In the pest control industry, you often come across interesting situations. Infestations that have spread out of control. Pests living in peculiar places. Bugs of unbelievable sizes. Many of you even take pictures to document these encounters.

As pest control industry enthusiasts, we wanted to see them and share them with the world, and that’s exactly what we did!

Over the past year, we’ve had the pleasure of finding incredible snapshots taken by members of the pest control industry through our Twitter accounts and featuring them for everyone to see. What better way to mark the first full year of Pest In Focus than to take a stroll down memory lane and feature them all together?

Enjoy, and keep the great photos coming!

Seth from Hoban Pest Control in Cleveland came across this “sweet” scene while on the job. twitter.com/FMCpest/status…

— FMC Pest (@FMCpest) April 20, 2012

just took some pics of cicada just coming out of shell! these are cool. twitter.com/ArrowPestCntrl…

— Arrow Pest Control (@ArrowPestCntrl) July 8, 2012

Have always loved these guys twitter.com/innovativepest…

— innovativepest (@innovativepest) August 7, 2012

One massive termite tube Michael found on a halite block wall this morning. #Bugsdotcom #termites twitter.com/bobthebugguy/s…

— Bob Howard (@bobthebugguy) August 28, 2012

@fmcbedbug #Verifi really works – see left side of vent holes twitter.com/bedbugbutlers/…

— Bed Bug Butlers (@bedbugbutlers) August 31, 2012

#hornet nest and paper #wasp nests harmoniously living side by side. #happyneighbors twitter.com/PestCharlotte/…

— PestCharlotte (@PestCharlotte) November 20, 2012

Here is a quick video to see live #termites working.Some people never see these guys working up close.youtube.com/watch?v=nGjUmQ…

— innovativepest (@innovativepest) January 24, 2013

Our Pest Consultant Mark took these shots in an Adelaide office storeroom. #Termites don’t just eat timber! #pests twitter.com/MurrayPest/sta…

— Murray Pest Control (@MurrayPest) March 4, 2013

#look #what we #found .#bedbugs evidence underside of boxspring #wow #brooklyn #crazy #bedbugexpert #gotcha twitter.com/GotchABedBugs/…

— GotchABedBugs (@GotchABedBugs) February 24, 2013

@ortexpest termites are ninjas twitter.com/OrtexJake/stat…

— Jake(@OrtexJake) May 8, 2013

Stay tuned for more great snapshots—and if you have a photo you’d like to be featured on In Focus, please send it our way. On Twitter? Share your photo with @FMCpest or just add the #PestInFocus hash tag to your tweeted photo!

The Verifi® back plate can be installed easily using a drill, screws and the provided anchors, supplying a permanent home for Verifi® bed bug detectors.

You told us you needed a new option for installing Verifi® bed bug detectors, and we listened. Now, you can install the bed bug detectors securely while still servicing them easily.

The Verifi back plate is an alternative option to the self-adhesive sticker and can be installed easily on walls using a drill and four provided screws. Once the plate is installed, the activated Verifi bed bug detector slides in place for monitoring, inspection or reactivation. The back plate employs the same texture as the Verifi devices, so bed bugs can easily climb to the pitfall.

Once the Verifi back plate is installed, an activated Verifi unit slides in place for monitoring, and easily slides out for inspection or reactivation.

“We’re planning to use the back plates in the group homes where we continually monitor with Verifi,” said Mike Deutsch, BCE of Arrow Exterminating in Long Island, NY. “That way we won’t have to worry about the residents moving the devices, and we’ll always know where to find them.”

The Verifi bed bug detector back plate is available in packages of 12 through pest management distribution channels.

For more information, visit www.verifibedbug.com or contact your FMC Market Specialist.

Backyard bonfires are a favorite summer pastime for many people. As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, bonfires and the fun activities associated with them will become more frequent. Although they make for great summertime backyard entertainment, there are many safety risks associated with them as well.

