Strengthen your IPM accounts by adding ContraPest®

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Sacramento CA

Meeting demand has its rewards

ILLUSTRATION: LEO MICHAEL

If you are among the pest management professionals (PMPs) who take the job of protecting public health and property seriously, it should come as no surprise that many of your colleagues — maybe even you — now offer disinfecting services.

Although Congress declared pest control an essential service at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, many PMPs added disinfecting services to make up for revenue lost to shuttered businesses and unemployed customers.

In the pest management industry, adding services is nothing new. PMPs have responded to customer and community demand by treating for bed bugs during a recent resurgence across the country, and by offering mosquito control as news spread of mosquito-borne viruses and diseases, such as West Nile and Zika. Those who step up to fill a need often are rewarded with new customers and increased revenue.

Last year, the coronavirus pandemic sparked a surge in disinfecting services, an additional service that has proven to be lucrative for many PMPs. Our cover story, Cleanup crew: COVID-19 prompts PMPs to offer disinfecting services, checks in with PMPs who jumped in and made sure they had the equipment, training and staff to get the job done right.

Adding a new service proved to be just what they needed to attract new customers and boost revenue.

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Sacramento CA

2 fogging tips for better mosquito control

Dr. William Robinson, Technical Director, B&G, A Pelsis Group Brand

Backyard mosquito control targets vegetation that is a daytime resting site for adult mosquitoes. The objective is to create a lethal insecticide residue on leaf surfaces.

A backpack fogger typically is used to direct a droplet plume to vegetation. Where those droplets go after they leave the nozzle is important, because they may go where they were not intended. Two more fogging tips:

⦁ Residential property lines often have trees and shrubs that serve as “green fences.” They are a standard treatment site. The high (125 to 150 mph) air speed of some backpack foggers can push droplets through vegetation into adjacent property. Some green fences are denser than others, but all the droplets in a plume will not stay within them. Know the distance the droplets will travel from your fogger, and don’t get too close to target vegetation.

⦁ High air speed can affect the residue on targeted leaves. When air carrying the droplets causes the leaves to flutter, droplet deposition and residue decreases. The critical air velocity for flutter is 11 mph; above that there is extreme movement. Over 11 mph, and the insecticide residue will be reduced. Know your machine’s air velocity, and again, don’t get too close to the target vegetation.

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Sacramento CA

Rockwell Labs: InVade Hot Spot

IMAGE: ROCKWELL LABS

InVade Hot Spot is a convenient, ready-to-use probiotic foaming cleaner that works effectively in areas with chronic moisture and organic matter. It contains premium, natural, scum-eating microbes that digest organic build-up and eliminates odors — and natural citrus oil for extra cleaning power and a fresh scent. Its thick, long-lasting foam clings to surfaces to maximize contact time for the microbes to digest fats, oils and grease (FOG), carbohydrates, proteins, cellulose and urea. It has more than 100 use sites, including drains, cracks, crevices, voids and virtually any other area with organic build-up. Hot Spot comes with a 360-degree valve and three different application options: a directed cone spray actuator, a crack/crevice straw attachment, and a reusable, 24-inch hose extension actuator. These options allow for easy applications in a multitude of treatment situations, including getting deep into drains or into other hard-to-reach spots.  InVade Hot Spot also has many household cleaning uses, including carpet stains or spills, garbage cans and cat boxes.

RockwellLabs.com

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Sacramento CA

ConidioTec: Aprehend

PHOTO: CONIDIOTEC

Aprehend is an ideal tool for multi-unit, hospitality and community properties implementing a proactive bed bug service. As opportunistic hitchhikers, bed bugs are easily carried on bags and clothing. It’s essentially impossible for any facility that welcomes the public to prevent the introduction of bed bugs. Their ability to hide in minute cracks and crevices makes early detection extremely difficult, even by the most meticulous housekeepers. However, the long-lasting residual action of Aprehend remains active for up to three months, and ensures that any bed bugs introduced will pick up the spores and die before establishing an infestation. A quarterly proactive contract provides property managers with peace of mind, the company says, and costs less in the long run than attempting reactive treatments once bed bugs have become firmly established in a property.

Aprehend.com

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/30/conidiotec-aprehend-biopesticide/
Sacramento CA

Chemotecnica hosts virtual conference for international audience

Andy Linares

On May 12 and 13, the 18° Jornadas Técnicas Integrales Para Empresas de Control de Plagas (the “18^th edition of the Integral Technical Days for Pest Control Companies) took place online. This annual pest management industry conference was hosted once again by Chemotecnica Division Salud Ambiental, an insecticide manufacturer based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Presented entirely in Spanish, it is considered to be Latin America’s largest and most influential industry event, with more than 3,000 attendees. This was the second year it was held virtually, and planners hope to host it next year in person.

Andy Linares, founder and president of Bug Off Pest Control Center in Manhattan, N.Y., was the event’s kick-off speaker. This was Linares’ third time participating in the event, this time presenting on “The Importance of Exclusion in Rodent Control.” He has long been a proponent of industry training, offering a variety of courses at his store headquarters and also hosting the annual New York Pest Expo since 2003.

We caught up with Linares to ask about his experience. Read about the other Chemotecnica conferences in which he participated, in 2020 and in 2019.

IMAGE: CHEMOTECNICA

Pest Management Professional (PMP): Wow, so you’ve presented three years in a row for this event.

