Fruit flies, drain flies and phorid flies can be a challenge to control because they have short life cycles and can multiply quickly when their food sources and breeding sites are available. Even small amounts of organic debris can support a significant small fly population. Small fly larval development sites need to be eliminated to successfully manage the problem.
Because small flies typically are a sanitation pest, sanitation measures that help eliminate conducive conditions are a critical part of a successful integrated pest management (IPM) program.
This includes:
A regular program to clean up food and drink spills.
Using lined bins for trash and recycling that receive food and beverage containers, along with regular emptying and cleaning.
Regularly cleaning/treating cracks, crevices and under/behind equipment where food residues can accumulate.
Checking incoming produce for fruit flies. Breaking down and disposing of shipping cartons immediately.
Cleaning/treating drains, traps and strainers at least twice weekly to eliminate organic residues.
Fixing leaks to eliminate preventable chronic moisture.
Bio sanitation, the use of microbial surface and drain cleaners, is the most effective way to clean in an environment with chronic moisture and organic buildup. The microbes actually digest the organic debris, activating when in contact with their food source.
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) released the full schedule for PestWorld 2025, which will take place in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 21–24. PestWorld 2025 will bring together thousands of pest management professionals, including owners, managers, technicians, researchers, educators and suppliers. The event offers attendees an opportunity for insights into emerging business trends, to learn more about the latest technical research and to foster relationships within the community.
At PestWorld, participants can earn recertification credits through the event’s educational program. The educational program is submitted to all 50 U.S states and five Canadian provinces.
This year’s program features more than 70 educational sessions on topics, including:
Fumigation
Management
Lawn & Ornamental
Public Health
Safety
Technical
Wildlife
Wood-Destroying Organisms
PestWorld also features general sessions featuring keynote speakers and entertainment. Tuesday’s Opening Ceremony will feature Derek’s Yacht Rock Band. Wednesday’s Opening General Session features keynote speaker Chaunte Lowe, a four-time Olympian. On Thursday, attendees are invited to hear Forbes’ leading female futurist, Elatia Abate, speaking on the Age of Artificial Intelligence.
Attendees at the 2025 PMP Growth Summit who participated in the Wednesday and Thursday morning breakfast roundtables found the early rise worthwhile. The opportunity offered attendees a chance for a candid discussion on various obstacles and potential growth opportunities in the industry.
Kevin Citarella
“It’s a minor thing, but we keep a refrigerator in the warehouse stocked with free water and sports drinks they can take in the morning for their day. It’s free to them.” — Kevin Citarella, Partner, Florida Pest Pros, Spring Hill, Fla.
Kevin Harthorne
“We’ve really ramped up our driver training this year. We sent some of our staff to a driving school to become certified driving instructors. Now, we have a full-day program in-house. In the morning, it’s all classroom instruction. The afternoon is when we take it on the road and put into play what we talked about.” — Kevin Hathorne, Training and Technical Director, Terminix Service, Columbia, S.C.
Daren Horton
“We use a third-party program where we get a quarterly report that will tell us which customers’ service anniversary dates are coming up. We’ll look at each of those customers and see how much time we spend on the property vs. our hourly rate. We leave them at their current pricing if they’re meeting our hourly rate. If they’re not, then we raise them proportionately. So, it’s a small segment of customers every month, and we get very little pushback. I’m old school, and raising prices makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up because I think, ‘Everybody’s going to quit and leave!’ But they don’t.” — Daren Horton, Gecko Pest Control, Marshall, Texas
Jeff Keller
“Based on our service managers’ input, we started a monthly leadership training program a couple of years ago. We brought in outside trainers for interested employees to learn more about the business and management side vs. the pest control side. The bigger we get, the more titles we have — a field supervisor, a service manager, regional roles. We’ve been able to fill these positions with employees who are already familiar with our business.” — Jeff Keller, Technical Director, Burns Pest Elimination, Phoenix, Ariz.
Jason Miller
“We see using our vehicle camera system as a way to protect everyone. Our technician was at a stoplight with a truck next to him, so he couldn’t see the crosswalk. The light turned green, and he started going. A bicyclist was coming across, and he hit the guy. But we watched the video: The bicyclist crossed illegally, and there was a truck there, so our guy did nothing wrong. The cops could see on the video that he was paying attention the entire time.” — Jason Miller, Project Manager, Nozzle Nolen, West Palm Beach, Fla.
