Pest Control and Bug Exterminator Blog

Every year, pest control professionals ascend on our nation’s capital to raise awareness with their legislators about important issues impacting the pest control industry. National Pest Management Association (NMPA) Legislative Day 2013, in Washington DC, offered pest control professionals the opportunity to build stronger relationships with a new-look Congress.

NMPA Legislative Day 2013 In Washington 

March 17-19 2013 marked NMPA Legislative Day in Washington DC; and some 400 pest control professionals attended to make sure their voices were heard by Congress. Important business and tax issues were discussed, including issues surrounding the PESTT Act, paperless reporting, and the use of Sulfuryl Fluoride on food.

Those who attended got to listen to prominent speakers, like former Vice-Presidential candidate Paul Ryan; who spoke of trying to eliminate burdensome taxes on PCO’s. By all accounts, Ryan’s speech was the highlight Legislative Day.

New Pest Control Opportunities With A New Congress

The new Congress, which convened on January 3, 2013, is a once-in-a-generation Congress. One-third (180 new members the last two election cycles) of the 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives are new; with less than three years experience. The Senate has seen similar turnover, with 25 new Senators being elected in 2012 and 2010 elections.

With this in mind, pest control professionals had a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity to forge relationships with tomorrow’s leaders during NMPA Legislative Day 2013. These relationships can establish partnerships with a new generation of federal lawmakers, which will ultimately benefit the entire professional pest management industry for generations. The impact of this change in Congress is difficult to overstate.

Topics Of Discussion At Legislative Day

While much discussion at NMPA Legislative Day focused on pest control business and tax issues; there were also three critical issues that were addressed with the new Congress.

PESTT Act

Legislative Day attendees asked their legislators to support the Pest Elimination Services Transparency and Terminology Act (PESTT Act) which aims to limit USDA-Wildlife Services competition with the private sector for rodent, nuisance bird and wildlife work. Essentially, PCO’s don’t want to have to compete against USDA Wildlife Services for pest control.

The two key components of the PESTT Act are: (1) to define the term “urban rodent control”; and (2) to direct the U.S. Government Accountability Office to write a report identifying activities that Wildlife Services performs that the private sector has the capability and capacity to perform; and to make further recommendations. Another issue the PESTT Act is trying to correct is that USDA Wildlife Services is authorized to work at non-agricultural settings.

The NMPA’s ultimate goal is to get this legislation inserted into the farm bill, so PCO’s have less competition with the government for pest control services.

Sulfuryl Fluoride Food Usage

Pest control professionals involved in fumigation work wanted to make sure their voices were heard at Legislative Day; regarding the proposed cancelling of Sulfuryl Fluoride usage on food.

Sulfuryl Fluoride has come under attack from activist groups which have a waged a lengthy war on the pesticide, demanding the stoppage of Sulfuryl Fluoride usage in food-processing facilities. The EPA began listening to these demands in 2011 and began phasing out the pesticide, even though Sulfuryl Fluoride contributes no more that 2-3% of the public’s exposure to fluoride. PCO’s wish to continue using Sulfuryl Fluoride for pest control because some groups in the food sector are now completely reliant on it.

Paperless Reporting

Many pest control companies have gone paperless in order to save costs, go greener, boost efficiency, and promote professionalism. Unfortunately, a barricade that PCOs have run into is that some states mandate pest control operators keep hard copies of pesticide records, use reports, and consumer info sheets—Even if a pest control company has invested a large sum of money to go paperless. Many of these requirements were written in the 1970s and 1980s before people could imagine today’s technology.

Pest control professionals lobbied Congress at Legislative Day to introduce legislation that would allow PCO’s to keep records and reports electronically. Since each State’s laws are different, the issue needs to be addressed on the Federal level.

We Want To Hear From You

If you were able to attend NMPA Legislative Day 2013 In Washington DC, we’d love to hear about your experience.

We’d also love to hear your thoughts on the proposed legislation (i.e. Sulfuryl Fluoride usage, paperless reporting, and the PESTT Act).