Andy Linares (AL): I must be doing something right!

PMP: How did you arrive about talking about rodent exclusion this year?

AL: The organizers reached out early in 2021 through WhatsApp. I got a message from their team: “Hey, you wanna play?” I said heck yeah, but what do you want me to talk about? Well, they had the rodent block, and I said that was perfect because I was in the process of creating an exclusion program presentation at Bug Off. It’s going to take place in-person on June 29, an intensive, three-hour workshop.

So, I ended up being the very first speaker at this year’s event, opening the “rodent block” of presentations. I mentioned to the attendees that it was very appropriate to open with exclusion, since it’s really the best technique for long-term rodent control. I focused on the structure, what the weak points might be, what the appropriate materials are in general. My main concept was “address anything that breaks the envelope” of the structure and its perimeter.

PMP: You learned that the event’s audience this year, as it is has been in the past, was comprised of about 50 percent Argentinians, and the rest were comprised of attendees mainly from Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Mexico, Spain, the U.S. and Europe. What are the primary rodents in Argentina, and are they facing the same kinds of rodent issues that U.S. pest management professionals (PMPs) face?

AL: I was told that the roof rat was the most significant species they deal with, with Norway rats being No. 2. Now, this may be anecdotal, but it’s why I primarily discussed rats in my program. Also, culturally, commercial and agricultural accounts are the most important for PMPs. In residences, people tend to be more DIY.

IMAGE: ANDY LINARES

PMP: What kind of feedback did you receive after the presentation?

AL: There was about 10 minutes for questions after every presentation. As with any presentation, the questions ran the gamut from basic ones from new PMPs to intense ones from people with more experience. There were a lot of young PMPs there that are hungry for information that goes beyond the basics. And the more-seasoned PMPs, shall we say, were mostly interested in what’s new in the U.S. market.

Later, many attendees reached out to me afterward because the exclusion concept was unusual to them. They were not aware of the technology, so they were excited about the options they had for exclusion. Many of them asked whether I could share my talk so they could show their teams.

PMP: Do you think you’ll be asked to present again in 2022?

AL: I am once again very impressed how well they pull off this virtual event, very smooth. Still, there’s nothing like an in-person event. It’s entirely up to them whether they invite me. I always try to make it entertaining and fun, and I seem to get a good response. I’m very willing to take another trip to Buenos Aires — especially to get some good steaks and ride a horse again!

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Sacramento CA

PCO M&A Specialists see another yearly increase for April

Dan Gordon, CPA

According to PCO M&A Specialists, the Newton, N.J.-based advising firm led by Pest Management Professional’s financial columnist, Dan Gordon, CPA, the total U.S. pest control index increased 21 percent year-over-year in April 2021. The firm partners with global banking and asset management company William Blair to determine the monthly sales for 140 different U.S. pest control companies across 30 states.

The April increase marks an acceleration from January, February and March, which were up 5.1 percent, 6.3 percent and 17.3 percent respectively, year-over-year. Much of the increase can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on the market in spring 2020, the report states.

The index increased 11.3 percent on a sequential basis in April, which is a month that typically sees an increase in the index. This index includes recurring and nonrecurring revenue for the residential pest, commercial pest and termite segments of the industry. It does not include residential door-to-door companies.

In a news release, William Blair Equity Researchers Tim Mulrooney and Sam Kusswurm said, “April’s results support the thesis that the U.S. pest control market remains poised for another strong year of growth, as higher penetration rates in the residential market persist in 2021 and are supplemented by continued strength in the termite business and a rebound in commercial pest sales.”

April’s uptick was driven by an acceleration in the commercial and termite indexes, while the residential index experienced a slight deceleration. The commercial pest index accelerated to 30 percent growth in April, up from 17 percent growth in March. The termite index accelerated to 12 percent growth in April, up from 10 percent growth in March. The residential index increased 22 percent year-over-year in April, down from 24 percent growth in March. Meanwhile, the bed bug index increased year-over-year for the first time since February 2020.

View the full April report and the archive of past reports at SellMyPCOBusiness.com.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/28/pco-ma-specialists-see-another-yearly-increase-for-april/
Sacramento CA

Target Specialty Products: Strike Max Glo

IMAGE: TARGET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS

As the latest product addition to Target’s Strike Max product line, Strike Max Glo is an insect light trap (ILT) and glue board unit designed for relatively low-risk areas within food retail operations. With a discreet, adaptable design, Strike Max Glo allows for wall-mounting or flat surface installation. The exterior uses a powerful 11W LED bulb to attract pests. The glue boards serve to capture insect fragments.

Target-Specialty.com/strikemax-glo

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/28/target-specialty-products-strike-max-glo/
Sacramento CA

Meet customer expectations with IMM

Dr. Chuck Silcox, Product Development Manager, AMVAC Environmental Products

When mosquito customers call, they are expecting a rapid reduction in the adult mosquito population as well as a relatively long period of time before the population rebounds to a nuisance level. Integrated control measures often are required to meet this expectation.

Pest management professionals should implement an integrated mosquito management (IMM) program.

