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The Pest Monitor

Volume 8, No. 1

February 2000

If you want creative workers,

give them enough time to play. John Cleese

Quiz Answered

As you remember, the insect to the left was occurring in the den of a client and was creating a nuisance. The insect in question belongs to the family Cucujidae and the family is referred to as the "flat bark beetles." This particular one, however, is the saw-toothed grain beetle. It has been recorded from various stored materials, including cereals, dried meats, dried fruits, brown rice, oats, bird seed, snuff, etc. Its occurrence in the den may be related to an infested material in this area, or it may be emerging from a food product in the kitchen and flying to lights in the den.

Possibilities in the den might include a bird cage or an aquarium. If either is present, the food for these family animals is probably close, and it could have become infested. In the case of the bird cage, an accumulation of loose seeds in cracks and crevices may have become infested and could have led to the occurrence of the adults in the room. One final explanation may center on the fireplace if one is present, especially if it is not used to any great extent. The possibility exists that rodents may have stored seed in the chimney. If not eaten, the seed could have become infested and that became the source of the infestation.

The other possibility that I mentioned earlier is that the insects were emerging from something in the kitchen and are flying to the den. One would think that if this were the case, the clients would have seen them in the kitchen as well as in the den. Bottom line, be alert to all possibilities as to the source of an infestation. This will help you develop a successful control option for the pest, and it will be a confidence builder for you in the eyes of your client. Developing a plan around the identification of the pest plus its biology is better than telling the client that "aw I don't know what that thing is but the stuff we use will getum."

Meeting Courtesies

Meetings are an important part of every profession. Attendees can learn new techniques, brush up on old ones, investigate new products, visit with old friends or make new friends. There are distractions; however, which can make a meeting less than productive. The following are a few that one might encounter at any given meeting:

 

Whisperers. Not every topic that is covered at a meeting is of interest to everyone, so what happens. One person will turn to another and begin discussing another topic that might cover anything from local politics to some other way of doing "x" pest control technique. I term this category "whispers," but a whisper might soon turn in to a low hum, especially if the whisperee can not understand the whisperer. This becomes a distraction to those who are sitting close to this "whispersation." There is even a possibility that the whisperee might want to hear the presentation but does not want too hurt his friend's feelings. There are ample breaks as well as evening activities that will allow for other conversations, and one will not have to converse in whispers.

 

Door Talkers. This event usually takes place at the door B it may be on the inside of the room or in the hallway, immediately outside the door. This group tends to talk a little louder than the "whispersation" B they may think that since they are in the back of the room or in the hall, they will not bother anyone. That's not the case. The hum from this discussion drifts into the back rows, and it is as distracting as the "whispersation."

 

Pager and Cell Phone Junkies. Why would anyone come to a meeting and bring these devices? Surely, the office can survive for one or two hours without having to talk with someone. A call or page can occur anywhere in the room and, then if the person decides to respond, they getup and stumble over people as they get to the isle. This upsets a number of people around the call and once the callee has left, they have to reestablish their train of thought. This does not happen as frequently as it did at one time, but it still happens. If one feels that they have to check-in, tell the office staff that you will call at the breaks (leave a copy of the program with the office staff) to handle any difficulties that might arise. Another way of handling this is to have a pager which is a vibrator. The paged person turns it off and again calls at the break.

Safety and Rodent Control

The Pest Control Industry deals with a vast array of pest species and most of the time this is done in a safe and efficient manner. However, there is one rodent control technique that is associated with some misuse, the use of placement packs. Over the years these packs have been referred to as throw packs. What is the proper use of rodenticides formulated as pellets and placed in packets? What I think or what you think along this line is not important. What is important is the label. So lets take a look at Talon:

  •  Under Environmental Hazards. "It is illegal to sell these bait packs individually."
  •  Under Directions for Use. "Do not expose children, pets, or other non-target animals to rodenticides."
  • "Apply bait in locations out of reach of children, pets, domestic animals and non-target wildlife, or in tamper-resistant bait stations."
  • Under Directions for Use. Use Restrictions. "Do not use in sewers."
  • "Do not place bait in areas where there is a possibility of contaminating food or surfaces that come in direct contact with food."
  • "Do not broadcast bait."

These are some selected statements from the label, and, based on these statements, it would be inadvisable to place the packet in clearly visible areas. Now the next question might be "what if there are no children, pets, domestic animals or non-target wildlife in the area?" My response would be name this area. One never knows if a parent will bring a child to work because the sitter did not come, or maybe it is "bring your child to the workplace day," or what about the workers in the area. I know it is politically correct to mention children, but if we are all safe, then the child will be safe as well.

