TAG facilitates hat trick for Select Exterminating

Select Exterminating, based in Franklin Square, N.Y., has purchased two New York firms — Hamburg-based Suburban Pest Control and Dunkirk-based Amherst Exterminators — as well as On The Spot Pest Control, based in Metuchen, N.J. All three acquired companies are clients of Pest Management Professional’s father-and-son columnists Stuart and Daniel Aust and their team at The Aust Group. The terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

Founded in 1983, Suburban Pest Control has provided residential and commercial pest management services throughout Western New York for more than four decades. Under the leadership of second-generation owners Marty and Mary Ballowe, the company is the official pest control provider for several professional sports organizations, including the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres.

Amherst Exterminators traces its roots to 1994, when Ken Drummond and Rick Crandall founded Comfort Pest Control. Following the partnership with Amherst Exterminators in 2006, the company continued to expand through strategic growth before officially rebranding as Amherst Exterminators in 2020.

Established in 2010, On The Spot Pest Control serves customers throughout Somerset, Union, Middlesex, and Morris counties. Owners Chris and Andrea Piazza built the business by delivering responsive, environmentally conscious pest control solutions backed by customer service. The company is an active member of both the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the New Jersey Pest Management Association (NJPMA).

Pictured from left are Dan Aust, Stuart Aust, Mary Ballowe, Marty Ballowe, Nick Aust and Chris Aust. IMAGE: THE AUST GROUP

About Select Exterminating

Select Exterminating was originally founded in 1959 and purchased in 1990 by Lloyd Garten. Today, the business is run by his son, Matthew Garten, who oversees the firm’s strategic partnerships.

About TAG

The Aust Group (TAG), established by former pest management professional Stuart Aust, is a family-based mergers and acquisitions (M&A) firm that specializes in advising owners and shareholders through the M&A process. TAG combines transactional expertise and pest control experience to deliver maximum value to clients. Its primary focus is exclusively on the pest control industry, and the team works alongside high-growth companies operating on a recurring business model. Additionally, TAG provides comprehensive valuation services to determine a range of values for businesses and offer strategic recommendations to optimize enterprise value before engaging in a competitive M&A process.

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Sacramento CA

Bed bug product insights: Mattress Safe

RECENT INNOVATIONS: Within a bed bug integrated pest management (IPM) strategy, mattress and box spring encasements help preserve bedding after treatment, limit the spread of bed bugs, reduce the costs of subsequent treatments, and offer bite-proof protection. These measures are crucial for effectively managing existing infestations and preventing further problems.

Mattress Safe’s line of mattress and box spring encasements is certified to protect against bed bugs during a treatment program by providing immediate protection for your customers. Mattress Safe’s patented “Zipper with the Hook,” with a sewn-in loop and zip tie, ensures tamperproof encasements, while the luxurious fabric is soft to the touch and offers a bite-proof and waterproof barrier.

Because PMPs are on the front lines of public health, providing mattress encasements also gives an extra defense against viruses and bacteria, offering a higher level of protection and hygiene. Mattress Safe Ultimate Mattress Encasements have passed the Viral Penetration Test (ASTM 1671) and the Bacterial Resistance Test (ASTM G22).

Recently, Mattress Safe has relaunched an additional layer of protection to aid in the hygienic process without compromising a bed bug treatment program: The Simplistic Protector allows customers to remove this layer in the event the protector becomes soiled, keeping the encasement intact for the duration of the time required for treatments.

PREDICTIONS: Bed bugs are expected to remain a persistent and growing challenge across the United States through 2026, particularly in high-travel regions, dense urban housing markets and warmer Southern states. We anticipate steady increases in cases and more complex eradication efforts, leading to greater reliance on IPM strategies as the industry continues adapting to increasing insecticide resistance.

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Sacramento CA

PCOB & M&A Specialists release June 2026 Pest Index

The William Blair/PCO Bookkeepers & M&A Specialists total U.S. Pest Index increased 9 percent year-over-year in June 2026, slightly below the long-term average index growth rate of 10 percent.

“There was one more working day in the month of June 2026,” William Blair Equity Researcher Tim Mulrooney noted in a news release. “On a workday-adjusted basis, we estimate the index grew about 7 percent year-over-year.”

Dan Gordon, managing member of PCO Bookkeepers & M&A Specialists, added in the news release, “June’s results continue to move in the right direction. While the overall index remains just below our long-term average growth rate of 10 percent, the underlying trends are encouraging. We’ll be watching closely to see if this positive momentum carries through the remainder of the busy season.”

