Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Casey Prewitt
Get bed bugs to check out, permanently - Pest Management Professional
Question: I am having trouble eliminating bed bugs in a luxury hotel. We seem to get rid of them, but then they show up again. What am I missing? — Being Undeterred, Gathering Good Information Necessary for Greatness Answer: Thank you for the question, BUGGING. I know that answering a question with more questions can be frustrating, but as I sit here at my desk, I’m not sure what you’re missing.
Reflecting on 3 years as a columnist - Pest Management Professional
Every trade journal has a responsibility to readers to be dynamic, changing to encourage fresh content, looks, feel and value. Pest Management Professional (PMP) is a great publication going back to 1933. While on staff at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), I would periodically use my lunch break to read old original copies of Exterminators Log, the forerunner of today’s PMP. The NPMA’s library held a vast collection going all the way back to the first issue.
Build your brand identity - Pest Management Professional
Pest Management Professional asks its columnists and editorial advisory board members every month for responses to its “Question of the Month.” You can see this month’s section on p. 10. The November issue’s question, though — “What’s a good way to give your brand identity more exposure in your community?” — really made me take inventory of all the good ideas I’ve implemented at my company, as well as what I’ve seen work for several of my colleagues.
Create cleaning and disinfecting protocols for customers - Pest Management Professional
When we as an industry were asked to protect our customers from an invisible threat, we developed cleaning protocols, safety protocols and applied products we have never purchased before. Two years later, most of us have settled back into our normal revenue-generating pest control — while missing out on implementing those same cleaning procedures into our pest prevention programs. Take the common pests we deal with daily: rodents, cockroaches and flies.
Neogen adds member to professional pest sales team - Pest Management Professional
Neogen announced Andrew Fisher, BCE, PHE, as a new member to its professional pest sales team. Fisher joins the team in the newly created business unit specialist position highlighting his technical background. He most recently worked as the regional integrated pest management (IPM) manager for a pest management company specializing in fumigation. Fisher brings 10 years of industry experience and is based near Bloomington, Ill.
2023 State of the Industry: Cleared for takeoff - Pest Management Professional
Sunny skies are on the horizon, according to the respondents of Pest Management Professional’s (PMP’s) 2023 State of the Industry (SOI) survey. Many business owners have struggled to find and keep workers, a problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our SOI survey shows 90 percent of the pest management professional (PMP) respondents expect to retain at least 76 percent of their employees in 2023, about the same as last year’s results. PMPs are finding creative ways to shore-up their staffs.
Chemical control tactics against SPP - Pest Management Professional
Dealing with stored pest products (SPP) can be tricky, especially in a food-production or -processing environment. While sanitation and removal of infested products are the primary ways to achieve long-term control, there are situations that require chemical control tactics. For example, if a shipment of infested product is inadvertently accepted and there is an audit coming up, it may be necessary to fog so as to knock down the adults to meet third-party auditing requirements.
Neogen: California approves SureKill Baits - Pest Management Professional
Now approved for use in the state of California, Neogen’s imidacloprid-based SureKill Ant and SureKill Roach Gel Baits offer exceptional adhesion when treating hard-to-reach places, helping your bait stay where it’s applied while providing around-the-clock control. Each single cartridge contains 40 grams of bait, and will provide approximately 1,000 applications, when used as directed. Both baits are available in four-pack and single-cartridge offerings. NeogenProfessionalPest.com
Use a business plan to help guide growth - Pest Management Professional
What is your plan for growth? We’ve all heard the saying “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” The goal of a business plan is to know and understand where you’re going and create the roadmap on how to get there. Like most businesses, we, too, are currently working on a business plan. GETTING STARTED Our team started the process by looking at our goals at five-, three-, and one-year intervals.
Deer mouse: Peromyscus maniculatus - Pest Management Professional
The deer mouse is actually the most common and widely distributed mouse in the United States, although it is absent from most of the Gulf states and large sections of the eastern coastal states. Deer mice are nearly indistinguishable in appearance and habits from white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), but they are separate species. Both average about 6 inches long, including a 2.5-inch tail.
Insect growth regular treatments to protect against SPP - Pest Management Professional
When used in conjunction with insecticides, regularly scheduled insect growth regulator (IGR) treatments within a commercial food facility can provide additional protection against stored pest products (SPP) that might be overlooked in low-level infestations. Many times, IGRs are viewed as more account-friendly by customers, and require less preparation or cleanup after application. Keep in mind, however, that most labeled IGRs are intended only to prevent growth within SPP populations, not kill.