Reduce mosquito breeding sites by eliminating standing water on the property, and as needed, treating with a mosquito larvicide. Use an appropriately labeled insecticide to treat areas where the adult mosquitoes rest during the day. Treat dense foliage of mosquito-attracting trees and shrubs — those areas that are shaded, relatively cool and maintain higher humidity during daylight hours.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/28/meet-customer-expectations-with-imm/
Sacramento CA

Still so much to learn

Heather Gooch

On a Friday in April, I was awarded a promotion from editor to editor-in-chief of Pest Management Professional (PMP) by its parent company, North Coast Media. And on the following Monday, I was stung by a wasp that landed on my head as I sat in my living room.

Don’t you know who I am? I asked her. She didn’t.

I have worked for PMP (and its previous name, Pest Control) for almost my entire career. The industry has taught me a lot about entomology, public health and business success. In return, the team and I have tried to enlighten our readers about new technologies and trends, all in an “infotaining” way, as our mission statement defines it. We also try to find new ways to explore old standbys, like mosquitoes. I’ll bet that at least one of the Tips and Tricks you find in this month’s issue will be new to you.

Back to that sting I got on my finger from patting my head last month: It was a blue-winged wasp (Scolia dubia). I learned it’s supposed to be a beneficial species, and non-aggressive. It was neither of these to me, but then again, I’m always learning something new.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/28/still-so-much-to-learn/
Sacramento CA

Follow your nose to find house fly source

Here’s what happens when you leave catfish bait in a tackle box for several months. PHOTO: JUDY BLACK, BCE

QUESTION:

Judy, I have a customer with a 1970s-era basement construction home with house flies (Musca domestica). The homeowners keep the property very clean. I can’t find any breeding site on the inside, so could they just be coming in from the outside? I’m confident the flies are identified correctly.
—Maybe Unusual Speculation Could Assist

ANSWER:

MUSCA, I’m going to give this a really solid “perhaps.”

I say that because the wet, decaying, organic matter in which house flies breed is really decayed. Meaning it really smells. Usually, we don’t see house flies breeding indoors in commercial or residential properties because the wet breeding material smells so bad, you find it and get rid of it before you have a huge problem.

The following is a commercial example, but hopefully it will get you thinking of what might correlate in your customer’s house: I was in a bakehouse that had more house flies than seemed “normal.” I insisted they must be coming from the outside because nothing smelled bad. Instead, the entire account smelled like wonderfully baking bread.

But then they casually mentioned that they had been having issues with the proofer oven. I climbed up a ladder, and as soon as my head got above the 8-foot oven, the smell just about knocked me over. The vent pipe had dislodged somewhat, so the yeast and such was depositing on top of the proofer, creating what I’d call a cesspool in which the flies could breed. We couldn’t smell it because of the strong exhaust fans in that room.

Just to get you thinking about unusual sources, I’ve got another example from my own house, although it’s not about house flies.

I saw a very occasional phorid fly in the kitchen — maybe four over a two-week period. I didn’t give it much thought, beyond I should probably check the trash cans we keep outside the garage to see whether they needed to be cleaned.

One Saturday, my husband called me out to the garage. He was getting his fishing tackle ready for the season and opened the tackle box to find a horrendous odor, and hundreds of phorid flies. He had forgotten and left some catfish bait in there. It was pretty gross visually and olfactorily. My immediate reaction was to say “cool” and grab my camera!

So, again my answer to your question is “maybe.” They could be coming from a hidden source inside, but it is also very possible they are getting in from the exterior, too. I’ve been in some houses near farm/ranchland that had significant house fly entry issues. In those circumstances, you can try treating resting surfaces on the exterior. I’d recommend an encapsulated product for that. The main thing is making sure your customers have well-maintained window and door screens, and that they understand what’s going to happen if they leave windows and doors open without the screens. There might be other openings that need to be sealed, like attic vents.

If the problem is really bad, you might try bag traps outside. I don’t think I’d get into fly baits in a residential account, but I guess it would depend on how bad it is. Start with a comprehensive interior inspection, and then look to the outside. If you find the breeding site on the inside, it’s going to be a simple matter of getting it cleaned up. Follow your nose!

Email your questions about insect identification and pest management technologies to pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net. Your questions most likely will be printed and answered in one of Pest Management Professional’s upcoming columns.

---

BLACK is a PMP Hall of Fame member (Class of 2019) and VP of quality assurance and technical service for Rollins Inc. She may be reached at jblack@rollins.com.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/28/follow-your-nose-to-find-house-fly-source/
Sacramento CA

REGISTRATION OPEN: Women in Leadership Special Event

This year's Women in Leadership program features a panel of experts covering a topics like human resources, company culture, accounts receivables and getting paid, leadership, generational change, and more!

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Sprague expands further into Nevada with 2 acquisitions

Tacoma, Wash.-based Sprague Pest Solutions has acquired two Nevada-based companies: ProChem ProActive, based in Las Vegas, and Sharp Pest Control, based in Reno. Terms were not disclosed.

According to a news release, ProChem ProActive owner Rob Suckoll and Sharp owner Charles Sharp have joined the Sprague team, and will continue to service clients in their respective markets. Suckoll worked for Sprague in the late 1990s before moving to Las Vegas to open his own company. ProChem ProActive also features a dedicated bed bug service team specifically for hotel, apartment and condominium complexes.

“Nevada features a wealth of world-class hospitality properties, as well as many well-established food processing and warehousing facilities,” Ross Treleven, president of Sprague Pest Solutions, said in the news release. “We look forward to introducing Sprague’s innovative integrated pest management programs to assist them in protecting guests, employees and food products from potentially harmful and disease-carrying pests.”

