Finding bed bugs

Ed Van Istendal

An up-close look at a bed bug tells you immediately that they can be difficult to control. The correct term is “dorso-ventrally compressed,” which just means very flat from top to bottom. Translation: They will easily slide into the nooks, crannies and openings that often are overlooked by pest management professionals (PMPs), especially novices.

Patience is a virtue, and patience in bed bug work means better control. Finding and treating those tiny openings is how bed bug control gets accomplished. Finding them is the tough part; treating is the easier part of the equation.

A smart, experienced PMP recognizes that different surfaces may require different treatment approaches. It is extremely important that, besides killing the bed bugs that can be seen, there be an adequate residue of the control material available for other bed bugs to contact, and subsequently die. Sometimes a dust material is required. In most cases, however, a liquid is being used.

Emulsifiable concentrates (EC) mixed with water create an emulsion that can be easily absorbed by wood, pressboard, concrete, etc., and becomes unavailable as a surface residue on these types of porous materials. Larger particles, such as those in wettable powders (WPs) or suspension concentrates (SCs) will be more readily available as a residual on treated surfaces. Knowing this, you now have a better means of evaluating the possible tools in your arsenal for controlling this public health nuisance.
WPs must be kept constantly agitated, or staining/residues can occur. SCs can be more forgiving, and they will remain in suspension for much longer than your typical treating time. When choosing an SC, take a serious look at the “combination” materials, which offer a union of two actives in one mix.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/02/16/finding-bed-bugs/
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/2023/02/16/bird-x-solar-mesh-kit/
Sacramento CA

Senske Services acquires Blades of Green

Senske Services acquired BOG Pest Control as a result of acquiring its parent, Blades of Green.

Headquartered in Edgewater, Md., Blades of Green is a lawn care and pest control company that provides a variety of services in Maryland and Virginia. The acquisition expands Kennewick, Wash.-based Senske’s footprint into the Mid-Atlantic region.

President Mark Leahy founded Blades of Green in 1989. After nearly 40 years in the industry, Leahy said in a news release, he “felt the time was right to sell his business.” He vetted several potential mergers and acquisitions partners and “found the right fit for his customers and employees” with Senske.

“I’m excited about the opportunities this acquisition will bring for our customers, team members, and the communities we serve,” Leahy, who will remain on board as a consultant, said in the news release.

“We are excited to join the Senske Services team and bring our expertise to a broader customer base,” according to Brad Leahy, vice president of Blades of Green. Leahy joined his brother in 1999 and will manage the Blades of Green operations going forward. “Together, we will continue to raise the bar in the industry.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Blades of Green to the Senske Services team,” said Casey Taylor, CEO of Senske Services. “With the addition of Blades of Green’s experienced team, we will continue to lead the industry in providing exceptional customer service and expertise as we expand nationwide.”

BOG Pest Control, Senske Services and Blades of Green will continue to operate as separate entities with their respective brands, teams, and services.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/02/15/senske-services-acquires-blades-of-grass/
Sacramento CA

PMP Hall of Fame History: Al Cossetta

As Pest Management Professional (PMP) magazine celebrates 90 years, take a look back into our archives as we highlight the found of the magazine, Al Cossetta. He is a member of the PMP Hall of Fame’s Class of 2002.

According to fellow PMP Hall of Famer Dr. Robert Snetsinger’s seminal chronicle of the industry, The Ratcatcher’s Child, Cossetta realized his dream of an industry trade journal on Jan. 1, 1933, when the first issue of Exterminators Log appeared.

“One night, endeavoring to sleep but really pondering my business problems, I was inspired with the thought that I should start a national journal for the pest control industry,” Cossetta recalled in his book.

“Since the industry had no journal and needed one, I was impelled to consider launching out on such an endeavor. I hesitated, and thought the matter over carefully to be certain that I would be successful. The more I thought about it, the more I was impressed that I should launch out. The following morning at the office, I made known my plans and immediately started to shape up a letter to be mailed to all possible prospects who were in the business.”

For $3 a year, companies could receive eight issues full of technical notes and personal interest stories. There were 100 paid and about 650 unpaid subscribers that first year.

