There are two general types of pest control methods: preventative and curative. Preventative treatments focus on preventing pests from entering your home in the first place. Often, they require more than one method, and it is wise to use several. These preventive measures may be necessary for your specific situation, but they are also essential to keep pests away from your property in the future. In some cases, you may need to change the method used to eliminate the pests, depending on the results.
Biological control is a method of controlling pests by using their natural enemies. These include predators, parasites, and pathogens. Biological control is not eradication; however, it can eliminate a specific pest by eliminating its threat to the plant or animal. Depending on the type of pest, biological control may involve the use of sterile males, pheromones, and juvenile hormones.
Whether your pest problem is a result of a single incident or a series of infestations, the first step in determining the correct strategy is to learn as much as possible about the pest. The next step is to determine the level of danger the pests pose to people and property. If the pests are too numerous to be controlled with prevention methods, it is wise to take a more preventative approach. You can also choose to use eradication, which destroys the entire pest population.