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Articles by Greg Baumann
Nisus promotes VP of regulatory and technical services
Nisus Corp. recently promoted Kim Kelley-Tunis, ACE, BCE, PCQI to vice president of regulatory and technical services. She will take over leadership of the department from Greg Baumann, who will remain with Nisus Corp. in a new role as a strategic consultant and regulatory public policy advocate. Baumann is also a former PMP columnist and current editorial advisory board member. Kelley-Tunis joined Nisus Corp. in 2022 as senior director of field services.
Ways to improve employee retention
We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial advisory board members share good ways to improve employee retention. Here are some of the experts’ responses from our December 2023 print edition. Please take a minute to answer our latest one-question poll on this topic: Reader poll: What’s a good way to improve employee retention? Jerry Schappert, ACE: “Increase job satisfaction.
Good ways to boost employee morale - Pest Management Professional
We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial advisory board members to share a good way to boost employee morale. Here are some of the experts’ responses from our May 2023 print edition. Please take a minute to answer our latest one-question poll on this topic: Reader poll: What’s a good way to boost employee morale?
J.T. Eaton: ZendoZones - Pest Management Professional
IMAGE: J.T. EATON Now available for order, J.T. Eaton introduces ZendoZones fruit fly traps for front-of-house and high-visibility areas, cleverly disguised as succulent plants. White (1818B-VAN) or terra cotta (1818B-HALEN, pictured) color bases available, with four plant designs per case. Lure sold separately, or use a lure of your choosing. JTEaton.com
Nisus hired Northeast area manager - Pest Management Professional
Nisus Corp. announced George Williams, ACE, PHE, has joined the team as a Northeast area manager. With over 30 years in the pest control industry, Williams will be part of Nisus’ presence in the Northeast and “in deepening customer support in a region where high population density across urban centers can result in particularly complicated situations for pest management professionals (PMPs)” according to the news release.
Benefits of offering cleaning and disinfection to customers - Pest Management Professional
Disinfection has become top of mind for the past few years, with many pest management professionals (PMPs) embracing the opportunity to provide these services. The term sanitation generally means cleaning, which is removal of debris from surfaces. Bio Sanitation is a term that Rockwell coined to refer to cleaning using beneficial microbes to digest organic debris. General cleaning products are not registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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.
EPA seeks public comment on proposed rodenticide updates - Pest Management Professional
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story, and the PMP staff will continue to update with new information as it becomes available. On Nov.
It is often incorrectly assumed that stored product pests (SPP) are only those insects that might get into the dried food goods in your pantry. In reality, the term “stored product pest” refers to insects that infest both food and non-food materials made from plant or animal origin. When you think about it, that list of materials comprises a whole lot of things.
Go beyond the pantry to find stored product pests - Pest Management Professional
Just when your customers think that throwing out an infested bag of popcorn did the trick in controlling an stored product pest (SPP) infestation — they find more the next morning in the cereal box. Why are these pests such stubborn opponents? In addition to their ability to hide in small cracks and corners where they can be easily missed, people mistakenly tend to think these annoyingly tenacious invaders can’t spread beyond the pantry into the rest of the house.
Control tips from a roof rat - Pest Management Professional
Pest Management Professional magazine (PMP): Roof rats sometimes take a back seat to the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), but it is a pest that is increasingly gaining attention, without a doubt. Today, we welcome the roof rat to get the inside scoop. RR: Thank you for having me. PMP: Many people are familiar with the Norway rat, which is not from Norway — it was only studied there. Are roof rats associated with a particular country?
Tips for tick control services - Pest Management Professional
We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial advisory board members to give tips for tick control services. Here are some of the experts’ responses from our September 2022 print edition. Please take a minute to answer our latest one-question poll on this topic and let us know how you promote disinfecting and sanitizing services: Reader poll: What advice do you give customers when providing tick control services?
Analyze your bed bug expertise - Pest Management Professional
Editor’s Note: Questions for this month’s test were contributed by Greg Baumann; Foster Brusca; Doug Foster; Pete Schopen; and Mark Sheperdigian, BCE. Want to know your grade? Send your answers to pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net, and we’ll let you know how you did.
