The Bug Blog

This is the second part of a series about using dusts for pest control.

Dust Treatments not for Everything

Let me clarify one point. Dust treatments are not the only option for effective, and safe pest management. They are also not a solution for every insect pest in every situation. They are one element of effective pest management.

How To Apply dusts

Dusts are applied in a couple of different ways. Some people use a small shaker to sprinkle dust. I however don’t recommend this particular method. There two options I recommend are a bulb duster, also called a bellows, or a power duster. Using these will result in a very fine layer of dust over the area being treated. This fine layer is exactly what you want. Insects will travel over this layer and pick up some of the dust without realizing it. This gives the desired control without excessive use of pesticides.

Pest Action Item

If you want to have a small bulb duster on hand for occational use, and feal comfortable using some of the dusts available on the consumer market, terrific. However, for a full home treatment, I would still recommend calling a pest professional for the best control.

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Dust Treatments

In my article about Green pest control, I mentioned treating your house with dusts like diatomaceous earth, boric acid, and Delta Dust. I want to write about this treatment method in more detail.

Treatment Explained

Dusts can be used in several different ways. They can be applied directly to insects, or applied to a spiders web. One great way to use dusts though, is to apply them in cracks and crevices around the exterior of a home. Using a power duster (available in a variety of forms) will give you even better results. Dusts can be applied around windows and doors, in weep holes, cracks in the brick and mortar, and behind the siding on a home. This treatment usually uses less chemical than spraying, and the chemical is usually not where anyone will come in contact with it. Thus keeping insects out of your home, which reduces the need to treat inside. This is a great way to protect your home from pests, and your family from chemicals at the same time.

Action Item

If you are interested in this kind of treatment, just talk to your pest professional and see what they offer. They may not have a specific dusting option. However, they may offer something similar, you never know tell you ask.

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The term Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is used today by the pest control industry. However, this term may not be familiar to everyone. So, I thought I would try to explain it.

Integrated Pest management is a very important term in professional pest control. It is a key term in the industry, and a key term in the move towards Green pest control. IPM is a new way of thinking about pest control, an overall approach to a pest problem. Integrated Pest Management is a systematic process to reducing a  given problem. In IPM chemicals are used only as a last resort. Instead we use sanitation, inspection, exclusion, habitat modification, and lastly targeted treatments. Following these steps provides not only a solution to your pest problem. It also provides a reduced chemical impact on the environment. So, when you here or read about Integrated Pest Management don’t worry, it’s a good thing.

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