The Pest Posse to host 6th Annual Women in Pest Control

IMAGE: THE PEST POSSE

The Pest Posse Sixth Annual Women in Pest Control series, with the sponsorship of Nisus Corp. and Target Specialty Products, will start on March 6 starting at 11 a.m. Eastern with a Pest Posse TV live stream on Facebook and LinkedIn.

“This series was conceived by the visionary and creator at The Pest Posse, Culley Christensen,” Foster Brusca said in the news release. “His vision for the series was to recognize the growing presence of women in the pest control industry.”

This series, released annually in March, recognizes four women who work in the pest control industry as service technicians, business owners, manufacturing representatives, and managers. March was chosen for this series to correspond with Women’s History Month, which honors women’s contributions to American history.

Since 1995, each US President has issued an annual proclamation designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”

“We are so excited about this year’s recognition’s because these four women have a true passion and dedication to the industry,” Brusca said.

In 2023, The Pest Posse Women in Pest Control series will recognize Kendra Schmidt, COO at Killroy Pest Control; Samantha Malone, president at Olympia Pest Management and executive director of the Washington State Pest Management Association; Charlee Messina from Florida Pest Control; and Nina Jenkins, founder and CTO at ConidioTec, the makers of Aprehend. In addition, Pest Management Professional Senior Editor Diane Sofranec will appear March 9 and March 23 as part of the regular series, PMP Today.

Schmidt will kick off the 2023 series by being the guest on March 6 on The Pest Posse TV Live Stream. Then each week, on Monday in March, a new Pest Posse TV episode will be released featuring one woman from this year’s recognition. These episodes can be watched as part of the free Pest Posse TV membership at www.pestpossetv.com.

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Sacramento CA

PPMA announces Termite Awareness Week

IMAGE: PPMA

Because termite activity may increase given the milder winter so far, the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) is calling on the industry to spread awareness about termite threats during Termite Awareness Week, which is March 5-11.

As homeowners gear up for spring by dusting off their outdoor furniture and making cleaning lists, the pest control industry is focused on termite season. Recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events, this annual observance encourages homeowners across the country to actively monitor for signs of termites and underscores the critical need for routine inspections.

“Pest control professionals know exactly how destructive termites are, but homeowners are often caught completely by surprise. First, to find out they have termites, and second, at the expense to correct more severe structural damage — it can be quite a one-two punch,” PPMA Executive Director Dr. Jim Fredericks, BCE, said in the news release. “PPMA is working to drive that message home and sharing with homeowners that in today’s economy, it is estimated that termites cause $6.8 billion in damage in the U.S. every year when you adjust for inflation.”

PPMA takes the stance that if more companies share this message, the louder and more impactful this message will be received.

“Our entire industry should be working together to communicate the importance of identifying and eradicating termite infestations and encourage proactive, routine termite inspections and partnerships with pest control professionals,” Dr. Fredericks said.

PPMA is launching a media relations campaign and a social media strategy across Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube. It also recently launched its new Instagram channel, @PestWorldOfficial, and is working on a new, second season of its popular termite show, “Will They Eat It?” scheduled to be released in June 2023.

Pest control companies interested in joining PPMA for this campaign should use #TermiteAwarenessWeek on all social media channels when sharing content about this pest and are encouraged to share content posted on @PestWorld’s social platforms.

For Mainframe subscribers, an exclusive Termite Awareness Week toolkit will be shared on PPMAMainframe.org featuring downloadable assets such as a customizable press release, social media content, logos and cover photo images, media talking points and high-resolution photography and video assets. Reviewed for accuracy by NPMA entomologists, these materials are a resource for companies to use in their own promotional efforts.

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Sacramento CA

Preventative approach to bed bugs

Joseph Latino

Affordable housing in the U.S. continues to bear the burden of bed bugs, representing a $15 billion untapped market for pest management professionals (PMPs). Our industry has the opportunity to adopt a preventive approach to bed bug control that significantly improves the quality of life of low-income residents, while relieving the burden of this insidious pest from property management and staff.

By implementing a collaborative approach among management, staff and residents that reinforces proactive engagement, early reporting and early intervention, PMPs can deliver an efficacious and financially sustainable program to control and prevent bed bugs in community living environments, protecting our country’s most at-risk residents.

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Sacramento CA

IIRC Endorses New Federal Mold Assessment and Remediation Legislation

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration (IICRC) has officially endorsed Representative Haley Stevens's new bill, "The Fix Moldy Housing Act."

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Mrs.Bzzz to open new location in New Jersey

Wayne, N.J.-based Mrs.Bzzz Pest & Termite Solutions plans to open another small branch in Dorthy, N.J., on July 1.

The new branch will provide coverage for the southern parts of New Jersey.

The company’s corporate headquarters are in Wayne, N.J. Mrs.Bzzz Pest & Termite Solutions opened a second location in June 2021 in Walden, N.Y.  The branch serves the Hudson Valley in New York, which consists of the counties in Orange, Ulster, Dutchess and Sullivan. This branch is co-owned and operated by managing partners Anthony and Tommy Romeo.

A third location is located in Croton Falls, N.Y., which is in Westchester County. This branch location will provide service to all of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Rockland Counties in New York.

ABOUT MRS.BZZZ

Mrs.Bzzz Pest and Termite Solutions was founded in 2013 by industry veteran Benetté DeVera. In June 2022, her husband, Brian DeVera, became her partner and currently oversees the entire operation. The company provides residential pest control services to all of New Jersey, and to the Hudson Valley area in New York.

Mrs. Bzzz (pronounced Bees) currently serves the New Jersey counties of Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Morris and Sussex. Per a blog post about the “real Mrs.Bzzz” on the company’s website, the DeVeras first started in pest control in Montgomery, N.Y., running Shamrock Pest Management out of a two-bedroom apartment and building it to a regional-sized firm that they sold in 2008. They started anew in Naples, Fla., with Shamrock Pest Management, which continues today with a different owner.

Because they were missing their extended family, the DeVeras and their three sons returned home to New Jersey. (As Benetté jokes in the post, “I know, some of you are wondering why the hell come back up north? Sometimes we ask the same question.”)

