"The Essentials of Pests and IPM: What You Need to Know"

Transcription

1 "The Essentials of Pests and IPM: What You Need to Know" Michael Swoyer StopPests in Housing HUD-USDA Interagency Agreement USDA NIFA Special

2 Ants Fleas Bats Birds Raccoons Cats Weeds What is a Pest? A pest is a living thing in a place where we don t want it! Pests may include: mammals, insects, rodents, bacteria, and plants. Pests spread diseases to people, animals and plants, destroy property, and are a nuisance. Cockroaches Mice Head Lice Bed bugs Spiders Wasps Deer PA IPM Program 1/2014 2

3 Problems Caused by Pests People don t like them in their spaces Damage Property Health Problems Rodent-gnawed wire a cause of fires Mouse crushed in printer Damage by clothes moth PA IPM Program 1/2014 3

4 Health Problems Caused by Pests Bites Spread Bacterial & Viral Diseases Contaminate Food Trigger Asthma Lyme Disease Bullseye Bed Bug Waterbug, American Cockroach German Cockroaches PA IPM Program 1/2014 4

5 Problems Caused by Pests Pests have been shown to cause and trigger asthma #1 cause of Asthma? Dust mites-a pest that cannot be controlled by any pesticide African American children are diagnosed, hospitalized, and die from asthma 2 x more often white children Latino children are diagnosed, hospitalized, and die from asthma 3 x more often white children PA IPM Program 1/2014 5

6 What is a Pesticide? A chemical that is designed to kill a pest Insecticide kills insects Rodenticide kills rodents Fungicide kills fungi Herbicide kills plants German Cockroaches Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) PA IPM Program 1/2014 6

7 Problems with Pesticides Home destroyed by Fogger explosion: Live cockroaches were observed crawling through the debris San Diego, 1992 Pesticides are made to harm living things People often do not understand how to use them safely or appropriately Exposures to pesticides can have short- and/or long-term negative health effects Routine use indoors leads to residues on surfaces and in the air PA IPM Program 1/2014 7

8 Pesticides are More Risky for Children Children are not little adults Eat/drink/breathe more, pound per pound than adults Live Low and put everything in their mouths! Have a lifetime of exposures to chemicals (starting from before birth) PA IPM Program 1/2014 8

9 How are Children Exposed? By what goes into their mouths (oral) By what they touch (dermal) By what they breathe (respiratory) Even before they are born (pre-natal) PA IPM Program 1/2014 9

10 Windows of Susceptibility RED/dark is highly sensitive period, YELLOW/light for less sensitive period. From: Selevan,et al, Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 108, Supplement 3, June

11 Proper Storage? At child s level, under the sink, or in an unlocked cabinet? OR PA IPM Program 1/

12 What is IPM? Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to controlling pests in safer, more effective, and longer-lasting ways. When you use IPM, you 1. Understand a pest's identity and habits 2. Use non-toxic, preventative measures first 3. Use several different tactics for better results 4. If needed, choose least-risky chemicals PA IPM Program 1/

13 In other words: Doing the mostest with the leastest that s the safest and the cheapest Integrated-The variety of methods including sanitation, repair, exclusion, removal of food, pesticides, etc. Pest-Anything living that exists where you don t want it to be Management-Covers a lot of things like: What s a tolerable level of pests? What is this pest? How much do I want to spend to get rid of it? etc. But what it really boils down to is this: What are the smartest actions can I take that will help me control this pest?

14 Why use IPM? It works The Boston Housing Authority noted a 75% reduction in pest calls after starting an IPM program It is sustainable Pests can develop resistance, become bait shy or even change behaviors if only one method is used It doesn t poison the environment or you

15 Anything is possible with a little cooperation IPM is a team activity! Courtesy of Marc Lame 15

16 Principles of IPM Set Action Thresholds Seeing a single pest isn t always a problem Monitor and Identify Pests Not all insects are harmful Control measures can be very different for similar species Prevention As a 1st line of defense the structure should be made as pestunfriendly as possible Sealing up cracks and crevices where pests can hide and reproduce Establishing a no-pest strip around the structure (an open barrier where the pest must cross in order to gain entry) Sanitation and opening up areas for easy cleaning and monitoring Control If, after all this, pest control is still required, the method utilizing the least risk is used Work from the specific to, at last resort, the general