ABOUT SPRAGUE PEST SOLUTONS

Sprague services nine states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana and California. Founded in 1926, it counts many leading food processing and distribution, agriculture, commercial property, education, healthcare, and hospitality facilities as customers. It is in its fourth generation of leadership; third-generation Larry Treleven is a member of the Pest Management Professional Hall of Fame (Class of 2016) and recently celebrated 50 years with the company.

In addition to disinfection services  for commercial clients, Sprague offers risk assessments and audit preparation, commodity fumigations and fumigation alternatives, a full suite of organic programs, large-scale bird exclusion and management, bed bug management services, and employee and food safety training.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/27/sprague-expands-further-into-nevada-with-2-acquisitions/
Sacramento CA

Rentokil expands in Tennessee with The Bug Man acquisition

Reading, Pa.-based Rentokil North America has acquired Murfreesboro, Tenn.-based The Bug Man. The acquisition was finalized in December; terms were not disclosed. The Clendenin Consulting Group acted as exclusive financial advisor to The Bug Man.

“We are thrilled to welcome The Bug Man employees and customers to our Rentokil family,”  Rentokil North America President and CEO John Myers said in a news release. “The team members have worked hard to build a strong residential brand in the metro Nashville and central Tennessee areas, and we look forward to continuing their legacy of customer service for years to come.”

The Bug Man was founded in 2001 and serves communities in Murfreesboro, Nashville and surrounding areas.

“Our main goal in business has always been to provide the best level of service to both our customers and employees,” Dan Cassidy, president of The Bug Man, said in the news release. “We believe that Rentokil shares our values and will offer additional opportunities for our employee’s growth, both personally and professionally. Rentokil has proven that they genuinely care about their customers and team members, and we are thrilled to be part of the Rentokil family.”

ABOUT RENTOKIL NORTH AMERICA

Rentokil North America provides commercial and residential pest control to customers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. In addition, it operates business services companies including Ambius, specializing in hand, air and surface hygiene solutions with Hygiene360 as well as interior landscaping and scenting; Steritech, offering food safety and operational assessments; SOLitude Lake Management, providing lake and pond solutions; and Vector Disease Control International, which serves governments and municipalities with mosquito control services.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/27/rentokil-expands-in-tennessee-with-the-bug-man-acquisition/
Sacramento CA

SenSci: SenSci Pyramid

IMAGE: SENSCI

The new SenSci Pyramid combines the effectiveness of a pitfall trap with the affordability of a glue trap in one, easy-to-use device. The SenSci Pyramid was specifically designed for bed bugs, but also is effective against German cockroaches, the company says. To increase the device’s attractiveness, simply add the SenSci Activ bed bug lure (pictured) or an applicable cockroach lure.

SenSciOnline.com

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/27/sensci-sensci-pyramid/
Sacramento CA

A Look Back: 30 years in the Insurance / Restoration Industry

The year was 1990 and for some points of reference:

1. People still sent letters.

2. If you were 30 years old, you could expect to be on the planet another 45 years (Life expectancy was 75.4 years).

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Before They Cheat

In the service industry, people attempt to cheat on a regular basis. Homeowners do it by trying to short-pay a bill, tell white lies to tilt events to their favor, or make veiled attempts to obtain free services. 

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Dangers of Asbestos Contamination Post-Abatement

Prior to 1980, many building materials manufactured in the U.S. contained asbestos. 

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Arrow Exterminators acquires Advantage Green

Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators acquired Advantage Green Pest & Lawn Solutions, Summerfield, Fla., which specializes in residential pest control and lawn care services. Representing Advantage Green, which will operate under the Arrow Exterminators brand, was Kemp Anderson Consulting.

From left are Arrow Exterminators’ Tim Pollard, Advantage Green’s William Iddings, Arrow Exterminators’ Emily Thomas Kendrick, Advantage Green’s Jimmy White, and Arrow Exterminators’ Kevin Burns. PHOTO: ARROW EXTERMINATORS

With this acquisition, Arrow now has 34 service centers throughout Florida and 140 service centers overall. The deal will help Arrow expand into Central Florida, serving customers there with a full line of services, including termite and mosquito control.

“Advantage Green’s passion for customer service and their experienced team members makes it a perfect fit,” said Arrow’s CEO Emily Thomas Kendrick. “We are now perfectly positioned to take care of the needs of consumers and businesses in Ocala, The Villages, and Marion and Sumter counties.”

Advantage Green was founded in 2000 by William Iddings and Jimmy White. Services include fire ant and termite control; perimeter pest control; grub control; aeration; lawn fertilization and weed control; tree, shrub and ornamental plant care; and irrigation consultation.

“When looking for a home for our business, we wanted a family-owned and operated company that provided great customer service and was passionate about how customers and employees are treated,” Iddings said. “We found that in Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators and are now proud to be part of the family.”

Added White, “We especially wanted to give our employees an opportunity to be with a company where we knew there would be growth opportunities as well as an expanded range of services to offer our customers. All of our employees will continue their careers with Arrow Exterminators.”