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Sacramento CA

Viking Pest Control named Top Workplace 3 years in a row

IMAGE: VIKING PEST CONTROL

Basking Ridge, N.J.-based Viking Pest Control, an Anticimex company, was voted “Top Workplace” and achieved The Top Workplace award in New Jersey by NJ.com for the third consecutive year.

The team was awarded the Top Workplace award for 2023. The recognition is based on employee feedback gathered anonymously and administered by a third party, Energage. The confidential survey measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization.

This award is granted to companies that create a culture where employees feel engaged, appreciated and fulfilled.

“Earning a Top Workplaces is a badge of honor since it comes from our employees, and we are honored they voted this way,” Paul Bergmann, president of Viking Pest Control, said in the news release. “We are proud to share this award with our team and our customers.”

“Creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to contribute is at the heart of our culture,” Bergmann said. “Viking believes a diverse team leads to different individual characteristics and perspectives, integral to company growth. As a result, our employees feel accepted and valued at Viking Pest, which, along with customer satisfaction, is our ultimate success.”

Viking Pest Control was founded in 1980 by Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer Ed Bradbury (Class of 2014), and was acquired by Anticimex in 2017. The company serves residents and business owners throughout New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Viking is a QualityPro certified member, and its other credentials include having been named by Forbes Advisor as one of the 10 Best Pest Control Companies for 2023; by the Spruce as Best Pest Control company for Sustainability; and by Houzz.com as the Best of Houzz 2023 for Customer Service.

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Sacramento CA

What Are This Year’s Goals for the Indoor Air Quality Association?

Lisa Rogers, Board President of the Indoor Air Quality Association, discusses the association’s goals for 2023.

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Making sure it’s bed bugs

Anna Berry, technical director at B&G

We’ve got bed bugs! PMPS are all too familiar with this panicked phone call message from our customers.

Although it’s a valid reaction for someone outside of the pest control profession, many times what is thought to be bed bugs may simply be a different arthropod, or not even an arthropod at all.

What we want to focus on is proper identification. Always identify the species before moving on to the proper solution. The following are a few of the most common cases of bed bug misidentification:

• Bat bugs — C. pilosellus look almost identical to bed bugs, but they feed almost exclusively on bats. If you find bed bug complaints in an attic or areas previously inhabited by bats, doublecheck the identification.
• Psocids — Booklice, barklice and other Psocodea species are tiny, with body part features that are occasionally mistaken for bed bugs — even under a microscope. Their habitats usually are very different, however, and they do not bite.
• Common biters — When we only have bites, it can be easy to assume bed bugs, but many insects leave bite-like marks behind. This includes fleas, certain spider species, mosquitoes, ticks and biting midges. Just because it bites, doesn’t mean it’s a bed bug.
• Allergies — Reactions to medications, detergents and the environment can be common. A new laundry detergent or a change in medication sometimes leads to welts that are mistaken for bed bug bites. It can be beneficial to confirm whether your customers have experienced any changes in their lifestyle that may have resulted in these reactions.

Never diagnose a bed bug problem from a bite (real or imagined). Always inspect and find an arthropod source before treating an area (per label).

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Sacramento CA

FMC: D-Force and CB-80

IMAGE: FMC

FMC’s D-Force and CB-80 insecticides protect cracks and crevices from a variety of pests with high efficacy at a low application rate, to make them safe for use in food areas. Featuring the active ingredient deltamethrin, broad-spectrum D-Force insecticide targets more than 40 pest species, including cockroaches, ants, spiders and other crawling insects with proven application rates as low as 0.06 percent, and residual protection for up to eight weeks. CB-80 insecticide is a leading flushing and contact insecticide for knockdown and kill of cockroaches and more than 20 other pests. The 8:1 synergist-to-pyrethrin ratio and dual-spray-action actuator is acetone-free, compliant with all current volatile organic compound (VOC) standards. It contains no ozone-depleting substances, making CB-80 ideal in a broad list of use areas.

GSS.FMC.com

 

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Sacramento CA

Cook’s Pest Control honors employees with annual awards

Keystone awards are designed to look like Cook’s Pest Control’s logo and mascot, Cookie the Cop. PHOTO: COOK’S PEST CONTROL

Over 250 Cook’s Pest Control employees, spouse and special guests attended the company’s annual awards celebration on Jan. 20 in Huntsville, Ala.

During the event, 162 employees were recognized for achieving 2022 sales and service goals established by the company. These “President’s Club” members earned a trip of their choice and time off for travel. Additionally, 14 employees received Keystone awards, which are designed to look like Cook’s Pest Control’s logo and mascot, Cookie the Cop.

The following six employees received Keystone awards based on their 2022 achievements in management and sales:

• Dillon Childers (Madison, Ala.) Commercial Sales Leader
• Tyler Cooper (Huntsville, Ala.) Residential Sales Leader
• Dylan McBurnett (Rome, Ga.) Sales Manager of the Year
• Martina Mosley (Home Office) Sales Specialist of the Year
• Mike Schuller (Huntsville, Ala.) Termite Manager of the Year
• Colby Ward (Madison, Ala.) Pest Manager of the Year.

Joseph Riggs, of Cook’s Pest Control in Mobile, Ala., was awarded a Keystone award for demonstrating a commitment to Cook’s company culture and core values. PHOTO: COOK’S PEST CONTROL

The following eight employees received Keystone awards for demonstrating a commitment to Cook’s company culture and core values. These winners were nominated by district management through a survey that described why each nominee should be considered, with specific examples of stewardship, gratitude, integrity, excellence, generosity, and respect:

• Alisa Hockenberry (Decatur, Ala.)
• Joseph Griggs (Mobile, Ala.)
• Mike Candee (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
• Nathan Willingham (Madison, Ala.)
• Dean Amos (Rome, Ga.)
• Todd Hardeman (Gainesville, Fla)
• Matt Davison (Nashville, Tenn.)
• Jordan Winchester (Memphis, Tenn.)

“I am pleased that we can honor technicians and salespeople who not only set themselves apart by performance, but also internalize and model Cook’s mission and values,” Joe Harris, senior vice president and COO of Cook’s Pest Control, said in the news release. “We have so many other good people that were nominated.”