17 Comparison of Traditional Pest Control vs. IPM Single Solution Extermination Non-target overflows (damage to environment) Chemical Usage Exclusively General Integrated Management Specifically targeted to a pest with minimum overflows Non chemical 1 st Specific

18 Population Carrying Capacity is the amount of pests supported by the available food, water and shelter in an environment Moving the carrying capacity from here to here means less pests will be able to live in your home Time

19 Why do People accept the presence of Pests? Cultural Generational Unaware of a better way Different priorities Unaware of detriment to health Others?

20 How do we do Integrated Pest Management? Prevent! Keep Pests Out Remove Pests Food & Water Remove Pests Shelter Keep Watch! Monitor for Pests Eliminate! Treat Existing Pest Problems Food Water Conducive Conditions for Pests Nest Routine Monthly Spraying is NOT Part of IPM PA IPM Program 1/

21 Choose Safe Pest Control Red: Sprays, Foggers & Aerosols that kill insects on contact; Rodent sprays Yellow: Natural predators, tamperproof baits, gels, boric acid Green: Cleaning/sanitizing, vacuuming, sweeping, reducing clutter, building maintenance, barriers, traps

22 YELLOW formulations: Enclosed baits Gels Pellets & granules for insects Hazardous to children may mistake for food item 22

23 1. Keep Pests Out Doors & Windows Check screens for holes and repair. Cracks and Holes An open door is an invitation to a pest problem. Check for gaps at the bottom of doors and install door sweeps. Fill all holes, cracks and crevices. Deliveries Many pests are hitchhikers. PA IPM Program 1/

24 2. Remove Pests Food & Water Problems Yuck! Solutions Picture: University of Florida/IFAS PA IPM Program 1/

25 3. Remove Pest Harborage Clutter Clutter provides lots of hiding spots AND covers up evidence of a growing problem. Before After PA IPM Program 1/

26 4. Monitor for Pests Report sighting in the pest sighting log Don t move monitor traps Sticky-trap Monitor Roaches and poop. PA IPM Program 1/

27 5. Eliminate Existing Pests Take appropriate action for pest problems For each pest there are a number of actions that can be taken. Action should be the most effective and the least-risky to children. The next slide shows how to combine these actions using the IPM Pyramid of Tactics PA IPM Program 1/

28 IPM Pyramid of Tactics for Roaches PA IPM Program 1/

29 Pesticide Risk: The Chemicals USE Traps and Baits Less Risky NOT Sprays and Foggers More Risky For mice: Snap traps and Multiple-catch traps For roaches: Bait stations and Gels; Boric acid PA IPM Program 1/

30 DANGER POISON Veneno del Peligro DANGER Peligro Understanding Signal Words Highly hazardous Severe Eye or Skin Damage WARNING Aviso Moderately hazardous CAUTION Precaución Source: PSU Pesticide Education Program Slightly hazardous 30

31 Illegal and Unmarked Pesticides o Pesticides that look like candy o Chinese Insecticide chalk o Tres Pasitos o Tempo Mothballs Chinese chalk Tres Pasitos PA IPM Program 1/

32 Dangers with Pesticides Children s Health Acute Exposure - Poisoning: Asthma Attacks Flu-like Symptoms Vomiting Dizziness Unconsciousness PA IPM Program 1/

33 Long-Term Exposure to Pesticides Chronic Exposure: Asthma Cancer Neurological damage Immune system damage Permanent chemical sensitivity Endocrine disruption Asthma Allergies Infertility Birth Defects Brain Damage Others? Cancer Developmental Behavioral PA IPM Program 1/

34 IPM for Key Pests Let s try to use an IPM approach on some common pests: Ants Cockroaches Mice & Rats We re also going to discuss Bed bugs PA IPM Program 1/

