Combining methods to get rid of SPP

Dr. Ryan Neff, West Coast Technical Field Specialist, MGK

Stored product pests (SPP) present pest management professionals (PMPs) with a unique challenge — thanks to their life cycles and the need to treat for both mature and immature stages. In food manufacturing and warehousing accounts, this means eliminating infested foods or commodities. To find and eliminate the source of the infestation, use a combination of sanitation, exclusion and fogging.

Remember, sanitation is pest control. One exception is an operation where the finished goods are held in a building close to the exterior source of pests. In that case, by properly sealing the structure and using selective residual insecticides, you can significantly reduce pests. Be sure to use proper monitoring devices to determine efficacy.

Also note that monitoring is key. I’ve inspected facilities that claim not to have cigarette beetles (Lasioderma serricorne) or drugstore beetles (Stegobium paniceum), but after checking the insect light traps (ILTs) and glue boards inside multi-catch mouse traps, I find them everywhere. If you’re not using the correct devices, such as traps that include beetle pheromones or feeding attractants, you probably aren’t going to find them.

Trap catch data also is essential to identifying where a pest population is growing. The faster you find the grain tote on the top rack that’s been discharging cigarette beetles, for example, the faster you can prevent them from getting out of control.

Fogging is another option: It should be performed with a data-driven approach and proper knowledge of pest flare-ups, coupled with sanitation and exclusion. Choose your products based on whether you need residual activity or quick knockdown.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/10/04/combining-methods-to-get-rid-of-spp/
Sacramento CA