A Glossary of Common Pest Control Terms

Pest control can be quite the overwhelming experience when you take a deeper dive into the process. On the surface, it seems straightforward: pests invade a home or business, and a technician visits to look at the problem and spray some chemicals. This is a pretty rudimentary definition of pest control, especially in this day and age. At Pointe Pest Control, we pride ourselves on providing thorough pest control that gives long-term solutions to pest problems. This goes far beyond the act of simply spraying some liquid pesticides around the house exterior. But this productive service comes with a bunch of terms that may or may not be familiar to the average person. Our team is more than happy to explain what each treatment and term means, but in the meantime, this glossary can hopefully help clarify some of these words. 

Attractant

The opposite of a repellent, an attractant is a substance that is applied with the goal of luring pests into a trap — literally. It is typically used for social insects because attractants use pheromones to attract the pests to a certain location. Attractants are not pesticides, and simply do the hard work of bringing the pests to the actual treatment that will then eliminate them. Think of it as a “one-two punch” for pests.

Bait Stations

These are carefully placed in specific locations around the property that are frequented by pests, usually in the areas where they rest or enter the house. Bait stations are usually small boxes with an entry hole and toxic bait inside. The specific bait or trap inside the station varies with each pest, and bait stations are most often used to catch rats and mice. It is not a trap since the pests can technically escape, but the poison will be sufficient in eliminating the pests.

Barrier Treatments

These treatments are applied to natural materials — soil, mulch, plants — all around the house in order to create a barrier. They are also used on the spots where two types of building materials meet, and are often used in the fall to prevent any winter pest invaders. Barrier treatments can be liquid or granules, and they kill pests on impact when applied properly. Though these treatments are active for longer, they need to be reapplied to stay fresh. The product is also applied a few feet out from the protected house, which is why it’s best as a preventative treatment.

Dusting

This is the literal application of dust products, not the removal of dust like we do inside our homes. The powder treatments are applied with a light touch and are focused in cracks and crevices. The technician will dust entrances to ant nests and wasp nests, as well as the known locations of fleas. These products are low-odor and not used in exposed areas, as the powders stick to the pests better when it gets into hidden areas. The organic versions break down over time, which is why dusting may need to be regularly done in areas of higher pest activity.

EPA-Approved

EPA stands for the Environmental Protection Agency that’s part of the U.S. government. In relation to pest control, the EPA establishes and oversees regulations on the specific products that are used by pest control companies and sold to the general consumer. If a pest product is EPA-approved, it has been thoroughly tested and analyzed by the EPA before they determined that it is safe for people and effective against pests. This is an important step in keeping both technicians and clients safe from dangerous pesticides, which is why modern pest control companies primarily use EPA-approved products.

Eusocial

The term “eusocial” refers to a specific group of insects that all share the same basic way of life. These insects live in a colony that is solely produced by one female (queen) of the species. Eusocial insects all have jobs to do and roles to fulfill, and make decisions as a group. The colony is separated into reproductives and non-reproductives, then divided into workers, soldiers, and other groups. Eusocial insects communicate with pheromones, and though the generations overlap, each colony all shares the same pheromones.

Exclusion Work

This term is used a lot because it is a key component to high-quality pest control services. Exclusion work is basically excluding pests from a certain place — usually a house — by discovering and filling in all entry points. These points include cracks, crevices, gaps, and holes in the exterior of the structure. The technician will fill these small imperfections, usually with copper mesh, as either a preventative or responsive measure against pests that would otherwise get inside the house.

Glue Boards

Glue boards, also called sticky boards, are a specific type of trap that many clients prefer over a traditional mousetrap. These boards are also more universally useful, as they work against rodents, insects, and arachnids. The technician can either place some bait on the board or just place the board itself in an active pest area. Glue boards are typically used for insect invasions since they can catch multiple pests at once. They are commonly placed in corners and areas of the house that are less likely to be disturbed by residents or pets, like by the garage door. Plus, these are much easier (and less painful) to retrieve from your curious dog’s nose than a typical trap.

Granules

This is a pest control product that is exactly what it sounds like. Granules are dry particles of pesticides that have a low concentration of chemicals, so they are safer for people and pets. Granulating is the process of applying granules, and it is made easy since the granules are active upon application. There are multiple application methods, one of the most common being in a bait station. The finer granules look like salt and are therefore great against ground-dwellers.

