Mechanical pest control is the management and
control of
pests
PESTS was an anonymous American activist group formed in 1986 to critique racism, tokenism, and exclusion in the art world. PESTS produced newsletters, posters, and other print material highlighting examples of discrimination in gallery represent ...
using physical means such as fences, barriers or electronic wires. It includes also
weeding and change of temperature to control pests.
Many farmers at the moment are trying to find sustainable ways to remove pests without harming the ecosystem.
[ Monday, 8 October 2018]
Methods
Handpicking
The use of human hands to remove harmful insects or other
toxic
Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a subs ...
material is often the most common action by gardeners.
It is also classified as the most direct and the quickest way to remove clearly visible pests.
However, it also has equal disadvantages as it must be performed before damage to the plant has been done and before the key development of insects.
Mechanical traps
Mechanical
trap
A trap is a mechanical device used to capture or restrain an animal for purposes such as hunting, pest control, or ecological research.
Trap or TRAP may also refer to:
Art and entertainment Films and television
* ''Trap'' (2015 film), Fil ...
s or physical attractants are used in three main ways: to efficiently trap insects, to kill them or to estimate how many insects are there in the total
landmass
A landmass, or land mass, is a large region or area of land. The term is often used to refer to lands surrounded by an ocean or sea, such as a continent or a large island. In the field of geology, a landmass is a defined section of continen ...
using sampling method.
However, some traps are expensive to produce and can end up benefiting insects rather than harming them.
[ ]
Differences from integrated pest control
Integrated pest control refers to the use of any means to control pests once they reach unacceptable levels. Mechanical pest control is but a minor part of integrated pest control. It means only the use of physical means to control pests.
See also
*
Biological pest control
Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also i ...
*
Kaolin spray
Kaolin spray is a pest control that has kaolin as the main ingredient. The practice has been in recorded use from 2000 B.C.E. in China. More recent studies have shown that kaolin sprays can promote photosynthesis and are effective in reducing ins ...
References
{{reflist
External list
Further Information
Pest control techniques