New Outdoor Laser II is a cutting-edge deterrent system that projects dynamic patterns in red and green wavelengths to deter diurnal and nocturnal birds. These captivating light displays cover an expansive area of up to 4,000 square feet, making the system an ideal solution for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications. The unit has programmable operation intervals of two, four, six and eight hours, allowing users to create schedules that prevent birds from becoming accustomed to the deterrent.
About Bird-X
Bird-X started as a small idea in 1964, starting with a Bird Lite (today known as the Bird Strobe Light) that was being sold to deter birds from commercial areas.
In the beginning, Bird-X was a single-employee business that was entirely operated by Richard Seid. The company spent the first 28 years selling innovative bird control products via trade publications. Readers responded to the ads in these publications and Bird-X sold bird control products directly to the end user.
In 1992, his son, Joe Seid, joined the family business as the company’s 10th employee and strategically expanded sales channels. This was the start of a major growth period for the company. Throughout years of a dedicated online presence, combined with a knowledgeable team of bird control sales specialists, Bird-X has become a time-tested leader in the bird control industry.
Now, Bird-X supplies a growing product line of more than 400 humane bird control solutions used in more than 60 countries around the world. The company employs a seasoned staff — 20 percent of whom have been a part of the company for more than 25 years and have directly contributed to the tremendous growth and success.
The new ePro 400 is GreenTech Heat’s most cost-effective, 110-volt electric bed bug heater. It features six separate 8-amp heat elements that can be used together or individually. This professional-grade heater provides great flexibility on obtaining power, depending on the availability of electricity on the job site. The ePro 400 has six power outlets — one for each heating coil — which simplifies electrical needs significantly, and reduce set up times, with no need for a generator. The ePro 400 bed bug eradication heater produces 19,659 BTU and treats up to 400 square feet in 8 hours. The ePro 400 is an ideal choice for electric bed bug heat treatments for hotel rooms, small apartments, dorm rooms, church meeting rooms, and other similarly sized, closed-system projects.
All GreenTech Heat heaters come with a two-year repair or replace warranty. All GreenTech Heat electric heaters and fans are ETL listed. This line of easily transported heaters also feature an integrated thermostat and do not require a technician be present during the heat treatment. Simply start the treatment first thing in the morning and return at the end of the day to find all the bed bugs and their eggs are dead.
About GreenTech Bed Bug Heaters
Founded in 2003, GreenTech Bed Bug Heaters designs, manufactures and sells portable electric and propane heaters, fans and treatment accessories specifically designed for controlling insect pests, especially bed bugs and their eggs.
GreenTech Bed Bug Heaters combines a university-tested heat technology with affordable, portable and effective heating equipment. Dr. Linford, the CEO and founder of GreenTech Bed Bug Heaters, pioneered the use of heat for insect eradication in the late 1980s. Dr. Linford’s many accomplishments include:
Innovates and manufactures heaters and related equipment for the eradication of insects and odor control due to bacteria and VOCs. Provides training for companies in applying Linford’s heat treatment methodology using his EPA registered technical manuals.
Developed and expanded treatment processes, and co-authored two new treatment manuals for the insect eradication market: Bed Bug and Other Pests Heat Treatment Field Guide, and Termite and Other WDO Heat Treatment Field Guide.
Co-authored Hot House: a Selective History of Convected Heat in the Pest Control and Remediation Industries.
Oversaw and directed the compilation of the Thermal Death Point Compendium for reference treatment temperatures and durations for many insect and microbial pests.
Developed four new electric bed bug heaters to address smaller treatment areas: The ePro 400, ePro 600, ePro 400 hotel single cord +, and the ePro 1400.
Expanded the market from pest control to include property management; residential including senior housing, apartments and condos; hotels/motels; HUD/housing authorities; hospitals and other medical providers; summer camps; and transportation and aircraft operators.
Developed the direct fired Titan 800, which increased the original TPE 500 power output from 500,000 BTU to 990,000 BTU with improved power and airflow.
Developed the Titan 450, which produces output comparable to the TPE 500 but is 28 percent lighter, and can be transported in a smaller vehicle.
Expanded and developed new market applications to include vehicle decontamination, grain silos, furniture decontamination, and general import/export decontamination.
Attendees at the 2025 PMP Growth Summit who participated in the Wednesday and Thursday morning breakfast roundtables found the early rise worthwhile. The opportunity offered attendees a chance for a candid discussion on strategies for successful marketing.