So, for the spring and summer campers and other pest professionals who like to enjoy a backyard fire pit, please consider these important fire safety tips:

• Never pour flammable fluids onto a flame or source of heat. The fluid can ignite and the flame can (and probably will) run right up the stream of fluid to ignite the container in your hand, with explosive and extremely harmful (if not fatal) results.
• Never try to extinguish a grease fire with water. This was the last lesson learned by quite a few people cooking in their kitchen. Adding water to a grease fire results in a shockingly large fireball. You are not likely to survive the results of pouring water onto a pan full of burning grease over your campfire.
• Never leave a fire unattended in any stage between lighting and extinguishing. DO NOT go to bed while there is any fire or glow visible in your pit or ring. Left unattended, open flames or glowing coals (even ash-covered embers that don’t appear to be glowing) can very easily lead to a spreading fire.
• Never put plastic, glass or metal items in a fire. Glass and metal can become dangerous at the worst, and constitute littering at the least. Plastic produces some truly noxious and toxic smoke that can harm people in a wide area.
• Never use your fire pit or ring as your trash receptacle. The only items that should EVER be added to a campfire are wood and maybe some organic food trash (such as vegetable skins, but not fruit rinds).
• Paper products should not be added at all or added with extreme care. Paper is often coated with plastics or impregnated with other chemicals that can produce noxious or toxic fumes, and burning paper smuts can be borne aloft and land somewhere to start more fires.
• Always be aware of your hair or clothing when working with a fire. Tie your long hair back securely and roll up loose sleeves.
• Always be aware of the prevailing wind or gusty weather. Watch to make sure that the wind doesn’t blow your campfire flames dangerously close to flammable materials.
• Always be aware of the presence and actions of others around your campfire, especially small children or inebriated adults.

THINK SAFE THIS SUMMER!

At FMC Professional Solutions, we always want to make sure you stay safe both on and off the job. When enjoying your summer festivities, also be safe and keep these fire safety tips in mind. For more safety tips, check out our FMC Safety Share series for pest professionals.

Check out the most popular @FMCpest and @FMCbedbug tweets from the past two weeks, including mosquito control tips and the latest research on the Verifi® bed bug detector. Be sure to follow us on Twitter for pest control industry news, expert advice and the very latest on general pest control and bed bug management solutions from FMC Professional Solutions.

Bat bugs and #bedbugs may look the same, but they aren’t. Help your customers learn the difference. ow.ly/lMmRA

— FMC Bed Bugs (@FMCbedbug) June 6, 2013

Join the likes of @loyalpest, @dugaspc and @pestcontrolohio and attend next year’s Legislative Day. ow.ly/ltelF

— FMC Pest (@FMCpest) May 28, 2013

Research Update:Experts study #Verifi bed bug detectors in Texas homeless shelters.ow.ly/lIcMI #Bedbugs

— FMC Bed Bugs (@FMCbedbug) June 4, 2013

A woman in Germany woke up at 3 a.m. to her doorbell. You won’t believe what was ringing it! ow.ly/ly7XX

— FMC Pest (@FMCpest) May 30, 2013

Summer travel has the hospitality industry bracing for #bedbugs. ow.ly/lAjsC

— FMC Bed Bugs (@FMCbedbug) June 1, 2013

Read what @ufentomology’s Dr. Phil Kaufman has to say about #gallinipper mosquitoes in #Florida. ow.ly/lA4oe

— FMC Pest (@FMCpest) May 31, 2013

What we’re reading: #Cockroaches From Around The World.ow.ly/ltbYM Via @masseyservices

— FMC Pest (@FMCpest) May 29, 2013

Read this funny on-the-job story and great example of customer service from @catseyepest. ow.ly/lJRZd

— FMC Pest (@FMCpest) June 5, 2013

VIDEO: a Florida PMP finds success with the #Verifi bed bug detector on commercial accounts. ow.ly/lAjPd #bedbugs

— FMC Bed Bugs (@FMCbedbug) June 1, 2013

A Chicago #bedbug ordinance gets closer to approval. ow.ly/lA1Ob

— FMC Bed Bugs (@FMCbedbug) May 31, 2013

“Is this a bed bug?”

Chances are you’ve probably heard this question before from your customers. It’s no secret that bed bug infestations are increasing in the United States. With more and more bed bug stories making headlines, anxiety levels are increasing. There are a number of bugs mistaken for bed bugs which could lead your customers to jump to conclusions and panic. It is very easy for the untrained eye to confuse bed bugs with other common pests, so we’ve put together a list of common bugs mistaken for bed bugs for you to share with your customers.

1. Spider Beetle

   The adult spider beetle ranges from 1.5 – 4 millimeters. Its coloring ranges from a dark reddish-brown to black and has a shiny round abdomen, similar to the coloring of an adult bed bug. They’re known to feed on a variety of goods that are usually found in household pantries. Like bed bugs, they prefer to forage at night or in dark locations. They can also be found within walls, attics, cracks and crevices.
   
