Methods of prevention (1)

Stored products insects

• Visual Control
• Conditions Control
• Sampling
• Use of Traps

Sampling:

• Abolute Estimation: it allows us to gather information about the number of insects contained in a specific sample size
• Comparative Estimation: it allows us to gather information about the number of insects contained in an unknown sample size. (measurements per unit of sampling attempt)

Wood – Infesting Insects

• Use of “good” quality wood – Healthy wood
• Use of oil paint or paint with other preservatives on every wooden construction
• Avoiding making any cracks on wood
• Preventive spraying of wooden constructions with pesticides which have long-term residual effects
• Avoid any humidity concentration in wooden parts of the house.
• Firewood should not be stored on the ground. Furthermore, firewood in houses should be consumed quickly

Methods of prevention (2)

Mosquitoes

• Fumigation coils
• Electrically heated mat
• Liquid Insect Repellents

• Mechanical Protection of the residence (using screens on doors and windows, mosquito nets etc.)

Flies – Midges

• Estimating the problem identifying the species
• Locating the nest where the prelarval stage are located
• Hygiene and Preventive Measures
• Controlling of Larvae
• Controlling of Adults

Cockroaches

• Check all the spots – possible shelters such us cracks and openings near food or near humid and dark corners.
• Cleaning measures
• Remove any waste, food or standing water from the house.

Methods of prevention (3)

Bedbugs

• Various appliances (UV, vacuum etc)
• Removal of furniture, mattresses etc.
• Exposure of possible refuge sites – shelters to high temperatures i.e. sunlight
• Adhesive surfaces (tapes)
• Blocking the entrance into the house (clothes in bags, covering mattresses with plastic, closing up cracks with silicone etc.)

Fleas

• Controlling rodents
• Constant observation of house animals
• Cleanliness: removal of residue, feces etc. of fleas, cleaning possible refuge sites (dust, carpets etc)
• Fleas can grow even in the most clean house

Lice

• Personal protection (repellents and shampoo)
• Cleaning: Removal of lice when brushing, checking all clothing

Ticks

• Use boots
• Use repellents in boots, socks and pants.
• Avoid laying on the ground
• Pesticide application on animal vectors -
• People having contact with infected animals should always check their clothing and body for ticks.

Mites (Acari)

Based on taxa

• Genus Sarcoptes
  • Contact with Animals
• House dust mites
  • Frequent vacuuming with specialized vacuums in order to properly remove any dead mites as well as their feces
  • Washing sheets and pillows with hot water – frequent cleaning, shaking and hanging them out in the sunshine. Reduction of temperature and humidity (below 20 ο C and 50 % Humidity)
  • Ionizers air filters
  • Medical testing for allergies
• Chiggers
  • Repellents (for socks and feet)
• Dermanysus
  • Use of insecticides on infested walls
  • Repulsion of birds (i.e. pigeons)
• Stored product mites
  • Reduction of humidity inside the storage room and near any product, hygiene conditions.

Methods of management (chemical and non-chemical methods)

Stored product insects

1. Natural: High temperatures
   Ventilation
   Packaging
   Mechanical destruction
   ENTOLETER
   
   • Fires flour between two steel surfaces with spikes
   • It kills all insect species in all development stages
   • >2900 rpm
2. Biological
3. Chemical: Protectants
   Fumigrants
4. Biotechnological

Wood Infesting Insects

• Control is difficult
• Mostly with gas insecticides, modified of controlled atmospheres.
• Not termite gas
• For termites we can apply insecticide with drilling- remove any “suspicious” material (old firewood etc).

Mosquitoes

• Management of sites they inhabit in order to breed
  (Drainage, Destruction of their breeding sites even of the small ones)
• Recording of potential breeding sites – mapping
• Population density leading to control measures
• Chemical control (available means –air spraying)
• Larvicidal applications (and to a lesser extent), applications agaist adults
• Personal Protection Measures

Flies

• Προνύμφες δύσκολο να εντοπιστούν
• Καταπολέμηση ενηλίκων με ψεκασμούς (όπως ενήλικων κουνουπιών)

Σκνίπες

• It is difficult to locate the larvae
• Controlling adults by spraying (i.e adult mosquitoes)

