Ask for IPM Services!
Ask for IPM Services!
Ask for IPM Services!
Sometimes a pest problem is so bad that you don’t want to tackle it yourself. Or sometimes, as with bed bugs or a yellowjacket nest, you need a professional.
Just as Our Water Our World promotes products that are eco-friendly and effective, we also believe that the best pest control services are eco-friendly and effective as well. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to managing pests that focuses on preventing pest problems, using natural predators and barriers to control pests, and, when necessary, using less-toxic chemicals to get rid of pests.
IPM relies on:
IPM solves pest problems more permanently than repeatedly spraying or baiting focusing instead on prevention by keeping pests out of buildings, making sure you’re not attracting pests, and monitoring for pests before pest problems get out of control. That’s why it is important to ask specifically for IPM services when you interview or hire a pest management company, or discuss services with your regular provider. In California, three programs certify and list pest control companies that provide IPM services.
Conventional pest control often relies on routine spraying of pesticides inside and around buildings, and along walkways. This may give temporary relief from visible pests, but pests that are hiding behind appliances or in wall spaces will survive and keep breeding. Pests can also become resistant to the pesticides. This means the non-IPM service provider will have to come back and spray again—treating the symptoms of a pest infestation, but not curing the problem. Spraying pesticides might seem like an effective way to get rid of pests immediately, but you might be extending your pest problem instead of actually managing it with IPM methods.
Do you provide a summary or record of your service visit that shows the specific pests, where they were found on the property, any repairs that need to be made, and when you recommend coming out again?
The first visit will usually include an inside and outside inspection of your home or building to find out:
The service person may leave sticky traps behind to confirm you have pests and learn where they’re hiding.
The technician should provide a list of simple structural repairs (“pest exclusion repairs”) that would help keep pests from living and breeding in and around your home. Most IPM companies can make these repairs as an additional service. Whether you hire someone to make these repairs, or you make them yourself, it’s important to get them all done as soon as possible to prevent your pest problem from getting worse.
The technician may suggest housekeeping changes, like putting pet food away overnight or clearing out clutter so that pests have fewer hiding places and are easy to spot. Don’t take it personally! IPM is a team effort.
With clutter reduced and pest exclusion repairs complete, future IPM services are likely to be brief and limited to monitoring for pests (checking sticky traps). But if you see pests, be sure to call the IPM service company!
Studies show that IPM saves money in the long run. IPM may cost more than conventional spray treatments at first, because of the time it takes to make a thorough inspection and the cost of repairs to keep pests out. Over time, IPM services should happen less often, take less time, and cost less.
Bed bugs are small, flat insects that hide in tight spaces like mattress seams and cracks in furniture. They are similar in color to an apple see, but a bit smaller. Young bed bugs start off about the size of a poppy seed. They bite us while we are resting or sleeping.
Anyone can get bed bugs. Infestations are becoming more common, and once you have them, they can be hard to control. There are some things you can do yourself, but you may need to use a pest control professional to successfully control bed bugs. If you rent and have bed bugs, you will need to work with your landlord to make sure bed bugs are eliminated. For more information, on how to control bed bugs, view our Bed Bugs factsheet at ourwaterourworld.org/bedbugs.
California state law requires that landlords must treat units infested with bed bugs. The landlord must pay for pest control services and cannot raise the rent or cause problems for a tenant who complains. The tenant has to follow the pest control professional’s instructions on how to prepare for treatment. Nearby units may also be inspected and treated if bed bugs are found.