BASF: PT Alpine Flea & Bed Bug

IMAGE: BASF

PT Alpine Flea & Bed Bug Pressurized Insecticide is a ready-to-use broadcast spray that can be used directly on mattresses, carpets and in suspected areas of bed bug infestation. With three proven active ingredients — dinotefuran, prallethrin and pyriproxyfen — it kills all stages of bed bugs fast, even pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs, the company says. Pressurized technology makes application easy, with a light spray that dries quickly. With knockdown in as few as 30 minutes, PT Alpine Flea & Bed Bug Pressurized Insecticide is specially formulated to avoid soaking carpets and mattresses, making it an ideal choice for bed bug and flea cleanouts.

PestControl.basf.us

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Sacramento CA

NIAID funds Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome research

Photos: ©istock.com/Goldfinch4ever

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, awarded five projects for research to better understand Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).

PTLDS is a collection of symptoms, such as pain fatigue and difficulty thinking or “brain fog,” which linger following standard treatment for Lyme disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 476,000 people in the United States are infected with Lyme disease each year. An estimated 15 percent of them experience PTLDS.

The CDC reports that Lyme disease is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis, also known as the deer tick) in the northeastern U.S. and upper midwestern U.S., and the western blacklegged tick (I. pacificus) along the Pacific coast.

“As tickborne diseases, including Lyme disease, become more common and widespread in the United States, it is increasingly urgent that we understand all facets of the disease, including the root causes of PTLDS,” Acting NIAID Director Dr. Hugh Auchincloss said in the news release. “We anticipate that the research supported by these awards will provide vital information on how to diagnose and treat this complex set of symptoms.”

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi (and related species) that is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. The classic sign of early-stage Lyme disease is a distinctive bullseye-shaped rash surrounding the tick bite. If not cured in its early stage, infection can advance to late-stage disease, which can be associated with fatigue, severe headaches, dizziness, facial paralysis and heart problems, as well as joint, tendon, muscle and nerve pain.

Most cases of Lyme disease can be effectively treated with oral antibiotics. However, some patients suffer from symptoms that linger long after the initial course of antibiotics, even though the active infection appears to be gone. The cause of PTLDS is unknown, but scientists hypothesize that it may be due to a misguided immune response to Borrelia burgdorferi where the immune system attacks the patient’s own cells; an ongoing Borrelia burgdorferi infection that is difficult to detect; or some other reason.

Unfortunately, there is no standard treatment for PTLDS. Although long-term courses of antibiotics are often used, clinical studies have shown this approach to be either ineffective, or that the risks and side effects of long-term antibiotics outweigh their potential benefits. In addition, PTLDS is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are so varied, and because so far there is little evidence that the patients have an active Borrelia burgdorferi infection.

The news release noted that broadening our understanding of PTLDS may also contribute to our knowledge of a broader set of infection-associated chronic illnesses, such as Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Without understanding the biologic processes of these conditions, it will be very difficult to develop effective clinical interventions.

The new NIAID awards for PTLDS, which will total approximately $3.2 million in first-year funding, will support work on possible causes of persistent PTLDS symptoms for five years.

The award recipients are:

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg
Project title: The natural release of unusual peptidoglycan fragments drives persistent Lyme disease symptoms in susceptible hosts
Principal investigator: Dr. Brandon Jutras

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Project title: Unlocking serology’s secrets: harnessing novel immune biomarkers to predict Lyme disease progression and recovery
Principal investigator: Dr. Michal Tal

Tufts University, Boston
Project title: Auto-antibodies as predictive markers for Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome
Principal investigator: Dr. Linden Hu

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Project title: Determinants of post-treatment phenotypes in Lyme disease
Principal investigator: Dr. John Aucott

Arizona State University, Tempe
Project title: Discovery of early immunologic biomarkers for risk of PTLDS through machine learning-assisted broad temporal profiling of humoral immune response
Principal investigator: Dr. Neal Woodbury

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Sacramento CA

Crawlspace Depot: 12 Mil Woven Coated Liner

IMAGE: CRAWLSPACE DEPOT

The new 12 Mil Woven-Coated Crawl Space Liner (WG) is available in a 12-foot-by-100-foot roll. This polyethylene liner is generally used as a vapor barrier to cover all of the ground in the crawlspace. All edges are sealed to the wall liner with tape, and also sealed to the wall liner at all piers. This liner is white on one side and gray on the other, and is considered to be a high-quality, cost-effective solution.

CrawlspaceDepot.com

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Sacramento CA

Deconstructing Burnout and Regaining Well-being

In today's fast-paced world, burnout has become an all-too-common affliction. We explore ways to affectively recognize and minimize burnout.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Truly Nolen Pest Control promotes 3 employees

Garrett Rabe

Truly Nolen Pest Control announced the promotion of Garrett Rabe to collaboration specialist for the company’s information technology (IT) department.

He will remain based at the company’s Tucson, Ariz., headquarters.

Rabe joined the company in July 2018, and in his most recent role, he was the help desk team lead. In his new role, he will work with the company’s voice, video and other collaboration services to enable communication and collaboration as effectively as possible.

Prior to joining Truly Nolen, Rabe worked for 11 years as a corrections officer for the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Kevin Collins

Truly Nolen also recently promoted Kevin Collins to business manager in Central Florida. When not in the field, he will be based out of the company’s Orlando, Fla., service office.

Collins joined Truly Nolen in July 2022 as a manager-in-training, and has assisted at several service offices over the past year. Prior to joining the company, he had three years of pest control experience with another company and spent 17 years as a regional and district manager with Hot Topic.

Truly Nolen also promoted Anindya De to lawn division manager. De will remain based out of the company’s Florida operations headquarters in Orlando, Fla.

Anindya De

De first joined the company in June 2022 as a growth strategist. Prior to joining Truly Nolen, he was COO of Chimcare in Oregon for two years. He has over 25 years of pest and sanitation industry experience, and previously wrote a book about sales called Not Merely a Numbers Game.

De has a bachelor of science in agricultural sciences from BCKV, India, and a masters in agronomy from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. In addition, he holds a 6-Sigma Green Belt certification, a University of Texas-Austin Accredited ACCEL Management certification, is AIB Certified in Food Processing Sanitation/Hygiene, and is Purdue University Pest Management certified.

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Sacramento CA

Study: Mosquito sprays reduce WNV risk

Study lead author Dr. Kristina Lopez, of the Department of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, checks a mosquito trap where local mosquito populations were monitored after insecticide applications. Photo: Dr. Justin Harbison

The mosquito truck, a vehicle equipped with spraying equipment, has long been common in regions of the U.S. in an attempt to reduce mosquito populations and the diseases they spread in urban and suburban neighborhoods throughout the summer.

