WHAT IS A PEST?

A pest is a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns including crops, livestock, and forestry. The term is also used of organisms that cause a nuisance, such as in the home. An older usage is of a deadly epidemic disease, specifically plague. In its broadest sense, a pest is a competitor of humanity.

Animals are called pests when they cause damage to agriculture by feeding on crops or parasitising livestock, such as codling moth on apples, or boll weevil on cotton. An animal could also be a pest when it causes damage to a wild ecosystem or carries germs within human habitats. Examples of these include those organisms which vector human disease, such as rats and fleas which carry the plague disease, mosquitoes which vector malaria, and ticks which carry Lyme disease.

A species can be a pest in one setting but beneficial or domesticated in another (for example, European rabbits introduced to Australia caused ecological damage beyond the scale they inflicted in their natural habitat). Many weeds are also seen as useful under certain conditions, for instance Patterson's curse is often valued as food for honeybees and as a wildflower, even though it can poison livestock.

Pests include animals which:

• carry disease-causing micro-organisms and parasites, for example, mosquitoes which carry Ross River virus and Murray Valley encephalitis.
• attack and eat vegetable and cereal crops, for example, caterpillars and grasshoppers.
• damage stored food. For example, rats and mice may eat grain in silos, rice or biscuits in shops and homes and contaminate this food with their faeces (droppings) and urine.
• attack and eat farm and station animals. For example, feral dogs (dingoes) kill or maim many sheep and goats each year; foxes will kill poultry, lambs and many species of native wildlife; and feral cats also prey on native wildlife.
• damage clothing. Silverfish, for example, eat holes in clothes.
• damage buildings. For example, termites can cause considerable damage to timber in buildings.
• bite people. For example, bed bugs (so called because they often bite people in their beds) are very difficult and expensive to control. Their bites can cause great irritation to those bitten and, like mosquito bites, can become infected if scratched.

There are thousands of different kinds of pests which are harmful to humans. The great majority of these are types of insect

Pest control

The numbers of pests in communities, on farms and pastoral stations must be controlled. Control is necessary, so that people, their stock and food supplies are not destroyed or contaminated, and the health of humans is not put at unnecessary risk. Pest control is all the action taken to help keep the number of pests down to a level where the risk to people, their food and the environment is minimised.

Common pests

There are many different kinds of pests and only some of these create health problems in Indigenous communities.

Flies

Rubbish, food scraps, open septic tanks, open leach drains, under eaves, dirty benches and tables, lawn clippings and animal faeces.

Cockroaches

Rubbish, food scraps, dirty benches and tables, drains, behind stoves and fridges, bathroom and kitchen cupboards, under floors of older houses, septic tanks and leach drains.

Mosquitoes

Cool, dark and damp places such as rain water in discarded refrigerators, car tyres and tins, and in septic tanks/leach drains, water storage tanks, protected corners of effluent ponds and natural bodies of water.

Rats and Mice

Rubbish, exposed food, storage places, kitchen cupboards and holes in walls. They are also found in pipes, insulation, under buildings, in ceilings and in trees and gardens.

Environmental conditions which encourage pests

Where an EHP surveys a community and finds some of the conditions listed below, it is likely that some pests will be found in the community.

• Faeces or dead animals lying around
• Septic tanks and leach drains with lids broken or missing
• Pools of water caused by leaking taps
• Overflowing effluent drains
• Objects such as old tyres and other water-holding containers left lying around which could collect water
• Rubbish, including food scraps, left lying around
• Blocked and/or unclean toilets
• Grass growing in sewage lagoons

Homes with:

• Food left uncovered in kitchens
• Unclean tables and bench tops
• Unclean cupboards and shelves
• Unclean kitchen floors

Signs that there are pests in a house

It is easy to know when flies and mosquitoes are in a house because they usually annoy people and are easy to see.

Where houses are not properly cleaned, there can be significant number of cockroaches, which can be often seen during the day. Large cockroach infestations can produce a sickly smell and leave much faecal material around.

Rats and mice usually hide during the day and are rarely seen, unless in large numbers.

Signs of cockroaches include:

• lots of little black droppings
• a sweet, sickly smell
• dead cockroaches
• empty egg cases
• chewed labels and paper

Signs of flies include:

• A female house fly will lay up to 900 eggs
• Maggots are small, white, worm-like larval flies
• Seeing one or two flies does not constitute an infestation

Signs of mosquitoes include:

• A puffy, white and reddish bump that appears a few minutes after the bite
• A hard, itchy, reddish-brown bump, or multiple bumps, appearing a day or so after the bite or bites
• Small blisters instead of hard bumps
• Dark spots that look like bruises

Signs of rats and mice include:

• Teeth marks and damage from chewing
• Rat and mice droppings
• Greasy smears from the rats' fur mark their runways
• Rat and mice holes
• Running, chewing or scratching noises

What are pesticides?