ABOUT ARROW EXTERMINATORS

Family-owned and -operated since 1964, Atlanta, Ga.-based Arrow Exterminators is the sixth largest pest and termite control company in the United States, ranked by revenue. Arrow boasts a modern fleet of more than 2,100 vehicles, 137 service centers, 2,600 team members with revenues exceeding $285 million and in 2020 was named the No. 1 Top Workplace in Atlanta by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With QualityPro Certification by the National Pest Management Association, the company offers innovative and environmentally responsible services to protect homes and businesses of customers in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/26/arrow-exterminators-acquires-advantage-green/
Sacramento CA

Inspection, treatment tips for mosquitoes

Noel McCarthy, Staff Writer, Sterifab

Warm weather is here, and so are the mosquitoes. Let’s review some inspection and treatment tips:

• Mosquitoes like places that are dark and humid. Look for them under sinks, in laundry rooms, in basements near water pipes, under furniture and in closets.
• Check door and window screens and frames for holes or gaps. Seal them immediately to keep out mosquitoes and other pests.
• Outdoors, empty anything that might hold water. Cover any and all outside containers — no exceptions.
• Check for a septic tank. If your customers have these tanks on their properties, make sure they repair any cracks or gaps on the external lid. They also need to cover any open vents or plumbing pipes.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/26/inspection-treatment-tips-for-mosquitoes/
Sacramento CA

RISE continues outreach efforts to educate public

LOGO: RISE

Advocacy mobilization has been the focus for Responsibility for a Sound Environment (RISE) in 2021. As I write this, we are five months into our new five-year strategic plan, and nearly as many months into the Biden administration, so we have many opportunities to tell our industry’s story.

Two important new initiatives, both launched in March, are helping us amplify our voice in conversations about pesticides with newly appointed and elected federal and state lawmakers and regulators:

1. We launched the RISE Grassroots Network, which we hope will become part of a larger industry action network. The goal of this initiative is to prepare, resource and quickly mobilize on issues to amplify our advocacy. We see it as complementing other industry grassroots programs, especially those of national and state partners. We’ll also be working with people who need to connect with other industry stakeholders and resources. Our new grassroots manager, Megan Striegel, will be growing this network and taking best practices from our national partners, including the National Pest Management Association.

2. We are now able to share powerful new opinion research results, showing people’s overwhelming support for the federal and state pesticide regulatory framework. One of the most important aspects of successful advocacy is having messaging that is relatable and effective. We found in focus groups and in a national survey that there is a shift to a more pragmatic, science-based approach to pesticides among voters. People are more aware of the need to have access to safe and effective products. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be a contributor, with people increasingly guided by science-based approaches that rely on expert findings and data. Our research found that 80 percent of people agree pesticide products are necessary to “protect my home, health, and community from invasive weeds and pests.”

On the surface, virtually no participants in our research believe changing the current regulatory framework and removing state or federal preemption and regulation is good public policy. Most people can clearly identify the consequences of enacting laws repealing or changing the current framework, and question how such laws could be enforced. Eighty-three percent of research respondents think the extensive scientific review and regulatory process for pesticides at the federal and state levels ensures pesticide products can safely and effectively protect public health, safety and property. More tellingly, they do not think the current scientific review and regulatory process for pesticides at the federal and state levels is broken and needs to be fixed.

Further, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and federal government are largely viewed as trustworthy, with the expertise and resources to effectively regulate pesticide products. The EPA and other federal agencies are particularly credible, given that most people believe they are non-partisan organizations.

By sharing a few facts about the regulatory framework, and by mentioning familiar professional treatments for rodents and termites, we can build understanding with most voters and policy professionals. Connecting everyone in our industry with this messaging is a primary goal for 2021. At press time, we have active state bills seeking to repeal state pesticide preemption laws, and we have a federal bill that would seek to change our pesticide regulatory framework, including granting express authority for localities to regulate pesticides. (Editor’s Note: For more on this topic, please see our March 2021 cover story here: 5 regulatory issues to watch in 2021.)

Along with our day-to-day advocacy work, we all have a great opportunity to talk about pesticide regulation in a factual way that really resonates with people. We are working to make those connections and share the research insights.

---

Megan Provost

Pesticide regulation talking points

When talking about pesticide regulation policy to your local lawmakers, or even to customers who want to learn more about how pesticides are regulated, consider the following. You also can use and refer to the RISE website, PestFacts.org.

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has responsibility for federal regulation of all pesticides claiming efficacy for a specific pest. All such products for sale in the United States must have an EPA registration.
• The EPA evaluates scientific data, intended use, and effectiveness of a pesticide product to determine both the risks and the benefits of the product.

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PROVOST is president of Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE). She may be reached at 202-872-3860 or RISE@pestfacts.org.

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Sacramento CA

Control Solutions Inc.: Tekko Trio, Tekko Trio Foam

IMAGE: CONTROL SOLUTIONS INC.

Tekko Trio and Tekko Trio Foam break the insect life cycle. These three-way insect growth regulators (IGRs) are designed to be a “go-to” treatment for long-term management of stored product pests (SPP). By treating the inaccessible food debris, you’ll have effectively created a SPP bait station that will stop future generations. Tekko Trio’s three active ingredients make the difference: S-hydroprene and pyriproxyfen are juvenile hormone mimics, preventing normal adulthood development and causing sterilization. S-hydroprene will also translocate, penetrating voids, cracks and crevices. Novaluron, meanwhile, is a chitin synthesis inhibitor that prevents the formation of a new exoskeleton.

