EPA seeks public comment on proposed rodenticide updates

Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story, and the PMP staff will continue to update with new information as it becomes available.

On Nov. 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register titled “Pesticide Registration Review; Proposed Interim Decisions for the Rodenticides; Notice of Availability.” This notice announces the availability of EPA’s proposed interim registration review decisions and opens a 75-day public comment period on the proposed interim decisions for the following rodenticides: brodifacoum, bromadiolone, bromethalin, chlorophacinone, cholecalciferol, difenacoum, difethialone, diphacinone (and its sodium salt), strychnine, warfarin (and its sodium salt), and zinc phosphide. Comments must be received on or before Feb. 13, 2023.

Pest Management Professional reached out to the industry-based Anticoagulant Rodenticide Task Force (ARTF) for comment, and was told that “information for pest management professionals interested in commenting will be available” from the group soon.

Per an EPA bulletin emailed to stakeholders sent Nov. 29:

This work furthers the goals outlined in EPA’s April 2022 Endangered Species Act (ESA) Workplan and one of the ESA pilots described in its November 2022 update to provide practical, timely protections for listed species from pesticides.

Each year, rodents cause significant damage to property, crops, and food supplies across the United States. They may also spread diseases, posing a serious risk to public health. Rodenticides are used in residential, agricultural, and non-agricultural settings to control a variety of pests including house mice, Norway rats, roof rats, moles, voles, pocket gophers, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, feral hogs, and mongooses.

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires EPA to review registered pesticides every 15 years to ensure that, as the ability to assess risk evolves and as policies and practices change, the pesticides continue to meet the statutory standard of causing no unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. When EPA identifies unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment, it proposes amendments to pesticide labels to mitigate these risks. During registration review, the Agency also has obligations under the ESA that may result in additional assessments and mitigations. 

Proposed Risk Mitigation Measures

In 2008, EPA issued a risk mitigation decision (RMD) for 10 rodenticides that represented the Agency’s final decision on the reregistration eligibility of rodenticide products at that time and constituted the Agency’s final action in response to the remand order in West Harlem Environmental Action and Natural Resources Defense Council v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The 2008 RMD included mitigation measures to reduce risks to human health and non-target organisms. For example, EPA implemented minimum packaging size requirements for products on the consumer market (must be in packages one pound or less), prohibited products intended for general consumers (i.e., homeowners or residential consumers) from containing second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), and required tamper- and weather-resistant bait stations for outdoor, above-ground placements where children, pets, and wildlife may be present.

The proposed interim decisions (PIDs) released today cover three first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs), four SGARs, and four non-anticoagulant rodenticides. Strychnine (the 11th rodenticide) was not part of the 2008 RMD but is now included as part of EPA’s registration review of the rodenticide group.

These PIDs build on the earlier protections by proposing additional mitigation measures based on findings in the 2020 draft human health and ecological risk assessments (DRAs) and feedback submitted during the DRAs’ public comment period. These measures are intended to reduce exposure to non-target organisms such as mammals and birds that may inadvertently consume rodenticides through their prey, or animals that may consume the rodenticide directly. Proposed measures include requiring bait to be placed in tamper-resistant bait boxes to ensure it is contained, and requiring users to collect carcasses of rodents that may have consumed rodenticides to prevent further exposures to non-target organisms that could consume the carcasses. In addition, the PIDs propose that all products, excluding those registered solely for use by homeowners, include label language directing users to access the web-based Bulletins Live! Two and follow the measures contained in any Endangered Species Protection Bulletin(s) for the area in which the user is applying the product.

Endangered Species Pilot

The ESA workplan described how EPA is developing early mitigation for a subset of species where EPA predicts a likelihood of a jeopardy or adverse modification finding for one or more of the registration review pilot pesticides if mitigation is not undertaken. One of these pilots is for rodenticides, which will focus on addressing effects to mammals and birds that consume rodenticide bait (primary consumers) and to birds, mammals and reptiles that consume primary consumers (secondary consumers).

As part of its registration review ESA pilot for the rodenticides, EPA evaluated their potential effects on individuals and populations of Stephens’ kangaroo rat, Attwater’s prairie chicken, and the California condor and its designated critical habitat. EPA’s draft evaluation determined that rodenticide use is “likely to adversely affect” these three species but predicted the proposed mitigations will protect them from likely “jeopardy” (i.e., potential impacts to the survival of listed species) and “adverse modification” of critical habitat. A “likely to adversely affect” determination means EPA reasonably expects that at least one individual animal of any of the three species may be exposed to one or more of the rodenticides at a sufficient level to have an adverse effect.

EPA’s draft likelihood of jeopardy and adverse modification predictions examine effects of the rodenticides at the species scale (i.e., the population as opposed to an individual of a species). While EPA has made predictions about the likelihood of jeopardy and adverse modification, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is responsible for making the actual jeopardy/adverse modification findings for these species and has the sole authority to do so.

EPA chose these three listed species because they represent species that may be affected by rodenticides through different routes of exposure, like primary consumption, for example, by Stephens’ kangaroo rat and Attwater’s prairie chicken and secondary consumption, for example, by California condor.

To focus the mitigations where they are most needed while retaining options for rodenticide users, the proposed mitigation measures for the three listed species would be targeted in specific geographic areas most relevant to the species. The PIDs include proposed mitigation measures to be included on the Bulletins Live! Two website for the species and the critical habitat of the California Condor.

The draft evaluation for the three species and one critical habitat and associated mitigation measures are pilots for other listed species that may be similarly exposed and affected by rodenticides. In developing and applying mitigation measures for these species, EPA recognized that not all rodenticides have the same effects.

Next Steps

In addition to describing the pilot and the mitigation measures for the selected species, the PIDs also describe EPA’s plans for expanding those mitigation measures to the other approximately 90 listed species potentially affected by rodenticides. This plan, when finalized, will be known as the Rodenticide Strategy the Agency described in its November 2022 update to its ESA Workplan.

EPA also intends to make effects determinations for all listed species available in a draft biological evaluation (BE), which the Agency anticipates making available for public comment in November 2023. The BEs will contain EPA’s draft analysis of the potential effects of the rodenticides on listed species and their designated critical habitats and will identify mitigation measures for these species and critical habitats to avoid or minimize exposure from the rodenticides (Rodenticide Strategy). EPA expects to complete the final BE for the rodenticides in November 2024.