But a team from the University of Wisconsin at Madison has gathered data on how well these ultra-low volume (ULV) truck-mounted insecticides work, and revealed a surprising result. In a study published last week in the Journal of Medical Entomology, the researchers found that, while the trucks did not necessarily reduce overall numbers of mosquitoes, they could reduce the proportion of older, blood-fed mosquitoes within the population, thereby lowering the risk of diseases like West Nile virus (WNV).

The research team evaluated how well ULV trucks in the Chicago, Ill., area could reduce mosquito populations and disease risk. Using a range of measurements, they discovered that, after five weekly applications of a pyrethroid derivative common in ULV treatments in two sites in Cook County, Ill., during the summer of 2018, the abundance of Culex mosquitoes (known for being WNV vectors) did not change significantly. In fact, abundance changes after short-term (up to five days) treatment at sites ranged from a 99 percent reduction to 616 percent increase. For long-term treatments, abundance ranged from a 30 percent reduction to 2,009 percent increase.

However, the proportion of “nulliparous” mosquitoes — those that have neither had a bloodmeal nor produced offspring — increased significantly, and WNV infection rates decreased at one site, according to Entomology Today.

The increase of nulliparous insects is important, as their lack of previous feeding means they have not acquired and therefore cannot spread WNV. The virus remains a significant problem in the Chicago area, and Illinois in general. Between 2002 and 2018, 2,634 human infections and 176 deaths were reported. Chicago and its suburbs have been classified as a “hotspot” for the virus in the U.S. Midwest, because of recent outbreaks and consistently high annual infections in some areas.

In Illinois, WNV is spread by two mosquito species: Culex pipiens and C. restuans — commonly known as the common house mosquito and the white-dotted mosquito, respectively. These species feed mostly on birds and occasionally mammals, including humans.

To control the mosquitoes, abatement districts usually employ public information efforts, source reduction, larval surveillance, and removal of larvae from storm water basins. Active controls such as ULV truck-based applications come into play when the risk of infection is high. Few studies, however, have fully evaluated the effectiveness of these active controls, and those that have been conducted have yielded contradictory results — just like this team’s abundance data appeared contradictory. For the study, the team used a number of measures, including abundance, age of mosquitoes and WNV transmission. 

For the study, Dr. Bartholomay’s team used a number of measures, including abundance, age of mosquitoes and West Nile virus transmission.

“We were really impressed that, of all the things we measured, it was the age-structure shift that was most remarkably different between control and treated sites,” says Dr. Lyric Bartholomay, a professor of pathobiological sciences at Wisconsin who led the research team. “This is an ‘invisible’ impact of adulticide use for mosquito control, because it takes some additional effort to dissect the mosquitoes and check the ovaries for evidence of having a previous bloodmeal. And that invisible impact could have real-world consequences for West Nile virus transmission.”

For mosquito control districts, this could help tailor control measures to reduce disease risk. If a large proportion of mosquitoes after treatment are nulliparous, then WNV reduction will more likely appear, even though overall mosquito populations remain high. In this study, older mosquitoes that had produced offspring appeared to be more susceptible to the insecticide.

“We view this as a win for public health because there is less risk of people and animals being exposed to an infected mosquito,” Dr. Bartholomay said in the news release. “A reduction in West Nile virus … would also impact whether or not mosquito control operations would have to implement additional mosquito control measures.”

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Sacramento CA

Properly Handling Phone Calls in the Restoration Industry: Crucial for Business Success

In the fast-paced world of the restoration industry, handling telephone calls effectively is a critical aspect that can significantly impact a business's success… Mike Baxter gives tips on how to turn these calls into job leads.

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FMC: Scion Mosquito Assurance

IMAGE: FMC

Be confident in your mosquito management regimen with FMC’s Scion Mosquito Assurance. Through this program, FMC True Champions members who use Scion insecticide with UVX technology are guaranteed mosquito protection for 75 days. Scion’s decisive control offers continuous residual, even when faced with high temperatures and intense sunlight. If a retreatment is required within that time period, FMC will provide the product needed to take back control.

GSS.FMC.com

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Sacramento CA

Study: Use sticky traps to get rid of nuisance pests

PHOTO: ©istock.com/Antagain

While flies, beetles and silverfish aren’t of medical or economic concern like mosquitoes and termites, they can be considered a nuisance in homes and businesses.

These pests also can create problems such as causing itchy skin, acting as allergen or contaminating food.

To explore how abundant such “nuisance arthropods” are in homes — and how that measures up against residents’ perceptions of their abundance —  researchers at Rutgers University sampled arthropod abundance in over 1,500 apartments for a new study published in June in the Journal of Economic Entomology.

The study was led by Dr. Changlu Wang, professor and extension specialist in entomology at Rutgers, and colleagues Dr. Salehe Abbar, Xiaodan Pan, Sabita Ranabhat, and Dr. Richard Cooper. The team defined nuisance arthropods as any arthropods other than cockroaches or bed bugs and studied them by introducing sticky traps — small boxes with a surface of sticky glue — into 1,587 apartments in four cities in New Jersey. They left three sticky traps in each apartment: two in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. After 14 days, they collected the traps and counted what arthropods had been caught. They also conducted 1,020 interviews of apartment residents to ask which arthropods they had seen in their homes. The sampling was done between February 2018 and July 2019.

What they found was intriguing. Forty-two percent of apartments had nuisance arthropods in their traps. The types of arthropods found were, in order of prevalence, flies, beetles, spiders, ants, booklice, and “other.” Of the flies caught, 42 percent were fungus gnats, 18 percent were phorid flies, 17 percent were moth flies, 10 percent were fruit flies, and 8 percent were midges. Arthropods in the “other” category included moths, centipedes, and silverfish. No traps had mosquitoes.

The prevalence of arthropods varied by season, with an average of 72 percent of apartments per building sampled having nuisance arthropods in the summer months, but only an average of 14 percent having nuisance arthropods in the winter months. This difference, which was statistically significant, makes sense: Warmer temperatures in summer months lead to higher reproductive rates of arthropods, leading to higher abundance inside and outside of homes.

In their interviews, the researchers found that just 13 percent of residents said they had seen nuisance arthropods — far under the 42 percent of apartments in which nuisance arthropods were caught in traps. Even more intriguing, of that 13 percent of residents who said they had seen nuisance arthropods, 49 percent of their apartments had no nuisance arthropods in their traps. This means that either insects were seen but did not end up being caught in sticky traps, or the interview-reported sightings were fleeting or even imagined (also known as “delusory infestations”).

Of significance in the study is the confirmation that sticky traps are effective for sampling crawling arthropods and some flying arthropods in homes.

“Placing sticky traps in homes is a very good method for monitoring indoor arthropods,” Dr. Wang told Entomology Today.

Another important finding was that the perception residents had of the presence of insects in residences differed considerably from the actual prevalence of arthropods present as represented by the sticky trap data. Meanwhile, the sticky trap data can help the public understand more about the arthropods in their homes.

“People need to be aware that the arthropods revealed from sticky traps are not medically important,” Dr. Wang said. “But they can be a nuisance or cause economic loss due to food contamination.”

