Integrated Pest Management, commonly referred to as IPM, is actually a program or a group of steps adopted to effectively control pests.

IPM is important because it looks for the best (and most cost effective) way to manage pest problems with the least possible damage to the environment, people and even property.

Elements of IPM:

• Prevention – as we’ve mentioned many times, prevention is key to pest management. Prevention also fits well with IPM because it is often inexpensive and there is little to no harm to people and the environment
• Control – the use of pesticides are of course part of control but there are other methods, and many of these methods are considered before pesticides. Trapping is one example of a mechanical method for control.
• Identifying Pests – properly identifying pests is one of the most important steps in IPM … some pesticides work better for some pests than others and IPM helps to keep unneeded pesticides out of the situation. Being able to properly identify the pest also helps to understand the life cycle which is very important to successfully treating the problem.

IPM can be used in a variety of environments from commercial buildings to homes and even in agricultural settings. Schools are the ideal place for IPM; it’s a safer and cost effective solution to pest control.

If you’d like more information, check out the University of California’s website for their statewide integrated pest management program; the site is full of valuable information on managing and identifying pests in California.

On a side note: Have a thing for ugly bugs? Vote in the 2009 Ugly Bug Contest…the cockroach and the paper wasp are just two of the 10 insects up for the prestigious title.

Indian meal moths are a very common pantry pest. I even had an encounter with indian meal moth larvae while eating crackers as a kid.

With that being said, the moths can be seen flying out of cereal boxes and cupboards; the indian meal moth larvae can be found in the actual products.

The adult moths are actually harmless, more of a nuisance if anything. But the larvae of the moths (also known as waxworms) are what munches on the dry foods in your cupboards.

The indian meal moth larvae enjoy a wide range of food from cereal and crackers to dry pet food and spices.

Have an indian meal moth infestation?  The most effective way to control the moths (and their larvae) is to completely dispose of any food that has been contaminated. The best thing is to remove everything from the cupboards and inspect each item one by one…look for the larvae and any webbing. Once you’ve disposed any items, vacuum (throw out the bag) and clean all shelves, crevices, etc…

Remember, if an item may have been touched by the indian meal moth, play it safe and throw the food away. Do not worry if you have already eaten food that has been infested with the moths, there are no known diseases or parasites carried by the indian meal moths.

Keep indian meal moths away by limiting their food sources. Although the moths and their larvae need very little food to survive, avoid purchasing bulk items that will be consumed slowly and clean up any food spills to keep the moths away. Keep an eye on spices since they often sit for more than 6 months. If you have a recurring problem with the pest, make sure you store food in tightly sealed containers i.e. mason jars with lids or place containers with snap tight lids.

Using traditional pesticides to control indian meal moths is not usually advised because of the close proximity to food.

We’ve talked about a lot of pests on this blog but I just noticed that we’ve never mentioned ANY beetles. So let’s talk about carpet beetles in California.

Carpet beetles do not bite or sting but they can cause serious damage to any natural fibers. These beetles are common pests in homes, warehouses and even museums; carpet, fur and fabric are just a few of the carpet beetles’ favorite foods.

The majority of the damage by this pest is caused by the larvae. Moths can cause similar damage and it can be difficult to tell the difference but the carpet beetles usually damage one large spot and moths will create scattered holes.

There are three species of carpet beetles in California:

 Varied Carpet Beetle

  Furniture Carpet Beetle

Black Carpet Beetle

As with most pest control, prevention (in this case housekeeping) is most beneficial. On a regular basis, vacuum carpets, remove hair and lint from carpet and shelves; avoid storing useless clothes, animal furs, etc… The goal is to remove all food sources for carpet beetles and the carpet beetle larvae.

Properly storing items is another way to prevent damage to important belongings. When possible, store items in an air tight container layered with paper. Moth balls and crystals can also be used for extra protection. There is some debate about cedar chests. Some believe the chests are effective against the beetles but others believe the cedar oil disappears as the chest ages and will only affect the smaller larvae.

Carpet beetles can be one of the most difficult indoor pests to control since they can be found all over the building in odd places. For washable items such as clothing and blankets, a thorough wash will kill all three cycles of the carpet beetle. There are carpet beetle pesticides for consumer use but professional pest control companies are typically more successful with eliminating carpet beetles.

Hiring a professional pest control company is a worthwhile investment. Professionals know what pesticide to use and the correct amount needed to get the job done, plus professionals are regulated by organizations such as the Structural Pest Control Board.

Choosing a professional may be the best value for your money and time, both of which are important regardless if the structure is residential or commercial. Also, pest control company guarantees are not uncommon.

So in addition to knowledge and expertise, what should you expect from your pest control company?