If EPA’s final BE continues to find that rodenticide use is likely to adversely affect listed species or adversely modify their critical habitats, then EPA will initiate formal consultation and share its findings with USFWS, which will use the information in EPA’s BE to inform its biological opinions. If the USFWS determines in its final biological opinions that additional mitigations are necessary to address any jeopardy or adverse modification determination, or to address any incidental take, then EPA will work to ensure that any necessary registration or labeling changes are made.

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Sacramento CA

NCSU study finds fluralaner, ivermectin kill bed bugs on poultry

Photo: ©istock.com/marcouliana

According to a new study published by North Carolina State University (NCSU), “two common drugs used by veterinarians to combat parasites may be effective against bed bugs, with one showing especially strong potential.” Fluralaner and ivermectin, which are used to kill fleas and ticks on household pets like dogs and cats, among other uses, were tested for their effectiveness in controlling resurgent bed bug populations on poultry farms.

“In a collaboration between entomologists and veterinary scientists from NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, researchers tested bed bug mortality rates in different experiments: after the pests consumed blood mixed with the drugs on the lab bench and after bed bugs bit and fed off chickens that had either ingested or received topical treatment with the drugs,” the news release states. “Fluralaner is a relatively new, longer-lasting anti-parasitic drug used mostly for companion animals; however, Europe and Australia have approved its use for the poultry industry. Besides household pet uses, ivermectin effectively serves anti-parasitic uses in human populations, particularly in Africa, as well as in larger animals. Both drugs showed powerful efficacy on the lab bench, killing most bed bugs, although fluralaner performed much more effectively on bed bugs that showed resistance to common insecticides.” In the field, the researchers note, “fluralener was highly effective at killing bed bugs that fed on chickens dosed with the drug. Ivermectin, meanwhile, was ineffective against bed bugs that fed on dosed chickens. The researchers say that chickens could be quickly metabolizing or clearing ivermectin from their systems. ”

Dr. Coby Schal, the Blanton J. Whitmire Distinguished Professor of Entomology at NCSU and the corresponding author of a paper describing the work, notes that the drugs affect receptors in the nervous system of bed bugs: “The bed bug is a globally important insect. The last few decades have seen a resurgence of bed bugs in homes, and now we’re seeing bed bugs return to poultry farms. Since there is no proven method to stop bed bugs in commercial farms, the potential problems on poultry farms could be massive. We’re trying to get ahead of it by developing technologies that can eliminate bed bugs.”

In addition to the risk to the poultry population, the researchers were concerned about farm workers also bringing home the bed bugs and contributing to population spread of the pest. The study proposes “that dosing fluralaner in poultry drinking water could serve as an effective measure against bed bugs. A combination of monitoring, education, heat treatments and fluralaner could hold the key to eradicating bed bugs from infested poultry farms.” Whether this means fluralener will one day be approved as an active ingredient in the structural pest control industry remains to be seen.

The study appears in Parasites & Vectors. Andrea E. Thomson, Olivia A. Petritz, Rocio Crespo, Ahmed Haija, Richard G. Santangelo co-authored the paper. Funding was provided by the Blanton J. Whitmire Endowment at NC State, and grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Healthy Homes program (NCHHU0053-19) and the National Science Foundation (DEB-1754190).

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Sacramento CA

United Rentals Adds Emmissions Information to Catalog

Renters can now make more informed decisions in regard to sustainability goals.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Studies seek to learn more about SLF

Adult spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula. PHOTO: LAWRENCE BARRINGER, PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUGWOOD.ORG

What do telephone poles and random vibrations have to do with spotted lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula, also known as SLF)? Both topics played a big role in recent studies published about the invasive pest, which was first recorded in the U.S. in 2014 and has since spread to several states.

While SLF is especially detrimental to agricultural and turf concerns, pest management professionals (PMPs) may encounter customer complaints — particularly if they are in the Northeastern U.S. Several states have public messaging campaigns that basically direct consumers to kill on sight, or to at least alert authorities if they encounter the pest. Last year, Viking Pest Control got in on the public education front by distributing “SLF egg removal scrapers” to customers, featuring a special URL for more information.

Researchers admit there is still a lot to learn about SLF. What follow are summaries of two recent studies published about the pest:

Good vibrations?

In the Oct. 28, 2022, edition of the Journal of Economic Entomology (JEE), a study was published by a team led by Dr. Barukh Rohde as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami, Fla. Titled “Evidence of Receptivity to Vibroacoustic Stimuli in the Spotted Lanternfly Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae),” the study in laymen’s terms found that SLF respond to vibrations during laboratory experiments. As Ed Ricciuti notes in an article about it for Entomology Today, the online publication of the Entomological Society of America (which also produces the JEE):

Some insects deliberately produce vibrations, like the cricket’s chirp. Others, like those from a trapped ant, are incidental. Either way, substrate-borne messages can trigger aspects of insect behavior such as mating, predation, avoiding predators, or foraging. Understudied, the role of vibrations that use substrates as a channel for insect communication is receiving increasing interest from researchers, including its potential to modify insect behavior for integrated pest management (IPM).

Spotted lanternflies are becoming famous — or, rather, infamous — for gathering like flash mobs, massing on tree trunks and backyard furniture, even ending up in people’s clothing and entering buildings. Chemicals released by honeydew may help trigger these lanternfly conventions. The new research suggests that vibrations may also play a role in these get-togethers, which occur prior to mating. Their egg masses, which adhere even to the tires of vehicles, enable the spotted lanternfly to travel well.

Lanternflies were placed in an arena floored by white paper atop a plywood platform covered by tulle fabric. The observer was hidden. When the vibrations were broadcast, the insects clustered toward the signal, dispersing when it stopped.

Based on their findings, the USDA team suggests next conducting field studies to monitor vibrations in trees where lanternflies are congregating and mating. Eventually, such studies could perhaps lead to development of what pest control managers call “vibrational trapping.”

Telephone poles as SLF traps

Meanwhile, at the Penn State Berks Center for the Agricultural Sciences and a Sustainable Environment (CASSE), a research team wanted to exploit the SLF’s attraction to tall objects “like skyscrapers, gas pumps, pillars and trees,” per a Penn State article on the topic. It also notes that SLF “use these perches to gain their bearings before searching for a place to feed.” Also per the article:

At the CASSE, telephone poles were used as monitoring devices to test methods of eradication. In the study, eight poles were set up in a straight line to keep a replication. Two types of traps were installed on each pole: a top trap with a sealed barrier except for an opening at the bottom and a section of pole wrapped with pesticide-impregnated netting, which the insects encountered on their journey to the top. At the bottom of the pole there is a catch trap to collect any dead, falling lanternflies.

