 I am Christopher Lubin, managing director of FDR Best Control Solutions. Welcome to another edition of the Vector Encounter, a closer look. Today I will be talking about the use of integrated best management in the control of rodents and mosquitoes around your home. What is integrated best management? It is a systems approach to best control that incorporates pest proofing, sanitation, cultural practices, and behavioral changes together with monitoring and the timely use of pesticides to control pests. Commencal rodents cost tens of billions of dollars of damage worldwide to food and property annually. They are also responsible for spreading diseases such as leptospirosis, the plague, neurone typhus, and food poisoning. Did you know that we have two commensal rat species on island? The roof rat and the knobby rat. An easy way to distinguish between the two is the tail of the roof rat is longer than that of its head and body put together. The third commensal rodent is the house mouse which does not grow into a rat. The mouse's radius of movement is considerably lower than that of rats which means this can spend more time in our immediate environment such as in our pantries, cupboards, and sofas. When controlling rodents in and around your home, consider the following. Manage your food waste and garbage property to reduce easy access for rodents. Control pests such as slugs, snails, and cockroaches in your garden. Inspect for the presence of burrows around your home. Look for nests in trees, ceilings, wall voids, and clutter in your home. Both culex and eddy species of mosquitoes are found in and around your home where water is readily available. They feed on wild and domestic birds, humans, and other mammals. They have been proven to spread diseases such as zika, chicken gunia, yellow fever, and dengue fever. When controlling mosquitoes in and around your home, consider the following. Inspect your surroundings regularly. Remove or treat anything with potential to serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes. In observance of vector awareness week, I challenge you to look around your home. Identify and remove conditions that support rodent and mosquito proliferation. Start a backyard garden using discarded containers such as old fridges and used tires around your home that serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes and rats. I am Christopher Lubin from FDL Pesco and True Solutions, and you have been watching The Vector Encounter, a closer look.