CSI-Pest.com

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/26/control-solutions-inc-tekko-trio-tekko-trio-foam/
Sacramento CA

Target Specialty Products plans three June webinars

LOGO: TARGET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS

Target Specialty Products, a service provider of pest and turf and ornamental solutions in the United States and Canada, will host three free webinars in June as part of its Business Growth Webinar Series of 2021.

This is in addition to the company’s May 27 webinar, “Mosquito Control: Biology Management,” hosted by FMC’s Brian Mount, BCE.

On Thursday, June 3, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern, Target Specialty Products will present “Planning Your Future Growth in the Pest Management Industry.”

Attendees will hear from Patrick Quigley, president and founder of Sales Training by Design. He will focus on three important areas to grow a company.

He began his pest control career in 1979 as a technician and was promoted to  residential and commercial sales, regional and sales management, to the director of sales for a quality distributor before starting his company geared toward helping entrepreneurs.

Pest management professionals (PMPs) interested in attending can register for the June 3 webinar free of charge here. Attendees are invited to ask questions of the speaker at the conclusion of the webinar.

On Thursday, June 17, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern, Target Specialty Products will present its second webinar of the month, “Termite Baiting for Dollars: Differentiating Your Services.”

Dr. Bob Davis, BCE, technical services representative for BASF, will address termite biology, behavior, conducive conditions, the importance of a proper inspection and control methodologies.

Termite baiting control methods, concurrent spot/partial treatments, proper application and safety will be covered during the presentation as well.

Dr. Davis earned his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska with his graduate work focused on testing and evaluating termite control materials and techniques. He has been in the pest control industry for more than 30 years.

Interested attendees can register for the June 17 webinar free of charge now.

On Thursday, June 24, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern, Target Specialty Products will present its third June webinar “Elevating Vector Control.”

Bill Reynolds, president of Leading Edge Aerial Technologies, will share how unmanned aircraft systems are being utilized in vector control programs to support everyday operations and solve mapping and treatment challenges.

Reynolds has nearly 40 years of experience in the agricultural and vector control markets, with specific expertise as an instrument rated pilot, patent holder of a GPS guidance and drift optimization system, inventor of automated droplet analysis systems, and the originator of MapVision.

Registration for the June 24 event is now open for interested PMPs.

ABOUT TARGET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS

Headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Target Specialty Products operates 44 locations across the United States and Canada. Click here to be added to Target’s mailing list and notified of future educational opportunities. Find an online library of Target’s previously recorded webinars for on-demand viewing.

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Sacramento CA

Brood X cicadas exposed

If you live in an area in which Brood X cicadas are expected to emerge after 17 years underground, you may receive calls from frantic customers asking for treatments to eliminate them from their homes and yards.

Photo: Lacy L. Hyche, Auburn University, Bugwood.org

Cicadas are not considered a pest, however, so there’s no need to treat for them. Although they may find their way into structures, they are not skilled fliers so they should be easy to capture and taken outdoors. Put your customer’s fears to rest with these facts:

• The X in the name Brood X cicadas stands for Roman numeral 10.
• Brood X is a periodical cicada (Magicicada spp.) that emerges every 17 years.
• Periodical cicadas are found only in North America in the states of Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C.
• Three 17-year species of cicadas exist — M. septendecim, M. cassini and M. septendecula — and all three will emerge this year.
• Periodical cicadas are divided into three groups of species (-decim, -cassini and -decula), which are distinguished by slight ecological differences.
• Cicada species can be identified by the sounds they make, as the sound is almost always species-specific.
• Periodical cicadas are not locusts. They may be called “17-year locusts,” which is a misnomer because locusts are a type of grasshopper.
• Populations of periodical cicadas are higher than other cicada species. Hundreds of thousands per acre are common, although they may be as high as 1.5 million per acre.
• Periodical cicadas make a tasty snack for spiders, birds, snakes and even dogs.
• Because populations of Magicicada are so high, predators are unable to make a significant dent.
• Cicadas are not poisonous and do not transmit disease.
• Cicadas do not sting or bite.
• Cicadas will fly away when approached.
• Periodical cicadas do not have special defense mechanisms. Their ovipositor is used only for laying eggs, and their mouthparts are used only for feeding on branches.
• Periodical cicadas undergo five juvenile stages while underground, and feed on root fluids.
• Cicadas emerge from underground when soil temperatures are relatively warm.
• Brood X cicada nymphs lived underground for 17 years. A few weeks before they emerge, they plan their escape by making exit tunnels with holes at the surface that are about a half-inch in diameter.
• Adult cicadas are mostly white after they molt, and then get darker as their exoskeleton hardens.
• Brood X cicadas have black bodies, red eyes and wings with orange veining.
• It takes about four to six days, longer when temperatures are cooler, for a cicada’s exoskeleton to completely harden. They complete this maturation period before they adopt adult behavior.
• Adult male cicadas produce species-specific “songs” and form “choruses” to attract female cicadas. Male cicadas alternate “singing” with short flights until they find their female cicada mates.
• Cicadas that emerge from the ground will shed their shells and develop wings. They will then seek out fresh hardwood on trees and shrubs.
• Female cicadas will land on a tree or shrub, mate, and lay from 400 to 600 eggs at the ends of the branches.
• Cicada eggs will hatch after about six weeks.
• When cicadas hatch, they will chew through the tips of the branches to make them fall off and drop to the soil. The newly hatched cicadas will burrow about two feet underground and remain there for the next 17 years.
• Brood X will next emerge in 2038.