The late John Cook Sr., the second-generation owner and longtime leader of the company, is a Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer (Class of 2015).

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From left: Tyler Cooper, of the Cook’s Huntsville, Ala. north office, received a Keystone award from President and CEO Brian Cook. PHOTO: COOK’S PEST CONTROL

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Sacramento CA

Where to search for bed bugs

Kim Kelley-Tunis, ACE, BCE, PCQI

Bed bugs can be a difficult pest to control because of their cryptic nature. These elusive insects exploit tight cracks and crevices to hide during the day, emerging at night in search of a bloodmeal from a nearby host. Pinpointing all the areas that are frequented by your customers is not just an important step for finding the pests, but also a critical component in determining the best treatment options. A successful control program begins with a thorough inspection and thoughtful conversation with your customers to identify the infestation source(s).

So, where does one begin when searching out these pests? As their name implies, bed bugs are often found hiding behind baseboards, on bed frames or along the seams of mattresses and box springs, biding their time until they can feed on their unsuspecting food source under the cover of darkness. However, bed bugs are not always restricted to the bedroom of a home. They can be found in any area of a residential or commercial structure that is frequented by a potential host.

In some cases, treating the home is only half the battle as the infestation may be originating from outside the home. The customer’s workplace, transportation vehicle, or even a recreational facility they visit could all be an issue. An incomplete inspection of an account can result in a treatment failure and continued problems for them, so be thorough and take the opportunity to communicate with and educate customers on the behaviors of these evasive creatures.

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Sacramento CA

Dry Ice Blasting for Faster Fire Restoration Cleaning with Less Mess

Dry ice blasting provides an efficient cleaning process while using less labor.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Pest Control Business Coach: Residential Sales Training Course

IMAGE: PEST CONTROL BUSINESS COACH

The Pest Control Business Coach herself, Sheri Spencer Bachman — also a Pest Management Professional columnist — is collaborating with Sandler Sales to host a six-week course for pest control companies interested in residential sales training. Titled “How to be Confident Your Residential Sales Team Isn’t Wasting Leads,” each one-hour course teaches techniques that can be immediately put into practice each week to increase your close rate and bring in more sales.

PestControlBusinessCoach.com

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Sacramento CA

Myths that persist in the pest control industry

Photo: seamartini/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial advisory board members share myths they think persist in the pest control industry. Here are some of the experts’ responses from our February 2023 print edition.

Please take a minute to answer our latest one-question poll on this topic and let us what you’re bring to the new year: Reader poll: Which believable myths persist in the pest control industry?

PMP’s Editorial Advisory Board and Regular Contributors

Jerry Schappert, ACE:

• “When you see one cockroach, there are another 1,000 you don’t see.”
• “You’ve got to kill the queen cockroach.”
• “Bites can be used to identify said pest.”

Pete Schopen:

• “Bed bugs cannot climb smooth surfaces.”
• “Bed bugs cannot feed lying on their backs.”

Dr. Hamilton Allen

Dr. Hamilton Allen:

• “Daddy longlegs (Opiliones) are the most venomous arachnids in the world, but their mouthparts are too small to penetrate human skin.”
• “Customers must remove all dishes and clean out all cabinets/drawers to ensure effective German cockroach control.”
• “I got rid of all my pest problems with bleach and disinfectant.”

Greg Baumann: All cockroach baits can lead to resistance and become ineffective, even if cockroaches consume the bait.

Doug Foster:

• “The best trap bait for mice is cheese.”
• “I don’t need pest control because I put Osage oranges (Maclura pomifera) around the house to keep insects away.”
• “We didn’t have any problems until the neighbor moved in.”

Eric Scherzinger, Sales & Marketing Manager ScherZinger Pest Control

Eric Scherzinger: “Daddy longlegs (Opiliones) are the most dangerous spider in the world.”

Mark Sheperdigian, BCE:

• “Mouse droppings left in bait stations make those stations more attractive to mice, thereby increasing efficacy. (The truth is, removing the droppings doesn’t remove the odor of the droppings, and it is the odor that is attractive. Conversely, if the mouse that left the droppings and, presumably urine, is a dominant male, subordinate males ay avoid the station. The only way to prevent this is to thoroughly clean the station leaving no odor from the mice and no odor from the cleaners you used.)”
• “Pheromone traps for Indianmeal moths (IMM) may attract moths in from outside, where moths didn’t previously exit, resulting in an infestation.”

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Sacramento CA

How real PMPs would fight superheroes

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hit theaters this past weekend so pest management professionals (PMPs) were asked how they would handle superheroes named after pests.

In an article in humor site Cracked, PMPs were asked about heroes and villains featured in the Marvel universe that are named after pests. Here’s what they answered to how they would handle these superhero pests:

Spider-Man

Billy Bretherton, star of A&E’s Billy the Exterminator and owner of Vexcon Animal and Pest Control in Louisiana: In the industry, we like to use oil against spiders because their webs can’t stick to it. Spiders do terrible in oil, and I think that would work with Spider-Man too. So I’d lure him into a trap covered in oil, maybe at the top of a building or something, then he’d crash-land in the middle of the street. That should definitely kill him.

Mark Goban Jr. of ABC Pest Control in Florida: I’d use a pyrethrin against Spider-Man, just like we’d do for a spider. Pyrethrins are all-natural — they come from chrysanthemum flowers — but they’re a nervous-system inhibitor for spiders, so that might inhibit his Spidey sense, which would make him easier to kill. We’d need a lot of it, though.

The Wasp

Jay Lee, owner of Pirate Pest Control in New Mexico: If the Wasp were shrunken down, a good shoe would do the trick, or maybe a vacuum cleaner.

Mike Janus of ABC Pest Control in Florida: I’d say an electric flyswatter might work.

Mantis

Bretherton: “She’s kind of easy because she’s so trusting, and so, I’d sneak up behind her with a pair of gardening shears and cut off those antennae. They’re the source of her strength so cutting them off will help to take her down.”

