Pest Management Professional, April 2014

tips tricks STINGING INSECTS Ensystex By Steve Goscinsky Technical Representative The majority of U S pest management professionals PMPs include stinging insect control in their services whether included in a general service contract or on an as called basis Some are beekeepers with stinging insect control their sole service offering But even if its not your company focus by following proper protocol this pest segment can be very lucrative In the opinion of some PMPs todays professional grade products for stinging insect control are not as effective as those of just 10 years ago In reality products labeled for stinging insect control will do the job but as is always the case in our business adherence to the label is a must For example products labeled for stinging insects will tell you to treat in the evening when the occupants have returned to the nest Todays aerosols are designed to shoot a stream a distance of approximately 20 ft which enables PMPs to eliminate bald faced hornet nests for example quickly from the ground When using an aerosol aim the product directly into the nest opening Whenever possible the nest should be removed after treatment You can expect a certain percentage of insects might try to attack as well as possible chemical splashback This brings us to the subject of protection Never try to cut corners and treat without the proper personal protective equipment PPE such as a bee suit In addition to protecting yourself from potential stings you need to protect yourself from the chemical you are applying Stinging insect control often will involve ladders which bring additional risk One of my customers an upstate New York PMP with four decades of experience told me of an incident that happened to him While at a customers home on a stinging insect call he set up his ladder on the rear deck which was composed of plastic composite only to have his ladder slip out The result was a broken back and after three months he is finally on the road to recovery The lesson here is that plastic composite while a very durable construction product is extremely slippery even when dry Also be aware of the product formula you are using and how it might affect structures harboring the nests you are treating For example a common mistake is the use of aerosols on vinyl siding While the aerosols of today are not formulated with the 111 Trichloroethane of 10 plus years ago which could literally melt vinyl siding keep in mind they are typically pyrethroids formulated in a petroleum carrier Vinyl siding is a petroleum product therefore you run the risk of staining Your best bet in this type of situation is to use a suspension concentrate SC pyrethroid water carrier vs petroleum as a single product or in combination with a dust Finally remember that now more than ever we must all do our part to protect honeybees Whenever possible they must be removed rather than destroyed If you are not prepared to remove a nest of honeybees yourself make sure you have at least one contact with a beekeeper you can call In the future expect to see product label changes that specifically address protection of honeybees via timing of applications Syngenta Professional Pest Management By Dr ElRay Roper Senior Technical Representative Although scorpions might not be native to your area they can still threaten your customers by being transported in luggage shoes or other containers If your customers are faced with difficult scorpion problems they can be solved by using an integrated pest management IPM approach that includes the following Careful inspection Before conducting an inspection for scorpions ensure you are properly dressed including high top boots and gloves The most successful scorpion inspections are made with a black light after dark as scorpions glow under black light Scorpions prefer cool dark areas with high levels of moisture so check under rocks logs and litter as potential harborage areas The bark of trees palm fronds and even yard debris are all other places scorpions might be hiding Physical controls Keep scorpions outside of your customers properties by installing weather stripping around windows and doors caulking cracks and crevices and ensuring window and door screens are in good repair Trimming the landscape away from structures also can prevent scorpions from accessing hard to reach areas To make harborage even more difficult for scorpions remove potential shelters such as piles of building materials or firewood Chemical treatments Scorpions can be difficult to control with chemical methods alone so chemicals should be used as supplemental control methods After following the above steps consider applying an appropriately labeled insecticide to voids such as pipe chases utility penetrations and door frames Insecticide can also be used to control the pests that scorpions feed upon ants cockroaches wasps etc further reducing the food source for scorpions Central Life Sciences By Doug VanGundy Senior Director Research and Development Pest management professionals PMPs should proactively control stinging insect infestations yearround with an integrated pest management IPM program This program should begin with a thorough inspection around the exterior of the building looking for cracks holes and crevices that might act as entry points or a location for a nest Stinging insects peak activity is late spring through early fall This is the time when PMPs should pay careful attention to their customer sites choosing to implement proactive measures rather than waiting to respond to infestation problems Here are some tips to help you and your customers identify and control stinging pest infestations The eaves of the home are the most popular nesting spot for most species of paper wasps Other areas to check include attics soffits and window and door casings Continued on page 68 66 April 2014 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net