Neogen adds 2 to professional pest sales team - Pest Management Professional
Neogen introduced two new members to the professional pest sales team: Mark Turner and Sarah Starinshak, who will be representing the SureKill brand. Turner joins the team in the newly created southeast territory manager position, covering the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. He most recently worked 11 years on the service side of the industry at a Top 100 company.
The most dangerous tick - Pest Management Professional
Ticks are on the rise, so it is no surprise that tick-borne diseases are on the rise as well. Some ticks can cause conditions not related to any pathogens, such as the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and tick paralysis. And it gets worse. PROLIFIC REPRODUCER The relative newcomer is the Asian longhorn tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis). It transmits several pathogens to livestock in the United States, but is still being studied for its role as a vector of human pathogens.
Limit pests by eliminating odors at the source - Pest Management Professional
There’s an unlimited “supply” of house flies (Musca domestica) and blow flies (Calliphoridae) in the environment. Help limit attraction to the building by treating dumpsters and areas with organic debris with bio-sanitation products, to eliminate odors at the source. Exempt botanicals have no impervious surface restrictions and are highly repellent, so they’re another option for exterior treatment of food facilities.
Hold these SPP truths to be self-evident - Pest Management Professional
Question: Dan, I just picked up a food processing account that has a history of stored product pest (SPP) issues. Is there anything special I need to do here? — Mulling Over the History Answer: The first thing you need to do, MOTH, is not focus too much on the “stored product” part of the “SPP issues” designation. Certainly, knowing exactly what food materials present SPP gives you an advantage by allowing you to implement inspection and monitoring programs tailored to the expected pests.
Deep-cleaning important for pest control - Pest Management Professional
The professional pest management industry has expanded from pest mitigation to become more established as guardians of public health and safety. When many of us were asked to protect our customers from an “invisible pest” during the pandemic, we developed cleaning and safety protocols, and applied products we had never purchased in the past.
Neogen: SureKill 904 - Pest Management Professional
SureKill 904 provides broad-spectrum disinfection for use on hard, nonporous surfaces, helping you to protect customers against bacteria, fungi and viruses that cause disease and economic loss. These include Salmonella, E. coli and avian influenza. In addition to being a one-step disinfectant,SureKill 904 is a cleaner, sanitizer, viricide and more. With low mix rates and a broad label, it can be used in many different facilities for a variety of applications. NeogenProfessionalPest.com
5 questions with Gilles Galliou - Pest Management Professional
On March 10, Bayer AG, based in Leverkusen, Germany, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Environmental Science unit to Cinven, a private-equity firm based in London, England, for $2.6 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of this year.
Professional pest control is an endurance sport - Pest Management Professional
Photo: budgaugh/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images Question: Hiring good employees is hard enough, but given the physical challenges of our industry, what can I do to help retain employees by making their lives a little easier? — Hoping Employees Always Like to Have Youthfulness Answer: Great question, HEALTHY. Everyone is familiar with the adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” By and large, we embrace that philosophy as an industry.
Prevention of stinging insects - Pest Management Professional
Harry Bryan, manages mid-south territory, Nisus Corporation Insects that sting are a potential health risk. In fact, it is reported that stinging insects send up to 500,000 people to the emergency room each year. For this reason, stinging insects strike fear in the average homeowner. Sometimes a customer will call specifically for a stinging insect issue.
Finding alternative methods to remove stinging insects - Pest Management Professional
Casey Prewitt, Sales Manager, Professional Pest Management, Neogen In many cases, reaching stinging insects can be more dangerous than the treatment itself. Stinging insects often create nests out of sight, meaning elevated spaces or tight access areas for your technicians. Stinging insect jobs aren’t complex, but they may require tools that often are not used daily. Because of this, ladder safety education should be a key part of your yearly training with technicians.
Cockroach control in commercial kitchens - Pest Management Professional
Tough jobs require tough solutions. Cockroach control in commercial kitchens can be extremely challenging, thanks to the presence of moisture, grease, food, and harborage sites. Combine all of this with bait-averse or pesticide-resistant German cockroach populations, and the gauntlet has been thrown down. To prevail in such battles, use an appropriately labeled contact insecticide featuring the active ingredient acephate.
The birds and the bees - Pest Management Professional
One of Creager’s clients snapped this photo of a birdhouse in his backyard, noting it only took a few weeks to get this way. Photo: Rodrigo Balmaceda Almost 10 years ago, when Kimberly Creager retired from more than three decades as a union carpenter in Fairfield, Calif., she took up a new hobby. Or perhaps more correctly, the hobby — beekeeping — took up with her. “A friend of mine wanted to get rid of his hives, which had fallen into a bit of disrepair, to be honest,” she explains.