Lee: “Mantises are very beneficial creatures. I know that Mantis in The Guardians of the Galaxy movies is an alien, not a mantis, but she’s still cool, much like real mantises are. I wouldn’t want to hurt her. I’d want to take her to a safe environment far away from where I’d be spraying. “

Black Widow

Goban: I mean, she’s just a regular woman — I don’t think we should advise on how to kill a human.

Ant-Man (Ant-Sized)

Bretherton: Glue boards are pretty good against ants, so I’d get tiny Ant-Man and his ants stuck on a glue board.

Janus: I’d use that cordyceps fungus from The Last of Us. That’s a real thing that turns ants into zombies. If you used it against Ant-Man’s ants, he couldn’t control them anymore, which would make him much easier to take down.

Ant-Man (65 Feet Tall)

Bretherton: If Ant-Man was big, I’d go for the Achilles’ heel.

Lee: If it was giant Ant-Man, I don’t think I’d take that job. It’s a little bit out of my service range.

Do you think you could take on these heroes and villians or would you tackle them differently? Let us know in the comments or at pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net.

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Image Credits: ElegantSolution/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

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Sacramento CA

Registration, housing open for NPMA’s PestWorld 2023

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) announced both registration and housing are open for PestWorld 2023, taking place in Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 17-20.

IMAGE: NPMA

PestWorld 2023 brings individuals form every facet of the pest management industry from around the globe to share their knowledge, hear different perspectives on business trends, learn the latest technical research and form lasting bonds within the industry.

“Each year, PestWorld offers attendees the chance to participate in general sessions featuring world-class speakers, exciting receptions, a robust educational program to earn recertification credits, informative board and committee meetings, and an exhibit hall featuring new products and technology,” the association’s news release states. “Pest management professionals will not want to miss the opportunity to take part in this fundamental event while enjoying all that Honolulu has to offer.”

Members of the pest management community can register and book their hotel stay at one of the three hotels available as part of NPMA’s room block at www.pestworld2023.org.

Early-bird pricing for PestWorld 2023 ends on Sept. 6, 2023.

About the National Pest Management Association

The National Pest Management Association, a non-profit organization with more than 5,000 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food, and property from the diseases and dangers of pests.

In honor of both the association and magazine’s 90th anniversary in 2023, Pest Management Professional Hall of Fame members connected to the NPMA include:

• Bill Buettner, founder of the association and widely considered to be the “Father of the Professional Pest Control Industry” (Class of 1998)
• Dr. Ralph Heal, longtime NPMA technical director and executive director (Class of 2003)
• Dr. Doug Mampe, longtime NPMA technical director and former PMP columnist (Class of 2003)
• Dr. Mark Lacey, NPMA technical director (Class of 2008)
• Greg Baumann, , NPMA technical director and former PMP columnist (Class of 2013)
• And many more. See the full list of inductees with links to their biographies at https://www.pmphalloffame.net/inductee/

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Sacramento CA

Don’t let bed bugs go unnoticed

John-Michael Kibrick

Bed bugs are small, but not invisible. In fact, the naked eye will do the trick, but if you or your clients don’t know exactly what to look for, bed bugs might go unnoticed until it’s too late. Here’s what you should tell your clients to look for when they call you for help:

• Bed bugs can be found almost anywhere, but there is a reason they are called bed bugs. Begin your search with mattresses, keeping an eye out for small, dark spots that could be their excrement.
• Their eggs are whitish in color and about the size of a pinhead. Look for them in small clusters in tight, protected spaces.
• Bed bugs themselves are oval, about the size of an apple seed, and can be seen moving at the speed of a typical ant. Normally brown in color, they may also appear red or dark brown when filled with blood.

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Sacramento CA

Bed Bug Heat Doctor/Prevsol: Pest Heat TPE-500 Propane Heat System

IMAGE: BED BUG HEAT DOCTOR/PREVSOL

Bed Bug Heat Doctor/Prevsol is now the exclusive vendor of Temp Air’s Pest Heat TPE-500 Propane Heat System. For current owners of the TPE-500 model, Bed Bug Heat Doctor/Prevsol is their source for replacement parts and accessories. The company is also the exclusive provider of a replacement heater for the Thermal Remediation EBB-460V. In addition, the BK10-480B Bed Bug Heater works in conjunction with the Thermal Remediation Temp Air 480-volt generator and cabling system.

Prevsol.com

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Sacramento CA

On the move: White-footed ants (Technomyrmex difficilis)

PHOTO: Gracen Brilmyer / Image Copyright © AntWeb 2002 – 2023. Licensing: Creative Commons Attribution License

Formerly categorized as T. albipes, this tramp ant species was introduced from the Pacific Island region near Indonesia or Australia, and into Florida sometime before the mid-1980s. It has since become a significant pest in the central and southern parts of the Sunshine State. It also is found in the Hawaiian Island of Oahu, and has spread from Florida into coastal parts of North and South Carolina, Georgia and into Louisiana. In addition, it has been reported in some areas along the western coast of the U.S., and will likely spread further — perhaps aided by the association of colonies with root balls of nursery plants. Antigua, Nevis, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas also report WFA populations.

White-footed ant (WFA) workers are about 0.10 to 0.125 inch long. They are black to dark brown in color, but feature distinct yellowish-white tibia and tarsi on each leg, thus appearing “white-footed.” According to a bulletin from the University of Florida, they look similar to the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile): “However, the petiole of the Argentine ant has a vertical projection that is lacking on the WFA. In south Florida, WFA are frequently confused with Paratrechina bourbonica (Forel), one of the ‘crazy ants.’ Paratrechina bourbonica is slightly larger than the WFA, is faster-moving, has more hair, and emits a slight fruity odor when crushed.”

WFA do not bite, sting or cause structural damage, but is considered to be a nuisance because of its frequent foraging in kitchens and bathrooms, and around the exteriors of homes and buildings.

This ant is primarily a honeydew feder, so it will nest in soil, mulched areas or above-ground locations around landscapes. It tends aphids, scale and mealybugs on plants. However, they are known to also occasionally nest within structures.

WFA colonies frequently become very large, with more than 3 million individuals being common. Research has shown that about half of the colony is comprised of fertile reproductive  females, called intercastes, that are inseminated by wingless males.

