Pest Management Professional, April 2014

tips Ant Management Tips from the Trenches Pest Management Professional PMP asked several leading ant management professionals to share some of their hard earned wisdom Heres what they had to say By Patrick Mahoney Contributor Top 5 Ant Management Dos 1 Do be more persistent than the pest If youve ever watched an ant at work you already know about this pests persistence If controlling these highly adaptable insects was easy there would be no need for your service Be thorough in your observation precise in your diagnosis and exacting in your treatment 2Do bait and switch if needed If your bait isnt working consider the menu Like humans the dietary needs of ants vary If one bait fails to attract the critters try another Youre the chef and you need to bring ants to your restaurant so dont be afraid to experiment Sometimes another brand of the same bait can be enough to entice your diminutive diners 3Do reap referrals One of the best sources of new revenue is word of mouth referrals assuming your customers have good things to say about you and your service An added benefit from establishing an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect is your clients also are far more likely to cooperate in the ant management process 4Do CYA Cover your assets If a customer insists you deviate from the best course of action it might be best to walk away However most pest management professionals PMPs have to eat making it easier for rationalizations such as I suppose partial treatment is better than none at all or Who am I to argue with a customer In those cases where results might be compromised by the customers demands thoroughly explain the risks and always document any deviations from established protocols 5Do consider the source But never assume its the only one At the end of a long day or shortly before lunch you might be especially tempted to conclude theres only one source or colony especially if its been difficult to locate Dont stop inspecting and observing until youre certain youve found all sources of infestation Top 5 Ant Management Donts 1Dont think you know all there is to know When was the last time you and your team of techs carefully read the product labels on all of your ant control solutions Formulations and protocols change Never stop learning Every job is unique Even if youve been in the business for decades theres always something to learn or re learn 2Dont assume your client has common sense Sure its reasonable to assume your client knows enough to remove scraps of food and other detritus that attract ants or to keep children and pets away from treated areas But dont Tell them and put it in writing You never want to hear You didnt tell me 3Dont fall into the more is better trap Using more chemical or bait than necessary isnt better Follow labels and protocols precisely and avoid wasting time and money Too much of a good thing can be hazardous to your and your clients health 4Dont neglect customer education Explain how they can help prevent future outbreaks After all who will they blame when the ants return Decrease the chances of re infestation by ensuring your customer knows what needs to be done after your part is done 5Dont be afraid to charge what youre worth Making the prospect aware of all the potential health hazards and other costs of an infestation will go a long way toward justifying your price Tell the prospect another company might charge less but they might not eliminate the problem Paying a little more will give them the peace of mind that only effective treatment offers PMP You can reach Mahoney a Cleveland based freelancer at word maker@ hotmail com 56 April 2014 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net