All posts in “pesticides”

CDC issues a Health Alert for Bed Bug pesticides.

CDC issues a Health Alert for Bed Bug pesticides.

 

Health Concerns About the Misuse of Pesticides for Bed Bug Control” As a member of PESP I wanted to share this, It  is a must read article on scams and pesticide use for Bed Bugs! Also here is some additional information they have posted in that article.

Important phone numbers and Web sites

If you believe you or a family member has become ill from a pesticide exposure:

Call your local poison control center: 1-800-222-1222, your local hospital emergency room, or the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378.  You can also call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  Information Line at 1-800-CDC-INFO for information about pesticides.

If you believe your pet has become ill from a pesticide exposure:

Contact your local veterinarian or call the National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.

I will add one more important item from my list – Before hring anyone check them out: Within the last week I have had an opportunity to bid against someone who quoted a price of $150 for a 3 bedroom house – my price was over $1000. I also believe that they intended to only use pesticides – it is my opinion that this will not work in all circumstances and again I also believe it is important for people to understand about the use of pesticides within homes.

Is there a difference between Patent and Generic Pesticides?

Is there a difference between Patented and Generic Pesticides?

 

I think all of us understand savings but I want to address patented pesticide/termiticide and exactly what they are, and how they are different from generic or post patent offerings.

Patent pesticide/termiticide is thoroughly researched and tested before they are brought to the market place. This scrutiny is more aggressive (in some ways) and very similar to pharmaceutical grade products.  Termiticides are tested at 4 sites across the U.S. and regulated by the USDA – Gulfport, MS, Tucson, AZ, Florida and South Carolina (USDA Report 2011) On average, it cost ~ $280 million from conception to shelf to commercialize a new pesticide. In addition to these R&D efforts, manufacturers conduct real world testing in various states with licensed Pest Management Professionals – such as ProBest Pest Management.

After a patent expires, generic companies purchase the rights to the active ingredients (ai) but are not entitled to the original pesticide formulation. This is critical because these formulation recipes are vital to product performance and stability.  Similar to pharmaceuticals, inferior inert ingredients are often used in the manufacturing of these products. You may ask, how can these products be the same?  The simple answer is, they are not.  I prefer to deal with basic manufacturers such as BASF (Termidor & Termidor HE ) or FMC Corporation (Talstar & Transport).  I trust their research and product stewardship and know that they would stand behind me if there was an issue.  By the way, I’ve seen this in action. These companies also spend a great deal of time training your local Pest Management Professionals on how to use these products and incorporate them into various termite treatments and protocols.

So before you purchase that termite treatment, ask a few questions: What pesticide or termiticide is the Pest Company using? Why have they decided to use that pesticide? What are their call back rates? Now, I’m sure there are many out there that would argue, generics are just as good as the mainstay offerings however, my opinion I prefer true quality and security for my customers. How do you feel about these generics?  I welcome your comments and concerns.

How does that insecticide really kill those bugs?

How does that insecticide really kill those bugs?

 

Have you ever thought once you sprayed that bug – How does it die? I’m guessing probably not, it’s not that you don’t care but generally speaking you just want the damn bug dead! Over my 25 years I have learned a great deal about how the bugs die and why. One of the products I absolutely love is called Avert, this is a dry bait used for cockroaches and one of the reasons I love this product is this. Most products cause the cockroach to die on it’s back – Avert makes them stop fast while walking. So immediately you know your product is killing them. I had a chance to read a great article “Insecticide Mode of Action” by Drs. Michael E Scharf and Daniel R. Suiter in Pest Control Technology magazine October 2011.

You may not want to know all about this subject but maybe I can hi-light and simplify it a little (I said maybe).

  • Targets the nervous system = neurotoxin.
  • Insecticides that do not target the nervous system.

200x’s the sniffer – Bed Bug Dogs

200x’s the sniffer – Bed Bug Dogs

 

I’m all about efficiency but the Bed Bug dogs got it going on. I had this school that thought they might have an issue with Bed Bugs and I thought WOW just how many places could a Bed Bug hide. Well I can now tell you – thousands maybe tens of thousands. From carpet tack strips to electrical outlets, from back packs and wall paintings to – well you get the picture right – anyplace where there is a crack or crevice. It only takes a small space ——————————– maybe that line right there to hide something like a Bed Bug. That dog Olivia was amazing, she went around the room with her handler and sniffed and sniffed, this would have taken me hours and I might have missed something.

Come on look at that face – only a Bed Bug should be scared!

Boom, goes another house!

    

Boom, goes another house!

 

‘Bug bomb’ burns house – Henry County, GA

Read that last line from the Fire Captain and the entire story to see what happens when people don’t read or follow label and use directions.

 

The fire captain suggested a few simple tips, to prevent the devastation of losing a home to fire, and/or an explosion in an attempt to rid the home of bugs.

#• Carefully read the product label first. Product labels provide information on how to use the product safely. Ask for help if you have trouble understanding the instructions.

#• Turn off all possible ignition sources when using bug bombs. This includes stoves, heaters, and water heaters that have pilot lights. Be sure to turn off all electrical appliances that may generate heat or sparks.

#• Use only the number of foggers you need for the area you want to treat. You will find that information in the directions. Using more than the recommended number does not eliminate pests faster.

#• Reduce the need for chemical pesticides. Follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to keep pests away (cover garbage, keep food in plastic containers, keep house clean, etc.).

#• Contact a commercial applicator to control the presence of pests if you are experiencing a severe infestation.

Who takes the heat on pesticides?

Who takes the heat on pesticides?

It’s difficult for me to side any other way than to say Pesticides are good! Many will disagree but the fact is that pesticides have saved countless lives throughout history. I was reminded of this through my distributor “Univar Environmental Services” in a story they posted in their monthly newsletter.

