Pest Management Professional, May 2018

Tips Tricks OCCASIONAL INVADERS Control Solutions Inc By Dr Janis Reed BCE Technical Services Manager Product Development Team Weve all gotten the call for tiny little jumping bugs that dont bite What are they Most often these mysterious bugs are identified as springtails Order Collembola While homeowners often describe them as a plague in reality they are beneficial insects that is when they stay outdoors where they belong In their natural habitat springtails typically feed on fungi plant material or algae One common source is a sprinkler head installed improperly pointing directly at the structure rather than the turf This leads to high moisture levels and in turn can cause a springtail infestation If you suspect them indoors look for such damp environments as leaks or pinholes in plumbing roof leaks humidifiers mulch or organic material piled up next to the structure or decaying produce Generally once the moisture levels are brought under control or remediated the insects will desiccate and die or relocate themselves I recommend aerosols or dry foam applications in the areas where springtails are active so you dont introduce more moisture into the environment Rockwell Labs By Dr Cisse Spragins Founder and CEO Overwintering pests such as cluster flies stink bugs lady beetles and boxelder bugs are difficult because pest management professionals PMPs often get called in once these pests have emerged indoors The best treatment is of course to treat the outside of the structure in the fall before these pests make their way into cracks and crevices on the structure An advertising campaign in late summer will help remind customers to schedule the preventive service These pests can be a problem outdoors too when large numbers of them congregate on the outside of the structure This also typically results in some getting inside as well Exempt 25 b botanicals have some great advantages for the treatment of these pests They are strong repellents which is what you want to keep them out of cracks and crevices on the structure In addition they do not have impervious surface label restrictions so if pests are covering the whole side of the structure for example there is no issue with treating that entire area Always read and follow label directions Botanicals in wettable dust form are ideal for spraying cracks and crevices to provide both strong repellency and extended residual In geographies with chronic problems proactive attic treatment with silica dust is a good option It can be applied in dust form and also as a liquid slurry with some ultra low volume ULV type equipment which helps minimize dust Silica does not break down from heat so it can remain active for years in attics Bayer By Dr John Paige III Senior Scientist Want to take the crazy out of treating megacolony ants Follow this protocol based on 15 years of research In cooler months broadcast a granule product around the perimeter of the structure This will create a first line of defense and kill a lot of megacolony ants including crazy Argentine and odorous house species Then place bait stations next to the structure to create another barrier In the summer months as the mercury rises and ants are deprived of moisture use a bait mixture diluted with sugar water Fill bait stations with this solution and place them every 25 to 50 ft around the structure Megacolony ants will go crazy for this liquid and share it with the whole colony Nisus Corp By Dr Reid Ipser Director of Technical Services There are different levels of occasional invader issues An outlier intrusion of an earwig is a different issue than a stink bug infestation for example Earwigs and house crickets can be controlled with perimeter sprays with a focus on door and window frames The brown marmorated stink bug species Halyomorpha halys in particular tends to be attracted to siding that catches heat from the sun Spraying siding and adjacent shrubs will help reduce population levels Mechanical exclusion is the best method to keep these bugs from entering homes and buildings Seal cracks around windows doors siding etc Damaged screens on doors and windows should be repaired or replaced conTinued on Page 82 MORE ONLINE Visit mypmp net for more Tips Tricks from industry suppliers 80 May 2018 Pest Management Professional mypmp net