It is hard to answer this question. Is eco-friendly pest control effective? Yes, but only if it is eco-friendly pest control. Did that sound confusing? The first question that must be addressed is: "What exactly is eco-friendly pest control?" If you're thinking of pest control products that are derived from natural sources such as plants and oils, then the answer is not a solid yes. It is more of a yes, but with conditions. Naturally-derived pest control products can be effective when they are applied correctly. Unfortunately, they are often not applied in a way that effectively controls pests. Today, we're going to answer commonly asked questions about eco-friendly pest control, discuss the efficacy of naturally-derived products, and show how eco-friendly pest control in Reno is a hundred percent effective when applied by a licensed professional.
Answering Commonly Asked Questions About Eco-Friendly Pest Control
We began this article by questioning what eco-friendly pest control really is. It seems appropriate that our first question should provide an answer.
"What is eco-friendly pest control?"
The answer to this question differs depending on who you ask—even when asking professionals. At Celtic Pest Control, we believe that eco-friendly pest control should be friendly to the ecosystem. That makes sense, right? There is no stipulation that all of the products used are from natural sources. The goal is to apply products that are effective at targeting the organisms that are creating a problem. When pests are targeted, untargeted organisms are not impacted. We also put an emphasis on using limited amounts to limit the potential for ecological harm.
"Are professional-grade products that are used by licensed professionals harder on the environment than naturally-derived products?"
Modern products don't work like the products used before the turn of the century. Modern products contain things like insect growth regulators, which prevent insect development. They contain ingredients that prevent termite molting, which doesn't impact other insects. Modern products are generally engineered to stop pest development and reproduction or to repel pests. They're not used to exterminate pests.
"Do eco-friendly pest control products smell better?"
Something we hear quite often is that folks get natural pest control products and find out that they don't smell so good. While these products come from natural sources, they don't always smell like roses. If you use too much or apply products indoors, you may want to leave your home for a day and let these products settle. The good news with the products used by professionals is that they don't smell as bad. While we don't typically compare the scent to organic products. We usually point out that the products we use don't smell as bad as over-the-counter products. The reason is that over-the-counter products have an odor added so that untrained individuals will know that they're using something that can be harmful if applied inappropriately. There is no need for this with commercially applied products.
"How do naturally-derived products fall short?"
Natural products sound great but they aren't perfect. These products are highly concentrated. We don't see these concentrated levels occurring in nature. So, there is no way to know if this is bad or not. The current consensus is that it is not bad. We agree. But it isn't bad to use synthetic products either. Naturally-derived products don't last as long as synthetic products. They require more frequent applications for efficacy, and these frequent treatments increase the cost. They're also applied liberally, whereas synthetics are targeted and limited.
Is Eco-Friendly Pest Control Still Effective?
If your definition of eco-friendly pest control is organic pest control that uses naturally-derived products, the answer is, "Yes, it can still be effective even though it requires more effort." The licensed applicator must select appropriate products and apply them in a way that will keep pest control barriers active. We recommend the following.
- Apply control agents frequently enough to maintain protection and strictly follow all manufacturer's guidelines.
- Apply treatments to locations shielded from rain and the hot sun so the products don't break down quickly.
- Perform detailed inspections to evaluate the success of the treatments.
- Apply baits, traps, glue boards, and other eco-friendly control products to add layers of protection on top of the control agents.
- Alter conditions present, such as moisture, sanitation, and the availability of potential food sources.
- Apply pest maintenance, such as de-webbing and removing wasp nests.
- Apply exclusion work to create physical barriers to make it harder for pests to get inside when control agents wear out.
When a licensed pest management professional applies an all-natural pest control plan, it can be highly effective. We don't recommend this approach for home or business owners because it requires specialized knowledge and training.
Pests That Eco-Friendly Pest Control Can Effectively Get Rid Of
At Celtic Pest Control, we put a strong emphasis on protecting the environment and we use products and methods that offer long-lasting protection for homes and businesses. The best way to show how we apply eco-friendly pest control is to give examples.
Wood-Destroying Organisms: We perform professional inspections to locate termite activity and damage; the presence of fungi and poor ventilation; and other conducive conditions that contribute to pest infestations. There are many pests that damage wood. We deter these pests and prevent damage with eco-friendly options such as applying vapor barriers to crawl spaces, installing ventilation, cleaning up cellulose debris, and removing fungus. We also apply treatments that target any pests present. We lay bait for carpenter ants and apply termite products that target termite development. All of these methods focus on the source of the problem and arrest the conditions that allow damage to occur.
Bed Bugs: These are frustrating pests that cause folks to use extraordinary measures to eradicate them. Many of the treatments people apply are far more dangerous than the bed bugs themselves. Our technicians use many methods to target the source of bed bug problems.
- Bed bugs often live in mattresses or box springs. We may apply encasements to trap bed bugs inside or to keep bed bugs from getting inside.
- We use monitoring stations to eliminate bed bugs and detect bed bug activity.
- We may apply a steam treatment. Heat destroys bed bugs in all stages of development.
- We use HEPA to remove bed bugs. These units suck bed bugs in and don't let them escape.
- We may treat certain items in our portable, ZappBug heat-treatment room. Items can be put inside the heat treatment room for fast elimination of bed bugs within items that are heat-safe.
When we apply conventional treatment products, we do so in a targeted and limited way. We might inject a dust product into your wall outlets. The product we use isn't strong, but it is best used where dogs and kids can't get to it.
Spiders: We have quite a selection of spiders in our Reno service area. The products and methods we use to target them are entirely eco-friendly.
- We do a pass around the exterior of the structures on your property and remove webs. Doing this deters spiders from creating webs but can also remove hundreds of spiders. Many spiders create egg sacs inside their webs and these egg sacs can have as many as 300 eggs inside. That's a lot of spiders.
- We may wipe down certain areas to prevent spiders from creating webs in the first place. Spiders prefer surfaces that are dirty or dusty.
- Certain spiders require a little more effort to control. We use traps to capture these spiders and monitor spider activity inside structures.
- We may apply exclusion work to make it harder for spiders to get inside.
- We may offer ongoing treatments for bugs. When spiders come onto your property and near structures, they're not going to want to stay if they can't find food to eat.
- We make recommendations, such as removing objects that spiders may hide underneath or inside.
Do you see how it works? We use all-natural methods first. When control products are needed, we select appropriate products and use them in locations that are appropriate. The products used are often engineered to target pests. Our goal is always to provide the greatest level of protection with the least amount of control product. On top of this, we use long-lasting solutions such as exclusion work. Long after we have applied pest control to your home or business, your exclusions will continue to provide ongoing protection from pest problems. There is no better way to get control of pests in Reno.
Professional Eco-Friendly Pest Control: Celtic Pest Control
Do you own a home or run a business in Reno? If so, you're in our service area. Consider reaching out to Celtic Pest Control for effective eco-friendly pest control. The methods and products we use are tough on pests, not the environment. We'll guide you toward a long-lasting and sustainable solution. We are a locally owned and operated business. That means we live here, and just like you, we care about our neighborhoods, communities, and the natural beauty of Reno. The treatments we provide for our customers are treatments we use in our own yards and inside our own homes. Reach out to us today to learn more or to request a service visit from one of our highly-trained technicians. We'll do the rest.
What Celtic Pest Control Customers Are Saying
"My overall experience with your company was very good. They were on time and professional. They did good work and answered all questions we had. From the first point of contact with your company, we have had a good experience. Great customer service. We will use them in the future and highly recommend them!"
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