Integrated Pest Management Strategy
- We aim to prevent and reduce the occurrence of pests through cultural techniques, such as maintaining good building cleanliness and encouraging individuals to dispose of food waste in outdoor compost digesters or kitchenette organic waste bins.
- Once a concern has been reported, insect populations are monitored through traps and treatment is based on severity of the infestation
- In the event that pest control is required, we use humane and non-chemical mechanical controls to physically remove pest.
- For example: snap traps for mouse control, an assortment of styles of live traps for mammals, Vector light traps for fly control, Catchmaster glue board for general insect control and monitoring, Catchmaster Gold Stick sticky traps for fly/wasp control, Victor Yellow Jacket and flying insect bottle traps.
- As needed, biological controls will be applied, such as plant- or bacteria-based biological insecticides.
- If necessary, highly localized and species-specific chemical controls may be applied in strict adherence with Ontario Ministry of the Environment regulations (* Links to Ontario pesitide webpage) and York University’s Standard Operating Procedures (* Link needs to be identified) for health, safety, environmental protection and the provision of information.
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- Pest intervention techniques are decided upon and conducted by trained University staff and Ministry of the Environment Licensed Contractors, working in conjunction.
- The University community is alerted to the use of any chemical controls by way of a campus-wide positing on YFile and regular updates to this website.
- Areas are only treated on an as needed basis (i.e. treated only if the infestation is deemed severe). Treatment must only be applied on a once monthly prescheduled Spray Weekend, the dates of which are available for the coming 6-12 months (below).
- When required, the preferred chemical control is a self-contained bait station (sealed to protect from human consumption) with an active ingredient of 0.05% Abemectin. In specific circumstances, a synthetic pyrethroid, such as Cyfluthrin (20%) may also be used (for more details see below). For more information about specific control agents, see the material safety data sheets available through the Health, Safety and Employee Well-being. * Links to HSEWB webpage
- As mandated by the Province of Ontario, the University works to prevent, monitor and when necessary, intervene to control specific mosquito species which are known to be West Nile vectors (see below for more details).
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