Chris Baumbach
“We don’t get too caught up in the shiny new stuff. We measure our marketing by how many new customers call in and what they say when they do. If someone says, ‘My neighbor told me about you,’ or ‘I saw your truck in the neighborhood,’ that’s a win. Lately, we’ve been putting more effort into training our younger techs to be great at talking with homeowners. If they build trust during a service call, that’s some of the best marketing we can do. A good impression in person goes a long way in this business.” — Chris Baumbach, President, Texas Pest Rx, Floresville, Texas
Sue Fries
“We use a mix of TV, radio, digital and direct mail, and each platform reaches a slightly different type of customer. It’s not just about being everywhere; it’s about being effective. We track every campaign closely, and if it’s not giving us a return, we move on. Right now, Facebook is still strong for engagement, but our TV and radio spots do a great job of reinforcing the brand and keeping us top-of-mind. It’s really about layering the message and making sure it all works together. We’ve also built a culture where our team takes pride in their work, and that includes showing it off a little! When a technician gets a great result or has a good interaction with a homeowner, we encourage them to snap a photo or take a short video — with permission, of course. We offer small incentives, but honestly, a lot of them just like being part of telling our story. It keeps our social media fresh and gives people a real look at who we are as a company.” — Sue Fries, CEO, Ecola Termite and Pest Control, Chatsworth, Calif.
Daren Horton
“We’ve learned that having up-to-date, pest-specific content on our website and social channels is key to generating quality leads. When someone’s dealing with termites or mosquitoes, they’re searching for answers right now. If our info is current, local and easy to find, we’re way more likely to get that call. It’s not just about showing up in web searches; it’s about being a trusted voice when customers need help the most.” — Daren Horton, Gecko Pest Control, Marshall, Texas
Connor McKee
“Our marketing focuses on building trust, whether that’s through an easy-to-navigate website, helpful blog posts, or just showing up in the community. We sponsor local festivals, school events and things like that because it’s important to be more than just a service provider; we want people to know we are their neighbors. When folks see our name out there in a positive way and then look us up online, that connection helps turn interest into action. It’s all part of creating a strong local presence.” — Connor McKee, Business Development Manager, Ross Pest and Lawn, Aledo, Texas
When I was 20 years old, I backed into another car in my college parking lot. I did the responsible thing and exchanged information. I also filed a report with the local police.
Two months later, I was driving to work to open up Mid Central Pest Control’s Glenview, Ill., office (I was the supervisor) when a police officer pulled me over. He told me that my license plate sticker was expired, which was true, and he needed to run a check on me. I apologized and watched him walk back to his patrol car. After a few minutes, he walked stiffly back to me with his hand on his gun holster. He screamed at me to step out of the car. Confused, I did as he asked. He slapped handcuffs on me and told me I was arrested for driving with a suspended license!
I was fingerprinted, photographed and thrown into a single cell. I made one phone call to my future wife, and she drove to the station to pay $100 and bail me out.
It turns out there was a mix-up between the Secretary of State’s office and my insurance company concerning the fender bender I had at the college parking lot.
I resolved the issue over the phone, but I still had to show up in court for the offense to be wiped clean off my record. I wore my best suit, explained what happened and the judge threw out the case. Ironically, I only got $90 back because of a “processing fee”!
Life-altering decisions
This month’s “Start-up Story” subject knows more than he should about the inside of jail cells. Joel (pronounced Jo-el) Amores, founder of Apache Pest Control, was adopted at birth and grew up in a tough neighborhood in Miami Gardens, Fla., known as Carol City. Despite growing up in a loving home, he started getting into trouble at a young age and was arrested for drug possession for the first time at 15 years old. He continued getting into trouble and went to three different high schools before dropping out in the 11th grade.
Things got worse for Amores after high school. He was arrested twice for trafficking marijuana at 18 and 20 years old. Eventually, he would be sentenced to three years in prison. In the joint, Amores saw horrible things, including a man getting stabbed over $2, and knew he needed to change his life. The turning point for him was seeing his mom cry at his sentencing and knowing he wouldn’t be around to help raise his newborn son.
In 2015, Amores passed the General Educational Development (GED) and left prison as a very wise and mature 24-year-old. He took on jobs as a window washer, fishing boat worker and car detailer before launching a pest control company with a friend in 2017.
Three years later, he struck out on his own — one month before COVID-19 hit — and never looked back. In 2023, he had revenue of $333,000; last year, he nearly hit $400,000. The 34-year-old hopes to finish around $470,000 this year with three employees.