In terms of practical implications, residents can help control the number of nuisance arthropods by how they maintain their homes.

“Water leaks, poor sanitation, cracks and crevices around windows and doors, and old food materials can allow these arthropods to develop into large numbers,” Dr. Wang said. “While people should not be scared by these creatures, they can keep their homes well maintained to minimize their abundance.”

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Sacramento CA

1 Stop sees success after taking action

Illustration: Oleksandr Hruts/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

No matter how well we plan and prepare, life can turn our plans upside down and lead us in a different direction.

Angie and Bill Richter at 1 Stop Pest, Cincinnati, Ohio, know this all too well. When I interviewed them in late December 2022 for my February column (see p. 58), they were primed to make 2023 their best year ever. After a devastating injury to Bill in the summer of 2021 that sidelined him for a few months, they were back to moving in the right direction. They had their daughter Cearra and her husband, Ian, working for the family business; they were expanding and adding another route; and Angie was learning how to be an office manager.

But then life intervened again.

In January, Bill and Angie were at the 87th Annual Purdue Pest Conference when they learned Bill’s mom was gravely ill. She passed away a week later. Soon after, one of their techs lost his mother, too. Then, Bill and Angie lovingly accepted the responsibility of raising their 9-year-old granddaughter, Kali. So, before the February snows had completely melted in Cincinnati, the Richters had to adjust, refocus and bounce back from a tumultuous winter.

The good news is, 1 Stop’s numbers have gone up:

• In March 2022, route production was $27,019.
• In March 2023, they doubled it to $55,502.
• They were up by $25,000 year over year in April and up $26,000 year over year in May.

Customers and confidence

Angie Richter

In early June, I asked the Richters what they thought were some of the factors in their company’s surge forward.

“We’ve done a much better job setting up our customers on quarterly programs,” Angie said. “We also are getting to phone calls more quickly, and I’m more confident on the phones.”

They pointed to doing a better job setting up their termite renewals, as well. They admittedly dropped the ball on following up with their termite clients during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, they are much more organized and have a game plan. Part of that restructuring was getting written standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place — and used.

Bill Richter

“We now hold short, weekly meetings to go over protocols and procedures with all of our employees,” Angie said. “We also have end-of-the-month training sessions, which help maintain consistency with our services.”

Bill added, “If we could go back in time, I would definitely have been stricter with our protocols and training from the start.”

SOP consistency

To ensure everyone is staying consistent with 1 Stop’s pest control processes, Bill has been going out with the techs and using his smartphone to record their treatments on video. It was a revelation, he says. “I recorded each of them, and was surprised at the varying ways they were doing pest control.”

One tech was going a little too fast for Bill’s liking, while another was spending too much time discussing the treatment with the client. He showed clips of all the videos to the technicians as a group, and is continuing to coach them individually and together on how to provide a more consistent service.

Networking brings results

Another factor in 1 Stop’s 2023 growth is how the Richters have picked up business through their local chamber of commerce. They recently hosted a meet-and-greet-event for the organization’s members to come to their offices for refreshments. They made several great contacts as a result.

Networking through local organizations is something I encourage all my clients to do because not only can you meet potential customers, you also can grow your sales force organically. Even though these people don’t work for you, they will still be out and about in the community, talking about your business in a positive way.

More goals, more success

To keep their current momentum, Angie and Bill have several goals they want to achieve during the second half of 2023:

• Understand their software better to fully utilize its benefits.
• Continue to organize and grow their termite renewals.
• Read the book Traction: Get

A Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman.

• Start and implement key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Give their employees more freedom to make decisions in the field, offer their ideas and suggestions, etc.
• Incorporate their core values into their company culture and marketing (see box at right).
• Raise wages.

In my upcoming December column, we will compare the 2023 stats of all five “Start-up Stories” companies to those of 2022. At its current pace, 1 Stop will be up at least 20 percent from 2022 — and maybe as high as 36 percent.

Overall, I have had a blast working with 1 Stop’s five-person team this year. They ask lots of questions and aren’t afraid to try new things. I want to thank them for allowing me a quick glimpse into their company, and to share my insights with PMP readers.

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Sacramento CA

BioOne partners with ESA to launch eBook Collection

More than 160 eBooks in insect science are now available on the BioOne Digital Library, through an extension of BioOne’s partnership with the Entomological Society of America (ESA).

With the launch of the ESA eBook Collection, BioOne and ESA have partnered to source, digitize and make fully searchable critical books from ESA’s catalog. Through this collaboration, BioOne and ESA share a commitment to make scientific research more accessible with the preservation of over 100 years of natural history and entomological research that also covers a broad range of subjects including agricultural entomology, pest management, insect ecology and biodiversity.

The ESA eBook Collection may be licensed by institutions under a one-time purchase model directly from BioOne. Essential ESA titles available in digital format for the first time include the Handbook of Small Grain Insects; Bees and Crop Pollination – Crises, Crossroads, Conservation; and The Larval Ixodid Ticks of the Eastern United States.

“Some of these titles are challenging for libraries to find,” said Matt Hudson, ESA director of publications, communications and marketing. “Creating the ESA eBook Collection on the BioOne Digital Library allows us to make the comprehensive research in this collection broadly accessible, while sustainably covering the substantial costs of digitizing content.”

“We’re proud to partner with ESA on this exciting endeavor,” BioOne President and CEO Lauren Kane said in the news release. “This project also represents the power of collaboration among BioOne’s community network to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. Partners from across our publishing, library, and research community came together in support, and we appreciate the hard work of our platform partner, SPIE, and library sourcing partners at Iowa State University, the William F. Barr Entomological Museum at the University of Idaho, and the University of California, Berkeley.”

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Sacramento CA

Zoëcon Professional Products: Fly Control Options

IMAGE: ZOËCON

House flies, fruit flies, drain flies — these insects are known to spread more than 100 pathogens and cause food safety violations in kitchens and food-handling establishments. Zoëcon and Starbar products allow pest management professionals to fight flies with highly effective products for both immediate relief and long-lasting control. For baiting applications, Musca-Cide Fly Bait Spray offers versatility, with both spray and paint-on applications, Musca-Cide Fly Bait Spray is a flexible way to attract and kill house flies. On the Starbar side, a wide range of fly traps with and without attractants and granular fly baits — including QuikStrike Fly Bait — provides options for various application sites.

Zoecon.com

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Sacramento CA

The Importance of a Well Working Relationship between Franchisee and Franchisor

Franchisee or Franchisor, on either end of the spectrum, having a good relationship is key to successful business functionality.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Nisus: Nibor-D 1-Pound Bags

IMAGE: NISUS

The versatile and effective insecticide dust that you know and trust is now available in convenient 1-pound bags. Nibor-D Insecticide can be used as a dust, spray, mop solution or foam to help you get control of listed pests in your commercial and residential accounts. The borates in Nibor-D will remain active as long as they are physically present, and insects will not develop resistance over time. Nibor-D can help you tackle ants (including carpenter ants), crickets, cockroaches, silverfish, small flies, cluster flies, mildew, fungi and more.