Pest Posse TV announces October programming - Pest Management Professional
The content The Pest Posse is offering in October is in line with its mission to be “a trusted resource for training and information pest management professionals (PMPs) need to sharpen their skills and gain knowledge.” Check out The Pest Posse TV lineup for October: Aired: Oct. 3: New direction for Nisus Scheduled: Oct. 10: Scientific revolution in bird abatement Oct. 13: Learning about leadership Oct. 17: Learning about ESA certification programs Oct. 24: PestWorld 2022 review Oct.
PPMA continues its mission to promote PMPs - Pest Management Professional
The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), was founded in 1996. (Editor’s Note: For PPMA silver-anniversary coverage, see the June issue.) As an advocate and voice for the industry, we are continuously working to educate homeowners and businesses about the importance of professional pest control in protecting public health, property and time management from the threat of pests.
A call to support ‘United to Beat Malaria’ - Pest Management Professional
Earlier this year, I began working with Jonathan Kidwell as I looked for ways for the North American professional pest management community to help address vector-borne illnesses and food insecurity on a global scale. Kidwell is the senior officer, partnerships and development, for “United to Beat Malaria,” a campaign funded by the Washington, D.C.-based United Nations (UN) Foundation.
Multi-lingual labels for RUPs may be on the horizon - Pest Management Professional
A movement is underway to require multi-language product labels for restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) in the United States. Worker protection in the agriculture industry has been a political issue in the past. The promoters of multi-lingual labels are concerned field workers might not understand the pesticide labels.
What should all technicians have in their work vehicles? - Pest Management Professional
We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial advisory board members to name essentials to keep in work vehicles. Here are some of the experts’ responses from our September 2022 print edition. Please take a minute to answer our latest one-question poll on this topic and let us know how you promote disinfecting and sanitizing services: Reader poll: What should all technicians have in their work vehicles?
A deeper dive into the world of termites - Pest Management Professional
Pest Management Professional magazine (PMP): Some time ago, we interviewed a guest termite who gave us a lot of good information about subterranean termites (see “Callback Cures” of PMP’s September 2021 issue). That information made us thirsty for more information about this cryptic, yet fascinating insect. Today, we are going to catch up with our previous guest termite who agreed to return. Welcome back to PMP! Termite (T): Thank you, and I am glad to be back. I mean, I am really glad to be back.
WCS: Pitch Hopper Roof Wedge - Pest Management Professional
Ideal for bat work, chimney cap installation and more, the patented Pitch Hopper was designed and built by roofers to reduce daily fatigue and increase productivity. The product is designed to allow a temporary working surface on asphalt roofs for pitches ranging from “walking pitch” to 12:12. The grip surface uses friction force to keep The Pitch Hopper in place. Its wedge shape features one side for lower pitch and one for steeper pitch, allowing for easy usage and maximum comfort.
Fuel-friendly fleet options - Pest Management Professional
Because prices at the pump continue to rise this season, we asked around to see how the increase was influencing fleet purchasing decisions for pest management professionals (PMPs). Want to continue the conversation? Drop us a line at pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net. Selena Bira, co-owner of Advanced Pest Solutions, Litchfield, Maine, recently purchased this electric bicycle to use while cloverleafing in a 50-mile radius. “I also plan to use it on island jobs,” she says.
PMPs’ roads are paved with regulations - Pest Management Professional
One of my all-time favorite shows to watch was Seinfeld, billed as a “show about nothing.” In one episode, Kramer — one of the crazy characters — adopted a road, and of course he took it to the extreme in a funny way. Kramer looked at his stretch of road and decided the lanes were too restrictive, too cumbersome. He wanted everybody to be free on his road and have no restrictions. So, in classic Kramer style, he repainted the lines. Instead of four lanes, there were only two extra-wide lanes.
Keeping fly infestations under control - Pest Management Professional
Fly problems can get out of control quickly if the source of the infestation is not found. In commercial kitchens, improper sanitation of just one area, drain or spill may be the initial population source — but it can be extremely difficult to find all infested areas after populations have spread. One of the best ways to solve small fly issues is to understand four primary levels of filth and decay, to identify which small flies are associated with each level: Level 1.
The tangled web of well-intended laws - Pest Management Professional
The pest management industry always has been front and center of cutting-edge science. In the heyday of research support, the state governments had a significant investment in agricultural, forestry, land use, pest management and import research. Through it, regulatory agencies were put in place to make sure science was used in every realm, from gas mileage to imported foods.