The month’s results by segment include:

• The Residential Pest Index increased 10 percent year-over-year.
• The Commercial Pest Index increased 11 percent year-over-year.
• The Termite Index increased 7 percent year-over-year.
• The Bed Bug Index increased 1 percent year-over-year.
• The Mosquito Index decreased 2 percent year-over-year.

About the William Blair/PCO Bookkeepers & M&A Specialists Pest Index

The William Blair/PCO Bookkeepers & M&A Specialists Pest Index tracks the monthly performance of 161 privately held pest control companies across 40 states with combined annual 2025 revenue of $647 million. The purpose of the report is to track the monthly performance of several U.S. pest markets. It does not include residential door-to-door companies.

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Sacramento CA

Bed bug product insights: Envu

RECENT INNOVATIONS: One of the main reasons why bed bugs remain difficult to control is their ability to hide in tiny cracks and crevices, spread easily through human movement and develop resistance to insecticides. These challenges continue to drive the need for improved products, formulation technologies and better management practices.

Back in the late 1990s, the reemergence of bed bugs as a large-scale pest required the industry to rapidly develop products capable of controlling increasingly resilient infestations. Temprid FX insecticide became known as a leading product for managing bed bug infestations and helping curb their spread.

Temprid FX combines the pyrethroid beta-cyfluthrin and the neonicotinoid imidacloprid. These two active ingredients attack the insect nervous system at different sites, helping improve performance against resistant bed bug populations. The formulation also incorporates co-milling technology that promotes more uniform coverage across treated surfaces and enhances the pickup of active ingredients as bed bugs move through treated areas. 

In addition to the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius), Temprid FX has also shown efficacy against tropical bed bugs (C. hemipterus). Its formulation technology and strong field performance have made Temprid FX a trusted option for PMPs dealing with challenging infestations. 

PREDICTIONS: As bed bug populations continue to spread and adapt, the industry likely will respond with improved liquid and dust formulations, advances in formulation technology and, potentially, the development of new active ingredients and botanical-based products. Continued advances in monitoring, detection and treatment strategies will further support control efforts and help PMPs improve treatment outcomes.

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Sacramento CA

Pelsis: B&G Pressurizing Tank Top

The B&G Pressurizing Tank Top (PTT) is an easy-to-install replacement for the traditional pump mechanism in B&G Primeline stainless steel sprayers, eliminating the need to stop and pump during service. It saves up to five minutes for every gallon of output.

The PTT maintains optimal sprayer pressure of 25 to 30 pounds per square inch (PSI), ensuring constant flow of formulation and uniform applications. The long-lasting battery stays powered through the longest days, delivering up to 30 gallons per four-hour charge. 

The B&G PTT is designed for technicians seeking time and labor savings without sacrificing application precision.

About B&G Equipment

B&G Equipment, a Pelsis brand, has set the standard in professional-grade pest control, vector control, disinfection and industrial equipment since 1949, starting with the introduction of its iconic Primeline Sprayer. This industry icon was created by Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer Bill Brehm (Class of 1998) and George Gilmore while students at Purdue University, with their initials serving as the company name.

Today, B&G Equipment serves industry experts worldwide with a complete line of sprayers, foggers, aerosols, foamers, modular systems and dusters for use in commercial, industrial and residential settings.

About Pelsis

Founded in 1984, Pelsis is based in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, England, and operates from 18 locations worldwide. With distribution centers in the UK, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark and the USA, plus a number of global logistics partners, Pelsis supplies customers in more than 80 countries. Its family of brands for the professional pest management industry and related industries include AgriSense, B&G Equipment, Bird-B-Gone, Brandenburg, Curtis Dyna-Fog, Denka International, Edialux Professional Products, GreenProtect, Insect-O-Cutor, Luxan, Network, P+L Systems, Pest-Stop, Silvandersson and Synergetic.

BGEquip.com

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Sacramento CA

Bed bug product insights: Control Solutions Inc.

RECENT INNOVATIONS: Aerosols can be an excellent fit for bed bug management because they solve several practical problems technicians can run into during their service. Because of their tendency to squeeze into tiny harborages, cracks and seams, applicators need tools that can target bed bugs directly in the cryptic areas where they hide. 

D-Fense NXT aerosol is a reliable choice for managing many tough-to-control pests in and around the structure, including bed bugs. Equipped with a 360-degree valve and flip-up actuator with a crack-and-crevice tip, it allows applicators to treat directly into hidden spaces that may be more difficult to reach with other formulations or equipment. 

