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Articles by Jim P. Fredericks
NPMA report indicates which cities may see pest surge this spring
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) released the Public Health Pest Index, its bi-annual pest forecast to raise awareness about the health threats pests pose nationwide. The report indicates the U.S. cities that are most at risk for seeing a surge in disease-spreading pests through the remainder of winter and into spring.
PPMA's Termite Awareness Week aims to educate homeowners on termite risks
The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) is calling on the pest control industry to educate homeowners about the hidden threat of termites and the role PMPs play in preventing infestations during Termite Awareness Week, which will take place March 2-8. The PPMA is the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and is encouraging companies to amplify outreach efforts during Termite Awareness Week.
Keys to carpenter ant control
As weather temperatures rise, we can expect to see ant activity increase, too. Finding any ant inside a structure is unwelcome, but uncovering carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.) can add a layer of concern because of their destructive nesting behavior. Costly carpentry skills aren’t the only behavior that separates carpenter ants from other pest ants. Understanding these differences and how to use them to your advantage can be the key to staying one step ahead of carpenter ants this spring.
Use ULV wisely when targeting German cockroaches
Large-area space treatment with an ultra-low volume (ULV) machine for cockroach control became commercially viable in the mid-1970s. In the summer of 1964, though, as a graduate student at Purdue University, I was assigned to help a professor test a machine in an open field of oats for cereal leaf beetles (Oulema melanopus). I stood in the middle of the field with a glass plate strapped to each arm to catch the droplets. An airplane flew over me and applied a ULV application of pesticide.
With a healthy family, business is now the focus
Thirteen years ago, Brian Zahringer’s world was unraveling. The father of two little girls felt helpless as his wife, Amber, began suffering from epileptic-type seizures. The seizures were mild at first but eventually strengthened and became more frequent. A little while after the seizures started, their younger daughter, Mackenzie, started having problems in school. The 6-year-old exhibited anger issues, including throwing chairs.
PPMA levels up its marketing efforts in 2025
The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), continues to make progress in advancing and promoting the pest control industry to consumers nationwide. Through innovative strategies, PPMA consistently engages the public and underscores the essential role of pest management professionals (PMPs) in safeguarding health, homes and businesses.
New video series from NPMA details how pests can put you at risk | Pest Management Professional
A new video series titled, “What Grows There,” from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) analyzes the reality that pests like mice, cockroaches and house flies can carry dangerous bacteria and diseases that are often invisible to the naked eye. “The real danger of pests often lies in what we can’t see,” said Dr. Jim Fredericks, BCE, senior vice president of public affairs for NPMA.
Anti-Israel protesters unleash maggots, crickets at Washington D.C. hotel | Pest Management Professional
Thousands of anti-Israel protesters in Washington, D.C, unleashed maggots, crickets and other pests at a hotel where some of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s delegation stayed ahead of his Wednesday speech to Congress, the New York Post reports. A video posted to X by the Palestinian Youth Movement showed moving critters scattered across a table flanked by Israeli and American flags. The Watergate Hotel confirmed the insect intrusion. in a statement to The Post.
PPMA celebrates pest awareness, adds director, releases report
The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), is having an eventful spring. The organization is celebrating April as National Pest Management Month; working on materials to be ready for Tick Awareness Week in May (which also happens to be Lyme Disease Awareness Month); releasing its 2023 annual report; and welcoming Rollins Inc.’s Jerry Gahlhoff to its board of directors.
Fine-tune ant control with clockwork precision
Photo: onlyyouqj / iStock / Getty Images Plus If you are looking for new ways to elevate your ant management program this spring, you may want to start by checking your watch. Ants, like all structural pests, tend to follow a seasonal pattern. In early spring, queens increase egg production and foraging activity picks up as food and other resources become more available.
Abell Pest Control named 2024 Best Workplace for Women
Abell Pest Control was recognized as a 2024 Best Workplace for Women by Great Place to Work. The list is based on direct feedback from employees of the hundreds of organizations that were surveyed by Great Place to Work. To be eligible for this list, organizations must be Great Place to Work-Certified and have high scores from employees on the Trust Index survey.