   
   
   

   

2. Cockroach Nymphs

   All cockroaches prefer to live where there is food, warmth and moisture. Just like adult cockroaches, cockroach nymphs hide in cracks and crevices and are most active at night, actively foraging for food and water. They can also be seen by the human eye, but are white immediately after hatching, eventually turning into a reddish-brown.
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

3. Booklice

   Adult booklice range in color from translucent white to gray or brown and can be found under wallpaper, in furniture and along the sides of windows or on window sills in areas where there is higher humidity. They’re much smaller than bed bugs, typically ranging from 1 to 1.5 millimeters. Their primary food sources are fungi, cereals, pollen and fragments of dead insects.
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

4. Carpet Beetles

   The three most common species of carpet beetles are the black carpet, common carpet and furniture carpet beetle. All species are roughly 3 millimeters in length and can damage fabric, furniture, carpeting and clothing that contain natural animal fibers. Their preferred habitat is within bird, rodent and insect nests, but they could easily be transported indoors. Depending on the species, their coloring can vary.
   
   
   
   

   

5. Bat Bugs

   Bat bugs and bed bugs are very similar in appearance. A primary difference is the length of fringe hairs on the pronotum, a segment of the bug that’s just below its head. These hairs tend to be longer on bat bugs. Bat bugs also feed off of blood, primarily the blood of bats, and are commonly found in attics or near bird nests or bats. However, if birds or bats are eliminated, bat bugs may seek harborage in mattresses and bed frames and will bite humans. They’re commonly found on ceilings, leading some people to mistake them for bed bugs.

To better explain the anatomy of adult bed bugs, download our free guide to bed bug anatomy. You can also easily embed it onto your own website or blog by copying and pasting the code below it.

We offer a variety of bed bug control products and solutions to help pest management professionals combat bed bugs from every angle. To learn more about all of our products labeled for bed bug control, contact your FMC Market Specialist.

Have you ever had customers call you about bugs they’ve mistaken for bed bugs? Share your story below.

Photo credits: University of Florida IFAS Extension
Bat Bug photo credit: Jeff Hahn

Dr. Mike Merchant, second from left, is studying bed bug monitoring in homeless shelters throughout Texas. Pictured here are (left to right) John Koesema, facilities manager for Dallas Life, John Stewart, PMP for Commercial Pest Control in Dallas, and Dr. Charles Helpert, research assistant for Merchant.

“Bed bugs may not be as severe in Texas as in other parts of the country, but the problem is getting worse in homeless shelters and apartment complexes,” says Dr. Mike Merchant, professor and extension urban entomologist, Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service, College Station, Texas.

“We are currently conducting research in homeless shelters throughout the state,” he says. “During a year-long project, we are studying bed bug monitoring devices for effectiveness, ease of use and convenience.

The Salvation Army Women’s Shelter in San Antonio, Texas, is one of the research sites for the Verifi bed bug detector.

“The Verifi® bed bug detector is easiest of the devices we are testing to install and monitor,” adds Merchant. “It definitely attracts and detects bed bugs, and may be conveniently used in a variety of settings. We can easily get Verifi units off the furniture or walls for quick inspection.”

The Verifi bed bug detector is one of three monitoring devices Dr. Merchant is evaluating in his year-long study.

“Monitoring is a critical component of an integrated pest management (IPM) program,” he says. “The Verifi units fit very well into the monitoring portion of an IPM bed bug management program.”

Molly Keck, Texas A&M AgriLife entomology program specialist in San Antonio, examines beds in a homeless shelter.

The Texas homeless shelter study will continue for several more months. We will report the results and other research results on FMC Pest Wire.

Subscribe to the FMC Pest Wire RSS updates and get the latest bed bug news, expert advice and research results on the Verifi bed bug detector delivered straight to your inbox.

Photo Credit: Darrin O’Brien

“The gallinipper is produced in low lying natural areas that flood intermittently, not containers, tires, garbage cans, gutters or even in ponds,” says Dr. Kaufman. “Only people in rural areas will encounter them, and usually just from June to October.”

According to Kaufman, mosquito control should instead concentrate on species like Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus that have the potential to transmit disease-causing pathogens like the West Nile virus.

As a refresher for mosquito season, Dr. Dina Richman of FMC Professional Solutions offers the following mosquito control tips:

1. Time it right. Repeat sprays are necessary because mosquitoes complete their life cycle—eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults—in 10-14 days. Most pest, as well as turf professionals, feel that spraying every three to four weeks will keep populations low, but always follow integrated pest management principles and product label requirements for your state.
2. Think management, not just control. Inspect for current or future breeding sites, including old tires, flower pots, garbage cans, poorly drained gutters, toys, poor grade slope or soil depressions, tree holes/cavities, bird baths, non-functioning fountains, watering cans, sump-pump discharge, and air conditioner and related discharge. Work with customers to drain or remove any breeding sites, fix windows or door screens, and, if necessary, contact a mosquito-abatement agency to address large breeding sites such as ponds.


