In this world, no issue is ever isolated. Many issues are caused by other issues and can impact yet other issues. One such example of this is climate change. Of the many areas of our world it will impact, a lesser known issue will be that of its effect on pest control.
Climate change can affect the distribution of pests, their numbers, and how active they can become.
In this article, we will address your questions regarding climate change and its relationship with pest control and how it is reshaping pest control strategies.
How does climate change affect pests?
Climate change affects pests in many ways. It can range from expanding pest territories to affecting population size.
Impacting Population Size –
Climate change can affect insect populations since the weather can affect the fertility of an insect. Many insects have been shown to have a greater ability to increase the number of generations they produce in a warmer climate. This could also result in the changing of their breeding seasons. Warmer climates can cause more generations of insects to be produced, causing a greater increase in the insect population.
For instance, warmer temperatures can allow pests from warmer climates to expand to previously colder territories.
Changes in Pest life cycles & diseases transmission –
Climate change can also enhance disease transmission. Certain insects, such as mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, spread certain diseases to human populations. Climate change, in affecting the behavior of these insects, can cause an increase in vector-borne illnesses. This can be caused by changes such as the ones discussed above.
Impact pests’ chances of survival –
Climate change can also cause an increase in pest survival and resilience. Climate change not only creates warmer climates but also causes an increase in Carbon Dioxide levels within the atmosphere. These two effects can contribute to faster pest development, enhanced crop pests, as well as an increased resistance to pesticides. This in turn can contribute to pests reproducing year round.
Impact on Agriculture –
Climate change can also have agricultural effects, due to the temperature rise, pests like insects and fungi are able to multiply much more than they used to. This in turn poses a risk to agricultural crops, which can be disastrous and lead to consequences such as yield losses and a decrease in food production.
How and why global warming can influence the distribution of pest species?
Global warming can influence the distribution of pests in a variety of ways.
Most insects can be described as unable to regulate their body temperature, which means that where they live and the type of climate in that region matters. Many areas of the planet that were seen as uninhabitable places for certain types of insects are now warming up and are being seen as viable places for insects to live in.
While higher temperature and precipitation levels can create environments conducive to the thriving of certain species of insects, if they get too high, this can have a negative effect, such as slowing the growth of some species. This makes warming temperate climates attractive areas for certain species since temperate climates do not get too warm. Many of these climates currently do not get warm enough, however, with climate change, that may soon change.
What is one strategy that can be used to control insect pests?
One specific strategy many pest control companies are using is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is essentially a combination of various pest control techniques mainly centered on monitoring pests, structural measures to prevent pests from gaining a foothold in your property, and minimizing damage. This approach involves a combination of prevention, monitoring, and control methods to effectively manage pests while minimizing risks to people and the environment.
By using this type of strategy, for example, landowners and farmers can identify any potential threats posed by certain kinds of pests that might become prevalent in an area and manage them by implementing preventative measures (ASA).
What are some ways in which I can prepare?
There are measures you yourself can take in order to prevent pest control issues spiralling out of control:
- Making sure your surroundings are clean. Food safety and proper waste disposal are important to removing sources that may attract pests.
- Sealing entry points such as cracks or crevices in walls also help prevent pests from entering your house in the first place.
- Having routine inspections of your home to identify any pest issues you may be unaware of or identify certain spots in your house that may attract other pests.
Conclusion
To summarize, climate change is affecting pest control in many ways. It affects their population, their survival rate, and their distribution. It also can affect the spread of diseases as well as agricultural production.
Knowing this, it becomes even more important to look out for pest control services that use integrated pest management as a part of their services.
If you are looking for services that offer Pest Control in Naperville, Glen Ellyn, Aurora, and many other cities in the Chicagoland area, feel free to contact Yosemite Pest and Rodent Solutions, Inc at (630) 779-7674.
