Hiring a “Green” Pest Control Company

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Annie Spiegelman

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Photo Credit: Suzanne Tucker/Big Stock Photo

We see these little signs all over lawns and parks, but what was really sprayed on that turf…and what are the long-term effects?

Most of us homeowners can handle a pest infestation in the garden, but once insects or rodents come inside our homes to hang out and eat like teenagers, we run for the broom or the spray can. (And some – as my friend Ron did – hop onto the stove barking and waving a hockey stick at the raccoons as they ravage the kitchen.)

Of course, most often homeowners are usually able to solve indoor pest infestations on their own by sealing cracks or holes or purchasing an environmentally safe control. And many outdoor infestations can be solved with an accurate diagnosis of the offending pest along with the right advice on the least-toxic methods to get rid of it – which could include adding predators or beneficial insects to the garden to help eat away the problem. (This sound practice is called integrated pest management, or IPM.)

But if you can’t seem to conquer a severe infestation on your own – either indoors or outside – it may be time to consider hiring a professional pest control company. But not just any one. My advice is to hire a company that chooses to use less-toxic chemicals. (And yes, they’re out there.) According to the EPA, an estimated 45 million pounds of pesticides are used annually in US homes and gardens, with sales totaling more than $2 billion annually. The Centers for Disease Control reports that 90 percent of us here in the US have a mixture of up to 43 pesticides in our bodies. (Yuck!) Many of these chemicals have been linked to health problems such as cancer, birth defects, reproductive health issues and neurological problems. So why make the problem worse by going for the “big guns” when attacking the pests?

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Photo Credit: Annie Spiegelman

Some organic gardeners advocate ladybugs (lady beetles, really) for natural pest control.

Chemical pesticides of any kind should only be used as a very last resort in garden or home pest defense, especially if children are present! According to John Wargo, director of the Yale Center for Children’s Environmental Health, “More than 90 percent of pesticides and their inert ingredients are never tested for their effects on developing nervous systems. Children are more affected by exposure to such chemicals because they are smaller and their organs are not mature.” In 2000, a study published in the journal Cancer reported that children with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were seven times more likely than healthy kids to have grown up in a home where pesticides were sprayed, and they were three times more likely to live in a home which was treated regularly by a professional exterminator.

So where do you look for “green” pesticide companies? The first step is to search your local phone book under “Pest Control” for companies that advertise their services as “environmentally safe.” If you can’t find any there, do a search online.

Facts

Entomologists estimate that of the nearly 1 million insect species we have identified, less than 1 percent are actually considered to be pests! Insects have been on the Earth for over 400 million years and play an important role in the garden – as pollinators, predators and other creatures’ free lunch.
Using chemical pesticides at the first sign of pest damage can often cause more problems than it solves. Many chemicals don’t just target a specific pest – they also kill any beneficial organisms in your garden. It’s better (if not wiser) to avoid using pesticides at all, if possible.

Faqs

Q: I can’t make much sense of the Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). What should I do?
A: If the MSDS looks like a foreign language, visit the American Lung Association’s Website, which will teach you how to read a Material Safety Data Sheet.

Resources

Can’t identify your pest? Capture one (and/or a sample of its plant damage) and bring it to your local Cooperative Extension office for an agent to diagnose. Not sure where your local office is? Do a quick search online at the USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Website.
Green Shield Certified is the first national Integrated Pest Management-certified program in the country. It certifies pest control companies that meet stringent prevention-based standards. You can try to find a local provider on its Website.

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Read the Pesticide Label!
Using pesticide properly isn’t terribly hard. There is one all-important place to start: the label. Learn what to look for on the label, and find some tips to get you started with pesticides the right way.
Easy Integrated Pest Management
Insects can bug you in the garden, but don’t reach for the chemicals yet. Remember, some creatures actually help you out! Help keep beneficial insects in your garden – and reduce populations of the pesky ones – by learning and practicing the seven steps of integrated pest management (IPM).

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