Apache Pest Control offers a full slate of pest control services such as termite work, general pest control, rodent exclusion, lawn treatments, wood-destroying organism (WDO) inspections and bed bug management. His wife, Jennifer, works in the office and helps set up monthly subscriptions. His most veteran tech is Enrique Garcia, who has been with him for more than three years and has never missed a day of work.
Setting, reaching goals
Professionally, Amores would like his company to provide more termite work, including pretreats, traditional liquid treatments and spot treating with baiting. His three-year goal is to hire a full-time termite technician, a salesperson and two more techs. This year, I will be helping him with his key performance indicators (KPIs), upselling and following up with clients.
Personally, he would love to see his company flourish so he can spend more time on his boat fishing and spending time with Jennifer and their two kids, Jaiden, age 14, and Jade, age 3. “I love fishing! I have a Bluewater 23T, and I take it out at least once per week,” he confessed. Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri for the taxonomists out there) and mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) are his favorite fish to catch.
I asked him why he chose pest control. “It was a no-brainer,” Amores said. “There are very few careers where I could make more money than I do in pest control. I also like helping people.”
One example of this is Apache Pest Control’s pro bono work for low-income families who need help with bed bugs. Ironically, the word Apache translates to “enemy” — and early in his life, Amores was his own worst enemy. Now, he is a successful businessman, devoted husband, loving father and inspirational leader in the Cuban community.
Small flies in homes and commercial facilities often are an indicator of additional problems that must be addressed. While the treatment strategies for most small fly species can be straightforward (such as treating drains, in cracks and crevices, behind wall voids or under equipment), identifying the precise type of fly can also provide pest management professionals (PMPs) with additional information to craft strategies that further assist customers in implementing long-term control efforts.
For example, customers who see the presence of drain flies may have an undetected water leak or have areas where stagnant water has accumulated. Both scenarios provide perfect fly breeding sources. Seeing more fruit flies in an area may indicate a sanitation issue, such as decaying fruit, soiled mop heads or undetected food debris beneath equipment or counters.
While traditional treatment strategies are an option for short-term control, long-term strategies are necessary to build an effective control program.
Facilities such as coffee shops, bakeries and pizza parlors can face many daily drain maintenance challenges. Coffee grounds, flour and cornmeal easily can find their way into drains, creating the perfect environment for drain flies to thrive. These insects breed in the organic buildup of partially blocked drains, making it crucial to address the issue promptly.
To treat this issue, weekly or bi-weekly bioremediation is recommended, with the primary goal being to clear drains where flies will breed. This process typically involves applying a foaming agent directly into the drains, giving the solution ample time to break down organic residues. After treatment, flush the drains with warm or hot water to help dislodge any remaining debris.
It’s important to note that bioremediation isn’t usually a one-time treatment. Regular maintenance is required to keep drains consistently clean. The frequency of these treatments can be adjusted based on how severe the issue is, making ongoing bioremediation an essential aspect of fly management in these establishments.
Attendees at the 2025 PMP Growth Summit who participated in the Wednesday and Thursday morning breakfast roundtables found the early rise worthwhile. The opportunity offered attendees a chance for a candid discussion on issues with employee retention, successful recruitment strategies and more.
David Cragoe
“You have a new generation of workers coming up who may have different expectations or desires that they want from a company. They seem a lot more transitory, where they move on from a job more frequently than in the past. But I still think treating somebody as you would want to be treated is one of the keys to keeping people.” — Dave Cragoe, President, Cragoe Pest Services, Moorpark, Calif.
Dauphin Ewart
When it comes to onboarding employees, we are now clear on what we are looking for and what attributes matter to us. We’ve developed a universal sense of what a great team member is and what behaviors we’re looking for. One of the things we soon learned about people we held onto too long is that usually, another person in the process will tell us, ‘I could have told you that on Day Two.’ Before this, we weren’t paying attention to the red flags early enough.” — Dauphin Ewart, CEO, The Bug Master, Austin, Texas
Kendra Snyder
“We have several warehouses in our area, so some of our entry-level candidates say, ‘Well, I can make $30 an hour in a warehouse. I want you to pay me that.’ We decided to talk to some warehouse employees and ask, ‘How do they pay you $30 an hour?’ And they said, ‘Well, it starts at $30, but if you don’t hit certain targets throughout the day, it knocks another dollar off an hour here, another dollar off an hour there. By the time you’re done, you’re usually not making that amount of money.’ So, we’ve learned to get to know even our non-industry competition, learn the reality behind their businesses, and educate candidates.” — Kendra Snyder, General Manager, Quest Termite & Pest, Hellertown, Pa.
