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Articles by Mark Lanford
Manage customer expectations with mosquitoes - Pest Management Professional
We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial advisory board members to share tips for managing customer expectations of mosquito control. Here are some of the experts’ responses from our April 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: Managing customer expectations with mosquitoes.
Stinging pests have a way of putting fear into people, and the dangers are real. There is a high risk to people with allergies to their stings. Fortunately, only a small percentage of the population — approximately 1 percent of children and 3 percent of adults — have acute allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to the venom associated with stinging pests. First aid for a sting includes monitoring the victim for allergic reactions, and washing the affected area with soap and water.
Roundtrip Roundup: Legislative Day 2022 - Pest Management Professional
The NPMA’s Liz Grier, left, and Courtney Brooks welcomed attendees at the Capital Hilton hotel. Signage made it convenient for attendees to show their support for vetted charities helping those in the Ukraine. Photo: PMP Staff Pest management professionals (PMPs) and manufacturer representatives met up at the Capital Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C., March 13-15 for the first three days of the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA’s) Legislative Day event.
Finding yellowjacket nests - Pest Management Professional
Mark Lanford, Technical Representative, Ensystex Whether it’s the eastern (Vespula maculifrons), southern (V. squamosa), or other species, why do yellowjackets seem so aggressive? The answer is simple: Yellowjackets are territorial, and when they feel their nest is threated, they will attack. Yellowjackets and their cousins, the bald-faced hornets (Dolichovespula maculate), secrete an alarm pheromone whenever threatened or disturbed.
Ensystex: Free Accuthor with qualified Bithor SC purchase - Pest Management Professional
From April 1, 2022, through Aug. 31, 2022, purchase 20 quarts of Bithor SC and receive a free Accuthor sprayer. Featuring the dual active ingredients of imidacloprid and bifenthrin, Bithor SC is labeled for more than 100 pests, indoors and out, including bed bugs, ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches, fleas, flies, ticks, yellowjackets, wasps and more. The Accuthor sprayer features a pressure relief valve to eliminate risk of chemical spray across the top of the tank.
The basics to bed bug treatment - Pest Management Professional
Over the past decade or so, pest management professs have become more adept at dealing with bed bugs. There are more tools available to treat and monitor for this pest, and overall, the industry has become more accustomed to these calls. However, there are still some basics for bed bug control that should not be forgotten: Inspect.
Bell ringer - Pest Management Professional
Business is a game. Many believe it is an art, some believe it’s a science. But let’s look at the characteristics of gamesmanship. Games include competitive play, and a set of rules decided by skill, strength or luck. In football, we accumulate our score several different ways, such as a touchdown, field goal, extra point or safety. In business, our ultimate score is determined by profits, supported by cash flow, with the final prize being company valuation.
Consider infestation before treating - Pest Management Professional
For many of us during childhood, bed bugs were merely a bedtime rhyme. However, over the past 20 years, they have made an expansive return. Bed bugs can hide in the tiniest cracks and crevices in infested rooms, and not just directly on beds or seating. This makes thoroughness of inspection and treatment a must. Consider the infestation levels, pressure and nature of the account (degree of clutter, etc.) to determine the treatment procedure(s).
Tips to identify bed bugs - Pest Management Professional
Mel Whitson, Senior Field Technical Service Manager, Zoëcon Professional Products Whether they’re in a home, office or hotel, bed bugs are a major pain. It also can be challenging to identify a bed bug infestation in its early stages. Bed bug bites can resemble bites from a range of different insects. It’s crucial to catch an infestation early, before the job becomes more time-consuming and costly, and before bed bugs have a chance to spread to other locations.
Commit to customers for long-term success - Pest Management Professional
Bed bugs are one of my favorite training topics to discuss. Every company has its own bed bug elimination strategy, and unique strategies generally lead to lively banter. That’s why I’ll start a bed bug presentation by encouraging shared experiences. Operators love to show photos of the really bad infestations they encounter. Some pest management professionals (PMPs) employ steam; some use dry heat; some use chemicals or fumigants. Others use a combination approach.
Treat restaurants for flies - Pest Management Professional
Mark Lanford, Technical Representative, Ensystex Treating a restaurant for flies can be a bit tricky because many have odd hours, and staff and customers usually are present. This can lead to having to maneuver around many obstacles. Early on, I realized there was a common denominator in many restaurant accounts with swarms of fruit flies (Drosophilidae): leaky ice machines.
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