• Arrive on time when scheduled
• Learn about previous termite work by asking questions
• Wear clean uniforms and have a positive attitude
• No smoking
• Wear shoe covers and use drop clothes to protect floors and other surfaces
• Let you know what will be done before the treatment is performed
• Thoroughly explain the findings and the possible solutions
• Say “please” and “thank you” – you can never be too polite
• Stay until the job is complete

Like many pests, the fire ant was accidentally brought to the United States via cargo ship. In 1929, a ship carrying soil from South America arrived in Alabama but the imported fire ants soon spread to many of the states in the south and now the ants can be found as far north as Maryland and as far west as California.

What you need to know about fire ants:

• They look similar to ordinary ants but…are much more aggressive and their head is a lighter color than the rest of the body
• Fire ants (and all ants) are strong! They can lift fives times their weight
• The ants build large mounds (see picture to the right) that can be over a foot high, a foot wide and several feet deep into the ground
• Fire ants will eat just about any plant OR animal material…it’s no wonder they’ve been able to take over so quickly
• Researchers believe the ants wont be able to make it much further north since it’s thought that the ants can’t live in ground that drops below freezing for 2-3 weeks

But believe it or not, fire ants do have their benefits. These aggressive pests will feed on other pests such as cockroaches, ticks, etc…

The USDA has been working to control the fire ants with natural insect enemies and most of these insects target just fire ants so the population of other insect wont be affected. Two enemies that are being used in particular include the decapitating fly and the fire ant disease. Fire ant disease is in fact a protozoan disease that weakens the entire fire ant colony which slows growth.

Store bought fire ant baits are effective for controlling the fire ants mounds in your yard. The granular bait is usually sprinkled on the mound, doused with water and let sit. But for best results, follow the instructions on the fire ant bait and when in doubt, contact a pest control company.

What to do for fire ant bites?

Many people try do-it-yourself pest control when there is an outbreak of insects in the house, and with the number of chemicals, sprays, powders, etc…there are plenty of options. But there are some natural and non toxic options that may be just as effective without exposing kids, pets, or yourself to the pesticides.

One of the most interesting ways to control pests outside the house is with plants, flowers, etc… that repel a particular insect. For instance, marigolds are known as a natural insect repellent because of their fragrance; natural and nice to look at, it’s win win.

There are natural insecticides out there but did you know that cucumbers can repel ants? There are plenty of these little tips and tricks to try to when it comes to green pest control, here are some of my favorite:

• Catnip naturally repels roaches…place little bags of catnip around the house where the cockroaches like to hang out
• Throw some sage or rosemary on your coals when cooking on a charcoal grill to keep mosquitos from loitering
• Use cloves to repel winged bugs like moths…and cloves smell better than moth balls

Don’t forget, one of the easiest ways to prevent some pest problems is to keep your house clean. If worse comes to worse, you can always call a professional pest control company that has likely dealt with the same pest problem before.

Earwigs are one species of insect that can easily be identified by just their appearance. It’s their pinchers or forcep-like appendages at the end of their abdomens that give them away. This is also why these insects are known as a “pincher bug.” Even though these pinchers look like they can cause some painful damage, they are primarily used for holding prey and not as a offense weapon. Earwigs are usually scavengers, feeding on dead animal and plant material but some species will feed off of living plants. The insects will generally be more active during the evening hours and can be found under rocks, debris and boards during the day.

It is believed that the word earwig originated from the Anglo-Saxon word earwicga, which means “ear creature.” This term originated from the widespread belief that earwigs would crawl into the ears and bore into the brains of sleeping people. With that said, doctors remove the insects from human ears from time to time but it doesn’t happen on a regular basis to substantiate the myth.

Earwigs are often found near building foundations, similar to other insects such as crickets, centipedes and millipedes. To keep these pesky pests out of your house, keep your structure’s exterior free of earwig hiding places and regularly rake up dead leaves from the yard. Exterior pest control maintenance every two months and interior service twice a year will keep the earwigs at bay.

The maintenance of controlling pests varies depending on the pest, the location of the building and several other factors. But here in Southern California where the weather is warm year-round, pest maintenance is most beneficial when performed every month or two.

It’s important to remember maintenance. The pests are gone after the initial treatment but since insects and other pests are constantly breeding, they can come back. So just because the pests are gone right now doesn’t mean they wont return which is why controlling pests is a never ending job, especially in pest control in Orange County, California.

Did you know?

• Worker termites live between two and five years and queen termites can live up to 25 years
• It takes three to four months for an egg of a cockroach to develop into an adult cockroach
• For two to five years, a queen bee lays several thousand eggs a day
• Male black widow spiders are sometimes killed by the female black widow after they mate