Sources: University of Connecticut and The Nature Conservancy

Want to help track Brood X cicadas? Check out apps such as Cicada Safari and iNaturalist, which will help determine whether their location changed since they last emerged 17 years ago.

Feeling adventurous and, uh, hungry? Check out these recipes that feature cicadas as a main ingredient, courtesy of CNET.

To mark the emergence of Brood X cicadas, here’s a Top 25 ranking of pop culture insects from The Ringer.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/25/brood-x-cicadas-exposed/
Sacramento CA

Upcoming FMC webinar to focus on formulations

Dr. H. Ben Hamza

FMC Professional Solutions will host its fifth webinar in June as part of a First Friday Training Series, through the FMC True Champions program.

The upcoming webinar “Understanding Formulations and Their Uses” will take place on Friday, June 4, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. EDT. The one-hour event will explore pesticide formulations and how pest management professionals (PMPs) can better understand them.

Dr. H. Ben Hamza, product development associate director, and Robert Albright, principle research scientist, from FMC Global Specialty Solutions, will be the training presenters.

PMPs who are interested in attending can register online. Those who register for the webinar will also be enrolled in FMC True Champions.

Robert Albright

Continuing education units (CEUs) can be earned in select states including Arizona, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, New Mexico, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, Texas and Utah. Additional states may be added.

Along with CEUs, attendees can participate the Q&A session immediately following the training session.

Future webinars hosted by the Philadelphia, Pa.-based manufacturer will feature industry speakers on a variety of categories for CEU credits for attendees to put toward a commercial applicator license. Upcoming topics will include invasive pests among others.

The Training Series launched at the beginning of 2021 as part of FMC Corp.‘s celebration of the 25th anniversary of its Talstar insecticide registration.

FMC’s professional pest control insecticide and termiticide brands include BaseLine, Cynoff, D-Force, D-Foam, Dragnet, EndZone, Scion, Talstar, Totality, Transport and more. It also offers Authority, Boral, Centium, Command and Gamit branded herbicides; Talstar and Hero branded insecticides; and flutriafol-based fungicides; and biologicals such as Quartzo and Presence bionematicides.

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Sacramento CA

Fire Restoration Tips Every Pro Needs

Common mistakes during fire damage restoration projects can lead to longer and harder work, impacted results, higher costs, and unhappy customers. 

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

LabelSDS.com: Commercial Client Label & SDS Portal

While you probably already know about LabelSDS.com’s online digital label and safety data sheet (SDS) book, did you know that LabelSDS.com also has a Commercial Customer Portal? You can create a portal for those commercial clients to access and view the labels and safety data sheets of products that are used in their facilities. Your commercial clients can do this via the web, or through the new LabelSDS.com app.

LabelSDS.com

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2021/05/25/labelsds-com-commercial-client-label-sds-portal/
Sacramento CA

Truly Nolen promotes headquarters team member

Melanie Koskey

Truly Nolen Pest Control has promoted Melanie Koskey to administrative assistant for the company’s training and technical services department.

“I am excited to learn and to be a fountain of knowledge for my department, because we are in charge of thinking about things before people even know they may need them,” Koskey said. “My favorite thing about working for Truly Nolen is helping people – whether it is helping our own team members or customers, helping others fills my heart with so much joy.”

Based at the company’s corporate headquarters in Tucson, Ariz., Koskey’s new responsibilities will include assisting the company’s VP of Training and Technical Services Mark Ringlstetter directly with everything from customer correspondence to loss control case management. She will also cross-train in contract editing allowing the department more capacity moving forward.

“Melanie excelled in her previous role with our company and over the years continually took on added responsibilities,” Ringlstetter said. “Her devotion to customer satisfaction, both internally and externally, and to our company’s core values make her uniquely qualified for her new position. I look forward to her continued growth within our company.”

Koskey joined Truly Nolen in 2014 as the department’s training administrator. Prior to joining the company, she worked in the banking industry as a mortgage documentation specialist and a credit card fraud specialist. In addition, she has previously handled customer service and inside sales duties for other companies.

ABOUT TRULY NOLEN

Founded in 1938, Truly Nolen of America is one of the largest family-owned pest control companies in the United States. Truly Nolen has more than 80 branch offices in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah. The company also has independently owned and operated franchises in an ever-growing number of territories, including Kentucky, Georgia, New Jersey, Canada, Puerto Rico and more than 60 countries.

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Sacramento CA

The 2021 Restoration & Remediation SEO Recipe

Key tips to optimize your company's SEO.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Spotta signs 3 new agreements

IMAGE: SPOTTA

Spotta Smart Pest Systems, an insect monitoring system that provides an early warning of bed bugs, has signed three new agreements with companies in the U.S. and U.K. to expand its global reach.

In the U.S., Spotta has reached an agreement with Plaistow, N.H.-based Pest-End Exterminators and Colorado Tri-Flo Systems, based in Mead, Colo.

Pest-End will incorporate Spotta as a part of its integrated pest management (IPM) solution offering. The company provides pest control services at residential and commercial properties in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Colorado Tri-Flo will offer Spotta’s always-on monitoring technology alongside its own industrial heaters for treating bed bugs.

