Zebra mussels and round gobies are among the pests that have come from the Great Lakes into the river, but Asian carp are the primary concern now. Asian carp is a term that actually refers to four species of fish from overseas brought here for reasons …
Pests in the NewsAugust 03, 2011
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Farmers in South Carolina and Georgia — the nation’s second- and third-largest peach producers — now have access to markets closed to them since 1994, when Mexico banned peach exports from the Southeast over concerns about invasive pests. The new deal …
Pests in the NewsAugust 03, 2011
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Beekeeper John Schick used an industrial vacuum with a hose to collect the insects as shoppers took photos and video with their mobile phones. Schick says the bees were probably migrating when they got tired and decided to rest on the van. He took the …
Pests in the NewsAugust 03, 2011
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 Los Angeles Times |
Stink bug invasion puts entomologist in demand
Los Angeles Times Thousands of the winged, six-legged invaders from Asia inhabit Leskey's West Virginia lab, as specimens trapped in a jar and as pests flying and crawling around. The insect is aptly named for its self-defense mechanism — a pungent odor that some liken … Lights out for stink bugs?Daily Local News |
Pests in the NewsAugust 03, 2011
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QUESTION:
I was speaking with a property manager today about bed bug control. He told me that a few judges in Massachusetts are trying to pass a law that states the following – the landlord / property manager will be responsible for putting a tenant up in a hotel/motel for the duration of a bed bug treatment, plus be responsible for any damages incurred during the treatment. This seems to me to be an impossible reality, as any landlord / property manager will go bust with people claiming they have bed bugs. This expense will continue until the rooms are declared bed bug free, which would be a minimum of 6 weeks.
Have you heard anything like this? The pressure would be on the PCO to declare bug-free rooms sooner than it should be.
ANSWER:
Well, a few thoughts come to mind immediately, and the first is that what you heard from a property manager could, perhaps, be his emotional view of this and not exactly what is being proposed. I also would be certain that it is not judges that are pushing this, but likely (liberal) legislators who think that this would be a good politically correct protection for renters who have had this awful thing foisted upon them. Again, what the proposed legislation ACTUALLY says would be important to find out first before getting too angry or losing sleep over it.
My second thought, if we work with the premise that what you heard is exactly what is proposed, is that this is a shining example of where strong trade associations need to step in and work with those legislators. I have not heard of this specific kind of PC legislation, but in California there certainly have been many other proposals over the decades that would have been fairly unliveable for our industry, and because the state pest control association was strong and organized it was able to use its lobbying efforts to get those bills modified to something that was actually reasonable and responsible for both sides. I think it goes back to that saying that if you really want a puppy you start by asking your parents for a horse. People will come up with outrageous proposals knowing they will likely have to compromise down to something less.
My take on what you have heard on this is pretty much in line with your thoughts Bill. And, since the management of apartments was not the ones who brought the bed bugs into their buildings, but it was “irresponsible” tenants who transported them, rewarding those tenants with free stays in hotels would seem to unjustified. Of course, no one is going to own up to being the ones who brought in the bed bugs, and tenants surrounding the guilty party’s unit would also be involved in this disruption, so the fight begins. I can also see this from the point of view of those who propose this legislation. IF…… the big “if”……. innocent bystanders (those other tenants) were forced to vacate their homes while a bed bug service takes place, why should they suffer economically? It falls back on the question of who is going to foot the bill when these things happen, and generally the owners of businesses are perceived as the ones who can best afford it.
Somehow a compromise needs to be sought, and this means that immediately your state associations for pest management and for property managers need to contact their legislators, including whichever legislators are sponsoring this bill, and work with them to point out the drawbacks to this proposal and offer solutions that meet the needs of everyone. Too often some lobby group will approach a legislator with an emotional scenario – in this case the poor disrupted tenants who must leave their homes but cannot afford to pay for a motel for many weeks – and without knowing anything other than this side of the story the legislator puts together his proposal. If no one challenges it then it could sail on through. It is imperative that your association immediately become involved, and hopefully your company is a member of your state association.
Remember, these folks are called “Lawmakers” for a reason – they feel they must be introducing lots of new laws or they aren’t doing their jobs.
Pest QuestionsAugust 03, 2011
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This summer’s near record-breaking heat and lack of rain is driving all sorts of pests indoors to search for food, water and shelter. Mice and rats seem to be invading suburban homes this summer, which is not normal behavior, experts say. The apparent …
Pests in the NewsAugust 02, 2011
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The State |
Columbia exterminator takes expertise to Haiti
The State For three days in July, John Dunbar of Columbia took his pest–control expertise to Haiti, setting out bait for rats at an orphanage and installing screens on hospital windows. Dunbar, 62, flew into Port-au-Prince … |
Pests in the NewsAugust 02, 2011
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USDA Says Residents Make a Difference in Reducing Invasive Plant Pests and …
GardenNews.biz (press release) WASHINGTON, The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proclaimed August as “Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month.” During August, APHIS will raise awareness about the threat that invasive plant … |
Pests in the NewsAugust 02, 2011
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Giants may hire team of hit falcons to rid AT&T Park of seagull pests
msnbc.com With the help of Wingmaster Falconry Inc., which states that it works “to provide our clients with the most effective, natural, humane methods available for pest bird abatement,” the Giants are exploring their options regarding the falcons. … |
Pests in the NewsAugust 02, 2011
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The Local.de |
Germany faces insect infestation
The Local.de The recent rain has created the perfect breeding conditions for nasty insects like wasps, mosquitoes and gnats. Mosquito larvae has been thriving in copious amounts of standing water, according to experts, who says they'll start swarming as soon as the … |
Pests in the NewsAugust 02, 2011
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