Will O’Bryan
“We’ve been lucky the past few years because several local family businesses sold to larger corporations. We’ve picked up four technicians who worked for those companies and loved working for a family business. It’s been the best thing for us, everybody else selling, because many of their employees don’t want to work for a big company.” — Will O’Bryan, General Manager, Jamison Pest and Lawn, Memphis, Tenn.
Justin Sloniger
“The biggest challenge is finding the next set of employees and the amount of people you have to go through to get to quality candidates. It’s very time-consuming. Plus, once you get them, you want to take care of them and help them succeed at what they want to succeed at, while also taking care of your company and customers.” — Justin Sloniger, General Manager, Florida’s Finest Lawn & Pest Control, Ocoee, Fla.
Eliminate bed bugs with the Polti Cimex Eradicator. This chemical-free solution harnesses the power of superheated dry steam to target bed bugs at all life stages. It’s ideal for homes, hotels and healthcare settings. Features include:
Chemical-free: Uses only superheated dry steam with no toxic residues
Kills instantly: Eliminates bed bugs and their eggs immediately
Deep penetration: Reaches into mattresses, furniture and cracks and crevices
Eco-friendly: Ideal for sensitive environments
Easy to use: Professional results without special training
About Polti
Founded in 1978, with North American headquarters based in Los Angeles, Calif., Polti was built on two pillars that characterize the company and its products to this day: quality and innovation. Over the decades. Polti has combined technological innovation with Italian-made quality and environmental compatibility to offer a clean and simple vision of the future. As a European leader in steam appliances, Polti’s patented products are available in more than 50 countries worldwide
Fly management is key, not only because they are annoying but also because they spread disease. One of the most critical steps next to customer communication is identification. Different fly species have unique harboring and breeding habits. Misidentification of these species can lead to ineffective treatment strategies.
Four common pest flies you’ll run into in homes or kitchens include:
Red-eyed fruit flies go for rotting fruits and vegetables.
Drain flies love sewage accumulation and drain muck in sinks and floor drains.
Fungus gnats often are found in houseplant soil.
House flies hang around trash, rotting food and even manure.
Misidentifying these flies can result in targeting the wrong breeding sites, wasting time and resources. For instance, it won’t do you much good if you treat drains for red-eyed fruit flies. Likewise, if you try to treat fungus gnats by removing all the old fruits and vegetables, you will have the same problem.
Finding the source of the fly infestation will become much easier after identifying the species. Knowing the species’ likely breeding areas will help you target your inspection to find the source faster. However, use caution. Just because you found one breeding source doesn’t mean you found them all. A thorough inspection is still necessary.
AVESTA CS is a broad-spectrum insecticide containing the active ingredient lambda-cyhalothrin. Its ability to control a variety of pests, including mosquitoes, ants, cockroaches, spiders, flies, ticks and more, make it an ideal solution for both indoor and outdoor applications. It’s even labeled in a number of states for the control of spotted lanternflies.
In addition to its 8-ounce and 1-quart bottles, the product is also now available in a 15-gallon drum.
About AMGUARD Environmental Technologies
AMGUARD Environmental Technologies is an emerging provider of non-crop and specialty technology solutions for the U.S. public health; pest control; ornamental and greenhouse; golf; lawn and landscape; foodservice and consumer markets. It is the specialty markets division of AMVAC Chemical Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of American Vanguard Corp. From its headquarters and labs based in Morrisville, N.C., part of the Research Triangle Park region, AMGUARD discovers, develops and commercializes a diverse portfolio of proven chemistries, innovative technologies and green solutions into diverse markets. Its team is committed to protecting the population from disease vectors, mitigating structural pest damage, creating healthy foodservice environments and outdoor living spaces, and maintaining outdoor sports and recreation venues. Its mission is to provide customers with powerful technology solutions to keep their businesses strong and growing.
In the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) market, we own three offices: one in Lewisville, one in Plano, and one in Fort Worth. We also own one in Tyler, Texas.
We chose each location for its visibility. I can quote to anyone the number of cars passing each building daily. These drivers see our signs and buildings, which significantly increases our advertising and helps people know us.