35 #1 = Know your Pest! Photo; EA Kasameyer What do they want? Where do they live? What is their life cycle? How did they get in? How can I prevent them? What if I need to use a chemical: Most effective? Most safe? Label directions? PA IPM Program 1/

36 Ants! What do they want? Where do they live? What is their life cycle? How did they get in? How can I prevent them? - Food usually (or water) - Nest in the ground outside - Queen makes workers who look for food for the colony and make trails! - Come in through holes in wall, cracks under windows Clean up, seal food Seal holes with caulk Wipe up their trails with soap and water PA IPM Program 1/

37 Ants! What if I need to use a chemical most effective? most safe? label directions? BEST!! BEST Enclosed baits Ants will carry back to nest and kill colony Follow all label directions MORE RISKY/Less effective x Sprays - Does not solve problem - Risk of exposure by touching, breathing, drinking PA IPM Program 1/

38 Cockroaches! What do they want? Where do they live? What is their life cycle? - Food and warmth - Like to live with you! - Egg cases, nymphs and adults How did they get in? How can I prevent them? - Move in through cracks and crevices, then stay Proper food and trash storage Seal cracks PA IPM Programand crevices 1/

39 Signs of Cockroaches Nests can be identified by the presence of frass near cracks and crevices Place glue trap monitors near suspected infestation areas

40 Cockroaches! What if I need to use a chemical most effective? most safe? label directions? BEST Enclosed baits, Gels, Boric acid Sticky traps to monitor Follow all label directions MORE RISKY/Less effective x Sprays, foggers and bombs - Does not solve problem - Risk of exposure by touching, breathing, drinking PA IPM Program 1/

41 Mice! What do they want? Where do they live? What is their life cycle? - Food, nesting material - In your house, if possible! - Live 1-2 yr and can have 5-8 young every 3 wks! How did they get in? How can I prevent them? - Come in through openings into building Store food & trash properly Seal outside routes of entry, install door sweeps 1/

42 Mice Need a hole the size of a dime to enter Inches Leave rice-sized droppings Are curious and will respond to traps immediately after putting them out Do not grow up to be rats

43 Rats What do they want? Where do they live? What is their life cycle? Food, water Mostly outdoors Live 1-3 years, producing up to 5 litters a year How did they get in? How can I prevent them? Any hole bigger than their head Remove sources of food, water & shelter, seal openings to the outside

44 Rats Need a hole the size of a quarter to enter Inches Leave jellybean sized droppings Are very smart, cautious, and afraid of new things Unlike mice, do require water to drink

45 Mice and Rats! What if I need to use a chemical most effective? most safe? label directions? BEST = Non-chemical Snap traps - Kill instantly - Set snap side against walls, away from children X Not recommended indoors x Rodent poisons Mice and rats die behind walls, stink and attract flies Dangerous to children, dogs PA IPM Program 1/

46 Points to Remember Prevention and monitoring are essential steps to eliminating pest problems! If you do use a pesticide: READ THE LABEL FIRST The label is the LAW Only a licensed pest control operator can apply a pesticide in a facility or a home-based childcare center PA IPM Program 1/

47 Bed Bugs 47

48 Outline What they are What they eat Where they live How to think like a bed bug Prevention and control Also known as chintzes or chinches mahogany flats red coats crimson ramblers wall lice the bug that nobody knows 48

49 What is a bed bug? A blood-sucking insect Flat Range in size from a sesame seed to a apple seed Light brown to mahogany red depending when they last fed Adult bed bug feeding on a 49 human

50 Why they're back Change in pesticide availability Change in pesticide use patterns More travel/ mobility of people More infested locations Pesticide resistance Lack of preparedness of society in general 50

51 Bed bugs are health hazards Bed bugs do not transmit disease, but they are a pest of significant public health importance Cause secondary infections after people scratch their bed bug bites Result in stress, loss of work, loss of productivity, loss of sleep, and financial burden Are unwelcome in our homes and workplaces 51

52 Bed bug life cycle Fed Unfed 52

53 Bed bug behavior Most active at night Hide in cracks and crevices, often in groups Cannot fly, jump, or burrow into skin they crawl Hitchhike on coats, bags, furniture, wheelchairs Bed bug crawling into a screw hole to hide 53