NsusCorp.com/product/nibor-d

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Sacramento CA

Home Franchise Concepts Introduces Lightspeed Restoration

Home Franchise Concepts Launches New Company!!

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5 questions with Keith Fielder

Dr. Keith Fielder

This month, we check in with J. Keith Fielder, a University of Georgia Extension agent and longtime beekeeper, about the new state certification category for honey bee control and removal. Before the amendment, the Peach State’s regulations required a household pest control license to remove honey bee colonies from structures. This rule applies to the professional control and removal of an established colony in a structure, where individuals are certified to become honey bee removal (HBR) operators.

1. Because there already was a rule in place about holding a pesticide license to remove bees before this amendment, why was this new category added?

Quite frankly, there were too many consumer complaints about botched removals and structural damage by inexperienced individuals. For example, an owner of a home built in 1854 had her original plaster ceiling destroyed by a bee removal. She was on the hook for nearly $9,000 in repairs that the company didn’t warn her about or address. This amendment gives consumers recourse when a situation like this occurs. It also bolsters the reputation of bee removal professionals who would not have caused these repairs to be necessary in the first place.

There were so many complaints about homes in which load-bearing walls were cut into with a chainsaw — and other destructive activities — for which the companies involved neither warned customers about beforehand nor made any effort to correct. With the HBR certification, the Georgia Department of Agriculture is plugging a hole in the dam, so to speak. We want to eliminate fly-by-night companies and instead work with pest management companies that either have a certified HBR operator on staff or can subcontract with an HBR operator.

2. What are some highlights of what the required eight hours of pre-certification training covers?

It covers the basic identification and types of live honey bee removals: cut-out, trap-out and swarm. They need to recognize what an established colony looks like, and when to consider relocation vs. eradication. We go over each technique, covering basic construction knowledge and recommended tools. Operators must know how to find and cage the queen, prevent future infestations, save the comb and hive the bees. We also discuss potential safety and health hazards.

3. You recently taught a daylong pre-examination course for the new rule. What else is involved to become a certified HBR operator?

In addition to attending eight hours of training with a curriculum approved by the Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission, those seeking certification also must have experience participating in a minimum of three honey bee removal jobs under the direction of another HBR operator. They also need to be insured to perform the removal.

4. What else does the amended rule cover in relation to removing honey bees from a structure?

In addition to having an HBR operator perform, or at least supervise the job, the contract before work begins must include the scope of work and type of removal service. It must be issued in accordance with Federal Trade Commission rules, including the disclosure that the consumer has a three-day right of cancellation. In addition, if pesticide is needed in the removal, the operator must also hold a household pest control license.

5. How often will HBR operators need to renew their certification — and can technicians work under their company owner’s certification, or do they need to be individually certified?

Every year, HBR operators must complete five hours of approved training. This can be accomplished through a workshop, seminar, short course or other approved program that covers new information and subject matter necessary to ensure continued competence. Licensed individuals can serve as the designated certified operator (DCO) for technicians, but those technicians must directly be in the sightline of the DCO during the process.

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Sacramento CA

Vehicle Safety Part 2: Fleet Safety and Compliance for Restoration Companies

Barry Rice gives us Part 2 of his Basic Vehicle Safety for Restoration Companies.

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Detector Dog Selection Test

Photo: igorr1/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Test 1 – Reward Arousal Test – This phase of the test evaluates the dog’s arousal level when exposed to a toy. Watch the dog closely as the toy is shown to the dog. Do not give the toy to the dog during this test. Simply watch to assess the level of arousal in the dog when it becomes aware that you have a toy. You should keep the toy just out of reach of the dog, but toss it around and play with it excitedly while the dog watches.  If the dog loses interest quickly and looks away, a core of zero should be chosen. If the dog never seems to lose interest and remains highly excited the entire time the toy is in view and stays interested and focused for a few minutes even after the toy is put away, a score of 20 points should be awarded.

Test 2 –  Sudden Noise Distraction Test – This test is meant to gage the dog’s focus in the presence of some loud and surprising noise. To begin the test, stand in front of the dog while holding the toy and playing with it excitedly. Have a helper position themselves behind the dog and out of the dog’s field of vision. The helper should perform the drop tests, one by one at your direction so that you are prepared to closely watch the dog’s reaction.

The three phases listed are suggestions and may be changed to fit the circumstances at the discretions of the evaluator. However, the items used should produce loud noises. It is important that the noises happen behind (or out of sight of the dog) but close enough to induce a response. Watch the dog’ reaction to each noise as it is produced and award 0 points if the dog’s reaction is pronounced and it seems to forget about the toy. Award the max score for each phase if the dog clearly ignores the noise and remains focused on the toy during each phase.

Test 3 – Other Person Distraction Test – This test will help determine how distracted the dog becomes by another person interacting with it when the toy is available and in the dog’s view. For Test 3a, your helper should approach the dog from behind while you play with the toy excitedly. The helper is to touch the dog on its rump or tail while it is focused on the toy. In Test 3b, the helper should push against the dog’s rump. Enough to move it to one side or the other while the dog is focused on the toy. The helper should push the dog’s rump both ways a couple of times to ensure a comprehensive test.

Care should be exercised here to make sure the helper remains safe from an accidental bite by an aggressive dog. This test should only be conducted by an experienced and trained helper for safety reasons. You should control the leash to prevent the dog from turning and biting the helper and the helper should be aware of and prepares for the  potential for  an aggressive reaction from the dog.  If the dog exhibits and level of aggression toward the helper, stop the test and note that the dog is aggressive.

If the dog is easily distracted and/or turns to stare at the helper, losing interest in the toy during either test, a score of 0 is awarded for that test. If the dog never loses focus on the toy or never turns to look at the helper, the max score of 5 points is awarded for that test. If the dog simply glances back at the helper, but then returns its focus to the toy, award points consistent with the intensity of the reaction to the distraction that you observe.

Test 4 – Reward Intensity – The goal here is to determine how persistent the dog is in trying to access toy when it knows where the toy is, but cannot access it. To begin the test, your helper should hold the dog while you tease the dog with the toy. The toy should be presented to the dog while using a high pitched excited voice, Let the dog almost grab the toy but never actually get it. The closer you can come to letting the dog grab, but not quite getting it the better. As the dog watches then, place the toy under a bucket or other concealing object. Then have the handler release the dog and observe the dog’s reaction. Does the dog immediately run to where you hid the toy? Does it dig excitedly at the object concealing the toy.? Does it bark excitedly or bite at the concealing object/ Does the dog look at you as if to ask for help? Award a score that reflects the dog’s persistence to gain access to the toy.