Prime location problem
The ABC Home & Commercial Services’ Fort Worth office in its heyday. PHOTO: DENNIS JENKINS
One downside to owning a building on a highway is that sometimes the highway needs to expand — and needs your land to do so. In the 36 years we have been in the DFW market, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has knocked on my door three times for highway expansion purposes.
The first time was inconsequential because it wanted a tiny strip of dirt that did not impact our use of the land or the building. TxDOT needed about 75 square feet of dirt and paid us $75,000. We sold that office many years ago when we outgrew the location.
The second time was at our main building in Lewisville. Again, it had no impact on the building. TxDOT only wanted land by the access road for its highway expansion. They paid me more for that land than I had paid for the entire building with the land, and I was a happy person. The money enabled us to remodel the building, making it significantly better for our use, and we did not have to borrow any money to do so.
Third time not the charm
The building was destroyed in phases and is now gone. PHOTO: DENNIS JENKINS
During the COVID-19 years, I spent some time searching for offices, and that is when I found our buildings in Fort Worth and Plano. If you know the DFW Metroplex, we basically divided the city into thirds and put an office in each third.
The third time TxDOT came knocking, though, it wanted to “clip” the corner of the Fort Worth building and needed to tear it completely down. You read that right: TxDOT is tearing down my Fort Worth building as I write this column. I took the photo above in late March.
Now, TxDOT cannot just take buildings without compensation. They compensated me with enough money to pay off the building loan, plus money left over to rebuild. Whether I will be able to build anything as nice as what they took down, I do not know.
I do know that I took pride in making this building work for us, and I loved how it looked from the highway. For now, I have decided to take a wait-and-see attitude. I may even let my son, Russell, figure it out and build something when he is ready. My wife and I can retire as long as our main building in Lewisville stands and the loans get paid off, so that’s my immediate focus.
The ability to demonstrate convincing results to customers is always an advantage, and ready-to-use PT Alpine Pressurized Fly Bait delivers, killing flies often within seconds of ingestion. It’s the only pressurized fly bait aerosol available on the market, the company says, so there’s no mixing and no additional spray equipment needed. The right percentage of concentrate is always applied, with no waste.
In addition, the quick-drying, water-based formulation is odorless; ultraviolet light (UV)-stable, nonrepellent and undetectable to flies. The label allows for several application methods, providing flexibility of use as well as optimal and discreet control.
Use PT Alpine Pressurized Fly Bait as a spot, band or area application, or as a removable bait placement for residential and commercial accounts, venues that host large events, and for livestock and other animal housing structures. It also can be used in food- and feed-handling areas following label directions. With proven residual activity of 30 days on nonporous surfaces, studies have also shown it to be effective against imidacloprid-resistant flies, causing 100 percent mortality in a resistant population within 24 hours (per BASF internal data, 2019). PT Alpine Pressurized Fly Bait can be used to complement other existing fly control methods.
About BASF
BASF Corp., headquartered in Florham Park, N.J., is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $25.7 billion in 2022.
BASF creates chemistry for a sustainable future by combining economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 110,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of its customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. BASF’s portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions.
Attendees at the 2025 PMP Growth Summit who participated in the Wednesday and Thursday morning breakfast roundtables found the early rise worthwhile. The opportunity offered attendees a chance for a candid discussion on common issues, solutions and best practices when combating rodents.
Dan Baldwin
“There’s no other area of pest control we participate in that requires more situational flexibility than rodent control. Eliminating rodent infestations demands we leverage the full gamut of control and exclusion tools on a case-by-case basis.” — Dan Baldwin, BCE, REHS/RS, PHE, VP of Technical and Training Services, Hawx Pest Control, Ogden, Utah
Andrej Branc
“The professional pest control industry needs to prepare: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could reclassify all 11 rodenticide active ingredients as restricted-use products. This would significantly impact PMPs’ rodent control toolboxes, and related technician training and labor, for years to come.” — Andrej Branc, Americas Business Manager, PelGar USA, Saylorsburg, Pa.
Dani Collinson
“We are seeing increased rat pressure outside of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md. These cities are experiencing rebirths, and all their new construction has disturbed rodent harborages and prompted populations to seek harborages in neighboring cities.” — Dani Collinson, National Manager of M&A Integration, Senske Services, Kennewick, Wash.
Glen Ramsey
“What keeps me up at night most regarding rodent control? Several states and municipalities have enacted, or are considering, overly onerous laws and rules to further limit rodent control products and uses. Although public health is at stake, often there is little science or data to support these changes.” — Glen Ramsey, BCE, PCI, PCQI, Technical Director, Rollins Inc., Atlanta, Ga.