WFA winged reproductives swarm and leave the colony typically in July or August (at least, in south Florida). After colony formation, the de-alated queen is eventually replaced by the reproductively capable workers (the intercastes). As colonies grow larger, they can occupy many nest sites interconnected by foraging trails, or divide to form new colonies by budding.

The very large colony size, multiple nesting sites and aggressive foraging around and into structures make WFA difficult to control. Research has shown that thorough baiting programs, guided by careful inspections and observations of foraging trails and likely nesting areas, will allow effective suppression.

Although WFA tend to respond best to sweet liquid baits, these baits must be replenished regularly to remain attractive to foragers. Control of honeydew-producing pests on landscape plants can also aid in suppression. Keep in mind that these ants feed on dead insects, so they may also respond to protein-based baits. The use of residual insecticides can be effective; if the ants are foraging or nesting in wall voids or attics, residual dusts may be necessary.

REFERENCES

• University of Florida Bulletin EENY-273, accessed 2/21/23: EDIS.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN551
• Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations, Seventh Edition, available for purchase at MyPMP.net/shop

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Sacramento CA

On the move: Asian needle ants (Brachyponera chinensis)

Asian needle ant. PHOTO: J. Longino / Image Copyright © AntWeb 2002 – 2023. Licensing: Creative Commons Attribution License

This species is native to China and adjacent East Asian areas, and was first identified and recorded in the U.S. in the 1930s. Formerly classified as Pachycondyla chinensis, it has more recently become a significant urban pest along the Mid-Atlantic coastal areas from Georgia to Virginia., and will no doubt spread within the southeastern U.S. in the coming years.

According to a bulletin on this species by the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Extension Office, “unlike pest ants such as the fire ant and the Argentine ant associated with areas that have been disturbed by human activity, the Asian needle ant is able to nest in both disturbed and ‘natural areas’ like forests. This ant has been found in various settings from school cafeterias to residential lawns to logs in State and National Parks.”

Workers are small, at about 0.10 to 0.125 inch long, and have a black body and lighter brown mouthparts and legs. The female reproductives, or swarmers, are larger, at nearly 0.25 inch long. The winged males are about the size of the workers.

Per the NCSU bulletin, one unusual feature of this species is its “inability to cling to smooth surfaces like glass. By carefully capturing an Asian needle ant in a glass jar, one can observe that, unlike other ants that will climb the sides of the jar, the Asian needle ant will make a few futile attempts to climb before confining itself to the base of the jar.”

Colony size for this species appears to be small, at only up to several hundred individuals, and there can be multiple reproducing queens. They prefer to nest in moist ad dark areas beneath stones, logs and similar landscape items or other debris around homes. Nests are usually shallow, at not more than several inches, down into the soil. Several colonies can living near each other, so the total population present (infestation) can be many thousands.

This species appears to feed mostly on other small insects and arthropods, and can inflict a painful sting capable of producing an anaphylactic shock reaction, if pressed against the body. Unlike fire ants, however, this species does not readily attack to defend itself or its nest. Another big reason for its pest status outside of structural pest control is its habit of forcing out native ant species and taking over territories can threaten local biodiversity. Per NSCU, Asian needle ants often “directly eat [native ant species populations], consume their food, or take over their nest sites. When the Asian needle ant eliminates the native species or reduces their abundance, many roles, like seed dispersal and predation of forest pests, are left unfilled.”

REFERENCES

• North Carolina State University Extension Office Bulletin, accessed 2/17/23: Entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/asian-needle-ant
• Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations, Seventh Edition, available for purchase at MyPMP.net/shop

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Sacramento CA

On the move: Ghost ants (Tapinoma melanocephalum)

PHOTO: April Nobile / Image Copyright © AntWeb 2002 – 2023. Licensing: Creative Commons Attribution License

With a length ranging from 0.05 inch to 0.08 inch, the ghost ant has a characteristic pale, whitish abdomen, legs and antennae — and a dark-colored head and thorax. This species was introduced into the U.S. from Africa or Asia, and has become an important household pest in areas of high humidity, including much of Florida, southeast Texas, and Hawaii. It also occurs in California and the Pacific Northwest.

Their size and coloration can make ghost ant workers hard to see, notes a bulletin from the Texas Invasive Species Institute: “In fact, the ghost ant may not look ant-like on casual inspection. This species runs in quick, erratic movements when disturbed, but sometimes can be found trailing, where movement is more slow and deliberate. On close inspection some trailing workers can be seen carrying brood (larvae and pupae). Workers may emit acrid (coconut-like) odor when crushed. This pungent odor is where the ants gain the name ‘Corpse Ant’ in Malaysia.”

Ghost ants can develop large colonies with many queens. Colonies can divide or split through a budding process similar to that of pharaoh ants (Monomorium pharaonis) and white-footed ants (Technomyrmex difficilis). They generally nest outdoors under mulch, rocks, boards or other items, or under loose tree bark and in lumber and firewood piles. Removal of these nesting areas will aid control programs.

Ghost ant workers feed on honeydew and scavenge for proteins outdoors. They enter homes through exterior openings for utility lines, or around door and window casings. According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), ghost ants often enter homes by trailing along branches of trees and shrubs in direct contact with the structure. Recommend to customers that they keep shrubbery trimmed, cut back tree branches, remove leaf litter and yard debris, and store firewood at least 20 feet away from the home.

The NPMA further advises to focus inspections on sinks, toilets and tubs for leaks or drips. Plus, “check carpet edges and shoe moldings, and around windows and doors for trails of ants. Also, inspect electrical outlets and telephone jacks, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Outdoors, pay attention to the area along foundation walls and sidewalks by pulling back the grass. Turn over any stones, bricks, logs, firewood or debris on the ground.”

Finding all the nest areas and treating them directly with insecticide spray or soil drench can achieve satisfactory control. Residual treatments indoors or outdoors with appropriately labeled, non-repellent insecticides are also effective. In addition, ghost ants may respond to baits with sweet, grease or protein bases.