Neogen: SureKill Single Cartridge Ant and Roach Bait - Pest Management Professional
The industry asked, and Neogen listened: SureKill Ant and Roach Gel have been taking the gel bait industry by storm with their exclusive bait matrix since they were released last spring. These fast-acting, imidacloprid gel baits were originally launched in a four-pack offering, but feedback from the industry indicated a strong interest in single-cartridge packaging. Each single cartridge contains 40 grams of bait, and will provide approximately 1,000 applications, when used as directed.
Tips for customers to avoid bed bugs - Pest Management Professional
People often don’t take the threat of bed bugs very seriously — until they have them. By that point, drastic measures usually are required. One of the most common questions asked of pest management professionals is, “How can we avoid getting bed bugs ever again?” To conclude your work properly and offer customers a little extra added value, give them the following tips: Check regularly for bed bugs. Caught early enough, it’s possible that a full-blown infestation can be prevented.
UPFDA members reconnect in-person - Pest Management Professional
Enjoying UPFDA’s reception taking place after its annual member meeting at PestWorld 2021 are, from left, James Rodriguez, ACE, B&G Equipment Co.; industry lobbyist George Braun, Esq.; Agri-Turf Distributing’s Lon Records and Rich Records; and Paragon’s Brennan Brashears.
Sprayers to use when treating bed bugs - Pest Management Professional
Casey Prewitt, Sales Manager, Professional Pest Management, Neogen Treatment options and application equipment are some of the most crucial decisions that must be made for success against bed bug infestations. From small, non-pressurized sprayers to electrostatic equipment, each has its own place within the treatment process. Electrostatic sprayers have brought a new excitement to chemical applications and, as more real-world testing occurs, have proven to bring new life to many chemicals.
Neogen: SureKill Aerosol Line - Pest Management Professional
The SureKill aerosolized insecticide portfolio boasts an array of different application methods and use sites to provide solutions for pest management professionals (PMPs) in a wide variety of settings. SureKill Flusher, a patented, nonflammable, dry fog aerosol, has been a long-trusted favorite of many PMPs as it offers peace of mind around ignition sources. CT-511, a dual-synergized pyrethrum formula, is an ideal choice for indoor applications, including restaurants and homes.
Neogen Corp.: SureKill Rebate
With rodent season in full swing, now more than ever is the time to replenish your stock of rodenticides. Whether it’s adding a new active into your rotation or trying out a new bait matrix, Neogen’s SureKill line has you covered this season. Formulated with grains, seeds, and other food-grade quality ingredients, this powerful combination creates an irresistible formulation for effective control in most environments. Now through Dec.
Plan for detection and treatment of stored product pests - Pest Management Professional
Casey Prewitt, Sales Manager, Professional Pest Management, Neogen Many pest management professionals (PMP) consider stored product pests to be an easy situation that can be solved by locating and removing the infested product, then shooting some aerosol in a few areas around the site to take care of remaining life stages. But sometimes, it’s not so simple.
The importance of the sales process - Pest Management Professional
Editor’s Note: This is Part I of a two-part column. Part II will appear in the November issue. Photo: LightFieldStudios/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images During my junior year of college, my then-fiancée (and current Queen) Tami and I were very fortunate to land jobs at an exclusive country club outside of Chicago, Ill. I started out as a valet and worked my way up to waiter. This particular country club was full of business tycoons, venture capitalists, bankers, lawyers, heart surgeons, etc.
Bell Sensing Technologies: T-REX iQ Rat Snap Traps - Pest Management Professional
IMAGE: BELL SENSING TECHNOLOGIES Because rats travel in hard-to-reach areas, T-REX iQ rat snap traps use technology to make trapping easier at any account — by checking traps without needing to access them. Say goodbye to checking crawlspaces, attics, ceilings and other out-of-the-way locations until there is a verified catch. T-REX iQ communicates to the technician whether the trap has a catch, before he or she ever reaches for a ladder.
Fly control procedures may align with disinfecting services - Pest Management Professional
Casey Prewitt, Sales Manager, Professional Pest Management, Neogen We have learned so much in the past year — from how resilient our industry is, to how important pest management professionals (PMPs) are to the health and safety of this world. When we were asked to protect our customers from an invisible pest, we developed cleaning and safety protocols, and applied products we never purchased in the past.
Consider safety first when treating for stinging insects
Casey Prewitt, Sales Manager, Professional Pest Management, Neogen When the topic of stinging insects comes up, the first thoughts from most people are about which products they are going to use to take care of the issue. My first thoughts are about how I am going to treat them safely and efficiently.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Casey
Contact Casey, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack