Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
fi xtures to a structure, preventing the entry
of pests. These could be sealants, wire
mesh, metal plate, special cement or any
other intervention that becomes part of the
structure. Non-resident pests frequent struc-
tures through entry points, and adult mice
can pass through an opening as small as 1
cm wide and cockroaches need only a 2.5
mm space to enter. Once pests get inside,
forcing them out is much more challenging
and often requires the use of chemicals. To
keep pests outside, practitioners can
identify and seal potential pest-entry points.
Certain pest barriers could even make a
structure more energy effi cient by sealing
gaps and preventing heat loss. The suc-
cessful use of pest barriers in pest control
has been reported in the literature (Hedges,
1999; CDC and HUD, 2006).
Pest barriers are physical items and,
being visible, they appeal to consumers. It
gives a sense of assurance as the act is
undertaken to improve the quality of build-
ing. Such barriers could also help to control
elements such as heat, light and moisture in
the structure, which are add-on advantages.
Pest control proposals providing sealing
gaps and fi xing cracks and crevices for pest
prevention, apart from eliminating the pest,
are often found to be more convincing and
justifi able than conventional pest control
work.
deliver pesticide with relative ease but also
allowed its indiscriminate usage, often
leading to the contamination of non-target
areas. This is a concern when using a
sprayer within the confi ne of a building. In
recent times we have seen the development
of a number of high performance for-
mulations for use in the pest control
industry. Formulations such as micro-
encapsulation, capsule suspension, dry
fl owable, gels, granules and baits are some
examples that are popular among prac-
titioners. These formulations help achieve
targeted delivery, along with a reduction in
the amount of actual insecticide used.
Consequently, dramatic changes in pest
control strategies have taken place and are
noticeable globally. Conventional sprayers
and indiscriminate sprays have been
replaced by precise and targeted delivery.
Even in the case where a spray is must, a
long-lasting residual formulation is used so
that the number of sprays is reduced. The
advent of baits for a variety of pests has
further reduced regular insecticide sprays
and introduced the necessity of inspection
and monitoring as key features of IPM.
Highlighting formulation attributes
Formulations developed for urban pest
control have unique properties compared
with formulations for outdoor and agri-
culture use. Formulations for the urban
market are speciality formulations that have
inherent characteristics to provide higher
effi cacy than conventional formulations.
These formulations can be used as attributes
to highlight advantages of IPM to consumers.
A few examples are provided below.
Use of safe and effi cient formulations
Formulations dominating the urban pest
control industry have evolved from agri-
cultural formulations. Consequently the
formulation characteristics and delivery
system remain mostly unchanged until
now. IPM programmes provide avenues to
choose the right type of formulation to be
used and to move away from conventional
stand-alone types. This would eventually
help reduce the amount of pesticide and
make IPM a safer choice. It would also help
consumers distinguish an IPM programme
from a conventional service.
The nature of the pesticide formulation
to a great extent dictates the pest control
strategy. Sprayers have not only helped
Residual effect on a porous
surface
Making use of wettable powders that are
designed for residual treatment on porous
surfaces instead of other formulations has
an added advantage. Owing to the par-
ticulate nature of a wettable powder, the
insecticide remains on the surface of the
treated area where it can come in contact
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