Pest proliferation is a common problem that impacts many industries, including urban agriculture and orchards. Wollongong experiences varied climatic changes. This can be the reason for the breeding of insects that can cause damage to man and property. The best way to carry out pest control in Wollongong is to understand climate conditions’ role in the growth of pests.
Relation between climate and pest population
The climate conditions of an area can impact how many pests you have to deal with. For example, if it’s hot and humid, your pests are likely to breed more quickly than in more relaxed, drier weather. If it rains frequently or there’s flooding, this may encourage the spread of diseases that keep some pests at bay while enabling others to thrive in conditions they wouldn’t usually be able to survive in. The same goes for seasonal changes. When temperatures drop below freezing point during the winter months and stay there for weeks (as is common in colder climates), you might find yourself dealing with many more insects than usual. This is due to increased susceptibility of their eggs being frozen off or larvae dying off before becoming adults.
How do weather conditions vary from one season to another?
- Temperature: The change in temperature affects pests’ behaviour, such as when they start hatching or migrating from one place to another. Many insects have specific temperature requirements to survive. Neither too hot nor chilling cold will kill them, but the optimum temperature varies by species. For example, mosquitoes need water to breed, so they have an optimal breeding temperature between 21C (70F) and 28C (82F).
- Light: Some pests are attracted to light while others avoid it because it interferes with their reproduction cycle or simply confuses them when trying to feed on plants or humans at night.
- Rainfall: Changes in precipitation can affect pest populations because it affects their habitats and food sources. Extreme downpours can cause flooding, damaging crops and reducing their yield for human consumption.
- Wind: Wind also impacts pests’ behaviour by changing how much sunlight reaches them at different times of day or year, thus affecting their growth rate or ability to reproduce successfully. The wind also impacts how many pests can fly around an area. Strong winds make it harder for flying insects like mosquitoes to move quickly enough, while light breezes allow greater freedom of movement through air currents.
Best practices for managing an infestation
- Know the pest: You need to know which pests are in your environment, how they live, and how they survive.
- Know the environment: You also need to know what climate your crops will grow in. For instance, if you have a cold weather crop like broccoli or cauliflower, you would want to look for a management technique that works best with those temperatures.
- Know the season: It is essential to understand what time of year it is to figure out which strategies are best for each season (e.g., spring vs. summer). For example, if there is an outbreak during the winter months when there isn’t much sunlight available, then perhaps spraying pesticides would be ineffective since the bugs won’t come into contact with them as often as they would if it were a warmer month when there were more hours between sunrise and sunset.
Conclusion
Climate conditions have a direct impact on pest proliferation. By understanding the impact of climate conditions on pests, you can take steps for pest control in Wollongong to minimise its effects. For example, knowing how cold winters might affect your business allows you to prepare for any potential damage caused by freezing temperatures in advance.