Four of the poles were outfitted with white netting, like the type that is used in tobacco houses, while the other four had black netting, which is typically used for mosquitoes, explained the researchers… The mosquito netting was more effective in eradicating the lanternflies, causing them to die and fall within a couple of minutes. The tobacco netting required a longer contact time before the lanternflies succumbed and fell into the trap. 

Still, researchers caution that SLF can adapt quickly: “Every time we think we see a pattern coming up, and we have collected two years of consistent data, it’s completely thrown off track by the third year. So we’re trying to find out if it reverts to the old cycle,” John Rost, a research technologist in the horticulture department at Penn State Berks, said in the article.

An upside to SLF?

Ricciuti explains in the Entomology Today article that “As the lanternfly feeds, it excretes sugary glop called honeydew, which makes a gooey mess, attracts bees and wasps, and promotes the growth of sooty mold, a gross blanket over ornamental plants, patio furniture, cars, and anything else on which it grows. The honeydew problem is aggravated when lanternflies congregate, as they commonly do.”

But as with anything else, there could be a silver lining to this “problem”: Atlas Obscura reported last year that the flavor of honey produced by bees consuming SLF honeydew has a delicious  “maple bacon” flavor that is unlike any other.

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Sacramento CA

Get familiar with stored product pest’s basic biology

James Miller, ACE

After you identify a stored product pest (SPP) infestation, get familiar with the basic biology of the specific insect at hand.

For example, let’s say you identify an infestation of Indianmeal moths (Plodia interpunctella, or IMM) in rice in a warehouse. You have the client remove the contaminated product and clean under the racks. Problem solved, right? I mean, you did find the source.

But you also know that IMM larvae will wander — sometimes great distances — to enter their pupation cycle. Did those larvae relocate to an area not cleaned or treated? Once pupation is over, adults are going to emerge. It could take a few weeks, maybe even months. And once they emerge, they’re going to mate. Those newly mated females are going to look for any food product to deposit their precious fertilized eggs. Will another new bag of rice be chosen? This could be a bad look, if you overlook this key part of IMM biology.

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Sacramento CA

The Five Different Types of Pollinators at Your Restoration Business

Just as nature needs bees to spread pollen in order to thrive, businesses need people who spread good ideas.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

MGK: Shockwave 1

PHOTO: MGK

Shockwave 1 Flushing, Killing & Residual Aerosol contains two adulticides and an insect growth regulator (IGR) to flush cockroaches out of hiding, kill and leave a residual for long-term control. It also contains two synergists that enhances the effectiveness of the other active ingredients and helps combat resistance. This all-in-one aerosol saves you time and money. With multiple modes of action, it eliminates the need for reapplication, simplifies training, and reduces waste. It can be applied in food-handling areas, and even sprays upside down so you can apply in tough-to-reach locations.

MGK.com

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Sacramento CA

AMCA to host 89th annual meeting in February 2023

Registration is now open for the American Mosquito Control Association’s (AMCA’s) 89th Annual Meeting Feb. 27 to March 3, 2023, at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nev.

The meeting is an education and networking even for researchers, educators, vector control professionals, industry representatives and students in mosquito control.

Every year since 1938, hundreds have gathered to hear the latest research, share ideas, and form collaborations.

AMCA will be following all logical health and safety requirements. Additionally, AMCA highly recommends all attendees are up to date on the COVID-19 Vaccination.

At press time, vendors include:

• Azelis Agricultural & Environmental Solutions
• AMGUARD Environmental Technologies
• BVA Oils
• Central Life Sciences
• Clarke
• Co-Dx
• DEET Education Program
• EntoExchange
• Envu
• FMC
• Frontier Precision, Inc.
• GoPro Corp.
• INSECTO
• Leading Edge
• LONDON FOG
• NPD Products Ltd.
• Rad Source
• Senecio Robotics
• Summit Chemical Co.
• Target Specialty Products
• Valent BioSciences
• VDCI
• Vectech
• VeeMAC
• Veseris

The full agenda, list of exhibitors, hotel reservation details, registration details and more are available on the AMCA website.

Future annual meeting dates include:

• Dallas, Texas: March 4-8, 2024
• San Juan, Puerto Rico: March 3-7, 2025
• Portland, Ore.: March 23-27, 2026

In other AMCA news, the association also announced its 25th Annual Washington Conference, taking place May 15-17, 2023 at the Hilton Alexandria (Va.) Old Town. For more information, visit the AMCA website.

About American Mosquito Control Association

The American Mosquito Control Association is an American nonprofit organization and the world’s leading organization dedicated to mosquito control. It was established in Trenton, N.J., in 1935 as the Eastern Association of Mosquito Control Workers, obtaining its current name in 1944.

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Sacramento CA

Cook’s Pest Control hires project manager, promotes 2 to district managers

Glenn Robertson

Decatur, Ala.-based Cook’s Pest Control announced that Glenn Robertson joined the company as information technology project manager.

Robertson will support the home office by planning, establishing and managing IT projects, serving as a liaison between the business and technical functions of Cook’s Pest Control to assure implantation of assigned projects.

Robertson has an extensive background in program management, web and database applications, and cyber security for the U.S. Army Space Missile Defense Command and U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command Enterprise Systems.

Upon the retirement of long-term Cook’s Pest Control district managers Tracy Oliver and Michael Lucchesi, two employees have been promoted.

Brandon Lovelady and Anthony Elder

Brandon Lovelady will be the district manager for the Auburn, Ala., office, effective Dec. 1. Lovelady began his career with Cook’s Pest Control in June 2014 as a pest management professional (PMP) for the Birmingham North office. In 2018, he transferred to Albertville office when he was promoted to pest manager. In June 2021, he became the first pest control operations manager at the company,

Anthony Elder will be the district manager for the Memphis, Tenn., commercial office, effective Feb. 1, 2023. Elder’s career began in June 2015 as a PMP. In 2016, he was promoted to pest supervisor and was promoted to pest manager in October 2021.

About Cook’s Pest Control

Cook’s Pest Control was founded by John L. Cook in 1928 as “North Alabama Termite Control.” After his death in 1950, his son, John R. Cook, took over the company and changed the company’s name to Cook’s Pest Control. John R., a Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer (Class of 2015), helped Cook’s Pest Control become the eighth-largest pest control company in the U.S. at the time.

Cook’s Pest Control serves homeowners and businesses across the Southeast. The company offers services in pest control, termite control, mosquito control and bed bug removal. All Cook’s Pest Control technicians and inspectors receive comprehensive computer-based, classroom and field training. In 2015, the company opened an employee training facility in Decatur, Ala.

