Pezz Pest Control is a wide variety of techniques used to rid homes, farms and businesses of unwanted pests. These include physical, biological and chemical methods.

Pesticides are chemicals that kill or repel specific pests. They must be carefully selected and applied to avoid harming non-target insects or animals. It’s important to read and follow pesticide labels.

Rats are a troublesome pest that can cause damage in and around buildings, crops and gardens. They can also contaminate food and transmit parasites and diseases to humans, pets and livestock. Indicators of a rat infestation include droppings, rub marks and feeding damage. The best way to keep rats away from buildings is to seal entry points and remove food, water and shelter. Snap traps are the most effective, safe and economical rodent control method.

A rat infestation can cost businesses and households a fortune. In addition to the loss of reputation and lost business, many businesses face fines from Environmental Health Officers for poor rat management.

In the past, harsh winters would naturally cull rat populations, but milder weather has seen them thrive in recent years. They are known to carry a wide range of disease-causing pathogens, and can transmit them to people through contact with their urine or body fluids, particularly if they contaminate food preparation areas.

The smallest of rats can fit through gaps as small as one inch, so a home owner should ensure that all access points are sealed properly. This includes any rat-accessible vents and ducts, openings for water pipes and electrical wires, drain spouts and foundations. A rat can chew through almost anything, including cinderblock, wood and metal, so a rat-proofing programme should also involve covering any unprotected areas with wire mesh or heavy sheet metal.

A rat infestation should always be dealt with quickly, before the problem escalates. In the meantime, residents should make sure that sheds and other buildings are kept clear of debris that could provide rats with a hiding place, and check that doors and windows shut tightly. They should also listen for scurrying sounds and look for signs of gnawing and scratching in dark places.

Pest control professionals use a variety of fast-acting rat removal methods, but even these can take time to work effectively. Follow-up visits are essential to assess progress, look for re-infestation indicators and make necessary adjustments. In severe cases, pest control services can recommend fumigation, which involves using gaseous poison to rid enclosed spaces of rats.

Rodents

Rodents, which are members of the order Rodentia, are very diverse mammals with different ecological and habitat requirements. Their common morphological feature is the presence of a single upper and lower pair of incisor teeth that grow continuously and must be gnawed away to make room for the next set of front teeth. The well-known rodents are mice and rats, although squirrels, voles, porcupines and beavers also belong to this group. They are found in every terrestrial habitat and often use human structures for food and shelter.

Rats and mice reproduce rapidly, with a female mouse having up to 10 litters of 5-6 young each year. Consequently, rodent populations can quickly get out of control in homes and commercial buildings, where food and water are readily available. Effective pest control begins with a thorough inspection to identify the conditions that attract rodents to a location. Look for tracks, gnawing damage and grease marks. It is important to keep firewood elevated and away from buildings and not to store garbage in the vicinity of a building. Keeping the lawn and surrounding area free of debris, weeds and overgrown vegetation also helps to prevent rodent attraction. Planting bushes and shrubs that provide natural rodent deterrents, such as the bush elderberry and prickly pear, can be helpful. Installing barn owl and other predator nest boxes is another good control measure.

Chemical rodenticides can be very effective at removing existing rodent populations. However, they offer little or no prevention and should always be accompanied by other control measures. Rodenticides are toxic to other animals and humans and may cause serious or even fatal illness if they come into contact with skin, eyes or mouth. In addition, they can be transferred to people and pets by inhalation or ingested through foods that contain residues from the dead rodents.

The most effective control measures for preventing rodents are those that remove the food and shelter they seek. This includes ensuring that food is stored in tightly sealed containers and that compost piles are kept as far away from buildings as possible, reducing the amount of weeds or grass near buildings and regularly inspecting for rodent signs such as tracks and droppings.

Spiders

Despite what you may have heard in the media, a vanishingly small number of spiders are dangerous to people. These eight-legged arachnids prey on insects, and they can help keep pest populations in check in your yard and home. However, a large infestation can cause stress and fear in the home environment. Some species of spiders also bite, and the venom from some can be painful or even fatal for humans.

Thorough inspection of your home and property by a professional will help you determine the best approach for spider control. Treatment options may include insecticide dusts or aerosols sprayed in cracks and crevices that spiders frequent. However, spraying can be problematic since most insects habitually clean their mouthparts with legs and feet as they walk through tight surfaces, allowing the sprayed pesticide to be transferred to the spider’s mouthparts and then ingested.

Vacuum cleaners with proper attachments can also be effective for removing spiders and their webs. However, this method can be labor-intensive and requires regular cleaning and emptying of the vacuum bag or canister. Spider catchers, on the other hand, are devices that gently capture spiders without harming them and allow for safe and easy removal from the surface.

Maintaining a clutter-free indoor space will reduce spiders’ attraction to your house. Spiders prefer quiet, undisturbed areas such as closets and garages. Eliminating food and harborage for other pests can also deter spiders, as can repairing all cracks and crevices that they can use to enter your home.

In your yard, minimizing moisture will deter spiders since they thrive in damp conditions. Avoid stacking firewood or other materials near the house, and remove items that provide shelter like birdbaths, kiddie pools, and pet water dishes. Also, minimize the number of plants near your home’s foundation, and trim shrubs, vines, and tree limbs that hang over or touch the structure.

The best way to prevent spiders is through regular pest management services that address the other insect pests that these predatory arachnids prey upon. A good service will offer a plan that is customized to your home and property, providing scheduled shipments with easy-to-follow instructions for preventive measures you can take in your own backyard.

Insects

Insects are the most common class of pests affecting homes and gardens. Typically, this group includes the familiar houseflies, cockroaches, ants, mosquitoes and ticks. Insects are the largest group of arthropod invertebrates, with over a million described species. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, three body segments (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of legs and two antennae.

Most insects are important from a natural perspective, pollinating plants and spreading seeds, producing valuable substances, controlling other pests, and acting as decomposers of organic matter. They also shape the appearance and complexity of agricultural, natural and urban landscapes.

However, some insects are problematic. They can carry disease-causing microorganisms, such as intestinal worms and parasitic protozoans that cause malaria and other diseases, and they can directly damage food products and buildings. In addition, their discarded parts and excrement can be a nuisance in outdoor environments.

A variety of physical, biological and chemical methods are used to control pests. The selection of a control method depends on the pest, its location and environment and how serious the problem is. For example, a few bees or wasps buzzing around the garden probably don’t require action, but a colony located in an unused shed may warrant removal and destruction. In general, preventing pests from entering structures by proper sanitation and garbage disposal, reducing food, water and shelter sources, caulking and screening off entry points, and eliminating hiding places through structural repairs are the first steps in controlling pests.

Pest control may involve applying spray, dust, bait or aerosol insecticides to exterior and interior surfaces. A professional service usually is recommended for larger infestations and to obtain access to application equipment not available to most homeowners.

Another approach to pest control is microbial pesticides that harness microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, to kill insects. The microbial pesticides are applied to soil and ingested by the insects, killing them from the inside. This is generally a more environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic insecticides. However, the microbial pesticides do not last very long and must be applied repeatedly to be effective.