REFERENCES

• NPMA Consumer Pest Guide, accessed 2/21/23: PestWorld.org/pest-guide/ants/ghost-ants
• Texas Invasive Species Institute bulletin, accessed 2/21/23: TSUInvasives.org/home/database/tapinoma-melanocephalum
• Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations, Seventh Edition, available for purchase at MyPMP.net/shop

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Sacramento CA

On the move: Dark rover ants (Brachymyrmex patagonicus)

PHOTO: Michele Esposito / Image Copyright © AntWeb 2002 – 2023. Licensing: Creative Commons Attribution License

This species is native to Argentina, but has been introduced into the U.S. where it is now present in the Gulf Coast (southeastern Texas to Florida), Mid-Atlantic states, and in certain metropolitan areas of Arizona and Nevada. Workers are relatively small (0.06 to 0.08 inch), and are reddish-brown with pale tarsi and mandibles. Their antennae are brownish-yellow with nine segments, which is true of all rover ants in the Brachymyrmex genus. Per a “Featured Creature” bulletin produced by the University of Florida (UF) entomology department, this species differs from others because of its “long hairs on the mesosoma, relatively large eye (compared to other Brachymyrmex spp.), and sparseness of appressed hairs on the dorsal surface of the gaster.”

Rover ants do not sting, but they have become a nuisance in homes and other facilities because of their presence in large numbers. Alates also are produced in large numbers, and are attracted to lights at night. Per the UF bulletin, “colonies are formed in soil, at bases of trees, in leaf litter, wood piles, and rubbish heaps…  In landscaped areas, dark rover ants are commonly found in mulch. Nests are also formed within man-made structures. In southern California, workers have been found in urban areas foraging on pavement adjacent to turf.

“Laboratory studies indicate a preference for high levels of moisture, and anecdotal reports indicate a tendency to invade bathrooms and kitchens,” the bulletin notes, also pointing out that “Large numbers of alates in swimming pools is another frequent problem.”

In some southern areas of the U.S., they have been collected nearly throughout the year. They nest in rotting wood and soil, and have been observed feeding on honeydew. The UF bulletin acknowledges that these ants are considered to be a hard-to-control species, and recommends eliminating moisture sources for population growth, and to consider light placement to deter alates.

REFERENCES

• EENY498, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension, accessed 2/17/23: EDIS.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN899
• Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations, Seventh Edition, available for purchase at MyPMP.net/shop

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Sacramento CA

Are you the best in the nest?

Photo: Giuliano Benzin/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Editor’s Note: Questions for this month’s test were contributed by Dr. Hamilton Allen, BCE; Foster Brusca; and Doug Foster. Want to know how you did? The answers are listed at the bottom of the page.

Please don’t feed the pigeons

The feral pigeon is a descendant of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica), also known as the rock dove or rock pigeon. Because they live in urban environments, their natural feeding habits of seed and fruits changed. Instead, they forage for food humans provide or leave behind. Eliminating their food supply by controlling garbage and litter helps reduce feral pigeon populations. Officials in Venice, Italy, famously prohibit visitors from feeding pigeons. The city’s ban has been in place since 1997, with a fine of 500 euros or more for lawbreakers.

Fill out my online form.

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1. True, 2. True, 3. True, 4. True, 5. True, 6. d, 7. a, 8. True, 9. True, 10. False

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Sacramento CA

Know the Magic HR Number for Your Restoration Firm

The responsibility of a company’s human resources director grow along with the size of firm.

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Taking control of bed bugs

Dr. Edwin Afful

One of the most notorious, difficult pests to control are bed bugs because of their dispersive nature and cryptic behavior. Here are a few tips to increase your chances of full control:

• It is important to complete a thorough inspection to confirm their presence. Use a flashlight to examine cracks and crevices where bed bugs may hide. Look closely for bugs in the bed sheets, along the mattress seams and folds, and in any cracks in the bed frame. The presence of brownish stains on sheets and pillowcases is a tell-tale sign that this is a bed bug problem and not something else.
• Remember, bed bugs love to hide in places such as a pile of clothing or blankets. Any clutter should be picked up, especially in areas where there is a known infestation. Reducing clutter will allow for more thorough treatment and better sanitation.
• Use residual products where bed bugs are found or may be found, such as in the areas mentioned above. Rotate product chemical classes to lower the risk of resistance. Use heat and cold treatments where appropriate, and keep in mind you can combine multiple treatments. Steam cleaners (wet or dry) also can be used as they get into cracks and fabrics to treat carpets, baseboards, bed frames and other furniture.
• Monitor for activity using bed bug traps, if applicable, to ensure early detection of any breakthroughs or new infestations.

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Sacramento CA

TermiTek: Detour

IMAGE: TERMITEK

TermiTek’s innovative termite technologies include Detour, which elicits a training pheromone behavior for a wide variety of subterranean termite genera. The use of Detour reduces the risk of termite foraging between termite bait stations and damaging structures, the time to achieve positive hits, and colony control. It addresses wood-to-ground conditions like trees, stumps, fences, firewood piles and detached decks that serve as reservoirs for termite foraging. Detour is not a pesticide. It is permissible with all termite bait system labels and may even qualify for credits to reduce general liability premiums. Quarterly Detour applications can coincide with exterior general household pest (GHP) treatments, costing just pennies per linear foot but improving termite renewal retention by engaging customers in year-round termite protection. It can also create cross-selling opportunities for your GHP- or lawn care-only accounts.

TermiTekLLC.com

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Sacramento CA

New R&R Editor Makes Her Debut

Restoration & Remediation welcomes Myldred Ingram as new editor-in-chief.

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Douglas Products hires business development manager

Scott Robbins, ACE

Scott Robbins, ACE, has joined Douglas Products as a business development manager.

In his new role, Robbins will bring his more than 23 years of experience in the pest management industry to the northern East Coast from Maine to Virginia as well as Michigan, Illinois and Tennessee.

