Pest Control: Proactive, Environmentally Sound Pest Control

No matter how clean, well-managed or amenity-rich a building is, insect and rodent sightings are guaranteed to put tenants on the warpath.  According to the pros at Arrow Exterminating of Lynbrook, Long Island, New York Magazine’s #1-rated pest management company for 2007, making proactive pest control a component of your building management plan is the key to avoiding this kind of trouble.
 
“One-size-fits-all ‘pay for spray’ is not a long-term solution to pest control,” says Michael Deutsch, Arrow’s staff entomologist. “The only thing guaranteed to work is educating and partnering with building maintenance and management to deliver an environmentally sound pest control program customized to fit the property’s particular needs.”
 
Moving Beyond Pesticides
Arrow’s proactive approach is significantly more efficient and involves much more than simply applying pesticides.

“The cornerstone of such a program is environmental monitoring,” says Deutsch. “This tactic allows technicians to focus their efforts on areas that are most likely to harbor pests.”

Environmental monitoring reduces pesticide usage and provides long-term pest population suppression by eliminating non-essential and non-effective chemical pesticide applications by directing the efforts of technicians to locations of pest activity and areas that are conducive to pest population survival.
 
The proactive pest management contractor schedules regular meetings with the building management team and provides information relative to pest population levels and the actions performed to reduce those populations. The use of non-chemical pest management strategies, such as environmental monitoring, sanitation, trapping and pest-proofing, in combination with the limited use of the least toxic, low-impact pesticides, provides long-term pest population suppression and reduces reliance on chemical pesticide.
 
Incorporating Strategy
The structural environment provides innumerable opportunities for insects and rodents to establish populations and thrive. Pest resources such as food, water and shelter are always available in and around buildings.  

“The key is to have a thorough understanding of various pest species and their life-sustaining requirements and then identify areas containing these factors in and around the structure,” Deutsch.

Once the resources and locations are identified, the proactive approach then establishes a monitoring program. Devices used to indicate pest activity are installed in and around the resource areas to intercept pests.
 
Proactive technicians examine monitors regularly. If, for instance, there are no pest indications on certain monitors, the devices are dated and re-installed and there is no need to perform any action. If any monitor is found to contain a dead insect, the technician will inspect the area for additional bug sign and may treat the area before there is a problem. Had no monitors been installed, the insect population would have increased, spread and caused numerous complaints from tenants. Just spraying chemicals won’t address problems for the long-term.
 
A good pest management contractor identifies conditions conducive to pests and also addresses structural maintenance issues, such as sealing holes around utility lines that provide pests with access into buildings, and removing standing water from roof set-backs. Proper handling and storage of solid waste and maintenance of compactor equipment is critical in proactive pest management. Additionally, commercial properties with food service facilities require special attention. An effective environmental sanitation program which includes a floor drain sanitation and hygiene program is very important in reducing pest populations and resources. It should be noted that poor floor drain maintenance results in providing flies and cockroaches with food, water and shelter. It is also a source of bacterial contamination and bad odors.
 
A proactive approach on the part of the customer is necessary to source an innovative and environmentally friendly pest management firm.

“Building managers should conduct a bit of research by contacting several companies and asking them about their standard protocol before signing a service contract. This extra effort will yield the best results, keep buildings pest free and ensure that tenants are happy,” says Deutsch.