Test 5 – Search Test – This test will show you the dog’s level of hunt drive. Have your helper hold the dog while you tease it excitedly with the toy as you did in Test 4. When the dog is aroused for the toy, turn and run away with the toy and hide it somewhere that dog cannot see you hide it.

In Test 5a, tease the dog until its state of arousal and focus on the toy is high. Then throw the toy somewhere that the dog can’t see it. It is Ok for the dog to see the throw. Release the dog and observe whether the dog uses its nose and is persistent in finding the toy. 0 to 5 points are awarded based on the dog’s level of persistence.

In Test 5b, tease the dog until its state of arousal and focus on the toy is high. As your helper holds the dog, you should turn and run away with the toy now concealed and hide the toy somewhere. You should act as if you hide the toy in several other places. 0 to 5 points are awarded based on how much energy the dog shows in searching for the toy and whether the dog finds the toy.

In Test 5c, tease the dog again as in the last two phases, then run away after concealing the toy from the dog’s view. Act like you hide the toy in several places, but keep it in your possession. Put the toy somewhere out of the search area quickly, then have the helper release the dog. Observe how long the dog persists in searching for the toy before giving up.  0 to 10 points are awarded based on how persistent the dog is in searching for the toy in an area where no toy is available.

In the Evaluator Notes section, the evaluator should make any remarks relevant to the assessment of the dog’s likelihood of becoming a successful toy rewarded detector dog that are not fully covered on the accompanying form. List any attributes or short comings that should be noted when deciding on whether to choose this dog as a candidate. The evaluator should offer his or her opinion as to the dog’s suitability and explain the reasoning behind that opinion.

Take a look at the form and download it here. 

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/07/26/detector-dog-selection-test/
Sacramento CA

IICRC Announces Fall Flooring Education Conference

The IICRC will be participating in an upcoming educational event. 

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Introducing Cora Alexander: The Drying Diva

Introducing a new video series with Cora Alexander.

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Mold Remediation Baltimore

Excel Pest Services names top bed bug states

Photo: ©Gene White

A new study by Excel Pest Services finds that people are more likely to be bitten by a bed bug while staying at hotel in New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Maryland than any other states.

Excel Pest Services has released a study revealing that New Jersey is facing a significant bed bug epidemic in hotels, ranking as the third worst in the United States. The study provides important information for journalists, allowing them to fact-check and provide insights on hotel infestation stories during this summer’s pest season.

Key findings from the study include: According to the data, California has the highest total number of reported bed bug incidents, with a staggering 2,684 cases since 2006. However, when considering the proportion of incidents to the number of hotels in each state, New York City stands out as the bed bug capital of the United States. The city has more than triple the number of hotel bed bug incidents compared to the total number of hotels.

Following New York, Ohio ranks second with an incident per 1.6 hotels, and then New Jersey ranks third with an incident per 1.7 hotels. This means that in both Ohio and New Jersey, there is approximately one bed bug incident reported for every one to two hotels.

Excel COO Ryan Fowley told Shore News Network the negative impact of hotel pest infestations on the guest experience and the hotel’s reputation.

• Since 2006, there have been 923 reported cases of bed bug infestations in hotels in New Jersey.
• When comparing the number of reports to the total number of hotels in the state (1,598), New Jersey has the third worst ratio of bed bug reports to hotels in the US, following New York and Ohio.
• New York is the only state where the reported number of hotel bed bug cases exceeds the number of hotels. In fact, there are more than double the reported cases than there are hotels in the state.
• On the other hand, colder states such as Idaho, Alaska, and Montana have the lowest ratio of hotel bed bug cases to hotels.
• In terms of the total number of cases, California has the most with 2,684 since 2006, slightly ahead of New York’s 2,650 cases.

With hotel bed bug infestations on the rise, the study aims to raise awareness among both hoteliers and guests about the signs of infestations and how to protect themselves from these invasive pests.

Given New Jersey’s high population density and the recent increase in hotel construction, effective pest management is crucial to maintain pest-free hotel environments. The company expects the area of pest management in hotels to grow in importance in the future.

Here are some tips to offer your customers on how to avoid bed bugs when staying at hotels. Do you have any additional to share? Sound off in the comments below.

• Keep your luggage on a luggage rack or on a hard surface, like a desk or dresser, rather than on the floor or the bed, to reduce the risk of bed bugs climbing into your belongings.
• Use a flashlight: bring a flashlight to help you thoroughly inspect the room for any signs of bed bugs, especially in dark and hidden areas.
• Consider using sealed plastic bags for your clothes and other belongings to prevent any potential bed bugs from getting in.
• Wash and dry clothing: when returning home, wash all your clothing, even the ones that were not worn, in hot water and dry them on high heat to eliminate any possible bed bugs.
• Report any concerns: if you do find signs of bed bugs or suspect an infestation, inform the hotel staff immediately so they can address the issue promptly. By following these precautionary steps, travelers can minimize the chances of encountering bed bugs during their hotel stays and protect themselves from any unwanted travel companions.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/07/25/excel-pest-services-names-top-bed-bug-states/
Sacramento CA

NPMA releases new season of ‘Will They Eat It?’

Dr. Mike Bentley is the host of “Will They Eat It?” IMAGE: NPMA

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is back with a new season of its video project called “Will They Eat It?”

This five-episode video project demonstrates the truly destructive nature of termites by placing everyday objects into a tank of hungry termites. With the much-anticipated sequel, NPMA is upping the ante with over one million total termites to answer the question we’re all asking: Will they eat it?

“We know that termites can tear right through wood – including the lumber used to build your home – but there are quite a few more cellulose-based household items that these tiny terrors can chew through,” according to the news release.

Season two showcases surprising results when show host Dr. Mike Bentley, BCE, releases more than one million hungry termites on objects including a baseball cap, family photo album, dog toy, backpack and even a big, comfy armchair. Dr. Bentley is also the author of the PMP Callback Cures column.

“Every year, termites cause an estimated $6.8 billion in U.S. property damage, and most homeowners insurance doesn’t cover the cost of repairs,” Dr. Bentley said. “Not only is a full-fledged termite infestation costly, but it also threatens the safety and structural integrity of your home. With the return of this popular video series, we’re hoping to encourage the American public to be vigilant about termite control in their homes with preventative annual termite inspections.”

Be sure to catch all the action by tuning in on WillTheyEatIt.pestworld.org or by following along via @PestWorld social media channels.

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IMAGE: NPMA

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Sacramento CA

LabelSDS.com: New QR Coded Technology for Labels and SDSs

IMAGE: LABELSDS.COM

LabelSDS.com has developed a new QR Coded Technology that allows subscribers to easily access their company labels and safety data sheets (SDSs) by scanning their own unique QR code. Additionally, in the event of an accident, emergency personnel will be able to access company label and SDS information by scanning this code. This new technology is also designed to help pest management companies comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Hazard Communication (OSHA HazCom) rules. You can be sure that your labels and SDSs are the most up-to-date with the LabelSDS Auto Revision Feature. You can also access your important company documents, such as business license and insurance information, all from the LabelSDS.com digital app.