In 2016, Cook’s Pest Control opened a new office in Pensacola, Fla., which is the company’s first office in Florida. The company now serves customers in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee with 40 offices.

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Sacramento CA

Research Firms See Strong Growth Ahead for Restoration Services

An increase in natural disasters, increased awareness of allergies drives demand.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

BASF: N.Y. registers PT Alpine Pressurized Fly Bait

IMAGE: BASF

The recent registration of PT Alpine Pressurized Fly Bait in New York gives pest management professionals (PMPs) in the Empire State a new tool to combat flies. This highly specialized, pressurized insecticide features the active ingredient dinotefuran. It quickly knocks down flies, exposing them to a lethal dose when they come in contact with the non-repellent formulation. PT Alpine Pressurized Fly Bait also has a proven attractancy for up to 30 days, the company says, and dries nearly clear without a strong odor. With a versatile label that includes residential, commercial, and event settings, it is especially useful around garbage and recycling containers.

PestControl.basf.us

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Sacramento CA

2022 WIPC Conference

This year’s WIPC Business Award winner is Mary Susan Branch, who is in the process of opening a business in Louisiana. She received $2,000 and a year of unlimited consulting. Pictured from left are Branch, WIPC Owner Lisa Botts, 2021 Award Winner Melisa Arnold, WIPC Administrator Victoria Myers-Lopez, and WIPC Founder Bobbie Terry. PHOTO: LIN ELLIS

Forty women from across the country gathered together in Houston, Texas, Sept. 29-30 for the third Women in Pest Control (WIPC) Conference. Pest Management Professional (PMP) magazine was among the sponsors. Other sponsors included Rockwell Labs, Veseris, AMM Insurance, BASF, Bayer (now Envu), Bird-X, Nisus, SenesTech, and Target Specialty Products.

WIPC started as a Facebook group, with the goal of providing an environment where women could feel free to ask questions and speak about issues that are gender-specific. As the Facebook group grew to more than 1,200 women, the group’s mission has evolved to provide professional and personal development opportunities for pest management professionals (PMP) with underrepresented genders.

In an effort to provide an inclusive environment for feminine-presenting people of all colors, religions and sexual orientations, WIPC opened the speaker rolls this year to men who have shown a desire to empower women in pest management and help them achieve success through knowledge. Thus, WIPC Conference’s first-ever male speaker was Harry Bryan, director of business development of the Pest Control Division of Nisus. Bryan taught attendees about how gross small flies are, and the “gooey secrets” of fountain drinks.

Each year, B&G offers a pink one-gallon sprayer for WIPC to award to one attendee who has battled cancer. The 2022 recipient is Kathy Elkins, Diva’s Pest Management, Norman, Okla. Elkins shared her story of skin cancer, and the importance of taking care of yourself. PHOTO: LIN ELLIS

Additional speakers included, in alphabetical order:

• Anna Berry, BCE, U.S. technical director for Pelsis
• Hal Drody, owner and business advisor with Harper Grayson Communications, Spring, Texas
• Chelle Hartzer, BCE, owner of 360 Pest Food and Safety Consulting, Lawrenceville, Ga.
• Janet Hurley, ACE, MPA, senior extension program specialist – IPM at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
• Dr. Nina Jenkins, co-founder and CTO of ConidioTec, which manufactures Aprehend, State College, Pa.
• Dr. Janet Kintz-Early, owner of JAK Consulting Services and former regulatory affairs manager for Nisus, Knoxville, Tenn.
• Sarah Latyn, quality assurance and training coordinator for TRNZ4m, Marlton, N.J.
• Dr. Dini Miller, professor with the department of entomology at Virginia Tech and a PMP Hall of Famer (Class of 2019)
• Anthony Plumley, certified applicator with Smith Thompson Pest Control, Dallas, Texas
• Luisa Ramirez, customer service lead for Bird-X, Elmhurst, Ill.
• Dr. Cisse Spragins, founder and CEO of Rockwell Labs and a PMP Hall of Famer (Class of 2018)

Plans for a 2024 conference are already underway. Learn more on the WIPC Facebook page at
Bit.ly/3DrbbM3.

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Nancy Boerema, FireFly Enlightened Pest Solutions, Lincoln City, Ore., was presented with a check and a plaque for the second annual Bobbie Terry Humanitarian Award. Boerema has worked tirelessly to help rebuild lives after the devastating wildfires that ravished her community. PHOTO: LIN ELLIS

 

Attendees of the 2022 WIPC conference. PHOTO: LISA BOTTS

 

Dr. Cisse Spragins was both a speaker and an exhibitor at the event. PHOTO: LISA BOTTS

 

Anna Berry, BCE, summarized the latest trends in commercial pest control for attendees. PHOTO: LISA BOTTS

 

Nisus’ Harry Bryan holds the distinction of being the first male presenter at a
WIPC conference. PHOTO: LISA BOTTS

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Sacramento CA

Insectek Pest Solutions launches new scholarship program

Phoenix, Ariz.-based Insectek Pest Solutions, a locally -owned and -operated pest control company, launched an annual scholarship program granting two secondary education scholarships to qualifying youth who are looking to attend a college or a trade school.

In its first year, two $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to deserving high school students. One will be awarded to a student on track to attend a traditional college (community, university or junior) and one to a student planning to attend a trade school.

Insectek Pest Solutions opened up the scholarship program on Nov. 1, 2022 to Arizona high school seniors who meet specific academic criteria. Those looking to apply for the college scholarship must have a 3.0 GPA, and those who hope to earn the trade school scholarship must have a 2.5 GPA.

Founded by North Phoenix residents Jenny and Ben McAvoy in 2013, Insectek Pest Solutions was, according to a news release, “born out of being disenchanted with the corporate lifestyle and being equally frustrated with service providers who sold a big customer service game but rarely delivered on those promises of putting customers first. The McAvoys started Insectek Pest Solutions to change the negative reputation and stigma of pest control companies both for pest control customers and for employees working in the industry. This was a big driver in launching the scholarship program.”

“As a Chinese immigrant who moved here with my parents when I was just four years old, we had very limited access to the industries of corporate America for career options, especially since we didn’t have the funds for a college education,” said Jenny McAvoy, co-founder of Insectek Pest Solutions. “It was because of scholarships that a college education was possible for me. Those scholarships enabled me to achieve a bachelor’s degree in business management where I learned the skills I now use every day to operate Insectek.”

