Bait, Dust, Spray, Fogging or Fumigation and Trapping: Their Definitions and Details.

Bait:

It is substance placed strategically so that the Pest may approach it and eat it considering a food source and end up being poisoned. Baits are made to be palatable to the Pest and formulated to last longer than normal fresh foods.

Most baits are NOT instantly lethal to the target Pests. The advantage is that the bait may be taken to the Pest population that may not leave the nest and that the Pest would like die off in the nest and not in our living spaces.

Since most baits are formulated such that they do not cause any immediate discomfort to the Pest; the Pest is likely to have multiple feedings and encourage other members to feed as well.

Examples: There are baits in GEL or PASTE formulations to target ants and cockroaches whereas to target mice, the bait formulation is Block.

Dust:

Insecticide is formulated in a podwer form. The actual amount of insecticide is much less and the carrier powder is the bulk of it. This powder is usually applied using a duster. Like the spray, the dust is usually applied in cracks, crevices, gaps and voids where the Pest may live and/or forage.

Examples: The ZP Podwer is dusted where mice may travel (but no human contact surfaces). This podwer gets into their feet and poisons them

Spray:

The insecicide may come in powder or liquid form. It is dissolved in a carrier liquid (usually water) and shaken under pressure in a sprayer. It is usually sprayed on the surfaces and inside the cracks and gaps where the pest may live and/or forage. The Pest gets affected by contacting these surfaces and gets poisoned. Insecticide Spray may have different degree and swiftness of affect on different Pests. Usually an insecticide that kills very fast does not stay affective for very long.

Examples: Spray application to the bed components for a Bed Bug infestation.

Here are some Guidelines on Preparing for a Spray Insecticide Application

Fogging or Fumigation:

The insecticide substance is dissolved in a substance called Fumigant. This mixture is used in a device called Fogger. Fogger heats up the substance and ionizes or vaporizes the mixture. This produces very small particles that appear as smoke or fog.

The Fog is targetted towards the areas to be treated. The advantage is that the fog reaches and touches almost all surfaces without musch effort. The residual insecicide value of this treament is not as good as in the Spray method. This method is more suitable where greater number of surfaces are to be treated with lesser effort.

Examples: It is usually suitable for pantry and grain pests as well for some flying insects (hiding in bushes).

Trapping:

Trapping is the extermination technique for Rodent and Insect Pests where they get stuck and/or terminated. There are traps which utilize glue, instant door close/lock or some means of killing of the Pest.