How to control pests

1. Pest Control
Pest control refers to the regulation or management of a
species defined as a pest, usually because it is perceived to
be detrimental to a person's health, the ecology or the
economy.
The process of controlling, managing, minimizing or
removing undesirable insects and other pests, from spaces
occupied by people.

2. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or
their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological
control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of
resistant varieties.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing
pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way
that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks.

3. Basic Principle of Pest Control or IPM
1- Consideration of Ecosystem:
Control of insect pest population is a function of the ecosystem itself
by means of natural enemies and other factors. The study of
individuals is of prime importance, their biology behavior response to
other members of the same species and to other organisms and to
biotic factors in the environment.

4. 2- Pest Surveillance:
Surveillance or monitoring means constant observation of a subject i.e., a
crop or pest, and recording the factors observed, compilation of information
obtained and prediction of future events about pest population.
3- Application of Minimum Selective Hazards:
The application of chemical measures to pest population has to be in such a
manner that target pest populations are just kept below economic injury
thresholds. By observation of this principle the development of resistant
populations of pest is avoided or delayed, the possibility of resurgence of
treated population is decreased, adverse effect on non- target organism and
amount of environmental contamination are reduced, and the cost of control
is also lowered.

5. Types of Pest Control
There are 6 types of pest control which are given below and described;
1) Cultural Control
2) Mechanical Control
3) Sanitary Control
4) Natural Control
5) Biological Control
6) Chemical Control

6. Cultural Control:
Optimize growing conditions for the crop. Anything that increases a
crop’s competitive edge will result in increased tolerance to pests
often resulting in reduced pesticide use.

7. Mechanical Control:
Uses machinery and/or other tools to control pests
 Tillage
 Physical barriers

8. Sanitary Control:
Methods to avoid introducing a pest into a field
 Cleaning field equipment
 Planting certified seed
 Quarantines

9. Natural Control:
Enhancement of naturally occurring pest management methods
 Beneficial insects
 Beneficial diseases

10. Biological Control:
Manipulation of biological organism to control pests.
 Release of predators/parasites/disease of an insect or weed.
 Can be time consuming, expensive and difficult.

11. Chemical Control:
It is the pest control using the chemical pesticides.
 A pesticide is a chemical used to prevent, destroy, or repel pests.
 They combat pests and diseases occurring on our crops, livestock,
and our possessions

12. Instructions
There are some instruction to control the pests and which are;
 Try pest prevention first.
 Do safely and correctly use pesticides.
 Do dispose of leftover pesticides and pesticide containers
properly.
 Don't use outdoor chemicals indoors.
 Don't assume that twice as much is better.
 Don't transfer pesticides to other containers.

13. Advantages of Pest Control
1- Fits Better in National Economy:
Pest control activities at present are mainly based on the application of
chemical pesticides, quite a large proportion of which has to be imported.
2- More Efficient and Cheaper Method:
In pest control schedule efforts are made to utilize various methods of
control including use of pesticides but some times and in some cases it
is feasible to nip the trouble in the bud itself even by a mechanical
campaign like destruction of egg masses of some pests or collecting
the caterpillar stages.
Minimizes Residue Hazards of Pesticides:
It is obvious that in an IPM schedule the use of pesticides will be
considerably reduced, hence the pesticide residue hazards will also
get automatically minimized.

14. Disadvantages of Pest Control
 Integrated Pest Management systems are extremely complex and
require a higher level of understanding to utilize.
 An IPM system of pest control involves a lot more time and is
sometimes more costly than the traditional method of spraying
pesticides to eliminate pests.
 In order for an IPM to work effectively, it needs constant monitoring.

15. Conclusion
 Pest control refers to the regulation or management of a species
defined as a pest, usually because it is perceived to be detrimental
to a person's health, the ecology or the economy.
 The chemical pest control has given more benefits to control pest in
an efficient and effective way.
 Though they have bought constrains they are one the best ways to
control pest.
 Thus a proper usage of chemical pest management will give more
benefits in agriculture.