IDENTIFICATION & CONTROL OF PESTS

Presented by Dhiman Kanti Mridha

WHAT ARE PESTS?

 Pests are those organisms that Compete with humans, domestic animals, or desirable plants for food or water.  Injure humans, domestic animals, or desirable plants ,structures, or possessions;  Transmit diseases to humans, domestic animals, wildlife, or desirable plants  Pests are direct cause of most of statutory closures of food businesses; they are a major factor in the thousands of food complaints reported to Environmental Health Departments each year.  Pest attack is responsible for a significant proportion of the unfit food surrendered each year.  If one also takes into account the amount spent on pesticides, the damage to buildings and fittings , the distress to customers and the spread of diseases, it is obvious that pest control is an inseparable part of profitable and hygienic food production.

COMMONLY AVAILABLE VARIOUS TYPES OF PESTS The commonly available pests are as follows :
 Insects: Beetles,moths,lice,flour mites, silverfish,weevils, ants, bluebottles , cockroaches, houseflies, mosquitoes, wasps ,fleas etc.  Vertebrates :such as rats ,mice, moles and other rodents particularly, though there may be other native species locally.  Arthropods (eight-legged insect-like organisms): such as mites, ticks, and some spiders;  Microbial organisms :such as bacteria, fungi etc.  Weeds, that is , any plants growing where they not wanted  Mollusks :such as snails, slugs, and ship-worms etc.  Birds: mainly feral pigeons and sparrows ,parrots etc.  Dogs/cats: Domestic and wild varieties.etc.

CATEGORIES OF PESTS:
Note : Most organisms are not pests. A species may be a
pest in some situations and not in others. An organism should not be considered a pest until it is proven to be one.

Categories of pests include the following : o Continuous pests that are nearly always present and require regular control. o Sporadic, migratory, or cyclical pests which require control occasionally or intermittently. o Potential pests , that is ,pests that do not require control under normal conditions, but may require control in certain circumstances.

DETAILS TO BE KNOWN BY AN INDIVIDUAL TO IDENTIFY AND CONTROL PESTS

The physical features of the pests likely to be encountered.  Characteristics of the damage they cause .  Their development cycle and biology .  Whether they are continuous ,sporadic, or potential pests. The goals of the pest management programme.

PEST CONTROL GOALS

Whenever you try to control a pest, you should achieve one of these three goals, or some combination of them:  Prevention: Keeping a pest from becoming a problem. This may be a goal when the pests presence or abundance can be predicted in advance. Continuous pests, by definition , are usually very predictable. Sporadic and potential pests may be predictable ,if you know the circumstances or conditions that favour their presence as pests.  Suppression: Reducing pest numbers or damage to an acceptable level. This is a common goal in many pest situations. The intent is to reduce the number of pests to a level where the harm they cause is just about acceptable. Once a pests presence is detected and control is deemed necessary, suppression and prevention are often joint goals.  Eradication :Destroying an entire pest population. This is a rare goal for outdoor pest situations in particular, because it is difficult to achieve. Usually the goal is prevention and/ or suppression. Eradication is occasionally attempted when a foreign pest has been accidentally introduced into a local environment, but is not yet established in an area. Such eradication strategies are often supported by the government. THRESHOLD LEVEL : Are the levels of pest populations at which you

should take pest control action if you want to prevent the pests in an area from causing unacceptable injury or harm. This level may be based on aesthetic, health, or economic considerations.

METHODS OF PEST CONTROL

The various methods of pest control are as follows: A. Natural controls: Some natural forces act on all organisms, causing their population to rise and fall. These natural forces act independently of humans and may either help or hinder pest control. Natural forces that effect pest populations include climate, natural enemies, availability of shelter, and food and water supplies.  Climate: Weather conditions especially temperature ,day length, and humidity affect pest activity and their rate of reproduction. Pests may be killed or suppressed by rain , by freezing temperatures, drought, or other adverse weather conditions. Climate also affects pests indirectly by influencing the growth and development of their hosts.  Natural enemies: Birds,reptiles,amphibians ,fish , and mammals feed on some pests and help control their numbers.  Geographic barriers : Features such as mountains and large bodies of water restrict the spread of many pests.  Food and water supply :Once the food source- plant or animal- is exhausted, the pests die or become inactive. The life cycle of many pests depends on the availability of water.  Shelter : Availability of shelter can effect some pest populations. Over-wintering sites and places to hide from predators are important to the survival of some pests.