NPMA holds Legislative Day 2024
Pest management professionals (PMPs) traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the pest control industry at the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA’s) Legislative Day event, held March 10-12. The legislative issue at the forefront this year is pesticide preemption, which those in the pest control industry hope will be included in the next Farm Bill, a package of legislation primarily related to agriculture, food and farming.
FieldRoutes sponsors NPMA awards, becomes Strategic Partner
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) named 92 recipients of its 2024 NPMA Impact Awards for Women in Pest Management. The Impact Awards, awarded for the first time in 2022 and sponsored by FieldRoutes, are designed to “honor and celebrate exceptional women at all levels within the pest management industry, in any role, including management, technical/service, sales, or office staff,” the news release explains.
Target Specialty Products to host women in pest control webinar
Target Specialty Products will host its next Business Growth Webinar Series, “Championing Women in Pest Control: Embracing Challenges and Honoring Successes!” on March 28 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
PPMA embraces innovation to expand industry growth
The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), has made monumental strides over the past two decades in growing and advocating for the pest control industry by cultivating a legacy of innovation and excellence.
Celebrate Termite Awareness Week, National Pesticide Safety Education Month
The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) is calling on the pest control industry to educate homeowners about termites during Termite Awareness Week, taking place March 3-9, 2024. Recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events, this annual event highlights the threat posed by termites, advises homeowners on the best ways to prevent an infestation and encourages them to work with a pest control professional.
CDC grants $8M for vector-borne disease research
A new grant program called Vector Educational Center for Training, Outreach and Resources (VECTOR) aims to expand and improve control capacity against vector-borne diseases across Texas and Louisiana. The City of New Orleans Mosquito Control Board, in partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, received a five-year grant totaling more than $8 million, about $1.6 million per year, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Difference Makers
Editors Note: * PMP Hall of Famer 1. Paul Adams* — The 1962-63 president of the then-National Pest Control Association (NPCA) was among the first researchers to decide how to use and apply dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and work with chlordane. The founder and owner of Adams Pest Control wrote the first minimum termite treatment standards for Louisiana, which was the first state to develop and implement such guidelines. 2., 3.
PMP logos through the years
As part of Pest Management Professional‘s (PMP‘s) 90th anniversary, take a look at the PMP logo and its evolution since the magazine was founded in 1933. VIDEO
Learn the latest to be at the top of your game
Every year, I play in a competitive fantasy football league with friends. For those not familiar, fantasy football is an online game where participants create their own dream teams by drafting real football players. Players score points for your team based on their actual performance in real games. Teams in your league play head-to-head each week, and the team with the most wins at the end of the season is crowned the victor. I’m not great, but I can usually hold my own.
FMC PestVets program reaches first-year donation goal
In April 2022, the PestVets Give Back Program was launched at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) Legislative Day event, sponsored in conjunction with FMC. Through the efforts of pest management professionals (PMPs) enrolled in the FMC True Champions program, FMC will be presenting PestVets executives with a check of $21,231 at PestWorld 2023. “We are proud to support PestVets as part of FMC’s commitment to the pest industry.
SPP adults are first sign of infestation
Modern research finds that stored product pests (SPP) have been biologically unchanged for thousands of years. They were even discovered in Egyptian tombs from 4,500 years ago. It stands to reason that these pests will be a commercial and homeowner nuisance for many years to come. This list includes several dozen different species, including moths and beetles. The presence of SPP beetle or moth adults is generally the first indication of an infestation.
Paris bed bug invasion, preventing bringing bed bugs home
Paris is currently battling an invasion of bed bugs, which is leaving travelers worried whether they will bring the pest home. The pests were first reported in hotels and vacation rental apartments across the city during the summer. Then there were sightings in movie theaters and, in recent days, there have even been reports of bed bugs crawling around on seats in both national high-speed trains and the Paris Metro system.
Mud dauber control to prevent beetles
We don’t always remember how pests interact and create additional pest problems. We do remember large amounts of insects attracting a variety of beetles, but what about solitary wasps? Mud daubers can attract stored product beetles around the outdoors and transition areas of food product facilities. Consider talking to your customers about increasing funding for mud dauber control efforts on the exterior to prevent beetle attraction to their facilities.