A pesticide is a substance used to kill feral animals, insects, fungi or plants. There are thousands of different pesticides in use today. Pesticides are used in houses, shops, offices, storerooms, sheds, gardens, farms, pastoral stations and many other places.

Most of the pesticides used today are chemicals which have been developed in a laboratory by scientists and produced in factories. Some pesticides are quite hazardous, as they can be harmful to humans and other living things.

They can contaminate land, the air, food crops, water ways and seriously harm or kill native animals, pets and domestic animals.

In addition to being hazardous to the user, pesticides can also cause great harm and sometimes death to a person or other living things nearby, if the instructions on the pesticide container are not followed carefully.

Pesticides come in three different forms:

• Solids, which come in powder form (like flour), or in crystal or granular form (like sugar)
• Liquids, which look like milky water
• Aerosols, which are sprayed out in a fine mist

People and pesticide poisoning

While pesticides are useful for the control of various pests, many of them are hazardous chemicals. They are hazardous because they can poison the land, the water and the air.

It is very important to only use pesticides in accordance with the label directions which are found on the pesticide container. When people using pesticides become careless they run the risk of poisoning themselves, other people and animals and plants.

Animals which are intended to be killed with pesticides are called target animals. Animals (including people) which are not intended to be killed when a pesticide is used are called non-target animals.

Pesticides can enter the human body in three ways, which are outlined below

Oral entry

This type of entry is through the mouth in the food we eat or the liquids we drink. Also, if there is any pesticide on our hands it can get into the body when the hands are licked, when the face is wiped near the mouth, or when a cigarette becomes contaminated and is put into the mouth.

Respiratory entry

Pesticide sprays, vapours or powders can be breathed in through the mouth and nose.

Dermal entry

Pesticide spray which lands on the body can be absorbed through the skin and eyes. Pesticides are commonly absorbed very quickly through the eyes, forehead and forearms.

Some of the ways by which careless use of pesticides can cause people or other animals to be poisoned accidentally include:

• not reading the label
• putting pesticide in a food or drink container, such as a drink bottle. Children may eat or drink the pesticide by mistake
• leaving pesticide baits in places where children and pets can get them
• not using protective clothing or equipment when mixing or spraying a pesticide
• contaminating uncovered food and drink or cooking/eating utensils while carrying out a spraying operation
• spraying in windy conditions so that the spray drifts away to other areas
• spraying areas which do not need to be treated
• not moving other people and animals away from the spraying area

Protection of the environment and non-target species

Pesticides are designed to kill. When people use them they are aiming to kill a particular kind of pest. Because pesticides are poisonous chemicals, great care must be taken when using them, so that non-target animals and plants are not killed.

For example, if a house is being sprayed for cockroaches it is important not to harm any of the adults, children and pets such as dogs and cats who may live there. All of these animals make up the non-target animals in the house.

As well as protecting non-target animals and plants when pesticides are used, it is also important that every effort is made to protect the rest of the environment. Some pesticides are very poisonous and will last in the environment for a long time where they can poison the land, the water and the air. This can happen when pesticides are used incorrectly, or when treated materials which should never be touched by people come into contact with them. For example, moving termite treated soil from beneath a building to use in a children's playground.

Using pesticides correctly to protect the environment, including people

When a pesticide spray is used, it is important to protect the environment by following the rules listed below.

• Ensure that the correct pesticide for the job is chosen and applied in accordance with the label directions
• Only spray those areas that need to be treated
• Only mix or use sufficient pesticide solution that is necessary to do the job, that is, do not overspray or use too much concentrate
• Only spray in low wind conditions. Try to have as little spray drift as possible and preferably none at all. Do not spray where the wind exceeds 15kmph.
• Ensure that there is no pesticide left at the end of the treatment. Leftover pesticide must be either be used on the next job or buried. If the pesticide is buried there is always the risk that it may contaminate rivers, swamps and underground water supplies. Every effort should be made to reduce the chances of this happening.
• Ensure that people who have had the inside of their homes treated are advised to open windows and doors to get rid of any chemical smell which might be present when they return.
• If treating the inside of a home, ensure that the chemical has dried before people re-enter the house

Advantages and disadvantages of using pesticides

The use of pesticides to control pests can cause concern to some people. People can become worried about the effects of the continued use of pesticide on the environment and its impact on human health.

There are good reasons (advantages) for using pesticides and there are reasons for not using them (disadvantages).

Advantages of using pesticides

• Applying pesticides is not difficult, provided users are properly trained
• Modern pesticides are very effective. This means that nearly all the target pests which come in contact with these pesticides are killed
• Results are quick. This means the pests are killed within a very short time.
• Using pesticides can be an economical (cheap) way of controlling pests. Pesticides can be applied quickly and there is not the high labour
• cost which might apply to other methods of control, such as removing weeds by hand.