The label also provides valuable flexibility, with use sites that include both indoor and outdoor applications, as well as mattresses and furniture. Applicators can target bed bugs in many of the common areas where infestations are found, including mattresses, box springs, tufts, folds, edges, baseboards and moldings. For PMPs looking for a convenient and versatile tool to use as part of a comprehensive bed bug management program, D-Fense NXT aerosol will bring the efficacy they expect.

PREDICTIONS: We know travel is one of the primary ways bed bugs spread to new places. With summer here and family vacations around the corner for many American families, it is likely we will see more reports of hitchhiking bed bugs. From rideshare vehicles to airlines, they have popped up in many places frequented by travelers. Recent pest control reports indicate bed bug services remain a significant industry business segment, with no indications of a decrease anytime soon.

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Sacramento CA

Rare virus attributed to lone star ticks

Researchers at New York’s Stony Brook University have confirmed a case of the rare Bourbon virus in Long Island. Their paper about the findings was published in the July issue of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Per the university’s new release, the Bourbon virus, transmitted by lone star ticks, was discovered in 2014 and named for Bourbon County, Kan., the area where the virus was first identified. “There are no vaccines to prevent or medicine to treat the illness, which remains rare but mostly in regions in the central part of the U.S. Symptoms of the virus include fever, fatigue, rash, headache, body aches and nausea.”

This is just one of many maladies attributable to lone star ticks, including Heartland virus, Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). As Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian, BCE, noted in a 2022 column in Pest Management Professional:

The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is a small arthropod that is found predominantly in the south central and southeastern United States. In recent years, it has been moving north into the Great Lakes region. It is called the turkey tick in some areas for its association with wild turkeys.

It is a vector of pathogens that cause tularemia, human ehrlichiosis and several other diseases. But that’s not the worst of it: The bite of the lone star tick has come to be associated with a condition known as alpha-gal syndrome or (cue the ominous music) red meat allergy. Can you believe it? Some people bitten by this tick develop a condition that causes them to react horribly when they eat red meat or dairy products. The symptoms are just like anaphylaxis; they can be severe and even life-threatening. Currently, there is no known cure, and victims must limit themselves to fish, poultry and vegetables. Vegans are unaffected.

The symptoms are brought on by consuming foods that contain a carbohydrate that is called alpha-gal because no one wants to say galactose-α-1,3-galactose. It is found in the cell membranes of all the mammals we typically eat. It isn’t found in humans, apes and monkeys, but that doesn’t help us at all. To make matters worse, it is also found in dairy products.

To be clear, most people bitten by the lone star tick don’t get alpha-gal syndrome, but knowing the possibility exists should be enough to get everyone to take precautions. It also should be noted that some people have lost the syndrome after some years.

The new study’s lead author, Dr. Luis Marcos, and his colleagues identified the first tick-borne Bourbon virus case in April: “The finding was based on the published study of 107 individuals presenting with fever and other tick-borne illness symptoms between 2019 and 2024. Blood samples were collected from patients and sent to the NYS Department of Health. Two cases had neutralizing antibodies for the Bourbon virus. One of these patients had a four-fold rise in antibody titers of the Bourbon virus, which, according to the researchers, indicates an acute or recent infection of this virus.”

Dr. Marcos said in the news release that because Bourbon virus is so rare, and that early symptoms — fatigue and severe headaches — can be very similar to Lyme disease, it’s easy to be misdiagnosed. There are no commercial tests for the virus currently available, but it can be confirmed through lab analysis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note the following symptoms to be aware of for Bourbon virus:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Rash
• Headache
• Other body aches
• Nausea and vomiting

Other signs can include:

• Lower-than-normal counts of white blood cells, which help fight infections
• Lower-than-normal counts of platelets, which help prevent bleeding

Read more about the Long Island’s patient’s firsthand account as told to CBS News. On July 1, per an article in The Southampton Press, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced a “request for $273.5 million in funding for research of ticks and tickborne diseases in the 2027 federal budget. The initiative would add $90 million more than what was allocated in the 2026 fiscal year toward these efforts. According to a press release from Schumer’s office, new data shows that Suffolk County recorded 3,152 Lyme disease cases in 2024 — the most of any county in the state, while the region from Manhattan to Montauk saw more than 6,600 cases in a single year.”

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Sacramento CA