IPM

IPM, or Integrated Pest Management, is a pest control process that has been adopted by many environmentally-friendly pest control companies, including Pointe. This is because IPM uses multiple methods of pest management, rather than relying solely on pesticides. It is more efficient and easily customizable to fit the client’s pest problems and property layout. IPM is a series of treatments that attacks all angles of a pest issue, all while limiting the use of pesticides by about 90%. It usually involves a combination of inspection, exclusion, traps, and sanitization. 

Nest Removal

Another treatment that is pretty straightforward, nest removal is a process that is best completed by a professional pest control company. It is the act of removing a stinging pest’s nest and treating it with liquid product to ensure that the colony does not make a return. Since all stinging insects are defensive, this is a risky process that is made better by the technician having protective gear and knowing the correct process. The nests can be in attics, under overhangs, or underground. Yellow jackets are the most aggressive of them all, so the technician should take extra care when removing their underground nest.

Pesticide

This is the substance used for the purpose of repelling or eliminating pests. It is a chemical treatment that can take on many forms, including liquid and granules. Pesticides are meant to control all sectors of pests, and both insecticides and rodenticides fall under the “pesticide” category. Pesticides are used to specifically eliminate pests, which is why these strong products need to be registered by the EPA to ensure the safety of the humans around the product. 

Pheromones

Pheromones are the chemicals that pests use to communicate. They are specific to each species in general and to every colony within that species in particular. It is a scent-based communication method that is not detectable by humans. However, pest control experts have found a way to integrate pheromones into products that technicians can use as attractants or repellants. Each pheromone conveys a different message to the colony, including the location of their home, their queen, a new food source, or an enemy to attack. 

Repellant

This is the direct opposite of an attractant, and therefore is useful in different situations. Repellants drive pests away from the protected place, like the house or building, and towards a new destination. These products are not fatal to pests and are accompanied by the actual pesticides in some way. The common use is to repel pests away with a pheromone-based product and lead them to a trap or treatment of some kind. When the goal is to get pests out of a certain location, a repellant is the way to go.

Residual

Residual is the leftover product that remains after application. Traditional pesticides used to leave noticeable residual after the service ended, and were only detectable by either a strong smell or a wet and sticky feeling on the treated area. This led to residual being a common worry when receiving pest control services, as it could potentially cause health issues if the residents of the home are exposed for too long. Modern pest treatments hardly have any residual, and the companies that use safer products (like Pointe) do not leave residual for hours after the service, as opposed to the common pesticides back in the day.

The Best Pest Control Services (Hint: it’s Pointe Pest Control)

Whether you are dealing with a major pest invasion or are wanting to prevent pests in general, Pointe Pest Control is here to help! We strive to meet our 5-star standard with every client, as we believe that everyone deserves thorough pest treatments that have long-term solutions. Your complete satisfaction with our services is always our top priority. Our team of experienced technicians are happy to answer any questions along the way, as honesty and communication are some of our top values. We provide pest solutions for dozens of pest species and customize each plan to fit the specific needs of each home or business. Contact us today for a free quote and to learn more about how we can keep you pest-free, guaranteed! 

Citations

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Control and phoenix exterminators: Commonly used terms. (n.d.). KY-KO Pest Prevention. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.kykopestprevention.com/blog/control-phoenix-exterminators-commonly-used-terms 

Glossary. (n.d.). UC IPM. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/glossary.html 

Hedges, S.A. (1996, June). Using dust insecticides effectively. Pest Control Technology. Available at https://www.pctonline.com/article/using-dust-insecticides-effectively/ (Accessed on March 2, 2023).

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Kraft, S. & Pinto, L. (2015, October). [Technician training] Granular pesticides. Pest Control Technology. Available at https://www.pctonline.com/article/pct1015-granular-pesticides-technicians-guide/ (Accessed on March 2, 2023).

Perimeter treatments to spray for bugs & insects. (n.d.). BioAdvanced. Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://bioadvanced.com/how-prevent-insects-perimeter-treatment 

What is a pesticide?. (2022, March 29). EPA. Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/minimum-risk-pesticides/what-pesticide