Pests can affect our quality of life in many ways. Not just ours but our pets as well. Every home shares its resources with these tiny, often unseen invaders. If they are not controlled they can be harmful to our health and the environment. Pesticides are the usually used to get rid of these unwanted guests but these potent chemical products can be harmful to both you and the environment.

Natural enemies of pests

Taking our planet seriously

Environmentally friendly products are considered to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment and these items are usually marked with eco-labels. Environmentally friendly products provide multiple benefits to both occupants and the surroundings. These items not only promotes health, safety and social consciousness but it has a lesser or reduced effect on both human health and the environment.

It is not surprising that a growing number of companies have decided to turn "green" because of these factors. Several cleaning and even pest control companies uses "green" products in order to meet demands of consumers who are worried about the environment. Studies have shown that we are exposed daily to a wide array of chemicals that affect our hormone systems. The lesser we are exposed to these chemicals the less prone we are to breathing in toxic.

Natural enemies

Biological control is form of pest control that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory or other natural mechanisms to reduce the pest population. This of course, needs the active involvement of humans. Although this procedure is safe, the effect in getting rid of unwanted pests may take a longer time. Examples of biological pest control products are fungi, bacteria or viruses that can cause massive disease outbreaks and death in insect populations. It is the deliberate use of one organism to regulate the population size of a pest organism. Predators, such as lady beetles and lacewings, are mainly free-living species that consume a large number of prey during their lifetime and they are usually use to get rid of pests in gardens.

Home-made pest deterrents

There are thousands of pest control products but instead of using these, there are more natural, non-toxic and organic ways to control household insect pests. These are less expensive than the usual pest sprays. Organic sprays and dusts include insecticidal soap and diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is a dust composed of fossilized skeletons of microscopic sea organisms. It is applied as a dust or in a water solution. Both are effective against soft-bodied insects such as mites and aphids. You can choose to make your own homemade sprays of ground garlic and chilli peppers, effective in repelling insect pests. In fact, regular household remedies are best used because they are usually readily available in your cabinets. Soapy water kills roaches effectively. Most ants have a natural aversion to cucumber. Take advantage of that by slipping cucumbers in between the cracks where they thrive.

"Green" pest control companies

If your pest problem seems too big for you to handle such as termites or even an ant hole at your backyard, it is advisable to call a pest control company. Most companies have turned to using more environmentally friendly solutions in solving pest problems and this is important especially if you have children and pets in the house to make sure that the products they use are toxic safe. There are two things for you to take into consideration when choosing a pest control company. Firstly, you must evaluate the effectiveness of the company's pest management methods. Secondly, you must decide if you are satisfied with the customer service you received. You can always seek recommendation from friends and relatives to make your search easier.