Pestered!
11 September, 2008
Pests can destroy the peace in our homes. Here are some ways to prevent them
Why do Chennai-ites have to silently endure the problem posed by pests? Sam Easaw, Managing Director, Rentokil India and Prabhakaran, Director Sales South, (Rentokil is a world leader in pest control) recently offered numerous tips on pest control.
The presence of cockroaches, rats and ants in domestic areas relates directly to environment cleanliness. Cockroaches, for instance, are found in kitchens, store rooms and toilets. If one eats in the bedroom or living room and litters the place or leaves dirty dishes in the sink at night, or stores garbage in open receptacles, it invites cockroaches. If food is stored in airtight containers, furniture is periodically cleaned, plates are washed after dinner, and waste is not left outside overnight, cockroaches are less likely to breed. Remember, even fruits that are left open will attract flies. Lizards roam about in search of food and shelter. They feed on insects. If there are no insects in the house, then lizards will not be found on walls. therefore, the walls should be sprayed to keep away insects and this, in turn, would help prevent lizards. Food particles strewn all over the house attract ants, which enter through cracks in the walls. They live in colonies outside homes. If the cracks are sealed and the colonies destroyed, the problem is solved.
Gardens attract male mosquitoes which feed on plant sap. Only the female mosquito bites as it needs a blood meal to produce eggs. Landscape treatment helps kill male mosquitoes. once their population is reduced, the total population of mosquitoes gets reduced. If water stagnates anywhere - polluted water or rain water - mosquitoes will breed in it. People can reduce the mosquito population by keeping their surroundings dry.
While rodents thrive mostly in the sewers and come out for food, shelter and water, termites live in the woodwork in homes. Pest control in homes is done with chemicals specially manufactured for domestic use. Nowadays there are gels for cockroaches, sprays for insects and gum pads to trap rats. Many of the chemicals used in pest control are said to be relatively safe for human beings. Treatment should be done periodically.