Editing Pest control (section)

===General methods===
====Physical pest control====
{{main|Physical pest control}}
[[File:Dog van Rekong Peo.jpg|thumb|Dog control van, [[Rekong Peo]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], India]]

[[Physical pest control]] involves trapping or killing pests such as insects and rodents. Historically, local people or paid [[rat-catcher]]s caught and killed rodents using dogs and traps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.esdaw-eu.eu/the-stray-dogs-in-europe.html |title=ESDAW-EU |website=Animal Policy In The EU |publisher=European Union |access-date=30 August 2016}}</ref> On a domestic scale, sticky flypapers are used to trap flies. In larger buildings, insects may be trapped using such means as [[pheromone]]s, synthetic volatile chemicals or ultraviolet light to attract the insects; some have a sticky base or an electrically charged grid to kill them. Glueboards are sometimes used for monitoring cockroaches and to catch rodents. Rodents can be killed by suitably baited [[Mousetrap|spring traps]] and can be caught in cage traps for relocation. Talcum powder or "tracking powder" can be used to establish routes used by rodents inside buildings and acoustic devices can be used for detecting beetles in structural timbers.<ref name=O'connor/>

Historically, firearms have been one of the primary methods used for pest control. "[[Garden guns|Garden Guns]]" are smooth bore shotguns specifically made to fire [[.22 caliber]] [[snake shot]] or 9mm Flobert, and are commonly used by gardeners and farmers for snakes, rodents, birds, and other pest. Garden Guns are short-range weapons that can do little harm past 15 to 20 yards, and they're relatively quiet when fired with snake shot, compared to standard ammunition. These guns are especially effective inside of barns and sheds, as the snake shot will not shoot holes in the roof or walls, or more importantly, injure [[livestock]] with a [[ricochet]]. They are also used for pest control at [[airport]]s, [[warehouse]]s, [[Meat packing industry|stockyards]], etc.<ref name="Eger">{{cite web|last1=Eger|first1=Christopher|title=Marlin 25MG Garden Gun|url=http://www.marlinforum.com/Marlin-25MG-Garden-Gun.html|website=Marlin Firearms Forum|publisher=Outdoor Hub LLC|access-date=17 September 2016|date=28 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918005923/http://www.marlinforum.com/Marlin-25MG-Garden-Gun.html|archive-date=18 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The most common shot cartridge is .22 Long Rifle loaded with #12 shot. At a distance of about {{cvt|10|feet}}, which is about the maximum effective range, the pattern is about {{cvt|8|inch|cm}} in diameter from a standard rifle. Special smoothbore shotguns, such as the [[Marlin Model 25MG]] can produce effective patterns out to 15 or 20 yards using .22 WMR shotshells, which hold 1/8 oz. of #12 shot contained in a plastic capsule.

====Poisoned bait====
[[File:Rodent Bait Station, Chennai, India.jpg|thumb|left|Rodent bait station, [[Chennai]], India]]

Poisoned [[Bait (luring substance)|bait]] is a common method for controlling rats, mice, birds, slugs, snails, ants, cockroaches, and other pests. The basic granules, or other formulation, contains a food attractant for the target species and a suitable poison. For ants, a slow-acting toxin is needed so that the workers have time to carry the substance back to the colony, and for flies, a quick-acting substance to prevent further egg-laying and nuisance.<ref name=O'conner40/> Baits for slugs and snails often contain the molluscide [[metaldehyde]], dangerous to children and household pets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7427.html |title=Snails and slugs |author1=Flint, M.L. |author2=Wilen, C.A. |work=Pests in Gardens and Landscapes  |publisher=UC IPM |access-date=28 August 2017}}</ref>

An article in [[Scientific American]] in 1885 described effective elimination of a [[cockroach]] infestation using fresh [[cucumber]] peels.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4U9AQAAIAAJ|title=Scientific American|date=1885-09-26|publisher=Munn & Company|pages=195|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Rodent bait box with bait.jpg|thumb|right|Bait being placed in a rodent bait box.]]

[[Warfarin]] has traditionally been used to kill rodents, but many populations have developed resistance to this [[anticoagulant]], and [[difenacoum]] may be substituted. These are cumulative poisons, requiring bait stations to be topped up regularly.<ref name=O'conner40>{{cite book|author=Pat O'connor-marer |title=Residential, Industrial, and Institutional Pest Control|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TsmqStw-iP0C&pg=PA40 |year=2006 |publisher=UCANR Publications |isbn=978-1-879906-70-9}}</ref> Poisoned meat has been used for centuries to kill animals such as wolves<ref name=Anderson/> and birds of prey.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gamekeeper found guilty of poisoning 10 buzzards and a sparrowhawk |author=Barkham, Patrick |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/02/gamekeeper-guilty-poisoning-birds-of-prey-norfolk |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2 October 2014 |access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> Poisoned carcasses however kill a wide range of carrion feeders, not only the targeted species.<ref name=Anderson>{{cite web |url=https://www.thelocal.es/20150609/farmer-sentenced-2-years-for-poisoning-animals |title=Farmer poisoned 24 animals in bid to kill wolf |author=Anderson, Emma |date=9 June 2015 |work=The Local |access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> Raptors in Israel were nearly wiped out following a period of intense poisoning of rats and other crop pests.<ref>{{cite book|author=Newton, Ian|title=Population Ecology of Raptors|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3f7UBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA262 |year=2010 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4081-3854-0 |page=262}}</ref>