Questions with liquid termiticide application - Pest Management Professional
Pest management professionals (PMPs) looking to provide excellent post-construction termite control with a liquid termiticide application should consider three basic questions: Is the active ingredient non-repellent? Can the active ingredient be distributed throughout the colony? Does the active ingredient have long soil residual? All termiticide labels provide detailed application information that is required for successful termite control.
Harvester ants: Pogonomyrmex spp. - Pest Management Professional
Harvester ants are comparatively large, red to dark-brown ants that range from 0.25- to 0.5-inch long. They can be recognized by the long hairs that form a “brush” or “beard” under their heads. These hairs are used to clean their legs and antennae, carry water and seeds, and remove sand during nest excavation. Harvester ants are polymorphic, with both major and minor workers. Some workers are known to lay unfertilized eggs that are fed to the larvae and queen.
Preconstruction termite treatments to prevent later problems - Pest Management Professional
One of the best ways to prevent subterranean termites from attacking a home or building is to employ a preconstruction termite treatment. The good news is that there are many products available for these treatments, ranging from soil application to lumber application to termite baiting systems. Some key treatment areas include: Pipe penetrations/access points. Expansion joints. Areas where attached porches or patios that abut the structure.
It’s bat time - Pest Management Professional
Pest Management Professional magazine (PMP): This month, we are pleased to welcome a very important vertebrate creature. It is furry, prefers night activity, and petrifies customers. Are we talking about mice? Rats? Nope. This month’s “Conversation Piece” features the bat! Welcome. Bat (B): Thank you. PMP: What strange eyes you have. B: That’s because you are talking to my feet. Remember, we generally rest upside down. PMP: Oh, right.
Mall mice offer pest management challenge - Pest Management Professional
Question: Dan, I am having trouble with a mouse infestation at a restaurant client in a shopping mall. I get the activity down to zero, only to have it jump back up. Help! — Needing Information Lessons Answer: The shopping mall setting is one of the most challenging for pest management professionals (PMPs), NIL. There are many factors to consider — so many, in fact, that I can only address a few of the big ones here. Let’s start by thinking about the environments (yes, plural).
Minimizing the effects of inflation - Pest Management Professional
Inflation is a noun, which seems odd to me because the definition is: the action of inflating something or the condition of being inflated; the inflation of a balloon or the gross inflation of salaries. Sounds like a verb, an action term, but I digress. In economics, inflation occurs when there are too many dollars in circulation all chasing the same amount of goods. Prices rise, but the value of the dollar falls.
5 questions with Cam Glover - Pest Management Professional
We caught up with Cam Glover, VP of Orkin Marketing for Atlanta, Ga.-based Rollins Inc., to talk about Orkin Pest Control’s debut of the Orkin Pro — a 21st-century update of the Orkin Man, who has been a staple of the company’s marketing ever since Pest Management Professional Hall of Famer Otto Orkin (Class of 1999) created the mascot in the 1940s.
Ephestia kuehniella: Mediterranean flour moth - Pest Management Professional
The Mediterranean flour moth is a pest in the home and in food-processing plants such as feed mills. Also known as a mill moth, it infests such items as flour, nuts, chocolate, beans and dried fruits. Adults have a wingspan of about 1 inch. The front wings are pale gray, with wavy black lines running across them. The hind wings are a dirty white. It can be distinguished from the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) because its hind wings are rounded at the tip, not pointed.
EPA designates Environmental Justice a priority this year - Pest Management Professional
In the coming months, you will be hearing a lot about Environmental Justice, a federal program that has been in place in various forms for years.
Nisus Corp.: Web Out
Web Out is exempt from the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide & Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 25(b), which means it’s a minimum-risk product. Made from a blend of biodegradable essential oils and vinegar, it repels and kills spiders and other perimeter pests such as ants, crickets, mosquitoes and cockroaches on contact. It helps to control spiders by eliminating adults, as well as easing removal of spider webs and egg sacs.
The meetings of the minds - Pest Management Professional
The centerpiece of the fifth edition of the Pest Management Professional (PMP) Growth Summit, which took place March 30-April 1 near Orlando, Fla., was the time devoted to individual meetings between paired-off pest control firm leaders and our partner manufacturer and service companies.