Leadership, diversity, innovation and advocacy to continue
Thinking back 10 years, few of us could have ever imagined the perpetually connected, technology-driven world we live in today. The iPhone hadn’t been invented yet; dial-up internet was still a thing; and email was something you did in the office at your desktop computer.
4 changes to prepare for pest control’s future
While it may seem daunting to examine what the industry will look by 2033 — the year the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and Pest Management Professional (PMP) celebrate their 100th anniversaries — reflecting on the past decade it is comforting to know a number of things remain the same amidst such progress. The pest control industry has been professionally protecting public health, food and property, and educating consumers about the threats of pests, for more than a century.
PPMA launches ‘Do Not Disturb’ video project
The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) introduced its latest video project called, Do Not Disturb, to show the public just how easy it is to accidentally disturb stinging or biting insects. Wasps, yellowjackets and hornets are a common nuisance at cookouts in late summer and early fall as populations are at their peak.
Celebrate Tick Awareness Week in May - Pest Management Professional
IMAGE: PPMA Tick Awareness Week is an annual designation established by Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) on May 7-13 and recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events. The week promotes public knowledge of ticks and the threats they present to humans and pests. PPMA, which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), is urging pest control companies to help spread awareness of the dangers associated with ticks.
PPMA releases second season of Bug Battles - Pest Management Professional
The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) recently released its second season of Bug Battles. The return of Bug Battles comes after consumers showed particular interest in the series’ first season in 2022, which highlighted a variety of pests including stinging insects, bed bugs, ticks and termites, to name a few.
PPMA releases annual report - Pest Management Professional
The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) recently released its annual report, which shows the organization’s year-round efforts to elevate, promote and benefit the entire pest control industry. The report’s theme, “One Bright Legacy,” was ever-present throughout and highlights PPMA’s milestone silver anniversary celebrated in 2022.
Study: Bees teach each other new behaviors - Pest Management Professional
A new study published in PLOS Biology shows that bumblebees can learn new behavior by watching and imitating other bees, and the behavior can quickly spread throughout a colony. The research, led by Queen Mary University of London and published on March 7, provides strong evidence that social learning drives the spread of bumblebee behavior – in this case, precisely how they forage for food. A variety of experiments were set up to establish this.
Spectrum 3D: Pro Duster - Pest Management Professional
Spectrum 3D has launched what it’s calling “the first duster specifically for the pest control industry.” Pro Duster is a stiff-bristled, firm cobweb duster specifically for the rough outdoor surfaces pest control techs deal with every day. Pro Duster will hold up for long periods as it doesn’t deform as fast as a soft-bristled, flimsy duster would. Pro Duster has thick, strong bristles that make it effective at getting down stubborn wasp nests and heavy-duty cobweb areas. Spectrum-3D.com
NPMA accepting Impact Awards nominations, registration for Women's Forum - Pest Management Professional
Nominations are now open for the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA’s) 2023 Impact Awards for Women in Pest Management. The awards, sponsored by FieldRoutes, “honor and celebrate exceptional women at all levels within the pest management industry, in any role, including management, technical/service, sales or office staff,” according to the news release. Women working in any function at a pest control company or industry supplier are eligible for consideration.
February 2023 - Pest Management Professional
https://editions.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=783433
A Look Back: Photos from 1950 - Pest Management Professional
Mail your message A variety of direct mail pieces accompanied an article that explored the benefits of this popular form of advertising. Author R.L. Hawks of Interstate Exterminators in Wichita, Kan., said direct mail advertising, especially when sent four or five times, gives pest management professionals an advantage over non-advertising competitors because when the need for pest control arises, prospective customers will remember your company and come calling.
February 2023 - Pest Management Professional
https://editions.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=783433
PPMA announces Termite Awareness Week - Pest Management Professional
Because termite activity may increase given the milder winter so far, the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA) is calling on the industry to spread awareness about termite threats during Termite Awareness Week, which is March 5-11. As homeowners gear up for spring by dusting off their outdoor furniture and making cleaning lists, the pest control industry is focused on termite season.
Preventative approach to bed bugs - Pest Management Professional
Affordable housing in the U.S. continues to bear the burden of bed bugs, representing a $15 billion untapped market for pest management professionals (PMPs). Our industry has the opportunity to adopt a preventive approach to bed bug control that significantly improves the quality of life of low-income residents, while relieving the burden of this insidious pest from property management and staff.
