Pest Control Definitions, Terms & Vocabulary

A

• Action Threshold: The point where an infestation has reached a point where the Integrated Pest Management Professional takes action. Before the action threshold regular pest control isn’t necessary.
• Application: The process of applying a pest control product to manage pests.
• Arthropod: Insects with exoskeletons, segmented bodies, and jointed limbs. Some examples include aphids, scorpions, spiders, millipeds, centipedes, and various insect species.
• Asthma: A breathing condition commonly exacerbated by pest infestations. Rodent urine and other droppings can cause asthmatic wheezing, tightening of the chest, and coughing.

B

• Bacteria: Single-celled organisms pests can spread to food and other surfaces. Often, bacteria can cause disease in humans and pets.
• Bait: A manufactured food for pests to consume. The food is used to attract pests and often poison them. Sometimes, bait is used to monitor pest activity.
• Bait Stations: Containers that safely hold bait. The bait is usually for cockroaches, ants, and rodents.
• Botulism: A type of food poisoning stemming from improper food storage.

C

• Commensal: Means “sharing one’s table.” Rodents are commensal because they live in human environments. Norway Rats, Roof Rats, and House Mice and the three most common commensal rodents.
• Conjunctivitis: Commonly referred to as “pink eye.” Conjunctivitis can be cause by pest infestations. Allergens from cockroaches, rodents, and other insects can cause inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the inner surface of the eyelids and the front of the eyeball.
• Contaminant: Anything found where it doesn’t belong. Some pest control examples include: bacteria, droppings, fur, feathers, urine, and saliva.
• Cryptococcosis: A fungal infection you get by breathing in spores. These spores are usually in soil or bird droppings. The disease can infect the lungs and spread to the brain. Symptoms include chest pain, cough, and shortness of breath. If it has spread to the brain you could experience headache, fever, neck stiffness, and confusion.

D

• Desiccant: Pesticides that kill by drawing the moisture out of insects they need to survive.
• Diapause: When an insect hibernates to survive extreme conditions. During Diapause, the insects body slows down and uses very little energy. Insects can survive for months, sometimes even years by living off stored energy. Usually, insects enter Diapause during winter and wake up in the spring when temperatures are warmer.
• Dust: A fine powder made with pest killing ingredients. Insecticide dusts work by sticking to an insects exoskeleton and dehydrate them, eventually killing them.

E

• Ectoparasite: Parasites that live and feed on the outside of their hosts. Common ectoparasites are mosquitos, ticks, and fleas.
• Entomology/Entomologists:
  Entomology is the scientific study of insects, and sometimes includes related arthropods like spiders and mites. It’s a branch of zoology that focuses on understanding these creatures and their impact on the world. Scientists who specialize in this field are called entomologists. Their work covers a wide range of tasks, including:
  • Identifying and classifying different insects
  • Studying insect life cycles and physical traits
  • Observing insect behavior and movement
  • Exploring their roles in ecosystems
  • Tracking migrations and population changes
  • Investigating pest species and the problems they cause—whether in forests, farms, cities, homes, animals, or even human health
  Entomologists often work in a variety of settings, from universities and research labs to private companies, agricultural businesses, and government agencies. Some focus on teaching, others on consulting or developing pest control strategies.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The United States government agency that handles regulating the use of pesticides. 
• Escherichia coli (E. coli): Bacterial infection obtained by eating contaminated or undercooked meat. E. Coli can be spread by cockroaches, birds, flies, and rodents.
• Exclusion Services: A pest control service that prevents pests from accessing points of entry into your home. Pest control professionals (PMPs), usually seal entry points that are small while contractors seal larger ones. Exclusion services prevent birds, rodents, flies, and other insects from entering your home or business.
• Extermination Vs. Pest Control: These two terms mean the same thing. A pest control professional (PMP), is the same as an exterminator. In the past, the more commonly used term was exterminator, but today pest control technician or pest control professional are more popular. Another myth is that exterminators deal with active infestations, while pest control professionals prevent pest infestations. This is incorrect. Pest Management Professionals exterminate and prevent pests from ever entering or returning to homes and businesses.

F

• Fogging: Pest Management Professionals use a machine to convert liquid pesticide into a mist. This mist then spreads throughout a room, entire home, or yard. Usually, this practice is used for mosquito and tick abatement. After use, it is not usually safe to enter the room or yard. Once the mist settles, then it’s okay.
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA): The Food and Drug Administration is a US Government Agency in charge of regulating food, drugs, medical devices, and other consumer products. The FDA also ensures food processing, storage, and packaging facilities remain pest free in order to protect public health.
• Food Chain: The food chain is how animals and insects rely on one another for food. Food chains link herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores together.
• Food Poisoning: Roaches, rodents, and flies can contaminate food with bacteria or viruses causing an acute gastrointestinal illness.
• Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA): This law gives the FDA expanded power to regulate how food grown, harvested, and processed. Previously, the FDA concentrated on responding to contamination, and now the FDA attempts to prevent it.
• Fumigation: A pest control solution used to exterminate pests by filling a space with a special gas. The gas reaches places traditional pesticides and pest control methods cannot.
• Fungus: Moisture in your home can facilitate the growth of mold and fungal growths, which can attract unwanted pests. Sometimes, exterminators use biological pesticides made from fungi to kill pests.