  • When mosquitoes are controlled, you help prevent West Nile Virus transmission.
  • When products help ensure proper termite control, they save you from massive property damage.
  • Helping to keep cockroach allergens at bay lowers asthma triggers for children.
  • And fewer ticks and rodents can mean less Lyme disease and Hanta Virus.

It all adds up to Univar supplying both the products and services to help you improve your customers’ environments.

Just the facts please…. provide info to expedite the treatment!

Just the facts please…. provide info to expedite the treatment!

Today I received a new lead from an online referral site and I’ll tell you I love getting referrals but I need more information. So here is a list of things to tell the bug guy when they show up at your home.

  1. When you call the office please tell the receptionist what you’re experiencing, for example are you being bitten. It is really important to answer the questions like Who, what, where,  when, why and how. To me its almost like being a detective, we need all the information so that we can make an intelligent recommendation on treatment.
  2. After receiving the information the technician comes up with the treatment plan and discusses this with the homeowner.
  3. We have talked about this before but before the technician arrives please reduce clutter and vacuum the area (if you have a bag vacuum please throw it away). I remember years ago in Florida, someone had vacuumed and put the entire vacuum with bag into the closet. I was amazed at the numbers of fleas in the closet and elsewhere in the home, but they were concentrated within that closet.
  4. A lot of the treatment plans may include a followup visit – remember this occurrence took time to build up and probably will take time to completely solve it. Don’t think for one minute that we are magicians and can make this outbreak disappear overnight, won’t happen…. This usually surprises me the most, even after discussing this with some customers they are upset that they still might see the occasional roach or two. I learned many years ago, we attempt to eradicate at least 97% on the first visit to get control but depending on a variety of circumstances this number may change. Sanitation is a leading cause of failure, if the place has grease or oil everywhere all the pesticide in the world won’t change the outcome. The pesticide will lose it efficacy and the roaches will have plenty to eat and not be affected by the product.
  5. Work with the technician and follow any advice, he has probably seen it all so it won’t be a big surprise to him. Clean behind the stove and refrigerator yearly, pay particular attention to the fan motor (warm and probably close to the overflow pan).

National Healthy Schools Day

National Healthy Schools Day

National Healthy Schools Day is a great day for everyone to celebrate and promote healthy and green indoor school environments for all children and staff. For ten years, parents, personnel, advocates, and agencies have held National Healthy Schools Day activities nationwide to highlight the importance of clean indoor air in schools. Visit the National Healthy Schools Day website for more information: http://www.nationalhealthyschoolsday.org/ National Healthy Schools Day is coordinated by Healthy Schools Network in cooperation with US EPA and the Council of Educational Facility Planners – International (CEFPI). It is the first day of School Building Week, and both events help promote the US EPA’s IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) Tools for Schools program. This program helps schools create and maintain healthy indoor learning environments by identifying, correcting and preventing common issues.

I truly don’t understand! To use pesticides or not to, that is the question?

I truly don’t understand! To use pesticides or not to, that is the question?

For the record I will start with this statement “Insects have killed more humans than anything else, period!” Mosquitoes and fleas primarily, mosquitoes continue to kill 1 million people each year and yet we allow these radical left wing groups to push us toward silliness.  Matt Dalen of the New Canaan, Connecticut http://www.acorn-online.com wrote this article “Could ban on pesticides at schools be lifted” 1 1/2 years ago someone decided that no pesticides were a good idea and this law was passed HB-5155.

Now to another case in point, Ohio has been pushing to get a pesticide re-approved because of the big resurgence of Bed Bugs.

So I guess here is the question – How is it that in Ohio they need pesticides but Connecticut doesn’t? Frankly I’m getting tired of people jumping to the conclusion that all pesticides are BAD, the Pest Control Industry has known for years that an approach called Integrated Pest Management (IPM) works.

So what exactly is IPM – this is straight from the EPA site 

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

The example below is based on Cockroaches:

  1. Acceptable pest levels – One cockroach may not trigger issues but maybe 10 might, set by school
  2. Preventive cultural practices – How did the roaches get into the school, prevent boxes from being delivered into the inside of the school.
  3. Monitoring – The use of glue boards to trigger action, by the way the use of glue board may eliminate the problem.
  4. Mechanical means –  use of traps, glue boards, stepping on the roach or even the use of an Insect Growth Regulator.
  5. Biological controls – use of different micro-organisms to control pest.
  6. Responsible Pesticide Use – There are several products available that are considered low risk – least toxic that could be incorporated into a program. A number of years ago there was a product which was a fungus that the roaches ate, baits are also useful.

I’m sick and tired of people jumping to conclusions before they have all the facts, without pesticides insects might make a big comeback like ie Bed Bugs. Without adequate resources at our disposal people would die, so don’t blame the pesticide without the facts. The Pest Management Professional isn’t just a bugman – they are trained to use what they know and are not out to kill the world with pesticide. I’m a PROFESSIONAL and proud of that fact, I’m ticked that the first response is to get rid of the pesticide before we have all the facts. My company uses home sealing, caulking and other equipment before we bring out the pesticides in our toolbox. We use IPM daily and to prove that point we are Gold members of the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program – we live it EVERYDAY. I have been in homes where pesticide was the only answer, roaches and I mean roaches (100,000 upwards) children at risk from asthma, disease etc but I guess that doesn’t matter. Maybe we should ban everyone from using pesticides,  using 1 can of whatever to kill 1 spider. OK rant is over!!!

Comments anyone or are you to scared to stand up and be counted. Sheeple….

Pesticide Biscuit

Pesticide Biscuit by Dr. Jerome Goddard

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2nZMN9UjzU]
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