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A pest is defined by Merriam-Webster Online as, "A plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns". A weed in the middle of your finely manicured lawn is a pest; but the same weed in a overgrown field on the countryside is perfectly acceptable and can be beautiful. Ants and other insects don't belong in your kitchen; they belong outside, right? The challenge is getting those insects to leave. And that situation is comparable to having a bear raid your refrigerator, they don't want to leave willingly. Of course, we would all agree that it is better to prevent insects from entering your home in the first place.
The focus of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is defined by Merriam-Webster Online as, "Management of agricultural and horticultural pests which minimize the use of chemicals and emphasizes natural and low-toxicity methods". I personally believe IPM is the most effective tool to restore balance between nature and human development. Sometimes that means sealing off a point of entry on the windowsill with caulking, thus keeping the ants out of your kitchen. Other times it means not bringing in your plants from the patio which may harbor the little travelers. In Southern California it seems our homes are built over ant hills. And that is partially true to some degree as we have (at times) displaced some of nature's inhabitants. As a result they invade our homes. It's an unavoidable consequence of urban development.
Pesticides are applied as a last resort when all other means of pest management has been exhausted. Contact us today for a professional assessment of your specific situation at (951) 662-9690 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