METHODS OF PEST CONTROL contd. B. Applied controls: Natural control often do not control pests quickly or completely enough to prevent unacceptable injury or damage so other control measures must be used .These may be include: Host resistance :Some plants, animals and structures resist pests better than others. Some varieties of plants,wood,and animals are resistant to certain pests. Use of resistant species when available, helps keep pest populations below harmful levels by making conditions less favorable for the pests. It works in one of the three ways : Chemical in host repel the pest or prevent the pest from completing its life cycle. The host is more vigorous or tolerant than other varieties and thus less likely to be seriously damaged by pest attacks. The host has physical characteristics that make it more difficult to attack.

METHODS OF PEST CONTROL contd.

 Biological control: This involves the introduction of natural enemies parasites, predators ,and pathogens . It usually does not target eradication. It also includes by which the pest is biologically altered, as in the production and release of large numbers of sterile males and the use of pheromones or juvenile hormones. Pheromones can be useful in monitoring pest populations. Placed in trap ,for example, they can attract insects in the area so that pest numbers can be estimated.  Cultural control :These practices alter the environment , the condition of the host plant, or the behavior of the pest to prevent or suppress an infestation. They disrupt the normal relationship between the pest and the host and thus make the pest less likely to survive, grow ,or reproduce. Common cultural practices that have this effect include rotating crops, cultivating the soil , varying the time of planting or harvesting ,planting trap crops(pitcher plant,sundrew),adjusting row widths ,and pruning , thinning, and fertilizing cultivated plants.

METHODS OF PEST CONTROL contd.

 Mechanical /physical control: Devices, machines, and other mechanical methods used to control pests or alter their environment is known as mechanical or physical control. Traps, screens, barriers, fences, nets, radiation and electricity can sometimes be used to prevent the spread of pests into an area. Lights, heat and refrigeration can alter the environment enough to suppress or eradicate some pest population.  Sanitation : Good sanitation can suppress some pests by removing either the pests themselves or their sources of food and shelter. Urban and industrial pests can be reduced by improving cleanliness, eliminating pest harbourage, and increasing the frequency of garbage pickups . Decontaminating equipments, materials, and other possible carriers before allowing them to enter a pest free area or leave an infested area. Proper design of food handling area can also reduce access and shelter for many pests.

METHODS OF PEST CONTROL contd.

 Chemical control: Pesticides are chemicals used to destroy pests, control their activity , or prevent them from causing damage. Pesticides either attract or repel pests. Chemicals that regulate plant growth or remove foliage are also classified as pesticides. Pesticides are generally the fastest way to control pests. In many instances, they are the only tactic available

This topic is available in:

 Hotel Housekeeping Operations and Management by G.Raghubalan & Smritee Raghubalan of Oxford University Press : From page no.- 536 to 553  Hotel, Hostel and Hospital Housekeeping by Joan C. Branson & Margaret Lennox of ELBS with Hodder & Stoughton : From page No.- 145 to 150  Hotel Housekeeping Training Manual by Sudhir Andrews of Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.Ltd.: page no.- 109 to 110

Sample questions from the topic:

1) What are pests? Why is their control important ? What are the general methods of pest control? 2) Write a short note on the characteristics and control of the following common pests in hotel- a)Beetles b)Cockroaches c)Moths d)Flies e)White ants f) Mice and rats . 3) When should one consider control of pests?

Whats there in the next class?

Waste disposal Wall covering and floor coverings And many more Thats all from my desk now ,and see you all in the next class!
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