Pest Management Professional, December 2012

NPMA Tips WILDLIFE Dr Jim Fredericks t Contributor Folk Remedies and Pseudo Experts Create Tough Challenges for Professionals I n July the Muncie Star Press reported that five farm supply stores had been fined by the Indiana State Chemists Office the agency that regulates pesticide use for promoting off label pesticide applications to consumers for control of nuisance raccoons According to the report store clerks advised consumers to mix fly bait containing methomyl a carbamate insecticide formulated as a granular bait to control flies as part of a dodgy illegal recipe to kill raccoons These unlawful recommendations landed the farm supply stores in hot water with pesticide regulators who posed as consumers as part of an undercover sting operation The agency followed up with regulatory action Unfortunately as a quick search of the Web confirms pest professionals are faced with overcoming recommendations from unqualified experts and their folk remedies daily This case of consumer pesticide misuse is an example of why the pest management industry is essential for protecting the health and property of consumers Not only would a trained and licensed pest management professional never dream of such a blatant and dangerous misuse of an insecticide a professional knows many other effective and humane methods of trapping and removal that could be employed that dont involve the promotion of hazardous off label pesticide abuses Unfortunately as a quick search of the Web confirms the cases in Indiana arent isolated Pest professionals are faced with overcoming recommendations from unqualified experts and their folk remedies daily Pest management professionals must continue to rely on integrating their extensive training and experience in urban entomology wildlife behavior construction practices and safety to provide the public with information and services that protect human health and property in the least hazardous and most effective manner Professionals see it as their duty to not only provide relief from pests and nuisance wildlife species and to be good stewards of the products and methods that are employed along the way PMP You can contact Dr Fredericks technical director for the National Pest Management Association NPMA at jfredericks@ pestworld org trumans quiz Chapter 15 of Trumans Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations discusses many of the insects or other types of arthropod pests encountered by urban pest management professionals PMPs including arachnids Pest Management Professionals PMPs Trumans Quiz questions are taken from Purdue Universitys Introduction to Urban and Industrial Pest Management IPM course which uses Trumans Guide as its textbook The answer to each monthly question will appear in the next issue of PMP This months question The ____________ spider is widely distributed over the warmer portions of the United States Females are easily identified because of the globular shiny black ___________ with two reddish or yellowish triangles on the underside The answer to last months question Lyme disease is b c 52 December 2012 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net