Maximize effectiveness of treatments - Pest Management Professional
You can do several things to maximize the effectiveness of your treatments. Conduct a careful inspection of the property to look for places that mosquitoes can breed. In addition to kiddie pools and plant saucers, are the gutters clogged or draining poorly? Are air-conditioner drip pans draining properly? Are the recycle and trash bin lids open? Homeowners can be your biggest allies in the fight to reduce callbacks.
Measuring lines of business has merit - Pest Management Professional
Most of us are in many areas of service when it comes to pest control, because basic pest control service usually does not include termite, rodent or mosquito coverage. In addition, you may have other offerings, such as lawn, tree and shrub fertilization. Depending on your market, the size of your business, and your skill sets, you may add handyman, fence building, and other services you feel comfortable offering — or have staff who are comfortable providing.
Asking direct questions to best treat mosquitoes - Pest Management Professional
Asking your customers concise and direct questions regarding their mosquito problems can save you time and money, as well as help guide inspections, treatments and recommendations for control. For example: What time of the day are you and family members being bitten? Most mosquito species bite primarily at dusk or in the early evening but some, such as the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and others, bite primarily during the daytime.
Carpenter ant shares ID, control tips - Pest Management Professional
Pest Management Professional magazine (PMP): Well, it is that time again. We have warm weather, and insects are moving. This is a perfect time to talk about ants. Featured this month is the carpenter ant. Hi, Carpie, welcome to PMP. Carpenter ant (CA): Thinnx. Moufull. Sorry! Had a mouthful of a favorite food: honeydew. Not the melon, the insect secretions. Mmm! PMP: Tell us a bit about carpenter ants and your range. CA: Well, we can be found in most of the United States and parts of Canada.
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.
Booming housing market creates opportunities - Pest Management Professional
Photo: 3d-Guru/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images As the fragile economy slowly gains traction post-pandemic, the housing market is booming. Last year’s low interest rates and short supply of housing bumped up prices significantly. For new construction, supply chain issues raised prices of materials, which were passed along to the home buyer or renter. With those price increases, inflation naturally climbs and thus interest rates likely will follow.
The patent-pending Vortex Duster was developed by pest management professionals with more than three decades of industry experience. The Vortex generator agitates and dispenses powder while nearly eliminating powder backflow from the canister thanks to the geometry contained in the lower portion of the device. The duster’s exclusive design also eliminates the need for a filter: Its removable, four-way distribution nozzle ensures even, clog-free application.
Keep an eye on bird flu risk - Pest Management Professional
Illustration: Leo Michael As we continue to emerge from a two-year-plus pandemic, society is rightfully weary of public health precautions and warnings. Still, in recent weeks, reports are coming in from all over the United States regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), aka “bird flu.” To be clear, at press time there are no reports of the virus transferring from birds to humans.
Tips for finding a good subcontractor - Pest Management Professional
Photo: Choreograph/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial advisory board members to share tips for finding good subcontractors. Here are some of the experts’ responses from our March 2022 print edition. Please take a minute to answer our latest one-question poll on this topic and let us know how you promote disinfecting and sanitizing services: Reader poll: Tips for finding good subcontractors.
Ruffle some feathers - Pest Management Professional
Photo: courtesy of, and copyrighted by, Gene White, pmimages@earthlink.net You may be your customers’ first call for help with their pigeon infestation problems, but do you have the staff, equipment, time or even desire for the waste removal and disinfection side of these projects? In this time of labor upheaval, where it’s hard enough to retain good employees, are you worried about how your technicians will feel about bird cleaning jobs long-term in addition to all their other responsibilities?
The beetle formerly known as anobiid - Pest Management Professional
Photo: Henrik_L/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images Pest Management Professional magazine (PMP): This month, we are going to have a brief conversation with one of the most common powderpost beetles encountered, the beetle formerly known as anobiid. It now goes by ptinid. Let’s get started. Tell us a bit about yourself.
How to handle a cash crunch - Pest Management Professional
Photo: Alex Potemkin/E+/Getty Images As business owners, we want to grow successful businesses. For most of us, that journey many times includes some very uncomfortable and stressful periods. One of those times will be a cash crunch. Many businesses fail because of unexpected cash flow issues and an inability to correct the situation, pay bills, or fund payroll. When leadership has no strategy or plan in place for predicting and managing a cash flow shortage, a cash flow crisis occurs.
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