Read more about NMPA Legislative Day 2013 at pctonline.com

Related articles

• PCO Choice – Quart W/sprayer
• Becoming a pest investigator
• Republican Outrage at USDA E-Mail Shows Mistrust of Cuts
• Topeka, Kansas, Urged To Remove Fluoride From Drinking Water To Protect Legislators’ IQs
• Agencies Can Soon Use Herbicides, Pesticides On State Lands Without Permit

Anthony Ball

A Stink Bug Invasion

As sure as the leaves change a vibrant red, orange, and yellow each fall, stink bugs make their way inside homes to escape the cooling weather. According to Michael Ruapp, entomology professor at the University of Maryland, 60 percent more of these stinky invaders will be flooding our homes this fall.

Brown marmorated stink bugs, characterized by the pungent smell they discharge when bothered or smashed, are mounting a fall invasion across much of the Atlantic United States. This summer’s record heat, which began earlier then usual and stretched through late September, aided in the stink bug’s strong resurgence. This extended summer heat allowed stink bugs to have two breeding cycles, which means they are poised to invade homes in record numbers.

During this home invasion, homeowners in states like Maryland, Iowa, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin will likely see a stink bug influx. The Mid-Atlantic States will see the most stink bug activity this fall. It’s not uncommon for a homeowner to see hundreds of these bugs clustered together inside a basement… A sight that tends to freak out most anybody.

Identifying Stink Bugs

Source: The Washington Times

Large Stink Bug Population Worries Fruit and Vegetable Farmers

Most people consider stink bugs to be a smelly pest problem, which simply requires the aid of a pest control professional to correct. The truth is stink bugs can be ruthless and devastating to crops. Farmers have reported that stink bugs destroy important food crops, like sweet peppers, corn, peaches, apples, soybeans, pears, grapes, berries, tomatoes and grapes.

The 2010 stink bug influx cost mid-Atlantic farmers $37 million, proving to be the most devastating year for apple crops damaged by the insect. Estimates of how much damage the stink bugs have done to this year’s crop are unavailable because the harvest has yet to be completed. What is known is that growers will need to spray more insecticides, even at the end of the growing season, to better protect their crop for the next year.

Officials at the United States Department of Agriculture have said that they are taking this stink bug problem very seriously, and that they are working hard to try and understand the most effective ways of controlling them.

What the Increase of Stink Bugs Means for Pest Control Operators

The National Pest Management Association has issued a warning to property owners that the stink bug population has increased, making infestations significantly worse this year. Because of the 60 percent stink bug population increase, pest control operators need to be prepared for an influx in stink bug related calls. Adjustments in sales and marketing efforts need to be made for the upcoming weeks, educating the public about stink bug control.

Pest professionals also need to be up to date on all the latest effective methods to best control these stinky and bothersome pests. New research has identified a pheromone that attracts male and female brown marmorated stink bugs. This pheromone has been synthesized and made available, perfect for stink bug traps.

Stink Bug Prevention for Homeowners

• Cover any vents, window, and doors with tight fitting screens.
• Seal up any holes, cracks, or that might allow stink bugs easy access into your home.
• If you do happen to get any of the bugs inside your home, vacuum them up with a shop-vac filled with hot soapy water. If using an upright vacuum, make sure it has a vacuum bag that is tightly sealed. Remember, do not crush the bugs or you will be smelling them.
• If the stink bug problem is persistent, contact a pest control professional.

Related articles

• What are stink bugs?
• Kudzu Bugs Hurting American Soybean Farmers
• Stink Bugs Wreaking Havoc On Crops In Hudson Valley ” CBS New York
• Stink Bug Season Is Here: Now Is The Time to Take Steps To Prevent These Bugs From Invading Your Home

A Commitment To Pest Control

The University of Illinois in Champaign, along with its researches and scientists, are now supporting pest control efforts worldwide thanks to a very generous donation from a former alum.

Roy Barker, a former graduate student at the University of Illinois, donated just over $1 million to establish an endowed faculty position that will research all things insects. The hope is that the university’s entomology department will now be able to recruit top researchers to better understand insects and how to best control them.

