Pest Management Professional, July 2015

Tips Tricks anTS Control Solutions Inc By Marie Knox PCO Technical Manager Product Development The last few years have presented pest management professionals PMPs with challenges when it comes to managing ant populations around customers structures From wacky weather conditions and exotic species to new label language about synthetic pyrethroids controlling ants and selecting the best products isnt always easy Theres no one size fts all product or program for ant control Sound ant management requires great inspection techniques an analysis of the situation which includes identifying the species determining which products will work best in each situation and most importantly constant clear communication with customers Setting homeowners expectations up front will help you avoid callbacks and disappointments throughout the process and long after youve solved their ant problem Syngenta Professional Pest Management By Dr Nicky Gallagher Technical Services Manager North America has approximately 1000 different species of ants which is why identifcation is key to a successful ant control program especially with the threat of new invasive ant species For example the European fre ant Myrmica rubra is being found in more areas in Maine This ant aggressively defends its colony and readily stings which might prevent homeowners from fully enjoying their outdoor surroundings If you encounter unusual ants collecting a sample for identifcation can help lead to discovering weak links in insect biology and result in control Ensystex By Joe Craft Technical Representative When customers and prospects call you about ant problems it is important to exchange information Tell customers not to use any do it yourself products Ants need to be present when a technician arrives so he or she can fnd ant nests more easily by following trails Five good questions to ask when setting up the appointment are 1Do you see one ant or many 2Where do you see them 3On what are they feeding 4Has another pest management company serviced your property 5Have you seen an ant nest if so where Rockwell Labs Ltd By Dr Cisse Spragins Founder CEO Offense is the best defense for controlling ants A quarterly perimeter treatment with a 10 percent boric acid granular bait starting as soon as the weather warms gives ants something to take back to the nest This economical treatment addresses the root of the problem vs just chasing them away for a while like repellent treatments The baits weather resistance allows it to last as long as 90 days outdoors For infestations a multi pronged approach is best Imidacloprid granular bait will provide a fast knockdown and should be applied in affected areas A sweet gel or syrup ant bait should be applied along trails on and inside a structure A nonrepellent also can be applied per the label and will not interfere with the bait This combined strategy will help ensure success in one trip and avoid costly callbacks Terminix International By Paul Curtis BCE Manager Technical Services While the quality and value of your service often is measured by what is left behind during an application you can increase customer satisfaction and reduce callbacks by doing some taking when dealing with ants TakE ThE TIME To MakE a PoSITIvE IdEnTIfICaTIon of anTS bEfoRE you bEgIn TREaTMEnT While many species of ants look and behave similarly they all will not respond to the same treatment techniques conTinued on Page 60 58 July 2015 Pest Management Professional mypmp net