Blair Smith
“Being based in California, we’re exclusion-focused. We’re doing more work repairing structural damage by rodents — primarily sealing entry points — and are exploring offering an add-on rodent control warranty program.” — Blair Smith, BCE, Director of Technical and Quality Assurance, Clark Pest Control, Lodi, Calif.
House flies (Musca domestica) are nuisance pests that pose health risks. They can build up large populations, so your knowledge of house flies can help with inspections and control.
The house fly is a non-biting species measuring about 0.25 of an inch long. Adults have two wings and four black stripes on their backs. The abdomen typically appears checkered. A house fly exhibits complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (three instars), pupa and adult. They can live for up to three weeks and are active during warmer seasons.
An adult female can deposit 50 to 100 eggs at a time, with up to 500 eggs over a lifetime. The eggs are deposited in rotting organic matter and hatch after about 12 hours. The maggots (larvae) feed on the organic material.
Third-instar larvae will migrate from the rotten organic matter to a drier, nearby spot and pupate. Pupae are 0.33 of an inch long and form from the last larval skin, which changes color (yellow to red to brown to black) as the pupa ages. Pupae are bluntly rounded at both ends.
Remediating breeding sites is key. Use properly labeled bait or liquid products that provide quick knockdown and good residual. Rotating chemical classes will help with resistance management.
Syngentaand Neogen recently entered into a strategic licensing and supply agreement for Talon-G and Talon Weatherblok XT rodenticides. The agreement grants Neogen exclusive rights to market and sell these products in the United States and Canada. Under this agreement, Neogen will leverage its commercial and technical expertise to lead the promotion and distribution of the two products.
Talon-G rodenticide. PHOTO: SYNGENTA
According to the company, Talon-G features a exclusive mini-pellet formulation that is attractive to rodents, especially mice, and its single feeding effectiveness limits bait shyness.
Talon Weatherblok XT. PHOTO: SYNGENTA
Talon Weatherblok XT is attractive to rodents and designed for extreme weatherability without compromising rodent acceptance, according to the company.
“We’re pleased to expand Neogen’s rodenticide portfolio with these two well-established and highly effective products,” said Greg Hastings, vice president, USAC animal safety for Neogen. “This agreement reinforces our commitment to providing comprehensive pest management solutions and strengthens our ability to serve customers across North America with the tools they need to help safeguard their facilities and uphold effective pest control.”
Syngenta will focus more on its long-term vision of bringing new pest control technologies to market. Talon-G and Talon Weatherblok XT, containing the active ingredient brodifacoum, are second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides that can control rodents with a single feeding.
“Syngenta has a longstanding relationship with Neogen and we know they are the ideal partner to continue supporting and evolving these brands our customers trust,” explained Scott Reasons, head of Syngenta Professional Solutions in the Americas. “As a result of this relationship, Syngenta can accelerate the development of new solutions across all areas of pest control, maintaining our commitment to customers and the industry.”
We may joke about the political “rats” in Washington, but there is a literal rodent problem in our nation’s capital. PHOTO: GLOBALP / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS / GETTY IMAGES
While at the NationalPest Management Association’s (NPMA)Legislative Day event in Washington, D.C., in March, I hung out with several personnel from the National Wildlife Control Operators of America (NWCOA) — including President Drew Cowley, Vice President Chris Lunn and Training Coordinator Jim Goins. We all kept busy networking and interacting with other pest and wildlife management professionals, but we found ourselves participating in a rather odd activity during breaks: counting Norway rats.
I fully admit to starting the “game,” as I was the first to arrive. When asked about our accommodations in a group text, I gave the total number of Rattus norvegicus observed while sitting on a back deck overlooking a residential alleyway.
While none of us are shocked much by wildlife, obviously, the numbers and boldness of the rats in our nation’s capital were surprising. Rats during the day, rats around people, rats in a valet parking lot, rats in quiet places, rats in busy areas, rats running outside restaurants. They were everywhere!
Only in Washington, D.C., have I seen roadkill rats.
Evidence was obvious
Bait stations were also everywhere. Placement varied from very well done to “what were you thinking.” But with the sheer volume of burrows and rats, I’m sure clients were pushing technicians to place more stations. Their options are limited, with the optimal locations already having stations in place.
