Introduction

Not so long ago, the pest control industry was dominated by the use of toxic chemicals. Perhaps the most infamous of these substances was DDT. Not so long after the invention of DDT, literature began to surface linking it with damage to the environment and certain cancers. DDT was banned in the early 70's amidst increasing public concern regarding the various dangers of DDT. Ever since, pest control methods and products have become increasingly 'greener' and the popularity for organic pest control and non toxic substances continues to rise.

Pest control refers to the conduct of removing or destroying unwanted creatures from any area in which they are not welcome. This includes a wide range of insects and animals, such as ants, ticks, fleas, termites, bed bugs, raccoons and rodents.

Pest control has developed quite significantly over the years and is moving more towards safe methods and products with natural ingredients, learning from its mistakes of the past where toxic chemicals featured prominently, especially for those wanting to know how to get rid of bed bugs.

The emphasis has thus shifted more towards safety, with organic pest control and methods involving the use of 100% natural products at the forefront. With safe, effective and easy-to-use pest control products constantly being introduced into the market, do it yourself pest control (pest control without the assistance of professionals) is also on the rise.

Professional pest control companies may have taken a knock by the rising popularity of DIY pest control, however they have certainly not been without work. We are currently in the midst of one of most severe bed bug invasions in contemporary times, with the Northern Hemisphere being particularly badly affected. Often, severe infestations of bed bugs are beyond the capability or willingness of most homeowners to take on alone and in these situations homeowners have greater piece of mind by when calling in professionals, albeit they invariably have to part with a substantial sum of money to do so.

One pest of particular concern and which often requires professional attention is the Termite, which in great numbers has catastrophic potential. When not dealt with in good time, termites can and will reduce all wood in their path to frailty and ultimately compromise the structural integrity of your home.

As for smaller issues, or infestations that have not quite reached elevated proportions, many homeowners prefer to deal with these themselves using DIY methods. Although proper application of DIY techniques can be quite time consuming, many of these methods, coupled with use of the right products, are nonetheless effective and invariably more affordable than hiring professional help, making them a favorable alternative to the latter.

Choosing the right approach for pest control depends on exactly what species of pest needs managing. Nonetheless, a pest control effort will usually involve using either a poison of some king, or a trap, or a combination of both these things.

Another means of pest control does not use any of the above and is fast becoming well-liked in our modern day world of heightened awareness about the environment and the dangers of pesticides. This naturalistic approach to pest control involves attracting or manually placing into an environment, creatures that naturally feed on pests. This means of pest control is preferred by many people because of its naturalistic character and its self sufficient qualities. The idea of approaching pest control using natural predators is also attractive to many because they consider mother nature to be the best 'person' to deal with its own, as opposed to relying on synthetic products.

This method is exceptionally popular in the practice of organic gardening, where by definition the use of toxic pesticides is forbidden. Lady bugs are very successful predators of mites and aphids, a common garden pest. Birds are also particularly beneficial for unwanted bugs like caterpillars, cutworms and slugs.