G

• Gastroenteritis: An illness caused by a bacterium spread by flies, cockroaches, and rodents. The disease is contracted through eating contaminated food and causes severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting.
• Granules (or pellets): Small and dry, sand-like pesticides that are larger than dust. These pesticide particles are commonly used outside.

H

• Heat Treatments: A great, eco-friendly pest control solution used to eliminate bed bug infestations. An infected space is heated to 115 degrees F and kept that that temperature for 10 minutes. This eliminates the full lifecycle of a bed bug.
• Histoplasmosis:  A respiratory disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. The disease is often contracted through interaction with bat or bird droppings. The disease commonly has flu like symptoms.

I

• Initial: The first pest control treatment a PMP performs at a home or business. This treatment is usually the most comprehensive and includes a detailed inspection to identify all entry points, high-activity zones, and breeding areas. The PMP might provide exclusion service where needed, apply sprays, dusts, granules, and other products where needed. The tech will then explain what was performed and needs to be done during further treatments.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A pest control solution that involves using several non-pesticide pest control techniques at once. The techniques include aggressive sanitation, exclusion, surveillance, and product application when needed. If performed properly, IPM can drastically reduce or eliminate the need for pesticides. GreenShield Home & Pest Solutions uses this form of pest prevention to make sure your home stays pest free and safe from dangerous chemicals.
• Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs): Substances that disrupt the growth and development of insects. Pest control technicians commonly use them to manage large pest populations that can cause pose health risks.

L

• Listeriosis: Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. Humans can contract the disease through food contaminated by cockroaches and rodents. The disease can survive on surfaces, in food, and water.

M

• Multiple-feeding: Pesticides that cause death when consumed in small amounts over time.

N

• Newcastle Disease: is a highly contagious and destructive virus caused by a paramyxovirus, primarily affecting birds—especially domestic fowl like chickens. It spreads through direct contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces and can cause severe respiratory problems, central nervous system issues, and even sudden death. In pest control, managing wildlife and keeping pests like rodents or wild birds away from poultry areas is key to preventing outbreaks.
• Nonresidual: A pesticide that doesn’t kill after the initial application. These products are commonly used to expose pests in areas difficult to reach.
• Nonpersistent: Pesticides that last a short time after being applied. They are designed to break down rapidly.
• Nonselective Products: Pest control products that are designed to eliminate a broad spectrum of pests.

O

• Outbreak: An outbreak can have multiple meanings. 1) A large, sporadic outbreak in the population of a specific pest. 2) When food is contaminated and 2 or more people contract a disease.

P

• Paramyxovirus: Paramyxoviruses are a group of viruses that can infect various animals, including birds, rodents, and humans. Some of these viruses are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to people and may cause serious illnesses like Hendra and Nipah virus infections. Pest control targeting rodents is important to reduce the risk of transmission, particularly in environments where animal-to-human spread is a concern.
• Parasite: A parasite is an organism that lives and feeds off another, usually harming the host.
• Pathogens: Agents like bacteria, viruses, or parasites that cause disease.
• Pesticide: A product or substance used to control, repel, or kill animals or insects considered pests.
• Plague: An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The disease is transported by rodents that have been infected by fleas. 
• PMP: A PMP is a pest management professional. This is the more commonly used term for an exterminator.
• Pneumonia: A respiratory disease caused by irritants or infections. Several diseases spread by pests can cause pneumonia. For example, hantavirus spread by rodents can cause pneumonia.
• PPE: Stands for Personal Protective Equipment. Not exclusive to the pest control industry. Pest Management Professionals will regularly wear PPE for visits and treatments. Some items include masks, gloves, uniforms, respirators, and safety glasses.

R

• Rat-bite fever: Rat-bite fever is caused by the bacterium Streptobacillis monoiliformis. Rodents are the main carriers of the disease and symptoms include fever and chills, muscle pain, vomiting, headache, rash, and ulcers.
• Residuals: Pesticides and other pest control products that remain hours or longer after being applied. 

S

• Salmonellosis: Salmonella bacteria is spread through food contaminated with rodent or insect feces.
• Shigellosis: Houseflies and cockroaches are known to spread Shigellosis by contaminating food and surfaces. The disease causes fever, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and dehydration.
• Single-dose: Pesticides that kill after a single feeding or application.
• Synanthropic: A biological term used to describe insects and mammals that are not domesticated but prefer to live and thrive in human environments.

T

• Thigmotropic: A common cockroach behavior meaning they like all sides of their bodies to be touched at once. It is believed to be a natural tendency to seek shelter from predators.
• Thorax: The region between the head and abdomen on an insect.
• Toxoplasmosis: A disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Cats are the definitive hosts and get infected by eating infected rodents. Rodents contract the disease by eating Oocycts.
• Trichinosis: A parasitic disease caused by the roundworm Trichinella spiralis. Humans contract the disease by eating raw or undercooked meat. Rodents are the most common carrier of the disease and are responsible for spreading it to domesticated animals.
• Typhus/Typhoid: Spread by fleas, lice, and mites who contract the disease from rats and transmit to humans.

V

• Virus: An infections microbe that infects cells and uses components of the cell to make copies of itself. Many viruses are spread by mosquitos and ticks including: Zika, West Nile, Yellow Fever, Lyme Disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.