Disadvantages of using pesticides

• If pesticides are not used correctly, they can affect human health or cause serious injury or death to the pesticide operator, other people or household pets.
• Pesticides can also directly affect other non-target animals. For example, a gardener spraying his garden to kill caterpillars will probably also kill harmless ladybird beetles and praying mantises.
• If pesticides are used incorrectly or applied wrongly, they may find their way into places where they are not wanted, for example, they might be washed into rivers or into the soil.
• Pesticides can enter the food chain

10 Alternatives/ Homemade Organic Pesticides

Ever wonder what farmers did hundreds of years ago to fight off crop pests? Long before the invention of harmful chemical pesticides (yes, the kind that is linked to cancerous cellular activity), farmers and householders came up with multiple remedies for removing insect infestations from their garden plants.

The following list will offer some of our favorite, all-natural, inexpensive, organic methods for making bug-busting pesticides for your home garden.

1. Neem

Ancient Indians highly revered neem oil as a powerful, all-natural plant for warding off pests. In fact, neem juice is the most powerful natural pesticide on the planet, holding over 50 natural insecticides. You can use this extremely bitter tree leaf to make a natural pesticidal spray.

To make your own neem oil spray, add 1/2 an ounce of high-quality organic neem oil and ½ teaspoon of a mild organic liquid soap (I use Dr. Bronners Peppermint) to two quarts of warm water. Stir slowly. Add to a spray bottle and use immediately.

2. Salt Spray

For treating plants infested with spider mites, mix two tablespoons of Himalayan Crystal Salt into one gallon of warm water and spray on infected areas. Click here to know about the benefits of Himalayan Crystal Salt Benefits

3. Mineral Oil

Mix 10-30 ml of high-grade oil with one liter of water. Stir and add to spray bottle. This organic pesticide works well for dehydrating insects and their eggs.

4. Citrus Oil and Cayenne Pepper

This organic pesticide works well on ants. Mix 10 drops of citrus essential oil with one teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1 cup of warm water. Shake well and spray on the affected areas.

5. Soap, Orange Citrus Oil, and Water

To make this natural pesticide, simply mix three tablespoons of liquid Organic Castile soap with 1 ounce of Orange oil to one gallon of water. Shake well. This is an especially effective treatment against slugs and can be sprayed directly on ants and roaches.

6. Eucalyptus Oil

A great natural pesticide for flies, bees, and wasps. Simply sprinkle a few drops of eucalyptus oil where the insects are found. They will all be gone before you know it.

7. Onion and Garlic Spray

Mince one organic clove of garlic and one medium sized organic onion. Add to a quart of water. Wait one hour and then add one teaspoon of cayenne pepper and one tablespoon of liquid soap to the mix. This organic spray will hold its potency for one week if stored in the refrigerator.

8. Chrysanthemum Flower Tea

These flowers hold a powerful plant chemical component called pyrethrum. This substance invades the nervous system of insects, rendering them immobile. You can make your own spray by boiling 100 grams of dried flowers into 1 liter of water. Boil dried flowers in water for twenty minutes. Strain, cool, and pour into a spray bottle. Can be stored for up to two months. You can also add some organic neem oil to enhance the effectiveness.

9. Tobacco Spray

Just as tobacco is hazardous to humans, tobacco spray was once a commonly used pesticide for killing pests, caterpillars, and aphids. Mix one cup of organic tobacco (preferably a brand that is organic and all-natural) into one gallon of water. Allow the mixture to set overnight. After 24-hours, the mix should have a light brown color. If it is very dark, add more water. This mix can be used on most plants, except those in the solanaceous family (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc.)

10. Chile Pepper / Diatomaceous Earth

Grind two handfuls of dry chiles into a fine powder and mix with 1 cup of Diatomaceous earth. Add to 2 liters of water and let set overnight. Shake well before applying

If you know some easy recipes for making your own organic pesticides, we would love to hear them.

†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. Global Healing Center does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Global Healing Center are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.

Other methods of pest control

The use of pesticides to control pests should always be the last resort. Other action can be taken around homes and communities to control pests. Most of these actions simply relate to clean and healthy living.

Hygiene as a method of pest control

When houses and yards are kept clean, there is no food for pests and nowhere for them to live and breed, and this in turn means that there are few pests.

Pests can be controlled by practising good hygiene in the following ways:

• Clean up after meals. Put food scraps in the bin, and wash and dry plates, cups, glasses, cutlery and cooking pots after use.
• Put all rubbish into the bin
• Wrap all food scraps tightly in paper before putting them in the bin
• Keep all the benches, cupboards and floors clean and free of food scraps
• Regularly clean behind stoves, refrigerators and other household appliances
• Keep food in containers with tight-fitting lids
• Use the toilet properly. Make sure that all urine and faeces goes into the pedestal pan and that the toilet is flushed after use. Toilet paper is the only kind of paper that should be flushed down the toilet.
• Make sure the toilet is clean and the cistern works correctly
• Make sure that all septic tanks and leach drains are well sealed
• Make sure that the community rubbish tip is operated correctly with the rubbish being buried regularly
• Use flyscreens to stop pests entering the house and seal holes around pipes

What is a pest?

Mold