Rational Environmental Solutions Tree

Pest Solutions

Bugs And Weeds,

Lawns To LakesTM

What Is A Pest?

Some of what is found on this page, is in answer to questions which were beyond the scope of the FAQ page, and need to be answered in more detail. Insects, bugs, weeds, brush, rodents, what is a pest?

TEXPEST, Pest Control From Rational Environmental Solutions (903) 216-1408 etexbiz@gmail.com

It is simple really. We have insects and vegetation coexisting with human beings in the ever present balancing act between human needs and the needs of nature. The insects become problems for us when they try to move into our environment, vegetation becomes a problem in the same way. When insects and vegetation come into conflict with our needs as human beings, they become bugs and weeds. Collectively, they are known as pests.

Causes

It is really their environment that we have moved into. Most often these pests become a problem to us as a result of human activity. Something done on a larger scale, which removed the natural habitat, like the building of a city. Something on a smaller level, such as trash cans drawing flies is an example that applies to modern home owners.

Native and Non Native

The replacement of native lifeforms with non natives, some of which escaped into the forests, wetlands and waterways, is probably the best example. Ferrel animals are causing problems for farmers and ranchers that could not have been imagined at the time of the problems beginning. Ferrel hogs in the Eastern portion of the state of Texas are causing untold damage to farm, ranch, and tree production, at a level where it has now spawned a new type of business in the area, hog trapping and hunting. The domestic pigs once such an important part of the local economy, have now become a wide scale pest problem. Re introduction of native predatory and non predatory animals may help with this situation, but another problem presents itself at this point. How the repatriated species will react in a an ecosphere which is vastly changed by the presence of larger numbers of people, and monumental changes in the flora.

The introduction of non native vegetation changes the equation. Some of the non native plants did not flourish, or at least not in the times and places where they were originally introduced. A good example of this is the vine Kudzu. Kudzu was introduced as a forage crop, and a medicinal herb. It was not originally difficult to control, but when it came to be used for erosion control in the Southern part of the United States, it thrived beyond control. It now causes damage into the millions of dollars.

I have observed in the Forrest's of East Texas, such things as nandina domestica,(common nandina) china berry, silk tree, (commonly, but mistakenly called Mimosa) kudzu, and an understory dominated in places by non indigenous privet, among many other alien species. In their home environments most of these plants had natural enemies which kept them in check.

We have very little information to tell us how all of these things will interact. For instance, we may see nothing of significance occur during the early stages of a life form in a new environment, but as conditions change, and more and more lifeforms are introduced those conditions may change. New forms of fungi, could provide nutrients that were not previously available. Biological entities have tremendous adaptability, and may over time, move from the most elemental subsistence, to flourishing. The loss of the quail population in East Texas was thought at first to be a result of the imported red fire ant. More recent information points to other causes, but whether the disappearance is a result of fire ants, fungus, bacteria, or whatever may be put forth, there is a good chance that it resulted from a chain of events initiated by human beings and involving a non native form of life. Whatever the causes of progressive ecological problems, we must live with the result, and if we are wise, we will learn from it.

Putting this in a context where it can be useful to us at a level where it actually touches us, I would say that there are lessons for the homeowner.

First of all, when landscaping and gardening, it would be wise to use materials of native origin. At a bare minimum, we should avoid planting anything we know to be invasive. this should help to prevent future difficulties if adhered to. If you are in Texas I have a list of non native, invasive plants in plain English, at www.alienpest.com. You can look at a more detailed list at www.Texasinvasives.org, or any number of other state resources.

Another thought is that we should be careful of attempts to control life forms by introducing their natural predators into the mix. This, it should be remembered, is introducing another alien, with which we have little experience, and cannot understand exactly how it will react in a changing environment.

IPM Related Elements

I have spoken and written a great deal concerning Integrated pest management, and how IPM, as it is currently defined starts to late in the process to be completely successful, and I now would like to turn my attention to a "what if." What if, we did everything right, and we still have the perplexing, persistent, pest, problem? Or, what if we have become involved in a situation where nothing we do at the re engineering level solves the problem? We have the problem, now where do we go from here? This is where the old standard forms of Integrated Pest Management come into play.

First of all, we have choices to make as to the type of treatments we choose to use, and that is what I want to focus on now.

Biological versus Chemical control.

From an environmental perspective, this would seem to be an easy choice, but is it really?

Biological controls, as with any other life forms, can be a bit unpredictable. If not from the perspective of effectiveness, then from the perspective of long term consequences. adding some praying mantis, or building purple martin houses would not seem to be problematic. The question comes up when using one invasive species to control another. Anytime you have an alien pest, and you introduce its natural predator, you then have two alien pests present and involved in the environment.

Most problems associated with this method are solved by using sterile versions of the new import, or some other method such as predetermining the life span. If, however something did go wrong with this system, the results could create a new set of problems.

Chemical controls are often looked at as being harmful to the environment, but that is becoming less accurate all the time. Certainly, chemicals are not the desired method in many cases. Prevention is always to be desired above treatment, but very often they may offer the best alternative in cases where the problem already exists. One reason I can say this, is that the chemicals are a known factor. We are already aware of the consequences of over use or misuse. They are not likely to break free into the environment and eat your chickens. They are measurable, and have the added factor of being applied by someone who is responsible, and can be held responsible for their misuse.

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