The donor, Roy Barker, grew up on a Missouri farm and witnessed his family’s crops be destroyed by troublesome insects like crickets, grasshoppers, and flies. This motivated him to study insect control, and the best ways to eliminate pests more effectively.

Barker, who passed away earlier this year, received his Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Illinois in 1953. He spent his career working in research labs for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and in industry.

A Decline In Research Funding

This commitment to insect and pest research is a breath of fresh air in a time where cash-strapped universities seem to be more concerned about competing athletically on the field then improving research efforts in the areas of science and technology. While millions of dollars go to the funding of athletic teams, coaches and facilities, per-student funding for public universities has steadily declined 37 percent since 2002.

The latest report from the National Science Board, the governing body for the National Science Foundation, found that Illinois’ 37 percent decline in per-student funding was the fourth-largest cut in the country.

University of Illinois officials are pointing to Barker’s donation as a key example of how they are continually relying on private donations as state money has declined.

Funding Educates World’s Citizens About Pest Control

The university has used some of the $1 million donation to start a program expected to develop computer animations that will help educate people around the world about how to safely eliminate pests that threaten their crops. One video, for example, explains how farmers can make a chemical-free solution using seeds and water to spray on the crops.

The donation is also helping to kick-start additional pest control programs, and gives the university more flexibility to try out new things.

Good News For Pest Control Operators

As pest control operators, we understand that the pests we treat on a daily basis are constantly evolving. They are becoming more and more resistant to our treatment plans and immune to our pesticides. Continued research in the field is needed so the world’s pest control operators can stay one step ahead of the pests. Donations like the one Roy Barker made to The University of Illinois will go along way in better understanding our adversary.

All of us here at Bulwark Pest Control commend the efforts of Roy Barker, and other pest control pioneers, for their constant and continued efforts to better understand the world’s pests.  

Source: The Chicago Tribune

Related articles

• 2012 New York Pest Expo Speakers: Jeff McGovern
• Natural Options to Handle Pesky Problems
• Holistic Pest Management : The Mystery Revealed!

If you live in the Southeast United States, you’ve likely become acquainted with the relatively new invading kudzu bug, which was brought here from Asia in 2009. Homeowners say they can’t seem to get rid of these bothersome insects, which can frequently be found on their homes and cars during the fall and spring months. You can sweep them off with brooms, you can suck them up with vacuums, but the very last thing you want to do is crush them because they’ll stain a surface and they have a pretty obnoxious odor.

Homeowners in cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, and Raleigh, see swarms of these bugs in the spring and again in the fall, but during the summer they settle down in fields of kudzu and soybean plants. It’s in the soybean plants where the kudzu bug is causing the most damage, resulting in significant economic losses for American soybean growers.

The Kudzu Bug

If you saw a kudzu bug, you might think it was a tick or even a dark ladybug. They are pea-sized Asian insects with a hearty appetite for soybeans as well as the weed they’re named after. The bugs range from a green to a dark brown and have square backsides.

Kudzu bugs will produce two generations per year— once in the spring or early summer, and then again in the late summer. They will not bite you, nor will they damage your house in any way but they are one of the largest nuisances because of their habits of overwintering. During the winter, the bugs try to find a warm place to hide from the elements. An out of sight area in your home or garage is among their favorite places, but almost anything indoors will work for them. They are attracted to light colors like your pale clothing, your white car, or your light colored house. Don’t be surprised when you walk around and have kudzu bugs cling to your clothes, and get mixed up in your hair.

Like stinkbugs, to which they’re related, they emit a protective stink. It’s a fruitier smell than stinkbugs’ stench, and has been mistaken at least once, by a woman who called 911, for a gas leak. Others describe their smell as an old can of paint.

Range of Kudzu Bug Quickly Spreading

The kudzu bug is spreading rapidly across the South. First discovered in Georgia in 2009, it has since settled throughout most of Georgia, and the Carolinas. It’s now found in parts of Florida, Alabama, Virginia and Tennessee. Although the kudzu bug is native to Japan, it has adapted well to its Southern environment. They are strong flyers, but also are known to hitchhike on trucks and other vehicles.