LabelSDS.com

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/07/25/labelsds-com-new-qr-coded-technology-for-labels-and-sdss/
Sacramento CA

Scarlett Nolen looks back on first half of 2023, ahead to second half

In her short video blog for July 2023, Truly Nolen President Scarlett Nolen discusses her unique background prior to starting a career in pest control, some of her observations for 2023, and why Truly Spooktacular (now in his 10th year) is one of her favorite things her company does each year.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/07/24/scarlett-nolen-looks-back-on-first-half-of-2023-ahead-to-second-half/
Sacramento CA

IN MEMORIAM: Chris Giannopulos

Chris Giannopulos

Chris Giannopulos, owner of Pest Management Supply, died on May 29 at the age of 79 after a long illness.

Mr. G, as he was affectionately known, died peacefully at home in Chicago, Ill., according to the news release.

Giannopulos was born Jan. 7, 1944, and was raised in the surrounding Chicago metro area. He started National Exterminating Supply on July 1, 1984. The name was changed in the 1990s to Pest Management Supply. There are branches in both Chicago and Kansas City, Mo.

Pest Management Supply is an independent distributor of pest management products and is “dedicated to providing the highest level of service and product support in the Pest Management industry,” according to the company’s website.

Giannopulos was a long-time member and supporter of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), United Producers Formulators and Distributors Association (UPFDA) and various state pest control associations.

The staff of PMP sends its condolences to Giannopulos’ family, friends and colleagues.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/07/24/in-memoriam-chris-giannopulos/
Sacramento CA

Green Pest Solutions promotes VP of pest control

Jim Carnelli

West Chester, Pa.-based Green Pest Solutions recently promoted Jim Carnelli to vice president of pest control.

In his new role, Carnelli will oversee all Green Pest Solutions operations and sales throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, focusing on improving service delivery, routing, daily organization and customer service while continuing to drive the growth and momentum of the company.

“Jim has taken our pest control business to new heights. In the last three years, under Jim’s leadership, Green Pest Solutions has grown from $7.1 million in revenue to over $12.5 million  and our customer count has grown from 12,000 to over 17,000. Jim’s tenacity, focus on his team’s growth and process driven leadership style has set a solid foundation to continue growing the Green Pest Solutions’ business for years to come,” Matt Jesson, president and CEO of Green Pest Solutions, said in the news release.

Carnelli joined Green Pest Solutions in 2020 as director of pest control and currently resides in Coatesville, Pa., with his wife, Rose.

About Green Pest Solutions

Green Pest Solutions is a locally owned and operated pest control company servicing the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware tristate region.

President and Owner Matt Jesson has been an entrepreneur since the age of nine, when he started his own neighborhood lawn cutting business in Havertown, Pa. He ran that business all the way through his early twenties until he transitioned from landscaping to lawn care with the founding of Green Lawn Fertilizing in 2004. As the lawn care business grew it became apparent that customers were in need of pest control services beyond what the company was providing.

In 2012, Jesson officially launched Green Pest Solutions as a dedicated pest brand. Since that time, Green Pest Solutions has grown to over 17,000 local customers.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/07/24/green-pest-solutions-promotes-vp-of-pest-control/
Sacramento CA

Bird-X: Solar Mesh Kit

IMAGE: BIRD-X

Offering customers a solar protection service can increase revenue and overall customer satisfaction. Now available in two sizes, the Bird-X Solar Mesh Kit excludes birds and rodents from underneath solar panels — protecting the electrical wiring and roof from damage, and reducing instances of costly repairs. The weather-resistant stainless steel mesh creates a physical barrier around the perimeter of the panel, effectively blocking all pest animals from entering. The kit includes 100 feet of stainless steel mesh, work gloves, and 100 solar clips, which are the easiest way to secure solar mesh without voiding the panel’s warranty. When installed properly, the company says, this system is 100 percent effective.

Bird-X.com

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/07/24/bird-x-solar-mesh-kit/
Sacramento CA

Safety equipment for treating termites

Kim Kelley-Tunis, ACE, BCE, PCQI

As with any integrated pest management (IPM) program, PMPs always should be equipped with the tools needed to thoroughly inspect and treat their customers’ homes. When digging into the termite toolbox, a PMP’s first thought should be on safety. The use of safety equipment, like bump caps, coveralls, and knee and elbow pads, should never be overlooked. Safety equipment also can make inspecting and treating spaces such as crawlspaces and attics a little less hazardous.

A good flashlight is critical for illuminating those dark corners where mud tubes and termite damage often go unnoticed. The use of a probing tool and moisture meter also are important in identifying those structural members that may have a greater risk of damage from not only termites, but also other wood-destroying organisms.

Finally, when a treatment for termites is warranted, using the right tools for the job is still a must, including selecting the appropriate chemicals for the task at hand. Whether you’re choosing a soil termiticide, bait or wood treatment, the correct material and application equipment can be the difference between a successful termite treatment or a damage claim.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/07/24/safety-equipment-for-treating-termites/
Sacramento CA

Using annual termite inspection reports

Tim Husen

Agreement renewals are a critical revenue component of a pest management professional’s (PMP’s) termite business. The annual termite inspection (ATI) report helps customers decide whether to renew their agreements. Take care to inspect the structure and landscape just as thoroughly on an ATI as you would when the account was initially sold or serviced. Here are some tips to consider when performing an ATI:

• Document everything. If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen. Go beyond only stating, “No activity in station or on structure,” and instead document updated structural and landscape conditions conducive to termite infestation.
• Use pictures to clarify issues described in the report.
• Create value. After completing the report, always ask yourself, “Would I continue to pay for this?” Demonstrating value to your customers in the ATI report is likely to lead to better renewal retention rates.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/07/24/using-annual-termite-inspection-reports/
Sacramento CA

Changes in your training program

Photo: takasuu/iStock/gettyimages/ Getty Images Plus

We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial advisory board members share how their training programs have changed over the years. Here are some of the experts’ responses from our July 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: How has your training program changed in recent years?

PMP’s Editorial Advisory Board and Regular Contributors

Sheri Spencer Bachman, ACE: “My clients use monday.com to organize and create a daily/weekly/monthly task list for office staff. As a part of this, they are creating Loom videos by using loom.com to document how to perform each task on their monday board. These videos are then saved with the task in monday.com for future reference and for training new hires. monday.com also tracks how long office personnel are spending on each task to benchmark against new hires. This was beneficial for my company, which is why I help my clients implement it in their companies. Feedback from new hires was that we looked professional and had our act together when they were onboarded.”

Greg Baumann:“Today’s employees are not the same as past employees. Shorter training sessions offered on-demand on what is important to customers, and less emphasis on the same old biology again and again seem to be the trend. State recertification is one small part of good training in this era.”

