Pests can ruin gardens and crops, damage homes, or cause disease. Some carry and spread dangerous bacteria, such as fleas, rats, flies, and cockroaches.
Some are ugly and unpleasant, like silverfish, earwigs, and beetles. Some bites or stings, such as fleas, ticks, bed bugs, and wasps, can be dangerous. Visit Our Website to learn more.
Insects are the most abundant animals on Earth and occupy nearly every ecological niche. They provide a vital food source for other species and are critical to the planet’s ecosystems. Insects decompose and recycle nutrients, disperse seeds, maintain soil structure and fertility, and control populations of many other organisms, assuming various roles, including predators, parasitoids, disease vectors, pollinators, and scavengers.
Unfortunately, most insects are pests that damage crops and other plants and require insecticides to be controlled. However, a relatively small percentage of insects are actually beneficial. Some examples include ladybugs (Lycoris xylina), green lacewings (Neotrichum nobileum), and parasitic wasps that lay their eggs inside the bodies of pests such as aphids and caterpillars. The presence of these natural predators can reduce crop damage and the need for chemical controls, resulting in less pesticide use and reduced environmental harm.
Another important function of insects is pollination, and this is why we rely on honeybees to help with our crop production. Other beneficial insects include mites, which consume fungi and scale insects, and lacewing larvae that prey on soft-bodied pests like thrips and aphids. Incorporating these insects into greenhouse IPM programs helps keep pest populations down without the use of harmful chemicals.
In addition to their benefits, insects are a major food source for reptiles, birds and mammals. If insect populations decline, the entire food web could collapse.
Insects can be a source of human diseases and are known to transmit bacteria, parasites and viruses. Infections attributed to arthropods (insects, ticks and fleas) are responsible for about 700,000 deaths per year worldwide. As with other agricultural commodities, public health authorities need to continue to monitor the risk of disease transmission from insects. It is important for scientists to increase our knowledge of the susceptibility of insects to pathogens, as well as their biology and ecology, so that we can develop safe and effective control methods. Additionally, it is critical to ensure that insect mass-rearing operations have strict biosecurity protocols in place to protect the health and safety of both humans and the insects.
Rodents
Rodents are the second most successful mammalian species and can be found in almost all terrestrial habitats. They have been the cause of numerous diseases in humans and animals, and their continuous gnawing can damage buildings and structures, including electrical wires and plumbing, causing fire hazards. Their droppings can contaminate food supplies and produce unpleasant odors. Several species of rodents, such as rats, mice, squirrels and groundhogs, are considered pests in both residential and commercial settings. Others, such as beavers, muskrats, and nutrias are considered to be beneficial because they are useful for fishing and forestry and provide food for predators of the other types of rodents.
Rats and mice are opportunistic feeders, taking advantage of whatever food is available in and around a building. Consequently, sanitation is critical to long-term control. Store foods in sealed containers, keep trashcans tightly closed, and wipe up spills and crumbs immediately. Also, inspect your property regularly for signs of rodents such as gnaw marks, droppings, and tracks. Look especially at entrance points, furniture, door frames and walls, and baseboards. Mouse gnaw marks tend to be finer, while those left by rats are more jagged.
Although some rodents, such as gerbils and hamsters, are considered pets, they require much more care than a dog or cat because they are prone to health problems. Moreover, their omnivorous diets can cause problems for the household if not properly fed. They are also fastidious groomers, and therefore will quickly groom away evidence of illness or disease. Therefore, if you notice that your pets are not eating or seem sick, it may be time to consult with an animal behavior specialist.
Weeds
Weeds are unwanted plants that compete with crops for resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients. Unwanted weeds can choke out the roots of crops, leaving them weak and susceptible to diseases, parasites, or pest infestation. Weeds also pose a fire hazard and can block the flow of water through irrigation systems. Some weeds, such as ragweed, can also pose health problems when inhaled or touched.
For these reasons, many gardeners consider weeds to be more of a nuisance than a benefit. However, some experts believe that a good gardening strategy must include the cultivation of desirable species along with the elimination of weeds. This strategy is based on the idea that all weeds are not created equal and that some weeds actually offer many benefits.
Some weeds protect the soil from erosion, improve the quality of the soil through the addition of organic matter, provide food for insects that prey on vegetable crops, and contribute to the overall ecosystem by attracting beneficial organisms. Others, such as prickly lettuce (Lactuca scariola) or wild mint (Mentha species), can be harmful to grazing animals and cause a variety of other problems in the field. They can interfere with the symbiotic relationship between fungi and crop roots, leading to a reduction in plant vigor and production. They may even produce chemicals that inhibit the growth of adjacent crops.
Moreover, a number of weeds, such as common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and chickweeds (Stellaria media), provide essential habitat for natural enemies of insect pests that can be damaging to vegetable crops. These predatory insects and parasitic wasps can become established in weedy areas and then move into vegetable fields to attack damaging insect pests.
Declaring war on weeds is a risky strategy. It can lead to overuse of herbicides, the development of herbicide resistance on conventional farms, and soil degradation on organic farms. It can also backfire, as it can in the case of invasive exotic plants such as the vines of kudzu (Pueraria thunbergiana) that have out-competed native vegetation and disrupted the ecology of large regions of the US. Integrated Pest Management strategies that use crop rotation, the cultivation of cover crops, and the mulching and covering of soil to suppress weeds can minimize the need for herbicides and other toxic chemicals.
Other Pests
Some organisms, such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses, are pests that cause disease or damage. They can affect people, plants, and animals. They can contaminate food, soil, water, or surfaces. These organisms can also deteriorate materials and lead to structural damage. They are often present in indoor spaces, such as homes and restaurants.
In general, pests are not inherently bad or good. They become a problem when conditions are right for them to thrive. Certain types of plant, wood, or animals are more resistant to pests. The resistance is a result of chemical, biological, or physical characteristics that make the material less attractive to the pest.
Climate influences pests by affecting the growth of their host plants and limiting their availability. In addition, some natural enemies of pests suppress their populations. These include birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish that feed on the pests or parasitic insects and insect-like organisms that kill or consume them.
Plant diseases are another major pest problem. Some of these fungi, like the Phytophthora foliar blight or Ceratocystis fimbriata, rot and devastate crops. Other plant diseases, such as leaf spots, rusts, or galls, merely deteriorate or discolor leaves and petals, whereas others can halt or even prevent the growth of entire plants.
Many pests, such as nematodes or potato cyst nematodes, are not able to be eliminated by chemicals because they live in the soil and water where plants grow. However, their presence can be controlled by reducing the number of other pests such as insects or herbivores that invade the crop.
Other types of pests, such as house flies and cockroaches, are often not a serious problem in outdoor areas because they are easily controlled by changing environmental conditions. For example, repairing torn screens and sealing gaps around doors and windows can prevent the entry of these pests into homes. Keeping foods and pet food in sealed containers can reduce the opportunity for flies and other pests to gain access to them. This also helps to eliminate discarded food that may attract pests. Eradication of pests is usually not a goal in outdoor settings, except when it is supported by government programs.