Both founders believe strongly in secondary education, and trade schools represent a huge opportunity given the overall skilled trade workers shortage in the U.S. For example, today there are somewhere around 650,000 open construction jobs in the U.S. and 10 million unfilled manufacturing jobs globally.

“The burden of student loans isn’t appealing to many, and with trade schools you often pay a third or less of the cost of traditional college, and you can begin your career pretty much right away,” said Ben McAvoy, co-founder of Insectek Pest Solutions. “A trade school education and experience can turn into an entrepreneurial endeavor in the future or help you get your foot in the door to starting a career in major industries. We want to support tradespeople; they are critical to our economy.”

To apply for the Insectek scholarship, applicants must create a short video bio sharing more information about their background, goals, hobbies and future plans. Submissions will close on April 1, 2023, and winners will be announced on May 1, 2023.

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Sacramento CA

Leighton Healey of KnowHow: Why Restoration Employees Leave

Leighton Healey, CEO of KnowHow, shares his firm’s findings from a large-scale study on why employees leave the restoration business and what contractors can do to keep them.

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Unified Purchasing Group: Exclusive Discounts

IMAGE: UNIFIED PURCHASING GROUP

UPG members enjoy exclusive discounts on leading brands, including Verizon, Staples, Best Buy, ADP, Yellow and more. Simply join the 55,000-plus other smart businesses already saving money with the power of group purchasing. Becoming a UPG member is free and easy, and there are no purchasing minimums or obligations. Enroll online today.

UPG.org

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Sacramento CA

ISSA Partners with Staples for Training

Partnership expands certification opportunities.

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How Unrealistic and Unreasonable Are You About the Restoration Timeline?

This edition of Ask Annissa explains that with proper training and the right systems in place, content restoration can happen at a much faster pace.

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Restorers Should Be Thankful For Deep Frying Turkeys

Culinary disasters create more work for restoration firms.

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Primera adds to board of directors

Mindy Vereen

Mindy Vereen, of Vereen’s Turf and Landscape Supply, joined Primera’s board of directors.

“It is a tremendous honor and privilege to announce that Mindy has joined our board of directors,” Jeff Braun, CEO of Primera, said in the news release. “Over the years, Mindy has been a tremendous advocate for Primera members, and we welcome her wisdom, knowledge, and experience in directing our cooperative into the future.”

Bob Windsheimer of Walker Supply, a W.S. Connelly Company and Board Chairman, said, “Mindy’s industry experience and background in distribution and manufacturing bring a unique perspective to the board and complement its skills. Having just completed our three-year strategic plan, Mindy joins the board at the perfect time to assist Primera in leveraging the size of its membership to deliver upon our growth-focused initiatives.”

Vereen serves as the president of Vereen’s Turf and Landscape Supply, a family business founded by her parents in 1962 that is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Vereen and her sister, Andee DiCola, operate one of the few women-owned distributors in the turf and ornamental industry.

About Primera

Based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Primera is a member-owned cooperative of self-described “passionate, growth-minded distributors who partner with best-in-class suppliers to strengthen the ability to service the end-user while outperforming the market and the competition.” For 20 years, Primera has strived to provide its owner-members, their associates, and their supplier partners with the tools, skills, knowledge, and innovation to create exceptional returns and competitive advantages. Primera has over 1,000 branch locations from over 50 member-owned companies set to serve the end-user’s needs.

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Sacramento CA

Viking Pest Control launches annual food drive

Members of the Viking Pest Control team collecting donations for FulFill Food Bank. PHOTO: VIKING PEST CONTROL

Viking Pest Control, an Anticimex Company, launched its annual food drive to collect grocery donations for FulFill Food Bank. The project helps to ensure local families in need will be able to put food on the table in time for Thanksgiving.

Fulfill provides over 12 million meals a year through its network of over 300 food pantries and soup kitchens. This great organization also offers many programs that fight hunger including food delivery, Kids’ Feeding Programs, Mobile Pantries, Culinary Training, SNAP enrollment assistance and Volunteer Gardens.

In partnership with many local organizations, Fulfill Food Bank assists individuals in job searches, money management, tax return preparations, health insurance programs, home ownership counseling and childcare services.

Viking Pest Control staff members delivered 1,200 pounds of canned and boxed good items as well as 26 frozen turkeys to Fulfill in Neptune, N.J. This donation should provide approximately 1,000 Thanksgiving meals to those in need.

“We are delighted to report that Viking Pest Control was able to collect and donate over 1,200 pounds of grocery items and 26 frozen turkeys,” Eric Gunner, Viking’s business development manager, said in a news release. “Being a part of our annual food drive continues to make me proud to be a part of this company. It is heartwarming to witness so many of our Viking team members pitching in; they made this donation possible, and we are extremely grateful for all who contributed so generously.”

Viking Pest Control has a history of giving back to the communities they service, and per its news release, “is delighted to have been able to organize the annual food drive and ensure families are able to enjoy satisfying and nutritious meals this Thanksgiving.”

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Sacramento CA

Truly Nolen’s 4th annual community car show had record attendance, perfect weather

The “Stuff the Mouse Limo” collected donations for children who live in Tucson’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods. PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN

After skipping 2020 and 2021 due to health and safety protocols, Truly Nolen proceeded with our 4th Annual Community Car Show on Nov. 12 at our Corporate Leadership and Training Center in Tucson, Ariz.

First created in 2017 by Director of Operational Administrative Support Michelle Nolen as a showcase for 50 of her father Truly David Nolen’s classic antiques, this year’s car show was the company’s first since 2019. Judging by the record crowd of over 1,000 people in Tucson who attended, people really wanted to experience something fun in person once again. Between the record crowd and perfect 74-degree weather, the entire day was a success.

Just like in 2019, the event featured local Tucson Car Club entries side-by-side with classics from the Truly Nolen Antique Car Collection including the late Nolen’s favorite classic, his 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible which he drove to work every day when he lived in Naples, Fla.

A huge highlight of this year’s car show was our “Stuff the Mouse Limo” activity on behalf of the late Ramon Gonzales and his charity “Miracle on 31st Street.” Established in 1970 by Gonzales, Miracle on 31st Street is a holiday celebration for children who live in Tucson’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods.

From left: Hannah Stakley, event coordinator and strategist; Michelle Nolen, director of operational administrative support; and Ray Rico, community relations and events coordinator and car show organizer.

As a way to honor Ramon’s legacy and to help his son Manuel keep the tradition alive following his father’s untimely passing in 2020 from COVID-19, spectators were encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the event. After being collected, the toys would be used for this year’s Holiday Toy Drive in December.