Kudzu Bugs Destroy Soybean Crops

While the kudzu bug does feed on kudzu as its name suggests, soybeans have also become a staple in its diet, much to the distain of farmers across the South. Kudzu bugs feed on soybeans by sucking nutrients and moisture from the leaves and stems, causing stress and reducing yields. The bugs attack the stems and leaves, literally draining the life out of the soybeans. It’s reducing the ability of the plant to send the food that it makes from the sun to the fruit and to the seed. This leaves a reduced number of pods per plant, a reduced number of seeds per pod, and a reduced seed size as well.

What Kudzu Bugs Cost U.S. Farmers

A soybean harvest will give farmers about four bushels and acre, with a bushel selling for around $17 each. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, growers have observed a 19 percent average yield loss due to kudzu bugs, with a yield high reaching 47 percent. Studies in unprotected plots in Georgia and South Carolina had yield losses averaging 18 percent, with a range of 0-47 percent yield loss in the 19 locations studied. If one acre of soybeans sells for $68, an unprotected soybean crop can expect average loss of $13 an acre due to the kudzu bugs.

Kudzu Bug Control

Thankfully, scientists have come up with insecticides, such as pyrethroids, that kill swarms of kudzu bugs effectively, minimizing the damage the bugs cause to soybean harvests.

The main problem in treating the kudzu bugs is that they reproduce in large numbers, and move about freely; making timing the pesticide sprays a tricky business. It’s starting to become more apparent when treating for kudzu bugs that the problem isn’t killing the bugs, it’s minimizing the amount of money and pesticides needed to do so. Although early attempts to kill them were met by almost immediate re-infestations, more recent tests indicated that it may be possible to avoid losing money to the bugs by spraying when both immature and mature insects are in the field.

There are now have several screening trials in-process or completed for kudzu bug in soybeans. In the meantime, farmers face trying to strike a balance between the cost and timing of insecticides and the damage caused by a new, hungry, invasive pest.

Related articles

• Kudzu bugs continue to spread
• Scouting critical in kudzu bug management
• SC Fights Back Against Kudzu Bug

Image via Wikipedia

The Bat is a Fellow Bug Exterminator

As a general rule, bats are not very popular with people, regardless of any benefits the pest management experts say they provide. Too often, bats are perceived by the general public, as dangerous, ugly and frightening. But, what most people are not aware of, is that those “hideous” bats prevent billions of dollars in damage to the U.S. agriculture industry, by consuming common insect pests that frequently eat and destroy important crops. In fact, it has been estimated that bats provide the American agriculture industry with free pest control services, that are valued at (upwards of) fifty three billion dollars a year! …Gives new meaning to bat pest control.

Some people would also be surprised to know, that bats do not just exterminate large amounts of common insect pests, across the United States. The bats’ free natural insect control contribution, reduces potential pesticide use by property owners and farmers, and helps to keep entire eco-systems; in delicate balance. As well, other important contributions made by bats, include: a vital role in pollinating many popular species of plants (like mangoes and bananas) and innovative medical applications; that suggest vampire bat saliva prevents strokes (Draculin). Nevertheless, people despise them, everywhere.

And the Vampire Bat?

Image via Wikipedia

Although movies and television have spent decades using bats to frighten audiences, people should re-think their negative feelings toward the bat population across America, and consider that of the 1200 recognized species of bats; only three actually feed on blood. And those three species, very rarely have an encounter with humans. Furthermore, any danger that is associated with a bat bite, is attributed to the potential for the transmission of disease; such as rabies. With that being said, the benefits that bats consistently offer to farmers and families across America, definitely overshadows any risk associated; with an unlikely bite or attack.

Related articles

• Iowa on watch for foreign insect invaders (thegazette.com)
• Unfair To Bats (naturalhistorywanderings.com)
• Mysterious Plague Killing Off Bats (abcnews.go.com)
• Vampire Bats Detect Blood With Their Noses (huffingtonpost.com)

And if you need Bat control, you can count on Vamoosevarmint