There is no arguing that as long as the earth has spun round, there have been pests. Science has even proven that roaches were around long before we humans were . . . and they are likely to be around long after. Because pests are so resilient, the need for pest control dates back to at least as early as recorded history. Here is a brief history of pest control:
Ancient pest control. The first recorded instance of pest control was in 2400 B.C., when the Sumerians fended their crops from insect pests by using sulphur. Before that, farmers did not try to control pests; rather, they planted enough to allow for pest infestations and hoped for the best.
The Chinese contribution. After the Sumerians, around the year of 1200 B.C., we know that the Chinese began using oils and herbs as pest prevention measures. The invention of Chinese writing made the spread of ideas possible, and much of what the Chinese learned about pest control and cultivation revolutionized the art of pest control on a broad scale.
Protection from pests. Not all historic pest control methods involved poisonous substances. Around 440 B.C., the Egyptians were using nets around their beds to keep the mosquitos out. About 400 years later, the Romans built the first-ever rat-proof grain storage house.
Predatory insects. There are records dating back as early as 300 B.C. that show the use of predatory insects to counter pests, but historical evidence supports the belief that the method of using one insect to control another dates much further back. In 1000 A.D., Arabian date growers moved mountain ants to their location to attack the phytophagous ants that preyed on their palm plants.
Europe. Europe was virtually untouched by the spread of pest control information during its Dark Ages era. However, the European Renaissance brought about a new culture, based on knowledge, and in 1758, a botanist by the name of Carolus Linnaeus began the pest control revolution when he catalogued many of the pests that were before superstitiously believed to be bad omens or workers for the devil. This spawned the widespread practice of pest control, and there has been no looking back.
Modern era pest control. The first-ever pesticide-spraying airplane rode over crops in 1921. In 1962, those now-famous UV light fly-zappers hit the market. Today, pest control is a standard constituent of renting or owning a home or business location. As a matter of fact, pest control is such an accepted part of daily living that its terms are often outlined in rental and property management contracts.
If you need help with your pest control, contact competent professionals like us. We can be reached by phone, at 816-453-0770, or email: Mike@KansasCityWildlifePestControl.com.