According to Ray Rico, community relations and events coordinator as well as car show organizer, approximately 300 toys were collected, which should help bring smiles to children’s faces this holiday season. A special thanks to Rico and Hannah Stakley, event coordinator and strategist, for their tireless efforts that helped drive this year’s show to new heights.

This year’s show again featured trophies as selected by Truly Nolen team members, car club members, and general attendees in addition to Best in Show. There were multiple food trucks on-site for visitors looking to eat, a community corner in the courtyard featuring multiple non-profit organizations, a Kid’s Corner full of activities, and a recruiting booth for future team members. In short, there was definitely something for everyone!

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Inside the “Stuff the Mouse Limo,” which is an activity on behalf of the late Ramon Gonzales and his charity “Miracle on 31st Street.” PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN

 

The crowd at Truly Nolen’s 4th Annual Community Car Show on Nov. 12. PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN

 

Vickie Nolen stands in front of her late husband’s “daily driver,” a 1957 Chevy Bel-Air convertible. The longtime company board member — and mother of current President Scarlett Nolen — flew in from her home in Florida to attend the Nov. 12 show. PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN

 

A view of the Community Courtyard at the Truly Nolen car show. PHOTO: TRULY NOLEN

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Sacramento CA

Mastering Fire Restoration Estimation Part 3

Know the odors you are dealing with and the best ways to treat them.

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SiteOne: Mosquito Free Line

IMAGE: GARDEN GIRLS REPELLENTS

Mosquito Free and Lesco Mosquito Free, both natural and effective adulticides for mosquito control, have been tested with a 100 percent kill rate when mixed and applied according to the manufacturer’s directions. Mosquito Free is now available in a convenient, 2.5-gallon concentrate size. Mosquito Free and Lesco Mosquito Free can be used on both residential and commercial properties. Mosquito Free by NAPROCO LLC/dba Garden Girls Repellents and Lesco Mosquito Free are offered exclusively through SiteOne Landscape Supply. Call your local branch today.

GardenGirlsRepellents.com

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Sacramento CA

IN MEMORIAM: Bill Clark, Joe Lupini

The pest control industry has lost two men who were giants in their respective regions:

Bill Clark, founder of Beaumont, Texas-based Bill Clark Pest Control

Bill Clark

Clark, 89, died Nov. 18. He joined the U.S. Navy after graduating high school, spending his service time as an air traffic controller at the Naval Air Station in Olathe, Kan. He then enrolled at Texas A&M as an entomology major on the GI Bill, graduating in 1957.

Per his obituary, “Bill surveyed various locations for an opportunity to establish a new pest control company. He chose Beaumont, Texas and moved there in early 1958. He began his one-man business soliciting sales door to door in the morning and changed into work clothes to render pest control services each afternoon. The family likes to joke that it was akin to Superman changing clothes in a phone booth.

“Slowly the business grew until it ranked as one of the largest in the state based on personal ownership. The family cannot count the number of times we’ve heard people ask ‘are you the Bill Clark?’ The business was built on the labors of incredible employees, many of whom worked for Mr. Clark for decades.”

Clark was known for his generosity and volunteerism. He also served as an officer in several organizations, including the Texas Pest Control Association and National Pest Management Association.

“After 60-plus years at the helm of his business, Bill chose to sell the company within – thus protecting the legacy of the hundreds of loyal employees who helped him build the iconic brand. Today, Bill Clark Pest Control continues to serve the citizens of Beaumont, the Golden Triangle and beyond,” the obituary notes; Josh Smith is owner and general manager today. “The years of hard work allowed Bill and [his wife] Casey to travel to many parts of the world. When asked, he would always say his favorite place to visit was the last distant destination he had visited.”

In addition to his wife of 53 years, Clark is survived by five children and six grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests making a memorial contribution in his name to an organization of your choosing.

Joe Lupini, longtime owner of Loyal Termite & Pest Control, Richmond, Va.

Joe Lupini

Lupini, 87, died Nov. 8. He joined the U.S. Marines after graduating high school, and after completing his service, became a baseball umpire in the minor leagues. He decided to switch careers after some time, however, because as his obituary notes, “it was the people and ballplayers that he enjoyed most, but the travel and money were not so good.”

He first became a traveling salesman, and then got into pest management — eventually purchasing what is known today as Loyal Termite & Pest Control, an Ehrlich Company, in 1996. A mentor to many, the “godfather of pest control” served on the Commonwealth of Virginia Pesticide Advisory Board; the Board of Directors of the National Pest Management Association; and as past president and member of Board of Directors of the Virginia Pest Management Association. Lupini also served on the Endowment Committee for the Virginia Tech Urban Research Center. Loyal Termite & Pest Control became a Terminix Rentokil company in 2019, under the Ehrlich brand.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Peggy, two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 9605 Gayton Road, Richmond, Va. 23229 or St. Francis – Manchester, Development Office, 65 West Clopton Street, Richmond, Va. 23225.

 

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Sacramento CA

Environmental Specialty Contractor Hires Peronnel Coordinator

New hire will be responsible for recruiting, onboarding, training and licensing and generally supporting the field team.

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Warning customers against stored product pests

Pat Kelley, president, Insects Limited

It is often incorrectly assumed that stored product pests (SPP) are only those insects that might get into the dried food goods in your pantry. In reality, the term “stored product pest” refers to insects that infest both food and non-food materials made from plant or animal origin.

When you think about it, that list of materials comprises a whole lot of things. The reason SPP are important is because we humans like to store a whole lot of things — from dried seeds, grains, spices, cereals and pasta to wools, feathers, furs, hair and hide, from wooden furniture to picture frames, and much more. Humans love to store things we find valuable, and this group of pests loves to eat what we store.

SPP don’t care whether their food sources are in a food plant, a distribution warehouse, or a residence. If you store it, they will eat it. This confirms to us that Indianmeal moths, flour beetles, grain beetles and weevils are, of course, SPP, but so are carpet beetles, clothes moths and powderpost beetles, along with a long list of other insects that eat these materials.

So, as you read through this month’s Tips and Tricks section, know that these suggestions will not only help your customers in their homes and workplaces, but also will help protect those items that you find valuable enough to stash away in your kitchen or other living areas in your own home.

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Sacramento CA

BASF: Termite Bait Solutions

IMAGE: BASF

Flexibility is key when choosing the best termite service for your customers. BASF offers two powerful termite baiting options to ensure you have the right tools for every job. With Advance Termite Bait Stations (ATBS), the active ingredient is added only when termite activity is detected. Because of its station design, termites find the Advance stations fast. For residential accounts that prefer the ultimate peace of mind, Trelona Annual Bait Stations are preloaded with the active ingredient before installation. Trelona ATBS provides you with the complete freedom to operate: You maintain ownership of the equipment and the accounts. Plus, the flexibility of an annual inspection label translates to time and labor savings.