====Fumigation====
{{main|Fumigation}}
[[File:Tent fumigation.jpg|thumb|Tent [[fumigation]] of a house in the United States ]]

[[Fumigation]] is the treatment of a structure to kill pests such as wood-boring beetles by sealing it or surrounding it with an airtight cover such as a tent, and fogging with liquid insecticide for an extended period, typically of 24–72 hours. This is costly and inconvenient as the structure cannot be used during the treatment, but it targets all life stages of pests.<ref name=FBaur133>{{cite book |author=Fred Baur |title=Insect Management for Food Storage and Processing |publisher=[[American Association of Cereal Chemists]] |isbn=978-0-913250-38-9|date=1984-12-01 }}</ref>

An alternative, space treatment, is fogging or misting to disperse a liquid insecticide in the atmosphere within a building without evacuation or airtight sealing, allowing most work within the building to continue, at the cost of reduced penetration. Contact insecticides are generally used to minimize long-lasting residual effects.<ref name=FBaur133 />

====Sterilization====
{{See also|Sterile insect technique|Chemosterilant}}
Populations of pest insects can sometimes be dramatically reduced by the release of sterile individuals. This involves the mass rearing of a pest, sterilising it by means of X-rays or some other means, and releasing it into a wild population. It is particularly useful where a female only mates once and where the insect does not disperse widely.<ref>{{cite book|author=Thacker, J.R.M.|title=An Introduction to Arthropod Pest Control|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jN7lCC_BaG4C&pg=PA193 |year=2002|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-56787-9 |page=193}}</ref> This technique has been successfully used against the [[Cochliomyia hominivorax|New World screw-worm fly]], some species of [[tsetse fly]], tropical [[Drosophilidae|fruit flies]], the [[pink bollworm]] and the [[codling moth]], among others.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Dyck, V.A.|author2=Hendrichs, J.|author3=Robinson, A.S.|title=Sterile Insect Technique: Principles and Practice in Area-Wide Integrated Pest Management|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-vOLhFewchoC&pg=PA4 |year=2006 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4020-4051-1 |page=4}}</ref>

To chemically sterilize pests using chemosterilants, laboratory studies conducted using [[U-5897]] (3-chloro-1,2-propanediol) attempted in the early 1970s for rat control, although these proved unsuccessful.<ref name=sterile>{{cite journal |author1=Bowerman, Alan M. |author2=Brooks, Joe E. |year=1971 |title=Evaluation of U-5897 as a male chemosterilant for rat control |journal=[[Journal of Wildlife Management]] |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=618–624 |jstor=3799765 |doi=10.2307/3799765}}</ref> In 2013, New York City tested sterilization traps,<ref name=Swartz2014>{{cite news|author1=Tracy Swartz|title=CTA to put rats on birth control|url=http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/cta/redeye-cta-to-put-rats-on-birth-control-20141222,0,451858.story|access-date=10 January 2015|agency=Chicago Tribune|date=22 December 2014}}</ref> demonstrating a 43% reduction in rat populations.<ref name=Swartz2014 /> The product [[ContraPest]] was approved for the sterilization of rodents by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]] in August 2016 as a chemosterilant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pctonline.com/article/senestech-contrapest-rodent-product-epa-approval/ |publisher=Pest Control Technology, GIA Media |title=ContraPest Rodent Control Product Wins EPA Approval |date=12 August 2016  |access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref>

====Insulation====
[[Boron]], a known pesticide can be impregnated into the paper fibers of cellulose insulation at certain levels to achieve a mechanical kill factor for self-grooming insects such as ants, cockroaches, termites, and more. The addition of insulation into the attic and walls of a structure can provide control of common pests in addition to known insulation benefits such a robust thermal envelope and acoustic noise-canceling properties. The [[EPA]] regulates this type of general-use pesticide within the United States allowing it to only be sold and installed by licensed pest management professionals as part of an integrated pest management program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pctonline.com/article/add-on-services-finding-money-in-the-attic/|publisher=Pest Control Technology, GIA Media |title=Finding Money in the Attic |date=25 May 2017  |access-date=7 June 2017}}</ref> Simply adding Boron or an EPA-registered pesticide to an insulation does not qualify it as a pesticide. The dosage and method must be carefully controlled and monitored.