‘Green’ issues impact on pest control practices

ENVIRONMENTAL imperatives are forcing a change in business procedures, not least in the pest control environment. “Practitioners need to re-evaluate practices and products used,” says André Swanepoel of Pest Control Specialists. “The answer may well lie in widening the scope of the pest control programme and addressing the problem at the point of origin.” The new industry mantra is Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which is essentially a decisionmaking process that anticipates and prevents pest activity and infestation by combining several strategies that will support a longterm solution. According to Swanepoel, components of an IPM programme may include training, proper waste management, structural repair, maintenance, biological and mechanical control techniques and pesticide application. “A combination of two or more procedures may be the answer to eradicating a pest problem, in some cases making the use of harsh and environmentally unfriendly products obsolete.” An effective IPM system requires time and effort on the part of the service provider who needs to inspect and monitor pest activity and implement proactive procedures and suggest ways of eliminating points of entry and resting areas, says Swanepoel. “The ultimate objective is to reduce existing problems or to deter potential pest infestations.” And while an IPM system does not necessarily eliminate the use of a pesticide, it would tend to include it as part of a broader strategy that relies on a combination of activities. “An effective IPM programme will however reduce the amount of pesticide needed or in some cases entirely eliminate its use.”