News>Feature - Pest control management prevents wildlife interference
Photos
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. – Airman 1st Class Zachary Kegley, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management Apprentice, points out different moths in the display, Jan. 23. Kegley does daily inspections of the insects that inhabit the area in the seasons. Yearly migrations from insects will occur throughout spring, and often times will bring about new species. (U.S. Photo by Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Airman 1st Class Zachary Kegley, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management Apprentice, experiments with a moth, Jan. 23. There are different species of moth that are captured for experiments to gain more information about the subject. (U.S. Photo by Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. – David Neuman, 509th Civil Engineer Pest Management Technician, and Airman 1st Class Zachary Kegley, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management Apprentice, inspects the Ozark Inn, Jan. 23. Inspections are done once month to see if pests have returned to a hotspot; A hotspot is a general area pests are more likely to be found at. (U.S. Photo by Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo -- Airman 1st Class Zachary Kegley, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management Apprentice, and David Neuman, 509th Civil Engineer Pest Management Technician, inspects the Ozark Inn, Jan. 23. These inspections are thorough a in order to give to tips the Ozark Inn on what needs to be done to maintain a healthy environment. (U.S. Photo by Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE, Mo. – Airman 1st Class Zachary Kegley, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management Apprentice, looks at moth display, Jan. 23. Whenever Pest Control Management captures a new species, they bring it back to the lab to identify what type of insect it is. (U.S. Photo by Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Airman 1st Class Zachary Kegley, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management Apprentice, looks for pests, Jan. 23. Kegley is searching for any traces of species in the area so he will know if it is necessary to lay down trappers. (U.S. Photo by Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Airman 1st Class Zachary Kegley, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management Apprentice, examines an insect through a microscope, Jan. 23. Kegley is finding unusual characteristics on the beetle that will identify it from other types of beetles. Certain species of beetles have small characteristics and can be unnoticed by the human eye. (U.S. Photo by Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo -- David Neuman, 509th Civil Engineer Pest Management Technician, and Airman 1st Class Zachary Kegley, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management Apprentice, explains inspection review to Master Sgt. Robert Caldwell, 509th Force Support Squadron Dining Facility Superintendent, Jan. 23. Neuman is giving Caldwell tips on what to improve on and maintain a pest-free environment. (U.S. Photo by Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry) (Released)
by By Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
2/1/2013 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- For thousands of years, pests have been wreaking havoc on society. Ultimately, stopping them is not just about spraying chemicals and laying down traps; people need to be educated on pests and how to deal with them. At the end of the day, education about preventing, treating for and controlling these nuisances can go a long way.
Fortunately, the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management shop is available to help Whiteman residents in that process. Entomology - the study of insects, rodents and fungi - is the bread and butter of this group.
"Entomology is the branch of zoology that studies insects. As Pest Management professionals we are in the business of studying and controlling insect, vertebrate and weed pests," said Staff Sgt. Robert Lopez, NCOIC of the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management shop.
What many people may not realize about pest control is that in order to deal with a particular creature, one must recognize what it is.
"First, we have to identify the pest before we formulate a plan to control it," said David Neuman, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management technician. "For example, if we have flies in an office, what type are they? Where do they breed? What do they feed on? What's attracting them to the area? We have to identify the pest and the favorable conditions that are contributing to the overall problem."
Education about how to deal with certain species can ensure public health and safety. A raccoon searching for food in a trash can represents a significant public health risk, but one that can be mitigated by simply securing the can lid with a bungee cord. Knowing how to prevent these furry raiders from scavenging from trash cans helps prevent the spread of disease, and is just one example of how individuals can contribute positively to a cleaner community.
"People are concerned with pests biting. What they don't realize is these species carry parasites, such as fleas and ticks, which also carry hosts, such as tapeworms." said Neuman. "So it's not just one issue with one species."
Most people often resort to one of two solutions - traps or chemicals. However, after several traps and chemicals have been used, pests are still bound to return. People must know the reason the pests are there, where are they likely to stay, and how and why they keep returning.
"Integrated pest management (IPM) involves pest surveillance and identification. This will determine our courses of action - biological, physical, cultural and even chemical, if needed," said Marc Watson, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron pest management technician.
"For example, if we have a mouse problem in a facility, we want to take care of the immediate problem, [so we] set some traps to capture them. This is just a Band-aid, though. We want to also inspect the facility to find what may be attracting them, where they may be entering, and then correct the problems to prevent further entry."
The main goal of pest control is to decrease chemical usage and educate individuals, said Lopez.
Making simple adjustments is a great way to solving a pest problem. Finding entry points and removing food from an area are some basic steps individuals can take. Other solutions may be caulking or sealing holes, cleaning and sanitation, eliminating favorable conditions or attractants. When it comes to chemical use, baits are best. They may take a little longer to take full effect, but are very safe and pest specific. Always follow product label instructions.
"If you place a bowl of candy on your desk during the summer time, you are going to attract ants," said Neuman. "We can treat for the ants, but unless you remove the food source, they will keep returning."
Sanitation and cleanliness are the keys to maintaining a healthy and balanced environment. Chemicals and products are temporary, education lasts a lifetime.
For more information, or to make an appointment for more personalized help, contact the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management Office at 660-687-6367.
Comments
2/5/2013 2:46:49 AM ET This article is spot on. IPM is the responsible way to enact pest control.More education and implementation of IPM standards are needed in both the pest control industry and the customers we serve.