PestControl.basf.us

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Sacramento CA

EvaClean Donates Supplies to Charity That Aids Disaster Relief

Cleaning supplies will help those struck by hurricanes, floods.

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EcoClear Products: Stop Bugging Me! Laundry Additive

IMAGE: ECOCLEAR PRODUCTS

Featuring cedar oil, Stop Bugging Me! Laundry Additive Concentrate is designed to remove bed bugs and dust mites from bedding and washable clothing. Non-toxic and usable around people and pets, it blocks neurotransmitter receptors in bed bugs and dust mites. It also is labeled for lice infestations. The concentrate is stain-free, so it won’t ruin clothing or fabric. It is available in cases of four 1-gallon jugs, as well as in 5-gallon buckets and 55-gallon drums.

EcoClearProducts.com

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Sacramento CA

Go beyond the pantry to find stored product pests

John-Michael Kibrick

Just when your customers think that throwing out an infested bag of popcorn did the trick in controlling an stored product pest (SPP) infestation — they find more the next morning in the cereal box.

Why are these pests such stubborn opponents? In addition to their ability to hide in small cracks and corners where they can be easily missed, people mistakenly tend to think these annoyingly tenacious invaders can’t spread beyond the pantry into the rest of the house.

In reality, some of the species that commonly invade pantries can survive in almost any dark, moist environment where mold is likely to grow. Breaking into sealed packages of stored products simply gives them an abundance of food upon which to thrive.

Booklice (Liposcelididae), for example, are typically found in books and stacks of paper. But they may spread into stored goods. Other pests like carpet beetles (Anthrenus verbasci) and cigarette beetles (Lasioderma serricorne) also may originate in the pantry.

That’s why it is recommended to conduct a wider search and apply an effective insecticide in other areas of the house after your customers clean out their pantries.

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Sacramento CA

PuroClean Promotes Marketing and Communcations Manager

New role for marketing executive will continue to build the brand.

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Handling a Fire Restoration during the Holiday Season

Extra stress this time of year calls for a lot of care, compassion and grace.

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Rockit Pest acquires Action Pest Control

Josh Center, general manager of Rockit Pest, left, shakes hands with Wayne Biggers, second-generation owner of Action Pest Control. PHOTO: ROCKIT PEST

Columbia, S.C.-based Rockit Pest announced the acquisition of Action Pest Control.

Action Pest Control was founded over 35 years ago by Ronald Biggers. His son, Wayne Biggers, continued his father’s vision, operating the company for the past decade and serving customers throughout North and South Carolina.

The acquisition expands Rockit Pest’s service area into the Charlotte, N.C. market.

“For over three decades, our team has served Chester, Lancaster, and York County businesses and residents with termite and pest control solutions,” Wayne Biggers explained in a news release. “When I met the team at Rockit, I knew they would take great care of our employees and continue to build upon our strong reputation in the community. I’m excited for Action Pest to benefit from the added resources that come with joining forces with Rockit.”

Ryan Bradbury, CEO of Rockit Pest, added, “Action Pest Control is a perfect addition to Rockit Pest, and we’re proud to welcome their tenured and knowledgeable employees to our team. We’re excited to continue expanding our footprint in the Carolinas and the greater Charlotte market with Action.”

About Rockit Pest

Rockit Pest, founded by Halle Capital in 2021, has rapidly expanded throughout the Southeast. Founded on the principle of “pest control made simple,” Rockit’s mission is to protect customers’ homes, families and businesses from health risks and property damage by delivering safe, convenient and reliable pest control solutions. Rockit provides capital solutions to pest control operators looking for either an ownership transition or to partner with a group of experienced executives to accelerate growth and help build a best-in-class pest control company.

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Sacramento CA

Control tips from a roof rat

Photo: GlobalP/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Pest Management Professional magazine (PMP): Roof rats sometimes take a back seat to the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), but it is a pest that is increasingly gaining attention, without a doubt. Today, we welcome the roof rat to get the inside scoop.

RR: Thank you for having me.

PMP: Many people are familiar with the Norway rat, which is not from Norway — it was only studied there. Are roof rats associated with a particular country?

RR: We likely originally hail from southeast Asia, whereas the Norway rat likely originated in farther northern parts of Asia. Because we are good at climbing, the trees in southeast Asia were more hospitable to us than the plains of Mongolia, for example.

PMP: Very interesting. Norway rats seem to get the attention, but haven’t you been in North America longer?

RR: Yes, just because we are cuter than the Norway rat, who are filthy sewer-dwelling creatures, they seem to get all the attention! We likely came to the U.S. early in the game. Some believe we were part of the early Virginia settlements in the 1600s. Norway rats didn’t make it here until sometime around the American Revolution, and likely arrived farther north.

PMP: How does a roof rat differ from a Norway rat?

RR: Well, we don’t populate areas as quickly. We occupy areas that are not as close to food sources, and we can lose out to Norway rats when food is scarce. Our tails are longer than Norway rats’ and we have darker fur with a light underbelly. Also, Norway rats are usually bigger than us, and have more blunt snouts. They are good swimmers, and we are not. If you don’t see the rat but see droppings, Norway rat droppings have rounded ends. Our droppings are pointed.

PMP: Which is more of a challenge for the technician?

RR: Norway rats can have huge populations, so they can be a challenge. But we are stealthier and can be more challenging.

PMP: What scares you about pest management?

RR: It’s not the bait and it’s not the traps. The biggest concern is the trained technician who has a keen eye for detail, takes time to understand where we are located, and only then employs one or more control measures. A good technician also manages customer expectations, but explains rodent control is not instantaneous. We can’t compete with that.

PMP: So, technicians who just place bait without inspection are…

RR: Wasting their time and the time of their customers. Baits and traps are tools, but are not the solution by themselves.

PMP: We know Norway rats are in most areas of North America. What about roof rats?

RR: In recent years, we have expanded our turf from coastal and very warm areas, to interior and cooler areas of the continent.

PMP: Is that because of climate change?

RR: No. It is because of food availability and opportunities to move about — being largely aided by humans. We also really like areas where humans have planted fruit trees in their yards. Abundant food that is less accessible to Norway rats is a good thing for us.

PMP: Do you see continued success for roof rats?