The other areas of concern are restaurants and cafeterias. Recently, Dr. Jerome Goddard observed rodenticide pellet packs in food storage rooms at two locations and made the following comments. "One occurred at a restaurant and the other at a school cafeteria. In both instances, pellet packs were found openly lying on the shelves next to sacks of flour, boxes of pancake mix, etc. Particularly disturbing was the fact that the school cafeteria also stored individual cracker and crouton packages loosely in an open box on the shelf. One of the rodenticide pellet packs could have easily been mistaken for a pack of croutons (the packages were approximately the same shape and size). The indiscriminate use of the pellet packs violates the label, hence EPA/Mississippi Department of Agriculture regulations, as well as Mississippi Department of Health rules about placing toxic substance on/near food. These instances were handled by bringing the placement of these materials to the attention of the pest control company, and they were promptly removed."

The inevitable question comes to mind "what would have happened if an accidental poisoning would have occurred from one of these instances?" Anyone can dream up a number of headlines about the misuse of pesticides and why did the company not know better. I know the use of bait stations increases the cost (the cost of the station, the labor to install them, plus checking) but if the Industry is going to be considered as the "Protectors of the Environment," one does not want to create more problems than one solves. J. Jarratt & J. Goddard

Head Lice

Head lice seem to appear more frequently at two times in the school year. These are shortly after school starts in the Fall and then one to two months before school is out in the Spring. This may be more perception than reality; however, it seems to work in this manner. If this is true, then there is the possibility that some calls will be made to pest control companies about the lice control in schools. Some think that general sprays are needed for louse control and that is not the case. These insects are very dependent upon the warmth and humidity generated by the host, and they will not survive for long periods of time if dislodged from the host. Controls are directed at the infested person or persons. The following will be helpful if you are called on as an insect expert:

  • As mentioned, controls should be directed at the infested person or persons. This is done with insecticidal shampoos containing permethrin, or pyrethrins plus piperonyl butoxide. A prescription is needed for permethrin; however, pyrethrin is available as an across the counter material. Directions should be followed closely. Also, other family members should be inspected, as more than half of lice-infested children have another infested family member at home.
  • The shampoos come with a fine-tooth comb and this should be used during the infestation. Combing with this comb will remove the nits or eggs from the hair follicle. This procedure is very important, as the shampoos do not give 100% control of the eggs and, if the eggs are not removed, the process might start over at the end of the shampooing.
  • As a precaution, bed cloths and personal items such as combs should be cleaned. Sheets and pillow cases can be laundered with hot soapy water. Combs and brushes should be soaked for ten minutes in very hot water. If a child sleeps with a stuffed animal, it should also be cleaned. This can be done by placing the item in direct sunlight for four to eight hours.
  • Length of hair may also play a role in a persistent infestation. It may be difficult to comb out nits or to get good coverage if the hair is extremely long. Some parents do not want to consider cutting the hair, but it may be necessary.

Termite Season is Upon Us

I am sure that by the time you receive this, a number of termite swarms will have been recorded. Were you ready or will you be ready when the calls arrive? Consider the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


A. Swarmer,
B. Worker,
C. Soldier,
D. Developing Supplementary,
E. Mature Supplementary Reproductive

 

                                                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Was the equipment working well when last used?
  • Did you have equipment that was in need of repair going into the winter?
  • Familiarize yourself with the different stages of the termite and what you might see if called or specimens are brought in?
  • Can you tell the difference between the eastern subterranean termite (EST) and the Formosan Sub. (FST)?
  • What stages are used in termite identification, Soldiers and alates or  swarmers?
  • The EST soldier has a rectangular head while the FST has a tear dropped shaped head.
  • The body of the FST is a honey gold color while that of the EST is black.
  • The wings of the EST swarmer do not have hairs while those of the FST have many small hairs along the leading edge and within the wing.
  • What type of foundation will you be treating? The pictures of the basic types are included for review.
  • Do you know what type you will be treating before you price the job?
  • A modification of the supported slab will have a j-block or l-block on the top rung of the foundation wall. This foundation type has the potential to present as many problems in post-construction treatments as the floating slab. Evidently, a number of these foundation types are occurring in the north central part of the State.
  • If you are pre-treating a slab, do you know if there will be insulation or stucco below grade?
  • Do you know if insulation or stucco are present in a post-construction treatment job?
  • Have you reviewed the termiticide label for changes that might have occurred since last year?

Quiz

How would one pre-treat the inside foundation wall of a floating and or supported slab?

 

James Jarratt
Extension Specialist


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