a great deal. And by cost, we don’t mean direct monetary value. We’re referring to the impact that such chemicals have on the environment and even on human health.
On top of this, for your safety and the safety of your loved ones, if a pest control company carries out a full fumigation in and around your home, it may take up to one whole week for the chemical to complete its job. So you’d have to vacate the area for a week before it would be safe enough for you to return.
The introduction of CO2 as a more effective way to deal with pests happened because of these safety and comfort issues. With CO2, people can return to their homes and farms quicker. The method itself is even safer. The only harm it seems to cause is to the pests as it suffocates them without contaminating the area.
There are still many pest control outfits that are yet to come on board with this approach. But we are happy to say that this method is gaining widespread popularity across the country. It will become very common in no time.
Conclusion
For the most part, the future in the pest control industry seems bright. Many technological innovations are allowing us to use more effective, cheaper, and safer pest control methods. Not only are these methods human-friendly, but they also protect the environment—a cause we all must fight for.