Cockroaches

• Detect and spray only spots of frequent crossings as well as the ovaries with the chosen insecticide:
• Insecticides that can be applied in various forms
• Gels (Food based Baits )
• Insecticides in dust form.
• Traps (i.e. adhesive surfaces)
• Baits (i.e. attractant substances containing pesticides)
• Explain and remind the appropriate person the importance of constant inspections, the need for hygiene in the workplace and the true meaning of waste (insects, rodents, fungi, bacteria)

Bedbugs

• Apply insecticides
• Synthetic pyrethroids, growth regulators
• foggers
• Often, apply more than once
• Resiliesnce
• Fumigation
• of spaces and materials (beds, mattresses etc)
• High temperatures
• >45 oC
• Resilient in low temperatures (they can survive for days in 0 oC)
• Apply CO2, Ν2, steam
• CO2 and Ν2 both in gas form and as dry ice

Fleas

• Synthetic pyrethroids, growth regulators, neonicotinoids etc.
• Resistance (in pyrethroids), loss of drastic contents
• Foggers
• Repellents (personal protection, mostly on animals)
• Holometabolous insects– applying insecticides against both adults and all the other development stages

Lice

• Pesticides

Ticks

• Cleaning of all areas (herbicides, disinfestations)
• Insecticides in interior and exterior spaces, on doors, on the floor and on the ground, in dog houses etc.
• The combined use of larvicides and adulticides is highly recommended.

Advantages and disadvantages of each method

Purpose: controlling harmful organisms without causing both health and environmental issues.

Chemical Methods:

• Immediate results
• Short – term results
• Resistance over time
• Attention to sensitive areas

Mechanical & Natural:

• Safe for human health
• In some cases more economic
• They do not leave behind residue on products
• Limited application

Examples

Gas Advantages

• They can spread rapidly within a space or a product and penetrate materials that other pesticides cannot (difference with aerosols)
• Instant effects on all insect development stages (even on eggs)
• Effective on a wide range of insect species, mites etc.
• No residue on products and limited residual effects.
• Application only when necessary (after the infestation is noted)

Gas Disadvantages

• Very dangerous, during the applications, if the necessary precautions are not taken.
• Resistance development from certain species
• In large storage spaces (i.e. silos) in order to apply fumigants, the relative equipment is needed.

Instant Effect Rodenticides

Advantages

• Instant Death
• All dead mice are visible
• Only a small amount is necessary
• Effective where there is resistance to anticoagulants

Disadvantages

• "bait shyness”
• High content means low attractiveness
• Dangerous to other animal species
• There is no antidote, dangerous to use

Anticoagulant Rodenticides

Advantages

• No "bait shyness"
• High content
• Low content hence more safe
• Effective antidote

Disadvantages

• High cost to apply
• A large amount is needed
• Resistance development

Criteria for the selection of the most appropriate method(s)

• Understanding the bio – ecology of the pest.
• Methods that can be used at the appropriate time.
• Deciding if the infestation is serious in relation to the economic loss.
• Compare the cost and effectiveness of the various methods of control
• Plan for the future – Long – term results.

Examples

Mosquitoes

• Defining the species.
• Studying and having knowledge of the biology and ecology of a species.
• Monitoring of the population: breeding sites, monitoring the specific time of year when there is an increase in the population density etc.
• Recording the measures that can contribute to the reduction of the population density.
• Choosing a measure or a combination of measures that can be applied: achieving the best possible outcome with a measure that has the lowest risk for humans and the environment as well as the least economic cost.
• Determining the right time to act.
• Determining the appropriate body to implement any pest control activities as well as the authority that will handle the monitoring part of the process.
• Informing and and educating the public on the possibillity of contributing in the prevention and treatment of such issues.

Wood infesting insects

• Woodworms or Termites?
• When dealing with woodworms, remove the infested wood.
• Applying gas under certain conditions
• Applying thermal pest control methods
• For termites, apply liquid insecticides at the are in question based on the capability of injection on the walls etc.

Mites

• Blood feeding mites or not?
• In cases of blood feeding mites, use of a “chemical barrier” on the area under protection
• Similarly and use of a “mechanical barrier” for the same case
• Amending conditions when dealing with house dust achari (non blood eating achari)
• Removal, cleaning, reducing relative humidity.
• Using of liquid insecticides and gasses for mites found in stored agricultural products and food.