Pest Management Professional, February 2019

1 By Heather Gooch PMP Editor Purdue Pest Management Conference The 83rd annual Purdue Pest Management Conference took place Jan 7 9 on the West Layfayette Ind main campus of Purdue University Students exhibitors and attendees mingled and networked in what many consider the industrys Homecoming Week Naturally there was a lot of learning and new information to be had too Take for example the series of speakers industry fraternity Pi Chi Omega sponsored on the morning of the first day Dubbed the The Avengers of IPM Why Techs 3 are So Important the program kicked off with FMCs Arnold Sgt Safety Ramsey Pest Management Professional PMP Columnist and Rose Pest Solutions Vice President Mark Shep Mr Perfect Practices Sheperdigian BCE and Virginia Techs Dr Dini Ms Habit Hero Miller After lunch Dr Gary Bennett BCE a PMP Hall of Famer and the director of the conference officially performed the Opening Ceremonies They concluded with the ever humble Dr Bennett being recognized for his 50 years of attending the event Editors Note See p 85 for details After the merriment the focus turned to roaches and rodents for the afternoon Dr Miller called on attendees to quit thinking in terms of integrated pest management IPM for German cockroach accounts and instead think in terms of assessmentbased pest management APM The thinking behind APM is to get customer buy in by involving them from the start Tell them what youre going to measure how youre going to do it and what the metrics are now and what youre hoping to achieve Her presentation showcased just how well that worked in four different public housing accounts for which she was able to essentially eliminate cockroaches without even removing clutter Rather she used her taco method or as Ray Johnson called it in his June 2015 PMP column the Cockroach Cannoli of baiting The wax paper and bait combination was an irresistible lure to German cockroaches even when there were competing food sources Dr Claudia Riegel director of the New Orleans La Mosquito Termite and Rodent Control Board shared tips for using video cameras and other electronics in rodent control treatment PMP Hall of Famer Dr Bobby Corrigan then discussed additional new equipment and materials available for rodent control Tuesday and Wednesday were choc a block of various concurrent sessions covering everything from termites and other wood destroying insects to bed bugs to ants flies to stored product pests and fumigation wildlife and low toxic pest control Students from Purdues Urban Center Labs presented research updates and lab tours were given for interested attendees The awards and recognition luncheon took place Wednesday to cap off many attendees stay in West Lafayette This editor is pleased to report she received a 10 year certificate over a 22 year period and that Purdue doctoral student Aaron Ashbrook was this years recipient of the PMP scholarship Of course it wouldnt be a Purdue conference without the annual photo see p 88 The 84th annual conference will take place Jan 6 8 2020 Visit Extension entm purdue edu for details PMP You can reach GOOCH at hgooch@ northcoastmedia net or 330 321 9754 Roadtrip Roundup 1From left Pest Avengers Arnold Ramsey Shep Sheperdigian and Dr Dini Miller with Pi Chi Omega President Dale Baker J T Eaton 2Major milestones always go better with cake and this one served at the Jan 7 Exhibit Reception was topped with a photo collage of Dr Bennetts Purdue career Here Dr Kathy Heinsohn BCE American Pest Management entomologist and a former student of Dr Bennetts chuckles as she eats a photo of herself 3Dr Bobby Corrigan was the 50 50 winner at the Pi Chi Omega dinner and membership meeting Tuesday evening 14 February 2019 Pest Management Professional mypmp net PHOTOS HEATHER GOOCH 2