Spotta’s third recent agreement is with Amicus Environmental Services in the U.K. The company plans to utilize Spotta’s technology to deliver solutions to the pest control market.

According to a news release, the new partnerships will center on Spotta’s monitoring solution for the accommodation sector, which detects bed bugs in hotels, motels, hostels, student residences, care homes and other multi-room accommodation businesses. The company’s will assist customers in their region with installation and servicing, training and ongoing customer support.

“Each partner company shares our belief that technology can help the pest control industry work in a more proactive way,” said Robert Fryers, CEO of Spotta. “Monitoring leads to early detection, and early detection of pests leads to more effective treatment and the opportunity to reduce pesticide use.”

About Spotta

Founded in 2018 in Cambridge, U.K., Spotta is an insect monitoring system that gives you early warning of bed bugs, enabling you to act with pinpoint accuracy and speed. A discreet network of intelligent pods continuously monitors for bed bugs, protecting every room in real time. When a pest is detected, you receive an alert confirming its identity and location, allowing you to act in a targeted manner. The system is suitable for multi-room accommodation in hotels, motels, nursing homes, residential living and housing associations. According to the company, its accommodation solution, the Bed Pod, has a 94.2 percent efficacy rate in detecting bed bugs.

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Sacramento CA

Wall and Cavity Drying with IAQ in Mind

When we are called out to a water loss, we don’t know what we will encounter.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Pest control and technology: Are companies ready for the divergence on the horizon?

PHOTO: CHOMBOSAN/ISTOCK/ GETTY IMAGES PLUS/GETTY IMAGES

Pest control is a well-established industry, evolving from the innate human fear of insects and associated health threats. Much like other long-standing industries such as construction and plumbing, technology has not caused an increase in the economics of our industry. Rather, weather patterns and public perception are greater drivers of pest control economics. In the modern era of technology, the pest control industry lags considerably behind other industries.

Although there are new products and equipment offered each year, there has yet to be an “Uber” shift: A technology shift that turns our industry on its head and forces companies to strategize just to stay relevant. We have seen a range of industries disrupted by paradigm shifts and technology transformations. But what about pest control? Will there be a defining paradigm shift moment for our mature “old school” industry?

Frankly, I do not anticipate a blockbuster moment or an Uber shift; however, I do believe there is a divergence on the horizon. As previously stated, in general, the pest control industry considerably lags when it comes to embracing technology. Because of this, it should come as no surprise that some of the most robust pest control companies are operating on legacy systems, archaic paper processes, and growing in “technology debt” — a term referring to the inevitable cost of playing catch-up to make a company’s systems current. While old-school companies are safely in the majority, there are a small group of companies — Truly Nolen included — that are starting to take the foundational steps to reduce technology debt and rise to the expectations of the modern customer.

Technology investments are inevitable, but at what cost? Any technology strategy must account for an investment cost vs. a pass-through cost. With such a competitive commodity, we see customers balk at nominal price increases. Companies need to factor who is bearing the cost of any technical upgrade: the company or the customer? Furthermore, there is a divergence between small and large companies. Smaller companies typically must take what the vendors offer as binary solution (yes/no) — a true Software as a Service (SaaS) offering. Meanwhile, larger companies tend to have the resources to push back and make alternative decisions, integrate tech from various outlets, or create their own (which is what Truly Nolen has done) for the betterment of the customer and company.

So, what will this divergence turn into? Supply vendors, software support companies, and, most importantly, the customer are all pointing in the same direction. Pest management providers just need to catch up! In the future, we anticipate more widespread remote monitoring, artificial intelligence predicting customer needs, virtual inspections, strategic data mining and efficiency narratives. Pest control companies will need to do a tremendous amount of groundwork, as well as make definitive investment decisions, to make this transformation from paper tickets to the modern era of business.

From my millennial viewpoint, the evolution is inevitable. The question will be, how soon?

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Sacramento CA

Tips for consistent mist blower applications

Sam Pass, BCE, Pest Control & Nursery/Greenhouse Market Manager, FMC

A backpack mist blower can be a great tool for mosquito barrier treatments. However, using one is a bit different from using a hand or backpack sprayer. To help keep your mist blower applications consistent:

• Mix product in a separate container. Mist blowers are heavier than other spray equipment, and typically employ gravity-fed chemical hoses. Consequently, mixing in the mist blower tank can result in uneven dilution.
• Familiarize yourself with the equipment. Pest management professionals are used to making fan spray and applications to relatively flat surfaces, where it is easy to monitor exactly how much product is going out. Making a mist application to standing vegetation presents more of a challenge. Take the time to calibrate, and get a feel for, your equipment. With gravity-fed mist blowers in particular, the rate of application can change with the angle of the spray hose.

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Sacramento CA

Trécé: CIDETRAK IMM MEC

IMAGE: TRÉCÉ INC.

New CIDETRAK IMM MEC is a highly sophisticated, microencapsulated (MEC), controlled-release mating disruption product for Indianmeal moth (IMM) and other labeled species. It can be used in raw commodity facilities, food-processing, retail and more, with low labor requirements and flexibility in treatment intervals. No shutdown, no downtime. Plus, it’s easy to use: Shake, tip and pour for singular spray or tank mix.

Trece.com

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Sacramento CA