Natural Pest Control

Already in the year 3000 a. In Egypt, cats were used as a method of pest control to protect grain stores from rodents. In 1939, a survey found that a population of cats could drastically reduce the level of rats found in the area, however they were unable to completely destroy the rodent population. However, if the rats were baited with poisons and the like, the cats could prevent them from coming back to repopulate the area. (or at least an area of ​​approximately 45 meters)

biological pest control

Biological pest control is the control of rodents through the management of natural predators and parasites. For example: mosquitoes are often controlled by putting Bt Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis, a bacterium that infects and kills mosquito larvae, in local water sources. This treat has no known side effects to humans or the rest of the ecology, and is perfectly fine to drink. The basic point of biological pest control is to completely eradicate a pest while inflicting very little damage on the surrounding ecosystem.

Mechanical Pest Control

Mechanical pest control is exactly what it sounds like, the use of practical techniques and the assistance of very basic equipment and devices. These protection devices create a barrier between plants and insects. An extremely simple part of this is to physically remove a weed from the ground. This is called tillage and it is one of the oldest methods of weed control known to man.

Destroying the hatcheries

Proper waste management systems and removal of standing water eliminate the risk of many pest infestations. This is a good example of why third world countries are often plagued by disease-causing insects and rodents. Trash provides a haven for many unwanted pests and bacteria, as well as an area where standing water can collect and create a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Again, this is why in first world countries you will see significantly fewer rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes, flies, and other pests than if you were in a third world country. This is due to poor garbage collection and disposal services provided in those countries.

Hunt

In the past, local communities in some European countries would come together when stray dogs and cats became too numerous, rounding up and killing all animals that seemed to have no owner. Some countries even field teams of rat catchers in which they chase rats out of a field where they kill them with dogs and simple hand tools.