The Problem with Excess Chemicalization
Part 2: It’s ineffective!
This two part article series, we are talking about the reasons why home owners need to use the least toxic pest control approach, and we are specifically talking about the problems with using too much chemicals. Part one discussed a few of the many hazards inherent in using too many chemicals in pest control, and in this part we will talk about why chemicals are, most of the time, a big waste of money to boot.
They don’t just kill one species
There are no chemicals used for pest control that are targeted to kill only one species. As we pointed out in part one, pesticides are deadly both for insects and for larger animals, including humans. We also talked a bit about how over use of chemicals nearly destroyed birds of prey, leading to further problems. Well, the same principle applies to insects within your own yard.
You might be thinking wait a second, it’s the insects I want to destroy! That’s true, but really it is only certain types of insects that you want to get rid of. The world of insects is much more diverse than that of mammals, with all of the complex relationships; there are insects which eat plants, and then there are insects which eat other insects! When you use chemicals to control pest insects, you also kill populations of insects which are beneficial.
These beneficial insects may not always be pleasant to have around themselves; wasps and spiders in particular seem to be maligned by many people. However, praying mantises and lady beetles are pretty well respected, and they too will be wiped out by chemical insecticides.
They don’t kill all the pests
Even the most deadly poisons have never been effective in annihilating a pest population. Pests are so prolific that they produce incredible amounts of offspring, and some are bound to be immune to the chemicals we use either through lucky birth or through a build up.
The result of this is the creation of the super pest; insect pests (usually, although rats seem to have this ability as well) which are resistant to most forms of chemical sprays. Not only that, but the chemical sprays used have effectively wiped out populations of insects which prey on other insects (they are usually much more vulnerable than pest species, don’t breed as quickly, and of course need to have prey around to survive). The result is an environment where nothing at all can keep down the numbers of the super pests, and they basically have their way!
The alternative to chemical control of pest populations is integrated pest management. This strategy encourages understanding the biology and needs of the pests in order to get rid of them, and using the least toxic means possible to get a problem under control. After that, it becomes about taking steps to prevent the pest population from getting out of control again.