Chapter 5 :-Pest Control

Pest:-  

        A pest is any living organism which competes with human,domestic animals or desirable plants for food or water. 

At the same time they spread diseases to mankind and harms the environment. 

Classification :-

I. Wingless :- Fleas, Lice, bedbugs, silverfish, beetles

II. Winged :- Mosquito, house flies, cockroach 

• Types of pests:-

1.)Fleas :- These are wingless insects 2-3 mm long with laterally flattened, hard thoraxes and abdomen, and three pairs of legs. 

• Fleas bite their host causing annoyance; and in case of humans, large red itching spot appears on the skin.
• Spraying with insecticide is a suitable way of eradicating them.

2.)Lice :- They are small wingless ectoparasites with hard chitinous covering and having three pairs of legs, each provided with a single claw.

• They live entirely on mammalian blood. They have oval grayish bodies that become brownish when filled with blood.
• There is no disease that can be directly attributed to lice, but they cause irritation and annoyance and loss of sleep.

3.)Bedbugs :- It is dark brown, thin, compressed creatures, so it takes it’s way in narrow cracks. 

• Both male and female bugs bite, which cause considerable irritation and may result in large red patches with swelling.
• Gammaxine, D.D.T or kerosene oil containing pyrethrum maybe sprayed for exterminating the bed bugs.

4.)Silverfish :-  They are wingless insects, silver gray in colour and about 1 cm long.

• Silver fish require a moist place in which to live.
•  They feed on starchy food, paste in wallpaper and books, and may attack clothing made of cotton or rayon, especially if starched.
• Gamaxine, D.D.T, pyrethrum maybe sprayed for exterminating silver fish.

5.)Carpet beetles :- The adult beetle feds on pollen and nectar of flowers, but lays it’s nest in old nests of birds, fabrics and accumulated fluff in buildings.

• Carpet beetles are now the major hostile pests and do more damage than moths.

• Frequent vacuum cleaning of fluff and debris from storage cupboards, floorboards, carpets and upholstery is the main means of control. Insecticide maybe sprayed between floorboards, under carpets, under felts and in the crevices.

6.)Wood burring beetles :- The common furniture beetle lays about 20-60 eggs in cracks and crevices of unfurnished wood.

• If small piles of bore dust beneath the holes indicate presence of active worms in the wood and treatment is necessary.
• To kill woodworm, the exit holes should be sprayed, brushed or injected several times with antokil, usprinol, pyrethrum, etc.

7.) Cockroach :- They are more likely to be found in the kitchen and restaurant than in accommodation areas, although cockroaches do not necessarily require human food; and will feed on whitewash, hair and books if no other food is available.

• Prevention can be done by hygienic disposal of food and waste and overall cleanliness of area.
• Chlardecome, may be used in cracks, crevices and holes; especially in brick or plasterwork through which warm pipes pass.

8.)Mosquitoes :- They are often referred to as ‘biting flies’ but they are in fact, piercing insects, for the jaws of the female are transferred into a needle like object with which to penetrate the skin, when a blood meal is required.

• Kerosene oil / diesel is sprayed on the surface of water once a week.

9.)Flies :- All garbage, kitchen wastes and similar refuse should be placed in garbage receptacles. 

• By flytraps, Spraying D.D.T, pyrethrum in kerosene, giolderin, chlordane or B.H.C will readily kill flies.

   

10.)Moth :- Clothes and house moths are of pale buff colour and are seen flying mainly between June and October.

• The materials that are attacked by moth (the grubs) are wool, fur, skin and feather.
• While feeding on these materials, the grubs form small holes in the articles and damage occurs frequently during the storage, because of the warmth, darkness and lack of disturbance.
• Calmly used moth deterrents are naphthalene, camphor tablets, Para dichlorobenzene, pyrethrum, etc.

11.) Rats and mice :- Rats and mice are more likely to be found in kitchens and dining rooms than in bedrooms.

• Scraps of food, candles, soaps, etc attract them. 
• Hygienic storage; disposal of food of all kinds of waste; and cleanliness of all areas where food is handled are important to prevent an infestation.

B.) Preventive measures and control measures :-

• Preventive measures :-

1. Read precautions and instructions 
2. Never exceed recommended concentration 
3. Store chemicals away from children, pets, food, etc. 
4. Wear gloves while handling pesticides 
5. Face mask should be used
6. Wash your hands after using pesticides 

• Control measures :-

1. Natural control:-

(i) Climate :- Weather condition effect population of pest. 

(ii) Natural enemies :- Some animals and birds fed on pest and control their population. 

(iii) Food and water supplies:- Pest population can develop as long as food and water supplies is there.

1. Biological control :- It envolves parasites. 
2. Physical control :- Various devices can be used to control pest.
3. Sanitation :- Good sanitation standards help to prevent pest attack. 
4. Chemical control :- Pesticides are used to destroy pest.