Your maintenance team and you have probably taken great care in keeping your properties clean and sanitary. Even after meticulous maintenance, buildings may still be infested with pests. Infestations are any number of species that may cause damage to property, affect the health of building occupants, or create a nuisance. Once pests become noticeable, they often indicate a bigger problem and can even be an infestation.
Common pests
Pests are animals and insects that take up residence in places they shouldn’t. They can adapt to any habitat as long as they have enough food, shelter and water to survive and reproduce. Pests can be divided into three main categories.
The Birds Some of the birds that can be a nuisance are pigeons. Birds can be a nuisance in large numbers due to their droppings and nesting. Bird droppings can be highly acidic, and can damage many types of building materials.
Rodents The chewing of nesting material by rodents can lead to a great deal of damage. The droppings of rodents can carry diseases like salmonellosis. Inhaling dry rodent fecal material can cause allergic reactions.
Insects It is well-known that insects can cause health problems and damage. Mosquito bites and fleas are among the most common. Mosquitoes are a particular problem for grounds keeping crews and contractors working on construction sites. Electronic bug killers are useful for outdoor areas that remain permanently open, such as in hotels. Cockroaches can carry and transmit a wide range of diseases that can be serious.
Pest Control Methods
Idealistically, you want to stop an infestation from starting. Environmental Protection Agency provides some basic prevention techniques, such as:
- Remove food, shelter and water sources as much as possible.
- Close the lid tightly when disposing of trash.
- Remove clutter and areas where pests may hide.
- Seal any cracks and holes to prevent outside access.
If you have tried to prevent the problem but still can’t get rid of it, then it’s high time to act. Pest control techniques fall into three main categories.
Biological This refers to the use of living organisms in order to eliminate an infestation. It can range from parasites, predators and pathogens. Natural methods are beneficial because they do not use chemicals and can be less harmful to people or the environment. Most biological methods are not suitable for large pest infestations, such as insects or plants. They also take a long time to work.
Chemical The use of pesticides is a chemical pest control method. These solutions are usually easier to use and find than biological methods. Chemical controls can be more effective and deliver instant results. Repellents are solutions to deter pests from crawling or flying within your perimeter, or insecticides designed to kill insects. These toxins, despite their many benefits, can be harmful to the environment and health when exposed. However, most of these effects are temporary.
Physical Traps and netting are some examples of physical pest-control methods. Some methods are designed to prevent you from having to deal with pests, while others require you to use a trap to remove a pest.
Pest Control Types
The following charts describe some of most common pest problems that building and site managers encounter. They also provide some methods to eliminate these pests.