When unwanted pests invade your home, you want them gone as quickly and effectively as possible. Many people call pest control professionals and Exterminator Springfield MO for help, but these terms do not mean the same thing.
While their goal is to remove pests, an exterminator relies on chemicals that could be more harmful than necessary, while a pest management professional looks at why the infestation happened and finds ways to prevent it from occurring again in the future.
What is an Exterminator?
An exterminator is a professional who has been trained to control pest infestations in homes, businesses, and other environments. They use a variety of methods to eradicate pests, including chemical treatments, traps, and other preventative strategies. Exterminators also provide recommendations to clients on how to prevent pest problems in the future, such as by improving sanitation or repairing cracks and gaps.
Because pests can cause serious damage to buildings and disrupt normal operations, they are often considered to be a health hazard and need to be eliminated immediately. Some extreme measures, such as fumigation and roach bombing, are used to achieve this goal. However, these methods are often less effective than other options and may require the home or business to be completely evacuated during the process. Fortunately, other forms of pest control are available for more moderate infestations, such as using granular insecticides to kill insects and baits to attract rodents away from areas where they tend to gather.
Another part of an exterminator’s job is to monitor the effects of the various treatments they use. This is particularly important when it comes to pesticides, as many of them are highly toxic and can have long-lasting effects on the environment. In order to ensure that their customers are safe, exterminators must always follow safety guidelines when applying these chemicals.
While some people see this type of work as a dirty job, it’s actually quite interesting and satisfying for most exterminators. They spend their workdays in all sorts of places, investigating a wide variety of different pest problems and finding solutions for them. This is a very diverse and challenging occupation, but one that most exterminators find more fulfilling than white-collar office jobs.
In addition to the standard pests, some exterminators also work with a wide range of other animals. For example, if a home is infested with raccoons or other wildlife, these professionals can help to remove them by using humane trapping techniques and relocating the animals to an appropriate habitat.
Other exterminators are more specialized and focused on controlling specific types of pests. For example, if a customer has an issue with cockroaches, this specialist may employ a more targeted approach by spraying targeted areas of the home with a special formula. This is a much more precise method than simply blasting the entire home with an insecticide, which can result in unnecessary exposure to harmful chemicals and unnecessarily damaging the environment.
Exterminators Work in a Variety of Settings
An exterminator’s job is to rid homes and businesses of pests, including insects such as ants and cockroaches, rodents such as rats and mice, and other creatures such as birds and wildlife. They diagnose infestations and use a variety of techniques, including chemical treatments, traps, and exclusion methods to control pests. Exterminators also work to prevent future pest problems by improving sanitation and sealing cracks and crevices where pests may enter a building.
An experienced exterminator will know the best way to eliminate different pests, based on their behavior, strength, and location. For example, to eliminate cockroaches, an exterminator will likely place baits in strategic locations where the bugs gather. These baits contain chemicals that the roaches will be attracted to, but are too strong for them to consume on their own. The exterminator will also set traps for rat and mouse infestations, and may recommend landscape changes to remove vegetation that would serve as an easy shelter for these animals.
The most important skill an exterminator must have is the ability to accurately assess and diagnose pest infestations. They must have a clear understanding of the biology of each type of pest to develop effective treatment plans. This knowledge allows them to create a comprehensive solution that addresses the root causes of the problem, rather than just killing the pests.
It is important for exterminators to be able to communicate effectively with their clients. This includes being able to explain the process involved in exterminating each type of pest, as well as providing recommendations on how to prevent future infestations. Exterminators also work with a wide variety of clients, from homeowners to large corporations. They must be able to adapt their approach to each type of client, and communicate effectively in order to ensure the success of each service.
Another essential skill that an exterminator must have is the ability and training to perform fumigations, when necessary. This is often reserved for serious pest infestations that cannot be controlled by other means. A termite infestation, for example, is usually only cured by fumigation, in which the exterminator will enclose the home in a tent and release a gas that poisons or suffocates the insects.
Exterminators Use Chemical Treatments
Exterminators use a variety of chemical sprays and baits to control pest infestations. They are trained to take numerous safety precautions when applying these chemicals, especially in residential areas. They wear protective clothing and respirators, and ensure that non-target organisms and people are not present during application to prevent unnecessary exposure. They also ventilate the area after application to allow any fumes to dissipate. In addition, they may instruct homeowners to remove food items from exposed areas, cover children’s toys and pet food bowls.
In addition to using sprays, an exterminator can also use bait stations and traps. These are more targeted methods of controlling pests and can be especially effective against cockroaches, fleas, ticks, and rodents. These methods are also less harmful to the environment than spraying.
During a pest control visit, an exterminator will examine the infested area to identify the type and source of the problem. They will then discuss the appropriate options for treatment with the customer. In many cases, the exterminator will provide a detailed written report to document their findings and recommendations.
Aside from the obvious health hazards associated with bugs and rodents, these pests can cause major damage to a home or business. Rodents can chew through electrical wires, causing fires and other costly problems. Cockroaches can leave behind powdery black feces in kitchen cabinets and dark, humid areas of the house. And mosquitoes can spread dangerous illnesses, including encephalitis, West Nile virus, malaria, Zika virus, and Dengue fever.
Pest control is an important part of the overall safety and well-being of a person or business, but it’s not a perfect solution. Even with regular treatments, pests can develop resistance to insecticides over time. That’s why it’s important to follow an exterminator’s advice and use preventative techniques, such as proper food storage, cleaning and sanitation, and exclusion methods to keep the pests out for good.
Exterminators are often self-employed or work as part of a large pest control company. Those that are self-employed often set their own hours, while those that are employed by a company may follow a specific schedule. Both types of exterminators spend a lot of their time on the job searching for and identifying pest infestations. They may even need to enter sewage systems and garbage disposal sites in order to locate the sources of pests.