54 Can be confused with Ticks Cockroach nymphs Other kinds of bug bites Allergic reactions to chemicals Tick Mosquito Bites Cockroach Nymph Bat Bug Spider Beetle 54

55 Signs of bed bugs Bites Fecal spots Shed skins Dead bed bugs Live bed bugs 55

56 Where bed bugs live In the building In any crack or crevice where a credit card edge could fit In anything near where people rest Mattress piping Switch plates 56

57 How do bed bugs spread? Actively crawl along wires, pipes, and under doors Passively on anything coming from an infested unit (furniture, backpacks, laundry ) What s on the other side of the wall? 57

58 Areas at-risk for introduction and infestation Introduction is likely where people frequently travel set down personal belongings sit or lay down for long periods of time Infestation is likely where bed bugs can Crawl (upholstered furniture or bedding) Feed on a person for 5 minutes without being detected Hide in cracks or folds 58

59 Monitoring Trap and kill bed bugs Determine how bad the infestation is Two types Passive Active Passive, moat-style interceptor 59

60 Prevent introduction and spread: residents Keep coats, backpacks, purses, and bags off beds, recliners, and sofas at home and while out Inspect used furniture carefully before bringing it home avoid it if possible Look for signs when sleeping away from home 60

61 Advice for staff, health aides, and In units: contractors Avoid sitting or placing items on potentially infested surfaces Keep personal items in sealed containers Wear a protective layer when moving infested items When transporting patients: Consider dressing patient in a Tyvek suit Line car seats with plastic (bags) and vacuum thoroughly afterwards 61

62 Advice for staff, health aides, and In units: contractors Observe tell-tale signs of pest problems Over the counter pesticides Signs of pests In the main office/community areas: Replace fabric-covered furniture that has many crevices with plastic or metal items Have residents set their belongings in plastic totes during meetings 62

63 Advice for staff, health aides, and contractors Be prepared to Educate: One on one Peer to peer Group meetings Materials are available at:

64 A review of what you should do Educate everyone about what they can do to prevent bed bugs Prepare before bed bugs are reported by minimizing clutter and installing encasements and monitors Respond rapidly with a professional before the infestation grows and spreads 64

65 Questions? 65

66 Promoting Integrated Pest Management in Affordable Housing Michael Swoyer StopPests in Housing HUD-USDA Interagency Agreement USDA NIFA Special

67 Making Homes Healthy IPM is part of a nationwide Healthy Homes movement to reduce housing-based health hazards A healthy home is: Dry Clean Ventilated Safe Contaminant-free Maintained Pest-free Cockroach infestation in a smoke detector

68 We offer FREE IPM training and consultation We work with conventional public housing and Project-Based Section 8 sites across the U.S. Trainers consult with housing sites and deliver a oneday training course See our curriculum and resources at

69 What is IPM? Pest problem solving 1. Inspect 2. Identify 3. Establish thresholds 4. Take control measures 5. Evaluate effectiveness Sticky traps used to monitor for cockroaches and interceptors used to monitor for bed bugs are an essential part of an IPM program and make inspection easier

70 Priority pests Cockroaches cause asthma in infants, trigger asthma attacks, and contaminate food Rodents such as mice and rats carry diseases, bite, destroy property, may cause fires, and may trigger asthma attacks Bed Bugs and their bites are a nuisance and are expensive to eliminate 70

71 Training agenda Morning Overview and Introductions Cockroaches IPM and Pesticide Use Indoor Demonstrations Working Lunch Video Afternoon Roles and Responsibilities Panel Rodents Outdoor Demonstrations Bed Bugs IPM Exam and Course Evaluation

72 The IPM team Property Manager In charge of the IPM team Maintenance Crew Janitorial/Custodial Services Resident Support Services Pest Management Professional (PMP) Landscaping Services Resident

73 IPM in public housing background Information based on National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) training materials Researchers/ trainers The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) PIH : Promotion of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

74 Contact StopPests in Housing to find out more Visit and click on Request Training Call (607)