The high rat numbers also resulted in some loose bait visible in and around burrows. Our thoughts were that this was the work of homeowners or maintenance personnel, not professionals.
Seeing the number of stations and still so many rats was surprising. I looked at their rules for wildlife control operators (WCOs), and while it was not clear on rats, there is a restriction on body-gripping and -crushing traps for wildlife in place. The Washington, D.C., Council implemented this rule. It is a prime example of local governments creating regulations based not on science but on emotion. This was a major point being made to legislators by most Legislative Day attendees when we went to Capitol Hill and visited our state representatives.
Need for involvement
There are lethal resetting traps on the market that kill quickly and could add another level of control that none of us observed being used in the district. (To my Washington, D.C.-based colleagues: Please let me know if such measures are in place and we just didn’t see them.) While they can be labor-intensive, they could help cull the population, at least.
It is unclear from the official wildlife control rules in Washington, D.C., whether such traps are allowed. And therein lies the problem: Local officials make rules based on recommendations from animal rights groups or “concerned citizens” rather than public health experts who can back up their recommendations with scientific studies to determine effective and safe practices.
If Washington, D.C., is an example of what happens when local governments get involved in pest or wildlife control rules, it should be a cautionary tale for all of us.
While often well-meaning, these restrictions can lead to more significant risks as homeowners, maintenance personnel and others take matters into their own hands out of frustration. They might use products and tools without training and ignore product labels. The result could be worst-case scenarios.
It is a prime example of why we all should become involved in our national and state pest control associations. Losing effective and essential tools makes our jobs harder and raises public health risks through higher levels of pests.
Spring is in the air, and through the breeding season rodents will need higher-calorie foods to sustain their activity. This often causes a drop in bait-take as they search for suitable food sources. Monark Soft Bait from PelGar is formulated using a blend of quality, culinary-grade wheat flour, chopped grain and soft lard to produce a highly palatable bait — ideal for breeding season. The active ingredient difenacoum has a low LD50 rate, making it a solid choice for use in and around homes where non-targets, including pets, are a concern. Supplied in 16-pound pails, Monark Soft Bait sachets are easily skewered on to a bait station rod or spike for security.
About PelGar
Based in the United Kingdom, PelGar provides products and expertise in more than 60 countries worldwide, including the United States. The company supports customers who are directly involved in controlling nuisance pests, national campaigns against the vectors of disease, and local and national Conservation in Partnership (CiP) projects. PelGar’s global network of experienced staff and in-country resources guarantee an exceptional level of service.
“Small flies” such as fruit flies (Drosophilidae), drain flies (Psychodidae), phorid flies (Phoridae) and fungus gnats (Sciaridae) are problems in many accounts. Eliminating their sources is the first and most important step to control these pests.
For example:
Inspecting for and removing rotten fruits and vegetables will eliminate prime breeding sites of fruit flies.
For drain flies and phorid flies, look for areas of stagnant water with decaying organic material. Drains, trash cans and dumpsters all can be productive sources of these annoying flies.
When we cannot identify or eliminate all the sources, insect growth regulators (IGRs) are a good option. IGRs can be applied indoors in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Application methods include general surface, broadcast, crack-and-crevice and foam treatments. IGRs control fly populations by preventing future generations. They can reduce eggs laid by treated flies and prevent larvae (maggots) from becoming adult flies.
The Stick-All Mouse & Insect Trap is built for professionals who need consistent results without the hassle. Its enclosed housing keeps glue boards protected and pests out of sight. A pre-scented surface draws in mice and insects without the need for added bait. Designed for multiple catches, it works well along walls, in corners or anywhere pests are active. The low-profile design helps minimize tampering and cleanup, offering a cleaner and more efficient option for everyday use. Stick-All is easy to place, simple to monitor, and made to perform in the demanding environments where it matters most.
About Kness Pest Defense
Per company history, the Ketch-All was invented by a young, widowed father of six, Austin Enos “Brick” Kness, in 1924. Mice were prevalent at the high school in which Kness was a custodian, “and led him to the idea of the ‘box’ trap. He built the first trap from a square oilcan, a Tuxedo Tobacco can, a spring from a curtain rod, and the wood base of a crate. The first night he set his trap, he captured five mice.
“He was elated and showed the teachers and his friends. He was encouraged to build others for his friends and to seek a patent. By 1927, Kness Mfg. Co. was formed to produce the KetchAll Automatic Mousetrap and another of Kness’ inventions, the RotoBow tree saw.”
