Pest Management Professional, June 2014

tips tricks SPIDERS Continued from page 70 FMC Professional Solutions By Brian Mount Technical Service Manager More than 2000 species of spider are commonly found in the United States and despite the anxiety they create only a few indigenous species including the infamous black widow and brown recluse spiders can cause harm But the stigma and fright spiders create mean control is an important service provided by our industry When deciding to control them consider the following What species is involved If the target pest is one that inflicts venomous bites ensure technicians are suitably protected from contact with the adult spiders The chosen control method or product should also be nonrepellent to avoid exacerbating the problem by dispersing infestations Whats the true source of the problem Often spider webs in the occupied areas of a home or office are merely the tip of the infestation iceberg Make sure basements crawlspaces and unused storage areas are inspected to evaluate the extent of the infestation Why are spiders present Spiders are predators feeding on other arthropods Often their presence is an indication of other pest problems Eliminating conditions conducive to these pests will lead to more sustainable control of spiders Can physical control be used to achieve effective results Sometimes using feather dusters or vacuum cleaners are good first steps Although using appropriately registered insecticides is useful to extend the effective control period they always should be combined with nonchemical approaches to support an integrated pest management IPM approach Terminix By Stoy Hedges BCE Manager of Technical Services Spiders thrive in moist or humid environments conducive to insect survival Crawlspaces and attics with adequate ventilation have few spiders while those with little air movement can house dozens if not hundreds of spiders and their insect prey Attics depend on a sufficient number of soffit and rooftop vents to draw air through the soffits Crawlspaces might be problematic other than enough foundation vents such as ground to floor clearance standing water and drainage problems Vapor barriers pea gravel and sump pumps might be necessary for many crawlspaces to control moisture making the space less hospitable for spiders J T Eaton James Rodriguez ACE National Marketing Manager Cobweb spiders are found throughout North America and nest in irregular webs commonly upside down These webs can be found indoors near windows or interior wall corners The spider is found in the center of the web resting and waiting for its next prey Unless it has an hourglass shape like the widow spiders the bite is minimal its similar to a pinprick and normally doesnt require medical attention When treating for the spiders not only is a residual or contact insecticide treatment needed in the cracks and crevice around the nesting site but the removal of the unsightly web should be included in this service Additionally Always inspect webs before treating for egg sacs so no spiders are left behind Use your web duster by spinning the web duster head dont use a sweeping motion to capture the entire web Clean the web dusters head outside the structure especially if egg sacs are present Improve the seals around entry points to mechanically exclude spiders from the building Control light sources that occur on buildings so they wont draw other insects to the building and become food for spiders Suggest low wattage or insect type bulbs around the structure Following your basic integrated pest management IPM principles will lead to desirable results and having the right tools for the job is crucial to maintain the property and keep your customers happy 74 June 2014 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net