By 1934, Exterminators Log hit its stride as a beacon for the pest management industry. Compared to the dieting tips and personal asides of previous issues, it began to report on the development of various associations and conventions, took a stand for state and local regulation for fumigation and offered technical information on pests.

That doesn’t mean, however, that it totally abandoned its personal touch. Cossetta knew that pest management was by and large a family industry, and updates of whose daughter just got married or who was sick and on the mend also appeared. Snetsinger likened it to a “small-town newspaper for the pest control industry.”

The journal was renamed Pests in August 1938, then Pests and Their Control in June 1939. In 1941, Cossetta sold his pest control business, and in March 1948 he sold the magazine to three individuals who later formed Trade Magazines, Inc. The headquarters were moved from Kansas City to Cleveland, and fellow PMP Hall of Famer Jim Nelson was hired as editor.

Nelson later became publisher, and his name became synonymous with what today is known as Pest Control magazine until he sold it in 1967. Pest Control became Pest Management Professional in 2007.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/02/15/pmp-hall-of-fame-history-al-cossetta/
Sacramento CA

Target Specialty Products to host webinar Feb. 23

Target Specialty Products announced the next webinar in its Business Growth series titled “Managing Small Flies and Cockroaches in Commercial Facilities” on Feb. 23 at 1:30 p.m.

The free webinar will feature Dr. Jamel Sandidge, BCE, MA, who is the national director of technical services for Nisus Corp.

Per the news release, the webinar will help attendees “learn how to build a reputation for effective fly and cockroach control. Once you become well-versed in effective control strategies and products, and develop a solid program for fly and cockroach control, companies will seek you out and pay for established success. This seminar will discuss sanitation and bio-sanitation, implementing integrated pest management (IPM), insecticide applications, pesticide safety in commercial facilities and customer communication.”

Dr. Jamel Sandidge, BCE

Dr. Sandidge has been involved in multiple levels of the pest management industry for the last 22 years. He joined Nisus Corp. in 2019 as the innovation platform leader for pest management systems where he was responsible for driving the development and growth of new and existing products in the professional line. He is now the national director of technical services, where he supports the industry through education, training, and technical support. Dr. Sandidge is a board-certified entomologist who holds a masters’s degree in entomology and a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Kansas. While attending grad school he launched a pest management business, starting from the ground up. He owned and operated BRS Pest Control and Consulting for nine years, gaining practical experience in the field solving complex pest management issues. Dr. Sandidge previously served as a research entomologist with responsibilities in product research and development, efficacy testing and technical assistance.

Target Specialty Products’ David Helt noted in the release that his team “is excited to partner with Nisus Corporation to offer a deep dive into products and strategies to prevent and eradicate difficult pests, including ants and cockroaches.”

Registration for the webinar is now available.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/02/15/target-specialty-products-to-host-webinar-feb-23/
Sacramento CA

3 steps for communication with bed bug treatment

Dr. Chris Keefer, technical services manager at Syngenta Professional Pest Management

Because bed bugs can be traumatic for many people, it’s important to take extra time to demonstrate concern and expertise when investigating infestations. Follow these three steps:

1. Inspection.

• Interview customers about bed bug activity.
• Thoroughly inspect all rooms and identify potential harborages.
• Use bed bug monitors.
• Make a diagram of the structure and note activity.

2. Communication.

• Inform customers of mattress encasements and other prevention methods.
• Discuss the treatment protocol and expectations, which should be based on the inspection.

3. Treatment.

• Use a heavy-duty, commercial vacuum to remove adults, nymphs and eggs.
• Make product applications in labeled harborage sites, which tend to be areas that are less disturbed and away from light. Keep in mind, research shows 80 percent or more of bed bugs are usually found in, near or around the bed.
• We recommend using lipophilic, microencapsulated formulations to enhance the probability of bed bugs picking up a lethal dose.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/02/15/3-steps-for-communication-with-bed-bug-treatment/
Sacramento CA

PBC: Pest Control Program

Program Brokerage Corp. is a full-service brokerage firm specializing in the pest control industry. Since 1934, it has been one of the largest providers of insurance products and services to this industry nationwide, and is the official endorsed broker of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). The team’s industry experience and knowledge lets them provide customized coverage to fit each specific requirement in a cost-effective manner.

ProgramBrokerage.com

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2023/02/15/pest-control-program/
Sacramento CA