Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
e.
Sanitation
Cultivation, moldboard plowing, and burning of crop residues soon after
harvest greatly aid in the control of some insect pests on agricultural crops.
Pink bollworm infestations in cotton, for example, can be greatly reduced by
plowing the field immediately after harvest.
Removing litter from around buildings helps control pests which use it
for breeding or shelter. Ants, termites, and some other indoor pests may be
suppressed by using this technique.
Sanitation is important in the control of animal parasites and filth flies.
Fly control in and around barns and livestock pens, for example, is greatly
aided by proper manure management. A major aspect of fly control in residen-
tial areas and cities is weekly or biweekly garbage removal. This scheduling
prevents fly eggs and maggots in the garbage from reaching adult fly stage,
since the fly's life cycle is 10 to 14 days, even in very warm weather.
Indoors, sanitation is a major method of preventing insect pest problems.
Keeping surfaces in restrooms and food preparation areas immaculately clean
and dry is an important factor in suppressing or eliminating ant, fly, and cock-
roach infestations.
f.
Chemical Control
Chemicals used to control insects and insect-like pests include insecti-
cides, miticides, and acaricides. Most chemicals used to control insects act in
one of two ways:
•
repellents—These products keep pests away from an area or from a
specific host. Products designed to keep mosquitoes, chiggers, and
ticks off humans are an example.
•
direct poisons—Common insecticides include chemicals that poison
one or more life systems in the pest. Some will poison an insect if
they are eaten (stomach poisons); others require only contact with the
insect's body (contact poisons).
A few insecticides interfere mechanically with the insect's functions. For
example, mineral oils suffocate insects; silica dusts destroy their body water
balance by damaging their protective wax covering.
Outdoors
—With few exceptions, insecticides labeled for outdoor use are
designed to be used for full coverage of an area. The objective is to cover the
entire surface to be protected with a residue of active insecticide. Insects
which then eat or otherwise contact the treated surface are killed.
