Pest Control

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Bird repellent tips on the lettering of a company building.

Under pesticide or pest control refers to measures to combat pests of humans. It is combated by chemical or poisonous agents, physical devices, natural pests or simply by human violence .

Pests are living beings that attack flora and fauna as well as humans , their living, working and storage areas. Therefore, in a broader sense, pests and parasites can in principle also be referred to as pests.

Pest groups

Animal organisms or fungi are referred to as pests if they attack economic goods, reduce the value of stocks or render them unusable or impair the well-being or health of humans and their pets. The assessment of the damage is done from a purely economic perspective of humans and is not a concept of biology .

Such pests can be assigned to different groups.

  • Material pests: which attack wood, leather, paper, textiles,
  • Storage pests : make food inedible,
  • Health and hygiene pests: which transmit pathogens or cause allergies ,
  • Pests : which are not dangerous to humans, but whose presence is perceived as annoying.

It should be noted, however, that not all insects, arachnids or other small organisms are counted as pests, but only those species which are classified as pests for the purposes of pest control . Some, such as spiders , lacewings or ladybirds , can be described as useful, even if some people see them as "disgusting animals " (see beneficial insects ).

Control methods

Barn on mouse plates

Preventive measures such as regular cleaning of living spaces and regular visual inspection of endangered supplies reduce the risk of pest infestation. If an infestation does occur, a variety of biotechnical, physical and chemical control methods are available. The fight is divided into

Often you can get rid of the "nuisances" without bringing up "heavy artillery". Chemical pesticides should be used with caution indoors, the aggressive agents deposit on the surfaces of walls, floors and furnishings and are released back into the room air in an uncontrolled manner, which has health effects on the residents of the treated rooms. Many pesticides in private households do not have to go through adequate testing and approval procedures. Such agents can be used in unlimited quantities by anyone without a state examination, which sometimes leads to accidents of poisoning . In unnecessarily frequent use is a risk that pests to the active substances resistant to. In serious cases, recognized pest controllers or exterminators should be employed. Advice is also available from the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety , the local health authorities and consumer advice centers.

Commercially available preparations for chemical pest control in the household can be divided into four groups.

The biological control that target natural enemies of pests (predators, parasites or pathogens used) for pest control is usually not successful application in the household.

The most common pests

Black-bellied fruit fly ( Drosophila melanogaster )

The following is a selection of pests that are more common in normal households.

Health pests

  • Vinegar or fruit flies of the genus Drosophila
    • These small flies occur on overripe fruit, in parked soda or beer bottles, etc. The larvae feed on fruits and vegetables, vinegar, beer and wine. The small flies can transmit disease-causing microorganisms.
    • Control: general cleanliness; rapid elimination of waste; Cover food with foil; Keep bottles closed. As the name vinegar fly suggests, they have a predilection for vinegar. A bowl with a diluted vinegar solution and a few drops of washing-up liquid (to reduce the surface tension of the water) placed in the problem area can help very quickly.
American cockroach ( Periplaneta americana )
  • Cockroaches ("cockroaches")
    • Cockroaches cause damage to supplies and various materials. They spread a foul odor through the excretions of their stinking glands. They transmit various microorganisms (storage-damaging and pathogenic bacteria and fungi as well as animal parasites ) and cause allergies . They are very light-shy during the day and only become active at dusk.
    • Control: very difficult, as these insects live very hidden and usually occur in the whole house; Control actions must always cover all rooms and should only be carried out by expert pest controllers using the latest means and methods. Measures: seal joints; Do not leave leftovers or rubbish open or on the floor. Set up bait boxes with attractants; Let this stand for about 3 months so that young animals are also recorded.

Storage and material pests

Dried fruit caterpillar on pralines
  • Dried fruit moths
    • The larvae ("caterpillars") of the dried fruit moth live on dried fruit, e.g. B. Raisins. You can also find them in nuts , almonds , in muesli and in legumes . The caterpillars form strong webs in the infected food, especially before they pupate.
    • Control: Dispose of the infected food; Freezing of infected goods for one day and subsequent rapid thawing; Thoroughly vacuum the infected cabinet with the crevice nozzle of the vacuum cleaner , especially the cracks and joints, then wipe it thoroughly with a damp cloth (never wet) and dry with a hairdryer ; Storage of the food in lockable glass vessels. In addition, the setting up of pheromone traps is useful to interrupt the further reproduction of escaped animals.

Pests

Ants coming off a baseboard of a house

Annoying things are for example:

  • Ants (lawn or garden ant )
    • Lawn ants are primarily interested in sugary foods ( jam , chocolate ). Animals that stick together can contaminate the food. Sometimes an ant lane leads into the apartment from outside because there is a houseplant that drips sweet sap onto the floor or is infested with aphids that are "milked" by the ants.
    • Control : Lay out ant baits on the ant trails. Yeast and special types of baking powder should also help. Furthermore, Mediterranean herbs and vermouth manure help , as the ants do not like the smell. Possibly. remove the houseplant that attracts the ants.

Prevention and self-help measures

  • Don't buy too much supplies and store too long.
  • Check newly purchased goods immediately for possible infestation.
  • Consume the goods stored first and arrange the last food bought in the back.
  • Kill infestation in stores and discard.
  • Store supplies in tightly fitting containers made of glass, metal or plastic; Avoid packaging made of paper or plastic film.
  • Keep the warehouse clean and clear.
  • Avoid or eliminate hiding places for pests such as crevices one millimeter wide.
  • Store supplies as cool and dry as possible, because low temperatures and low humidity prolong the development time of pests.
  • Remove rubbish from the house quickly, especially not leave it open overnight so that flies , cockroaches etc. are not attracted .
  • Immediately throw the tightly closed garbage bag into the garbage can outside the apartment.
  • Ensure that there is good ventilation so that mold does not form , as mold serves as food for some storage pests and vermin species.
  • Immediately remove bread crumbs, flour dust and other residues, because they are "found food" for insects that search for food at night.
  • Scare off pests with scents they don't like, e.g. B. by scented sachets (with lavender , lemon , laurel or juniper ) or with the help of scented balls and scented sticks and by using clothes hangers made of cedar wood .
  • If necessary, contact a certified pest controller or your local health or veterinary authority.

Mosquitoes

Because mosquitoes like Anopheles , Aedes and black flies can transmit dangerous diseases and epidemics , like

and are very annoying if they occur in large numbers or can make it impossible to stay outdoors, there are programs around the world that are designed to suppress mosquitoes.

98 municipalities on the Upper Rhine also operate large-scale pest control in the municipal working group to combat the snake plague .

See also

literature
  • TRNS. Technical rules and standards of pest control. 2nd edition 2015. Holzmann Verlag

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Protection against infection with pesticides ( Memento of May 3, 2009 in the Internet Archive ).