RR: If we have adequate food, water and shelter, we will continue to share the table with humans. After all, “commensal” really means “share the table,” and humans leaving adequate food for us allows us to share their tables.

PMP: You have been a wealth of knowledge. What parting words do you have for the trained technician?

RR: Keep up with the latest tools, and use your experience with those tools.

PMP: Isn’t that sort of tipping your hand to defeat you?

RR: While you might control a few of us, we’ve been established for hundreds of years in North America. We’ll be here for a long time to come.

PMP: Thank you for your time.

RR: My pleasure. And when you get a rat call, don’t just look down. Look up, too.

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Sacramento CA

Alpine Environmental Hires Director of Project Management

New executive brings plenty of industry experience to environmental specialty contractor.

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Tips to treat store product pests quickly

Greg Pettis

Some of craziest store product pest (SPP)-infested materials I’ve encountered as a pest management professional include a random cereal box on a garage shelf, cat food under the fridge, bagel flour buildup under bakery ovens, a Christmas wreath inside a hope chest in the living room, and my favorite: a decorative loaf of shellacked bread on a kitchen shelf. I am sure you have your favorites, too!

You know that finding the source for the moths, mites and maggots (oh my!), as well as beetles and other SPP is the key to shutting them down.

In most cases, these situations also require using an appropriately labeled adulticide to get control.

My recommendation is to choose a labeled aerosol or concentrate that controls insects quickly, so surfaces can be wiped without worry of unwanted residue. Customers also appreciate formulations that are exempt from the U.S. Environmental Product Agency’s Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 25(b).

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Sacramento CA

Pack Outs with No Breakage and a Special Announcement

This edition of Ask Annissa offers ways for those new to the business to avoid damaging a client’s possessions while doing a packout. 

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Restorer Adds Plumbing Franchise to Expand Services

The 1-Tom-Plumber brand is available only to restoration companies.

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Neogen adds member to professional pest sales team

Andrew Fisher

Neogen announced Andrew Fisher, BCE, PHE, as a new member to its professional pest sales team.

Fisher joins the team in the newly created business unit specialist position highlighting his technical background. He most recently worked as the regional integrated pest management (IPM) manager for a pest management company specializing in fumigation. Fisher brings 10 years of industry experience and is based near Bloomington, Ill. He is “most excited about continuing his pursuit of knowledge in this field while growing personally and professionally,” according to the news release.

Fisher is both a board-certified entomologist (BCE) and a certified public health entomologist (PHE). Both certifications are from the Entomological Society of America (ESA). The PHE certificate was recently introduced to provide an opportunity to those who work with pests that pose a health risk — either by being a vector for disease, or other adverse health risks — to demonstrate their professionalism and commitment to their profession. The PHE program is currently only for those who work in the United States, although an international version is under development, per the ESA. It is endorsed by and was developed in conjunction with the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA).

Fisher says he is passionate about furthering the science of pest control and will be integral in providing technical support for the SureKill Professional Pest and Turbocide Fogging product lines.

In October, Neogen introduced two new members to the professional pest sales team: Mark Turner and Sarah Starinshak, who will be representing the SureKill brand.

About Neogen

Neogen provides a comprehensive range of solutions and services for the food processing, animal protein and agriculture industries, not only helping to protect the world’s food supply, but helping to enable its customers to produce more efficiently and effectively.

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Sacramento CA

Pure Maintenance Marks Franchise Milestone

Mold removal company grows to more than 170 locations in the span of three years.

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Attorneys Stress the Importance of Communication during Restoration Process

Listening carefully and communicating with clarity create a better process for all parties and help avoid issues.

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PelGar: Brigand SB and Monark SB

IMAGE: PELGAR

Suffering from bait freeze? Sub-zero temperatures can cause many problems, but it’s the lard in Brigand and Monark soft baits that keeps them pliable, even in freezing temperatures. They also are easily secured inside a bait station. Brigand’s high fat content, combined with PelGar’s other food-grade quality ingredients, makes it highly attractive to rodents even against competing food sources. Monark, meanwhile, is the only difenacoum-based soft bait currently registered in America. As a second-generation anticoagulant, it boasts a low toxicity profile, thereby significantly reducing the risk of secondary toxicity to non-target animals. Monark is formulated using a blend of culinary-grade wheat flour, chopped grain and soft lard to produce a palatable bait. The synthetic flavoring is attractive to both rats and mice and, because it doesn’t contain any allergens, it can be used in sensitive areas such as food processing and factories where products containing nuts would not be authorized for use.

PelGar.com.uk/usa

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Sacramento CA

CRUSA Acquires Bryant Hartke to Expand Services in Cincinnati

CEO will stay on as full partner.

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SenesTech appoints industry veteran to CEO

Joel Fruendt

SenesTech Inc. CEO Ken Siegel plans to retire at the end of 2022, and his successor has been named. Joel Fruendt is a veteran chief executive, with more than 15 years of leadership experience in the vector and pest control industry — including serving as vice president and general manager of Clarke Environmental Inc.

Per a news release, Fruendt “brings extensive expertise in the development and manufacturing of EPA-registered chemical control products, commercialization and sales of those products, and leading large sales and service organizations. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of a global manufacturing company in the reflective technology and safety industry, where he spearheaded their successful revenue and profit growth through innovation and efficiency initiatives.”

Siegel will remain as an executive director and consultant through the transition period for SenesTech, which manufactures the rodent contraceptive product ContraPest.

“Over the past three-and-a-half years, we have laid the groundwork for the successful commercialization of ContraPest,” Siegel said in the news release. “We have completed necessary fieldwork, we have improved the product’s performance and delivery, we have initiated the needed awareness in the commercial end user market, and we have enhanced our relationships with pest control partners. This is an ideal time for Joel to bring his unique skills and experience to further those relationships and take ContraPest to the next level.”

About SenesTech

Founded in 2003 by two scientists with a deep love for animals, Drs. Loretta Mayer and Pat Hoyer, Flagstaff, Ariz.-based SenesTech has developed an innovative method for managing animal populations through fertility control.

Its lead product, ContraPest, targets the reproductive capabilities of both sexes in rat populations, inducing egg loss in female rats and impairing sperm development in males. Using a proprietary bait delivery method, ContraPest is dispensed in a palatable liquid formulation that promotes sustained consumption by rat communities. It is designed, formulated and dispensed to be low hazard for handlers and non-target species such as wildlife, livestock and pets, where the active ingredients break down rapidly. ContraPest is currently the only contraceptive for male and female rats that is registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2022/11/16/senestech-appoints-industry-veteran-to-ceo/
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