Work with homeowners to eliminate standing water.

3. Treat. Create a barrier with adulticide treatments of products like Talstar® Professional insecticide applied every three to four weeks, depending on pressure. Using labeled rates, treat the perimeter of all buildings as well as under decks, shrubbery, around gazebos, sheds, and in some cases, the low hanging tree line. Treat during the day when mosquitoes are hiding from the heat on the underside of leaves.

To treat mosquito larvae in sources of stagnant water that cannot be removed or drained, use Bacillus thuringiensis or an insect growth regulator such as methoprene.

4. Invest in the right equipment. Either backpack sprayers or blowers are adequate to treat most homes or businesses. Machine-powered backpack sprayers are most efficient because they easily unearth mosquitoes resting on undersides of leaves, but really any liquid insecticide sprayer will work. Also, backpack sprayers are efficient at treating higher in the tree canopies.

For more information on mosquito control, contact your FMC Market Specialist, or visit www.fmcprosolutions.com.

And don’t forget, through November 2013, you get one free jug of Talstar Professional insecticide when you buy three 1-gallon or ¾ gallon jugs.

FMC Professional Solutions is proud to be the primary sponsor of Legislative Day since its inception 26 years ago. But we need more companies to attend if we want its effectiveness to continue.

Gary Pietrucha, President of Chicago’s Envirosafe Pest Management and long-time Legislative Day participant once told me, “Nothing can happen until you make it happen.”

That said, we polled the 2013 attendees and asked what motivates them to make the trip each year. We highlighted seven great reasons to attend Legislative Day next year:

1. So you can help your industry. As Nick Lupini of Loyal Termite and Pest Control of Richmond, VA, said, “The issues we face change every year. We need this day to be heard so we can protect our industry and our businesses. And only together can we make a big impact.”

Laura Simpson, owner of Dugas Pest Control of Baton Rouge, LA, and current NPMA President concurs: “We can make a difference. And being a part of the process made me feel like a better American.”



Current NPMA President Laura Simpson and her husband Floyd Simpson flank political pundit Laura Ingraham during Legislative Day 2013.

2. So you can actually influence legislation. In 2013, attendees discussed the PESTT Act (H.R. 730), which could prevent the Wildlife Service from pursuing $74 million worth of mammal and bird control business; the Electronic Paperwork issue, which proposes that PMPs can opt for electronic communications with customers; and a myriad of state and local issues. Without the 300 PMPs talking to lawmakers and their aides, these issues would never see a vote.
3. So you can network with peers. According to Bruce Ryser of FMC, who has attended Legislative Day almost every year since it debuted in 1987, “It’s a great place for my customers to network and learn from their counterparts from other states. It’s a smaller group than PestWorld, so you can really get to know people and learn from them.”
4. So you can meet your state’s lawmakers and/or their aides. For Scott Steckel of Varment Guard, the Capitol Hill visits provide a chance to build relationships with his state’s Senators and Congressman. “We discuss important issues and it’s a mutually beneficial relationship,” he says. “The relationships extend past Legislative Day to back home in Ohio.”

Don’t worry if you don’t know the specifics of the issues. Prior to going to the Hill, NPMA gives you the tools and information you need to speak to lawmakers and their aides.

5. So you can listen to and learn from speakers. Steckel also likes the speakers and educational aspects of the event. “The speakers are interesting, and they teach you how it really works in D.C.,” he says. “You learn a lot more than you could ever read in the newspapers.”


Among a crowd of 300 attendees, Steve Fasano, marketing manager for title sponsor FMC Professional Solutions, center, takes in one of NPMA’s speakers during Legislative Day 2013.

6. So you can enjoy spring in D.C. The District of Columbia is a great walking, jogging and sightseeing town. First time attendee, Kyle Franklin of FMC, enjoyed a late-night run through the Capitol, and snapped this shot (see below). Plus, a new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial opened in 2011 and Ford’s Theatre recently expanded its Lincoln memorabilia. And of course, there are the cherry blossoms, provided they are out in time!


The Capital at dusk, courtesy of Kyle Franklin.