Michael Broder: “We are offering more one-on-one training because everyone learns in different ways. This way, we can work to new employees’ strengths, and help them advance faster.”

Jerry Schappert, ACE: “We are beginning to outsource when we can by sending our techs to classes like Pest Management University, at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Research and Education centers.”

Doug Foster: “Although we attend, and look forward to, in-person training events, we have used more Zoom, webinar and YouTube video training for our technicians and office staff. We have also taken advantage of having manufacturer and distributor representatives come to our office for more intimate one-on-one training. Although we focus on technical training, we are going to incorporate more soft skills training — such as effective communication and sales — for everyone.”

Desiree Straubinger, BCE: “The training field has changed dramatically post-pandemic. In our industry, most training was in-person previously, but now has shifted to a mix of online and in-person. There are pros and cons to online learning, but it can be effective when done properly. I always prefer in-person training events, whether they are at an individual office level or large conferences. The ability to connect with the audience is much greater, and you can receive verbal and non-verbal feedback that can help you adjust your training points.”

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Sacramento CA

The mysterious boric acid and its relatives

Boric acid and other boron-containing compounds such as borax and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT), collectively called sodium borate salts, are well-known for their insecticidal properties. One of the earliest mentions of borates in pest control goes back to the late 1800s, in which borax was recommended as a bait toxicant for controlling cockroaches and ants (Riley, 1889). Boric acid and borates are currently used as active ingredients in many products to control pests in urban and agricultural settings. These products come in many different formulations, such as dust (pure compound); liquid spray; and granular, liquid, or gel baits.

Since its registration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1948, boric acid has been in use to control various pest insects. Boric acid is sold as a general-use dust for controlling cockroaches, silverfish, firebrats and ants. Also, it is also available as pre-mixed granular, liquid, or gel baits for controlling ants or other small arthropod pests.

Boric acid is mistakenly considered by some references as a desiccant dust. However, scientific evidence suggests boric acid’s sorptive property is negligible when compared to true desiccant dusts, such as silica gel or diatomaceous earth. Some studies as old as 1975, indicate boric acid is in fact a stomach toxicant (Ebeling et al., 1975). Another study showed that when ingested by insects, boric acid damages their midgut and causes death by starvation (Cochran, 1995). A more recent study suggests boric acid also has neurotoxic properties (Habes et al., 2006).  If you are not confused enough, boric acid may have multiple ways of entering an insect’s body. In addition to oral ingestion, boric acid can enter an insect’s body by penetrating the cuticle (Ebeling et al., 1975). Boric acid and sodium borate salts are soluble in water. Borate salts are generally more soluble in water than boric acid. Borax is more soluble in water than boric acid, and DOT is the most soluble salt among the three (Schubert, 2000). Lastly, even if boric acid is a relatively safe compound, it should be used with caution, especially around children and pets.

Mode of action

The toxicity of boron-containing active ingredients is dependent on the amount of boron in their formulation. For example, anhydrous borax is 21.5 percent boron whereas DOT and boric acid are 21 percent and 17 percent boron by weight, respectively (Klotz et al., 2000). When ingested, boric acid dust enters the alimentary canal of German (Fig. 1) and American cockroaches and gets accumulated in the crop, a part of the foregut. This suggests that cockroaches’ gizzard (a small valve-like mechanism in the insect gut) blocks most of the dust particles from passing any further. However, the ingested boric acid will eventually kill the cockroaches in a matter of a few days. This indicates that boric acid in solution can still reach the latter part of the gut, and get absorbed from the gut (Ebeling et al., 1975).

Figure 1: These German cockroaches were exposed to boric acid dust. The cockroach on the left is grooming its front leg. This behavior will cause the cockroach to ingest the boric acid. PHOTO: DONG-HWAN CHO

For insect groups that do not have chewing mouthparts, boric acid dust may not be effective. For example, boric acid dust was not effective in controlling bed bugs (they have pierce-sucking mouthparts to feed on blood), even at 10 times the label rate. However, boric acid was effective when it was fed to the bed bugs using an artificial feeding system (Sierras et al., 2018).

Borax and DOT are incorporated in some commercial ant baits. Ready-to-use (RTU) products usually contain anywhere from 1 percent to 5 percent of borax or DOT. Some of the products can be diluted to 1 percent or 2 percent solutions. Boric acid, borax, or DOT can offer a delayed killing at the lower concentrations (<1 percent). The delayed killing would maximize the transfer of insecticide between individual ants, effectively impacting large, multi-nest ant colonies. However, this requires the customer to understand the process fully and to be patient. Higher concentrations (>1 percent) will provide faster kill for foraging ants, but their colony-wide impact may be limited due to suboptimal feeding (feeding deterrence) and lower transfer effects.

Boric acid may enhance the efficacy of chemical treatments when combined with other active ingredients. For example, it was shown that boric acid can increase the virulence of the insect-killing fungus,  Metarhizium anisopliae, in German cockroaches (Yang et al., 2021). Some insect products combine borates with pyriproxyfen or imidacloprid while some wood preservative products incorporate copper hydroxide in addition to borates (EPA database). Nevertheless, the exact interactions between these insecticides and boric acid warrant more research.

Repellency/deterrence

Boric acid is generally known to be non-repellent when applied at lower concentrations. In one study, boric acid dust showed minimal repellency when compared to silica aerogel, fumed silica, calcium silicate and diatomaceous earth silica (Moore, 1972). Being non-repellent is a major advantage in pest control since pests will not avoid the treated area and will be exposed to the toxicant, leading to higher pest mortality.

Borates may have deterrent effects at higher concentrations. For example, it was shown that sugar water containing boric acid at a rate >1 percent is less palatable than the clean sugar water when tested on Argentine ants (Klotz et al., 2000). One study on German cockroaches demonstrated that when given a choice between pure ground rodent chow and rodent chow mixed with dry boric acid or DOT, German cockroaches preferred the pure rodent chow (Strong et al., 1993). Western drywood termites appeared to avoid feeding on wood treated with borate compounds (Rust & Venturina, 2009).

Furthermore, feeding responses to different boron-containing compounds could vary between different insect species. For example, laboratory experiments showed that Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) accepted sucrose solution baits containing boric acid more readily than those having borax solutions, whereas carpenter ants (Campnotus mus) accepted borax solutions better (Sola et al., 2013). In another study, Argentine ants did not show any preference between 1 percent boric acid and 1 percent DOT solutions (Klotz et al., 2000).

