At one time or another, we all must face some kind of indoor insect problem. It could be a fairly common insect, like a flour beetle or Indian meal moths, or something more troublesome like carpenter ants, fleas, or cockroaches. What steps should you take when insects, or signs of them, appear in your home? Do you need to hire a professional pest control firm?
The first step is to identify the insect. Libraries and garden centers often have helpful books on insect identification. The Internet also hosts several sites with pictures of insects. Sometimes, it is best to catch a few insects, preferably alive, and take them in to the local health department or the county Extension Office for identification.
Proper identification is crucial because it helps pinpoint what the insects eat, where you'll find them, and what they look like at different stages of their life cycle. Insect control is always harder if you don't know what insect you have.
Once you identify the insect, it's often simple to determine if you need to control it. If the insect is an accidental invader to your home, sweeping the 'pest' up with a broom or vacuum may suffice. Or you may only have to throw out an infested package of food in the case of a stored product pest. Or you may need to remove rotten/decaying wood under a sink as is the case with carpenter ants.
For more pernicious pests, you may need to involve more strategies to bring about control. Use of an insecticide may be one of those choices.
The homeowner can sometimes safely apply a pesticide for a pest problem and decrease the cost. Ant or roach baits would be an example. In other situations, a pest control firm is required to take care of the problem. Examples would include termites or fleas.
If you decide to use an insecticide, use a product that is labeled for the intended purpose. Read the label carefully and put on any personal protective equipment (ex. chemical resistant gloves). Always apply the pesticide according to label directions in the right places. Restrict other people from being in the area(s) treated until sprays have dried and until the area(s) can be ventilated. Store any remaining product under lock and key, away from the reach of children.
As with any contractor you hire, select the pest control firm carefully. Get estimates from 2 or 3 companies. Ask them for details about their method(s) to control the pest. Ask for a copy of the pesticide label and material safety data sheet that you can read before making a decision. Avoid monthly or other long-term contracts once the pest problem is solved.
Pest control firms must be licensed and certified to apply pesticides. You can find them listed in the Yellow Pages under "Pest Control."