PPMA packs plenty of projects into 2023 - Pest Management Professional
2022 was a banner year for the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), as we celebrated 25 years of advocacy and service to the pest control industry. It was also a year of change, as we welcomed new at-large members to PPMA’s board of directors and seamlessly navigated a succession plan for the executive leadership role. There was much to celebrate.
Swarm season checklists save time and money - Pest Management Professional
While there’s still snow on the ground in some parts of the country, many pest management firms are already beginning to gear up for termite swarm season. This is the time of year when normally cryptic termites reveal themselves as winged reproductives, or swarmers, that fly off to mate and start new colonies. Swarmers usually emerge in the spring, but the exact timing will vary across regions by species, temperature and rainfall.
USDA approves first-ever vaccine for honeybees - Pest Management Professional
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the first-ever vaccine for honeybees to prevent American foulbrood disease, a fatal bacterial disease that can destroy honeybee colonies. The USDA told CNN that a conditional vaccine license was issued to Diamond Animal Health, the collaborating manufacturer for Dalan Animal Help on Dec. 29, 2022.
InVict Xpress Granular Bait - Pest Management Professional
InVict Xpress Granular Bait combines 0.5 percent imidacloprid with Rockwell’s proprietary bait matrix to provide a powerful and fast-acting granule when dealing with an active infestation. It attracts and kills a broad spectrum of crawling insects, including ants, cockroaches, crickets, mole crickets, silverfish, firebrats and earwigs. InVict Xpress starts killing within an hour, the company says.
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.
NWCOA is here to help wildlife service providers grow - Pest Management Professional
Over the years, wildlife control has become a viable career option, either as a standalone business or as an addition to a pest control business. A more recent trend is standalone wildlife control businesses adding traditional pest control to their services. Wildlife control and pest control are actually very much alike: Both are service businesses offering clients solutions.
4 steps to strengthen your workplace culture - Pest Management Professional
Manifesting a workplace that people want to show up for each day is something for which to be proud. It also increases employee and customer attraction and retention. But if you feel that improving your workplace culture is easier said than done, read on. Here’s how we do it. 1. STRONG TEAM-BUILDING Reiterating the importance of team-building opportunities and a “we are all in this together” mindset inspires employees to do what is best for the company.
Amazon fined for illegal pesticide sales in California - Pest Management Professional
California is cracking down on illegal online pesticide sales in the state. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and Amazon.com Services reached a settlement agreement for multiple violations, including selling unregistered pesticides in California, not reporting and paying required mill assessment fees associated with the sale of registered pesticides in California, and not holding a valid pesticide broker’s license.
The hardest part about saying goodbye is saying it right - Pest Management Professional
Goodbyes leave a lasting impression. When parting ways with a loved one, a botched farewell can leave both parties feeling uneasy. In professional encounters, the last thing you say is just as important as the first impression. That’s because it can influence your customer’s behavior when it comes to the time leading up to the next scheduled service, and might result in a callback. When finishing a service, don’t say things like, “Nothing to report today.” There is always something to report.
Reader poll: Brand identity - Pest Management Professional
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2022 PMP Hall of Fame - Pest Management Professional
Pest Management Professional (PMP) held its 24th Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Boston, Mass., on Oct. 10, the day before the National Pest Management Association opened the exhibit hall doors to PestWorld 2022. PMP honored Richard Deering, founder of ServicePro; Steve Levy, CEO of Bell Labs; Jay Nixon, BCE, co-founder of American Pest, an Anticimex company; and Ted Oser, this year’s posthumous inductee, at the Republic Ballroom in the Sheraton Boston Hotel.
Flying higher - Pest Management Professional
Many pest management professionals (PMPs) may believe the current state of the economy and the COVID-19 pandemic are going to take them right into the danger zone. But those who shove into overdrive will fly high in the coming year, Pest Management Professional’s (PMP’s) 2023 State of the Industry (SOI) survey responses reveal. “One of the biggest challenges we have faced is inflation,” says Trent Heard, owner of RedHawk Pest Control in Madison, Ala.
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