Robbins is an associate certified entomologist  (ACE) by the Entomological Society of America and has held numerous leadership positions in the industry throughout his career. Robbins is the past president of the Indiana Pest Management Association (IPMA) and has served on the technical and commercial committees with the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

Robbins is also a repeat presenter at the Purdue Pest Management Conference and University of Kentucky Pest Control Short Course. Prior to joining Douglas Products, he spent 18 years with a regional pest management company in the Midwest, primarily as a technical service manager. In addition, he has bed bug tape and seal fumigation application experience on single-family homes.

“I was very excited to join the Douglas Products team,” Robbins said. “It’s all one team, small but dynamic that’s focused on one shared goal. I enjoy that shared vision.”

About Douglas Products

Based in Liberty, Mo., Douglas Products is a specialty products leading provider of high-quality brands and services for global production agriculture and structural pest management. An Altamont Capital Partners portfolio company, Douglas Products is expanding its portfolio through product acquisitions and in-licensing agreements.

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Sacramento CA

A Look Back: Photos from 1971

PHOTO: PMP ARCHIVES

Cleanup time

Pest control can be a dirty job. Technicians who needed to wash their hands while out in the field had few options. One enterprising pest management professional — Robert L. Gunn Jr. of Gunn’s Exterminating Service in Montgomery, Ala. — took matters into his own hands and devised a unique setup: A 5-gallon Army gas can, on an 18-inch stand, that holds water. Connected to the can is a 0.5-inch-diameter water hose that leads to a spigot attached to the back door of the vehicle. A powdered soap dispenser and paper towel holder also are attached to the back door. The total cost of this makeshift handwashing station: $24, which in today’s dollars is $175.88. Gunn’s is a legacy company of Bug Hunters Inc., owned by Carey Bloodworth in Mobile, Ala.

PHOTO: PMP ARCHIVES

This woman’s work

Women who worked for pest control companies as technicians were so uncommon, one appeared on the popular television game show “What’s My Line” and stumped the panel. Marie Maxey, a 25-year-old “servicewoman” who worked for Orkin in Atlanta, Ga., was a former advertising manager’s secretary. She shared that, at 5 feet 6 inches tall and 108 pounds, her size and being female were not drawbacks on the job. Maxey said she found her work satisfying because she helped people maintain good health and living conditions.

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Sacramento CA

ISSA Hygenia Network Laucnhes Career Resources Platform

ISSA Hygieia Network Career Academy provides a variety of resources to promote growth.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

There Are Plenty of Opportunities for Restorers to Earn Recognition

Awards recognize women, up-and-coming professionals, and, now, technicians.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Warning clients on where to check for bed bugs

Mel Whitson, Senior Field Technical Service Manager, Zoëcon Professional Products

Bed bug issues can impact both residential and commercial clients when they least expect it. Let clients know that planning ahead and taking precautions against bed bugs can go a long way. For example, small inspections of secondhand items and furniture brought into the home or office are helpful.

Clients also should be diligent when traveling — checking luggage racks, beds and furniture in their hotel rooms. The first indication of a bed bug infestation is often a series of bites on human hosts, which can resemble bites from other insects. Bed bugs leave other signs as well, including a musty-sweet smell and rust-colored spots on bedsheets.

PMPs who suspect a client has bed bugs should inspect cracks and crevices, including the seams and tags of mattresses or cushions. Bed bug eggs are tiny, approximately the size of a pinhead. Adult bed bugs are a reddish-brown color and shaped like a balloon after feeding. When not full of a bloodmeal, Cimex lectularius are long, brown and flat.

Bed bug infestations are notoriously difficult to identify. However, catching an infestation early, before bed bugs have had an opportunity to spread, is critical. Allowing the infestation to spread can increase the risk of reinfestation and callbacks.

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Sacramento CA

Bell Laboratories: Contrac Soft Bait

IMAGE: BELL LABORATORIES

Contrac Soft Bait is Bell’s extensively researched and tested rodenticide. It has undergone comprehensive field testing to ensure its performance in urban, rural, commercial and residential settings. Specially formulated with an optimal blend of saturated and unsaturated fats, this exclusive, oil-based formulation results in increased bait acceptance and weatherability, the company says.

BellLabs.com

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Sacramento CA

How Does the RocketPlan App Help Restorers Do Their Jobs More Efficiently?

Joe Tolzman, founder of RocketPlan, explains the ways his firm’s app benefits restoration firms by streamlining processes.

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High-quality bed bug services

Matt Remmen

Bed bugs can be difficult to control, but our industry is becoming more precise in detection and treatment methods. Here are a few important steps you can take to provide the highest-quality service to better protect people’s homes, health and businesses.

• Conduct a review. Clear communication with customers is always important, but it is especially critical when there is a call about bed bugs. Questions like, “Did the sighting coincide with your travel or a change in people staying with you?” or “Did you stay at another person’s house lately?” can help inform an inspection and help develop recommendations moving forward.
• Thoroughly inspect to detect. The first step upon arrival on the property is to perform a thorough inspection. Bed bugs hide during the daytime in cracks, crevices and other protected sites close to where people sleep. Their flattened bodies help them hide in seams and folds of mattresses, and cracks and crevices in box springs, bed frames and headboards. With these principles in mind, it’s important to start inspecting the places where they are most likely to be and then move to less likely places.
• Provide guidance for the future. To provide the best customer service possible, share best practices with customers to help them reduce the risk of future infestation. Help them understand that sanitation alone will not eliminate bed bugs. Some ways to reduce the risk are to create a clutter-free environment and avoid sharing bedding and mattresses with other households. Lastly, remind them that bed bugs could be reintroduced by their original introduction method, and that we need to carefully think about what to do to reduce potential reinfestation.

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Sacramento CA

Colors that attract bed bugs

Andrew Fisher

Did you know bed bugs are attracted to certain colors? (Editor’s Note: See Bit.ly/3j8OF3d for our coverage of this research.)

Bed bugs have a preference, just like most insects, to favor certain colors over others. When given the opportunity, bed bugs are more likely to gravitate toward darker colors, particularly dark red and black. Darker color furniture and bedding offer ideal harborage areas, as bed bugs spend most of their time concealed when not actively seeking a host.