Safety

Boric acid and borate salts are relatively safe to vertebrates (Oral LD₅₀ = 2.6-4.1 g/kg in rats). Liquid baits generally pose a low risk to humans and animals since their borate concentration is low (1 percent to 5 percent). In contrast, borate dusts are typically available as a semi-pure compound (95 percent to 99 percent). Thus, dust formulation may pose a higher risk to humans via inhalation, contact, or ingestion. When inhaled, boric acid dust can cause dry throat, nose, and mouth in human (Garabrant et al., 1984). Boric acid absorption through intact skin is limited in humans (Stüttgen et al., 1981; Friis-Hansen et al., 1982). Boric acid ingestion may cause vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea in humans (Litovitz et al., 1988). Risk of hand-to-mouth exposure in young children can be significant when carpet surfaces are treated with large amount of boric acid dust (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). Thus, caution should be taken when using boric acid dust, especially in residential and school sites where children and pets are present. In a study on laboratory rats, oral administration of 250 mg/kg body weight of boric acid for 60 d significantly reduced sperm quality and testicular DNA content (El-Dakdoky & Abd El-Wahab, 2013). Nevertheless, such prolonged exposure to high levels of borate dusts may not be very common. Furthermore, negative developmental and reproductive effects of boron have not been ascertained in humans, even in populations exposed to high amounts of boron (Bolt et al., 2020).

Summary

Based on the available literature, boric acid kills insects primarily by one or more of the following ways:
1. Damaging the gut lining and disrupting nutrient absorption.
2. Causing disorientation, tremor and paralysis through neurotoxicity.
It can enter the body of cockroaches through digestion as well as cuticular absorption. However, some insects with sucking mouth parts, such as bed bugs, may not be effectively controlled by boric acid dust. Borax and DOT are similar to boric acid but are more soluble in water and hence used more commonly in baits. Some ant species have shown a preference toward similar concentrations of boric acid or borax over other borates, but other species do not show such a preference.

Although not highly toxic to humans, exposure to large amounts of borates can cause health problems. Application of dry dust by non-professionals can be potentially problematic in residential spaces.

References

Bolt, H. M., Başaran, N., & Duydu, Y. (2020). Effects of boron compounds on human reproduction. Archives of Toxicology, 94(3), 717–724. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-020-02700-x

Ebeling, W., Reierson, D. A., Pence, R. J., & Viray, M. S. (1975). Silica aerogel and boric acid against cockroaches: External and internal action. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 5(1), 81–89.

El-Dakdoky, M. H., & Abd El-Wahab, H. M. (2013). Impact of boric acid exposure at different concentrations on testicular DNA and male rats fertility. Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 23(5), 360–367.

Friis-Hansen, B., Aggerbeck, B., & Jansen, J. A. (1982). Unaffected blood boron levels in newborn infants treated with a boric acid ointment. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 20(4), 451–454.

Garabrant, D. H., Bernstein, L., Peters, J. M., & Smith, T. J. (1984). Respiratory and eye irritation from boron oxide and boric acid dusts. Journal of Occupational Medicine.: Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association, 26(8), 584–586. https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-198408000-00013

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Sacramento CA

CDC helps fund Penn State’s vector control program

Erika Machtinger, associate professor of entomology in the College of Agricultural Sciences and leader of Penn State Extension’s vector-borne disease team, trains vector professionals about tick surveillance. Photo: Michael Houtz, College of Agricultural Sciences

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named Penn State as the lead institution for one of the new Vector-Borne Disease Regional Training and Evaluation Centers.

These centers are aimed at enhancing national efforts to prevent and control vector-borne diseases.

The CDC awarded a total of more than $7.1 million to Penn State and four other entities for the first year of the centers. Penn State will receive $1.25 million in the first year, with a projected total of $6.25 million over five years.

Vector-borne diseases are transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, which spread pathogens through their bites. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Reports on this tick-borne pathogen indicate that Pennsylvania ranks No. 1 in the country for the number of Lyme disease cases per year. The goal of the new Regional Training and Evaluation Center is to reduce Lyme and other vector-borne diseases by understanding the needs of at-risk groups, targeting training for these groups and evaluating the impact at reducing disease burdens.

Project director Dr. Erika Machtinger, associate professor of entomology in the College of Agricultural Sciences and leader of Penn State Extension’s vector-borne disease team, noted that arthropod vectors are a growing threat to public health and agricultural systems worldwide.

“In the United States, vector-borne diseases have tripled in the past 13 years,” Dr. Machtinger said in the news release. “There is a critical need for effective, targeted messaging on vector prevention and control strategies, and a need to evaluate current prevention and control methods.”

As director, Dr. Machtinger will manage student and professional training and evaluation programs. With eight years of experience evaluating tick-control tools in the northeastern U.S., Dr. Machtinger has received national recognition for her teaching and accomplishments in extension education. She established the Penn State Extension vector-borne disease team in 2019 to address the growing crisis in Pennsylvania. This team has been recognized nationally as the first of its kind.

“Penn State Extension is a leader in transformative education, a premier extension system in the United States and well-positioned to support and elevate the output of the VectorED Network,” Dr. Machtinger said.

She added that the foundation of the VectorEd Network is to leverage the Cooperative Extension System across regions to target audiences most affected by vector-borne diseases.

Dr. Machtinger explained that the project will focus on increasing vector-borne disease education program capacity in a large part of the eastern U.S. This will entail training professionals in academia, government, health services, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector by leveraging and expanding existing educational infrastructure.

Throughout this five-year regional project, Penn State Extension will collaborate with counterparts at The Ohio State University, the University of Tennessee and the University of Delaware.

Emily Struckhoff, a vector-borne disease program specialist with Penn State Extension, will serve as the Extension training director for the network. She will oversee expansion and development of extension programming related to vector-borne disease, including training for pest and vector professionals, veterinarians, and academic professionals.

Dr. Machtinger said in the news release, “The goal of the network is to become a trusted and impactful resource for vector-borne disease prevention and control. The program will train undergraduate and graduate students to increase the capacity for vector-borne disease response, establish a student training network, and develop courses and degree and certificate programs.”

In addition, an advisory board for vector education and training will develop continuing education, certification programs and remote/in-person conferences based on needs assessments of professional groups such as veterinary, pest and vector control, public health, collegiate health and environmental safety professionals.

The program also will evaluate current prevention and control methods and focus on improving messaging campaigns based on social and behavioral science methodologies.

“I am excited to build targeted education programs that use science-based principles to change behavior,” Dr. Machtinger said.

To reach target populations and address health inequities, the center will engage existing education networks, including Extension, pest and vector control groups, veterinary organizations, and universities.

The funding also will support the creation of four new vector-borne disease extension educator positions: one at Penn State, and one each at the University of Tennessee, Ohio State and the University of Delaware. These professionals will deliver educational programs, workshops and other outreach activities to share information and promote learning. In addition, a new evaluation specialist will work with Penn State Extension to develop effective evaluation, performance management and improvement metrics.

“With the support and leadership of Penn State Extension, we have incredible capacity to build something special to reduce vector-borne disease burdens,” Dr. Machtinger said.

Extension’s vector-borne disease team offers an abundance of resources on ticks and mosquitoes, including information about common ticks and mosquitoes in Pennsylvania, vector-borne diseases and vector management.

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Sacramento CA