7. So you can stop complaining and get involved. As Peitrucha puts it, “The only way you can address these issues is to not complain about them, but to get involved. And the way to get involved is to go to Legislative Day and visit your lawmakers; go talk to those guys who get your vote.”

So, there you have it. See you next year, friends.

What are some reasons you would consider attending Legislative Day?

Check out the most popular @FMCpest and @FMCbedbug tweets from the past two weeks, including a versatile granular insecticide and introducing the Verifi four-pack. Be sure to follow us on Twitter for pest control industry news, expert advice and the very latest on general pest control and bed bug management solutions from FMC Professional Solutions.

#Pest pros: Do you have a great photo you captured on the job? Tweet it to us!ow.ly/l4xZt #PestInFocus

— FMC Bed Bugs (@FMCbedbug) May 15, 2013

This alarming photo shows why #pest pros should protect their skin from #UVrays, even when behind the wheel. ow.ly/kNLjQ

— FMC Pest (@FMCpest) May 13, 2013

.@bedbugcentral is holding a one-day on-the-job #bedbug observation in New Jersey this June. Learn more: ow.ly/li4cV

— FMC Bed Bugs (@FMCbedbug) May 22, 2013

Check out this interactive map that’s tracking the 17- year #cicada swarmageddon: ow.ly/l1bu7 #BroddII via @griffinpest

— FMC Pest (@FMCpest) May 14, 2013

A successful #bedbug management approach in four steps: ow.ly/lfS5a

— FMC Bed Bugs (@FMCbedbug) May 22, 2013

If you’re experiencing increased call-backs, consider switching to this insecticide with residual. ow.ly/l4tu6 #pestcontrol

— FMC Pest (@FMCpest) May 15, 2013

Introducing the Verifi 4-pack, a whole new way to purchase Verifi! ow.ly/lfR1l #bedbugs

— FMC Bed Bugs (@FMCbedbug) May 21, 2013

Your outdoor #pestcontrol can now be more versatile than you ever thought possible. Learn more: ow.ly/l4wYf

— FMC Pest (@FMCpest) May 16, 2013

The @ncpestmgmt has released a new booklet to educate people on preventing the spread of #bedbugs: ow.ly/l68IU via @pctmagazine

— FMC Bed Bugs (@FMCbedbug) May 16, 2013

Thanks to @ortexjake of @ortexpest for this month’s latest #PestInFocus featuring #termite ninjas! ow.ly/ldn5r #pestcontrol

— FMC Pest (@FMCpest) May 20, 2013

Photo courtesy of University of Nebraska Dept. of Entomology

Here in north Florida, earwig control really started getting heavy a few years ago. In the past, our customers used to see a few dead earwigs at their door step every now and then, but they started seeing them throughout the house – sometimes all the way into the second-floor bathrooms!

I even started seeing them in my own home, too. Every morning, the parade of earwigs would begin in my kitchen. In general, this starts happening in late spring when it gets a little dry outside. They follow the pipes and electric lines inside the house looking for moisture.

Earwigs are easily recognized by a pair of prominent appendages resembling forceps at the tail end of their bodies. They feed most actively at night and seek out dark, cool, moist places to hide during the day. Common hiding places are under loose clods of soil, in mulched garden areas, in dense growth of vines or weeds and under the loose bark on trees.
While their name indicates they seek out human ears, there is little evidence to support these stories! However, they do prefer warm dark areas.

Since the products we were using didn’t seem to be working on earwigs, we decided to try a new product, Talstar® XTRA featuring Verge™ granule technology. Our technicians began using it on call-backs for earwigs, applying it around pipes and the perimeters of houses. We discovered that it really rocks on earwigs! Our customers went from seeing numerous earwigs in the house everyday to seeing none – almost overnight.

But what we didn’t expect were the super results we got on all the other occasional invaders like ants, cockroaches, millipedes, ticks and fleas. We found that we weren’t getting call-backs for anything wherever we used Talstar XTRA. So we worked it into our perimeter barrier routine treatments on our spring and summer quarterly accounts.

In addition to being extremely effective, the product really holds up. Last year, we got all our rain for the entire season in three months. And we were still able to get good control with Talstar XTRA. It’s also hugely helpful that it has perfectly uniform granules and is virtually dust-free.

In our industry, we need to show our customers fast and effective results. With some products, you can get one or the other, but with this versatile granular insecticide, you get both.

Denise Wartan is the General Manager of Trad’s Pest & Lawn Services in Jacksonville, Florida. An avid runner and compulsive reader, she is the mother of two teenage girls and a self-professed lover of chocolate.