Conversely, they tend to stay away from white, bright green and yellow, as these colors can emulate brightly lit areas that offer minimal coverage. This knowledge can be especially useful during inspections at hotels or apartments. If there’s dark red or black furniture or bedding present, it is more likely a newly introduced, hitchhiking bed bug will detach from its host and retreat there to hide or aggregate with other possible bed bugs.

While not foolproof, this knowledge gives PMPs another starting point where to begin an inspection and where to possibly focus more attention during treatments.

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Sacramento CA

PE Firm Invests in Restoration 1 Franchise

Infusion of funds will help Washington franchisor continue to grow.

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PelGar: RodentStop

PHOTO: PELGAR

Add a tube of PelGar’s RodentStop to your kit today. This easy-to-use product from PelGar is simply applied with a caulking gun to fill cracks, gaps and holes up to 4 square inches in bricks, steel, cast-iron and PVC. It dries to a waterproof, paintable surface, ideal for domestic and commercial accounts alike. The product’s metal filings keep rats from chewing through. To see how easy it is to use, and how effective it is in rodent-proofing, watch the video on PelGar’s website.

PelGar.co.uk

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Sacramento CA

PMP discovers 700 pounds of acorns in wall

Nick Castro did not expect to find 700 pounds of acorns in a wall from a woodpecker. PHOTO: NICK’S EXTREME PEST CONTROL

A pest control company in Sonoma County, Calif., had a big job to handle when it discovered 700 pounds of acorns in the walls of a home.

According to ABC News, Nick’s Extreme Pest Control was called to a house in Glen Ellen, Calif., where it was discovered a woodpecker was making holes to store its food. The food was mostly acorns and kept falling into the empty cavities inside the walls instead of staying put.

When pest management professionals (PMPs) from Nick’s Extreme Pest Control cut into the wall, 700 pounds of acorns were discovered.

The company posted on Facebook that there was eight bags’ worth of acorns stuffed in the walls.

“Never came across anything like it,” said the Facebook post.

Nick Castro, owner of Nick’s Extreme Pest Control, told the Dodo that he opened more holes around the house, and acorns kept flowing.

“They just kept coming and coming, nonstop,” Castro told The Dodo. “Acorns were thought to be only about a quarter of the way up the wall. Turned out, they were piled high up to the attic of the house.”

According to Nick’s Extreme Pest Control’s policy, “All animals are handled humanely and never euthanized.” This case was no different.

The company let the woodpecker be and patched up the holes it had made outside the house. The addition of some new vinyl siding by the homeowner will hopefully be enough to encourage the woodpecker to find a new place to store its food.

What would you do if you discovered this on a call? Let us know in the comments or at pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net.

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Sacramento CA

Violand Adds Experienced Restoration Professional

New consultant has worked at some of the largest firms in the industry.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

IN MEMORIAM: Matthew Snowball

Matthew Snowball

Matthew Snowball passed away at The Christ Hospital on Feb. 13 at the age of 41. He fought a “a hard and courageous battle over the last six months against an aggressive cancer,” according to his obituary.

Owner of Snowball Pest Control and Snowball Junk Removal, he worked hard for his employees and customers and built a well-known brand. He was passionate about his industry and was elected to president of the Kentucky Pest Management Association this past year. He was a member of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), The Knights of Columbus, Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish and a handful of other professional organizations that he enjoyed. He was also very involved in his community and sponsored many youth teams for family and employees, 4H livestock and “any charity or good deed he was asked to,” per his family.

Per the obituary, Snowball “loved playing in his Monday night golf league. He loved fishing and playing outside with his three boys. He spent a lot of time at Lake Cumberland in the summers with his wife and kids. Snowball was a coach for a variety of his sons’ athletic teams and loved watching his boys grow and succeed at all their endeavors. He was blessed with some of the best family, friends and co-workers. He enjoyed being around people, making them laugh and navigating life with them.”

He is survived by his wife, Tiffany (Kremer) Snowball; sons Levi, Jonah and Micah Snowball; brothers Nick and Marc Snowball; sisters Angie (Jack) Ross and Shellie (Larry) Baker; parents, Diane Mendell and John Snowball; and many friends and extended family.

A memorial service will be held at Cooper Funeral Home on Sunday, Feb. 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will follow at 4 p.m. at Saint Mary’s Church in Alexandria, Ky. Memorials are suggested to The Matt Snowball Foundation at 5/3 Bank to “help fund future good will and work in his name.”

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Sacramento CA

FORSHAW appoints ForeSight business manager

Ka Tsu

FORSHAW announced the appointment of Ka Tsu as ForeSight business manager.

In this newly developed role, Tsu will be responsible for overseeing the company’s ForeSight Inventory Management app, a tool designed to help businesses make informed decisions abut their inventory and plan for the future.

According the news release, Tsu brings a “wealth of experience to FORSHAW, having spent over 19 years working in the technology industry and managing team in fast-pace, dynamic environments. He is known for his strategic thinking, leadership skills and ability to drive results.” Tsu is passionate about the potential of technology to transform businesses and he is eager to help FORSHAW customers take advantage of the many benefits the ForeSight has to offer.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ka to the FORSHAW team,” Tom Forshaw IV, president and CEO of FORSHAW, said in the news release. “His experience and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to grow ForeSight and help businesses nationwide plan for the future with confidence. Ka is a proven leader who understands the needs of our customers and he has the skills and vision to take ForeSight to new heights.”

Tsu will be reporting to FORSHAW COO Shane Dooley.

“Ka’s experience in the industry is key to growing ForeSight,” Dooley said. “He will be working with our team of developers to ensure ForeSight is accessible and actionable for all businesses, regardless of size. We are confident that Ka’s passion and expertise will help us achieve our goal of making data-driven decision-making accessible to all the companies we work with.”

“I am honored to join FORSHAW and take on this exciting new challenge,” Tsu said. “ForeSight as an Inventory Management Solution is a game-changer in the industry and I am eager to work with the FORSHAW team to help customers unlock its full potential. I look forward to making a positive impact and contributing to the continued success of the company.”

Tsu holds a bachelor’s degree in computer and information science from The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, and currently resides in New York City. He served on the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) board of directors from June 2019 to June 2022. He has also served on the NPMA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force and numerous committees.

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Sacramento CA