Archive for July, 2012

Rat warning as sewers flush out pests

Rats washed out of sewers are infesting homes amid more daytime sightings. The industry estimates the number of call-outs to rat-catchers in flood-hit areas is up by a quarter. CIEH director Julie Barratt said: “We know huge numbers …

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Pests in the NewsJuly 14, 2012

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Researchers use oxygenated phosphine fumigation to control insect

A fumigant called phosphine is more effective at controlling insects when it’s combined with oxygen, according to findings by a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist. The oxygen-phosphine combination could be an environmentally …

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Pests in the NewsJuly 14, 2012

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Studying bugs on a body can help solve murders, students in Hunterdon learn

Detectives working on a murder case can learn a tremendous amount from the maggots, flies and other on the body. How long the person has been dead and whether the killing took place there or elsewhere are among the things that can be …

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Pests in the NewsJuly 14, 2012

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Soft-scale insects ‘raining’ honeydew – The News Journal

Soft-scale insects 'raining' honeydew
The News Journal
Scale insects pierce and suck plant juices or cell contents out of their host plant and come in two types — soft and armored.

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Pests in the NewsJuly 14, 2012

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New insect bugs out area residents – Idaho Press-Tribune

New insect bugs out area residents
Idaho Press-Tribune
Though it looks like a Box Elder, False Chinch, or Western Conifer Seed bug — all members of the same insect family — this bug is a species all its own, according to Ariel Agenbroad, a horticulture educator with the University of Idaho Extension in …

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Pests in the NewsJuly 14, 2012

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Jul 12, 2012 – The Path to Professionalism

QUESTION:

In your opinion, what is the difference between a pest control technician and a “spray jockey” or a “Dale Gribble” type besides the official stuff like training and accreditation.

ANSWER:

Well, this is one of those questions I just love to ramble on about, but also one I am really passionate about, and I’ll take a couple of different paths here. Let me start with a comparison and offer that there are a lot of professional school teachers or professors out there who, without a doubt, really know their subject matter and who may have several degrees and other accreditation, but who do not have the ability to “teach” that information to others. Similarly, we have plenty of people working in professional pest management who may attend a lot of training events and have state-issued licenses and other accreditation, but who maybe did not pay close attention to what was taught at those training events or perhaps just chooses to stick to the fast and easy way of doing things. It may have as much to do with desire and attitude as it does with the formal training and licensing. On the other hand, there are a great many highly professional people in our industry who do not have to multiple licenses or much formal training, but they have good common sense, high moral standards, and a strong sense of what needs to be done to resolve a pest problem properly. 

I feel fortunate to have known quite well Mr. Norm Ehmann, a former star in our company and one who felt his own passion for moving the pest control industry forward into professionalism. His enthusiasm for educating technicians and owners rubbed off on me, and watching the changes over 35 years proves that this desire has made positive changes. I don’t watch the TV show “King of the Hill”, so I really don’t know how Dale Gribble is portrayed there, but I assume from the context of your question that he is not exactly the role model our industry wants to see on mass media. Unfortunately, portrayals like this one or the awful “B……. The Exterminator” reality (is that really “reality”) show might convince the American Public that this is how our industry really is, and they fail to separate true reality from entertainment. 
I think the true professional in pest management continues to learn everything he or she can about this industry, stays on top of changes and new issues that come along, willingly accepts that changes are going to be made and must be followed, and looks for the best long term solution to pest problems with the least use of toxic materials. He does not have a one-shoe-fits-all approach to all pest problems, but recognizes that different products are best for different issues. He has a strong focus on proper identification to ensure that a “pest” is actually present, and avoids the use of pesticides when it is not necessary. He works with the customer to teach them about contributing conditions on their property and how to resolved those conditions so that a pest problem is reduced or prevented non-chemically. 
The spray jockey uses pesticide whether or not it is needed because he is convinced that the customer is not going to pay if “something” is not sprayed, and the more the merrier. The spray jockey hops out of his truck on that monthly or quarterly account and, without bothering to inspect the property, just starts spraying the usual chemical that he always uses on that account. The spray jockey does not involve the customer in the selection of products to be used nor spends any time helping the customer to understand what the problems are and why they exist there. After all, the more the customer know the less mystery there is about pest control. The spray jockey doesn’t care what kind of bug it is or whether or not it is a beneficial or a pest, but works on the policy that the only good bug is a dead bug, and wants to see zero living creatures on the customer’s property. 
Fortunately we have tremendous leadership in the pest management industry, not only with the National Pest Management Association but every state association as well as the many university and private consultants who work so hard to teach us what they know. They have for decades preached the messages I summarize above, that IPM is absolutely necessary if we expect to provide  the best long term control with the goal of reduced use of pesticides. They preach that proper ID is absolutely necessary if we are to choose the proper methods and products to manage that pest. They work with the regulatory agencies and those groups who are not fond of our industry to come to compromise and workable regulations. 
But, ultimately it boils down to the technician himself, and whether he is just in this for a buck or wishes to be professional, effective, and concerned with the environment. Something about leading a horse to water………

View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.

Pest QuestionsJuly 14, 2012

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Wanted for wanton acts of garden destruction

From storms to , gardeners have recently felt nature’s wrath. Even though the super derecho is now nearly two weeks in the past, I am sure that a few of you have some major clean-up to do. It is a real shame to see so many old …

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Pests in the NewsJuly 13, 2012

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Leaf galls aren’t pretty, but rarely a problem

When it becomes an adult insect, it emerges from the gall. Inducing a gall is part of the normal life cycle of many and mites, and trees and the species that cause galls have evolved together. Leaf galls rarely cause serious harm to …

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Pests in the NewsJuly 13, 2012

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Pest & Disease Management – Thrips – Horticulture Week

Pest & Disease Management – Thrips
Horticulture Week
But it is WFT that attracts all the attention because of its significance as a worldwide pest of many crops, its speed of reproduction and its ability to transmit plant viruses. WFT reached the UK in the 1980s through the international trade in plants …

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Pests in the NewsJuly 13, 2012

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Control those common pests in the July garden – Gettysburg Times

Control those common pests in the July garden
Gettysburg Times
Summer's here and so are the pests. What is your plant suffering from and how should you take care of it? Here are some common problems facing our gardens in July.

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Pests in the NewsJuly 13, 2012

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