Citizen Science Using People Power to Map and Monitor Ants

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 Landscape Insects and Mites | New Guinea Flatworm Learn the Latest PESTPRO Insecticides From Pest Management Education, Inc. to Landscape and Pest Managers Plants, Flooding and Salt Damage Citizen Science Using People Power To Map and Monitor Ants

November/December 2017 | PestPro 1 TAURUS® SC Fipronil 9.1% Guaranteed Results

10 YEAR Promise of Protection

ControlSolutionsInc.com Taurus is a registered trademark of Control Solutions, Inc. Control Solutions, Inc. Adama.com This product may not be registered in all states, Innovation you can apply. Find Us On please check the CSI website for registration information. 2 PestPro | November/December 2017 VOL. 13, NO. 6 November–December 2017 PESTPRO CONTENTS magazine is a publication of FEATURES Pest Management Education, Inc., and is the official magazine of the Times and Insecticides Florida Pest Management Association Are Changing 8 Citizen Science: Using People Power 11 To Map and Monitor Ants Board of Directors Tim Brock, Brock Lawn & Pest Control New Guinea John Cooksey, McCall Service Flatworm Dr. Phil Koehler, University of Florida 16 Marie Knox, Control Solutions, Inc. Jane Medley, Pest Management Education Student Profile: John Paige III, Bayer Dallin Ashby Dr. Roberto Pereira, University of Florida 18 Sandee Weston, Pest Management Education Tony Weston, Pest Management Education Insects and Mites In the Landscape in 2017 Managing Director 21 Philip Koehler (352) 392-2484 [email protected] Plants, Flooding And Salt Damage Managing Editor 31 Roberto Pereira (352) 392-2485 [email protected] DEPARTMENTS Production Editor Jane Medley (352) 871-1809 6 FPMA President’s Message [email protected] 7 Editorial: Pest Pro Community Pulls Together Advertising Manager Sandra Krempasky (904) 679-5615 13 Past President’s Corner: Pamela Jordan Wolf [email protected] 15 Pest Detective: Seed Beetles

PESTPRO (ISSN 1553-4693) is published Jan.–Feb., 23 Market Hardware: Start Turning Negative Reviews March–April, May–June, July–Aug., Sept.–Oct., and Nov.–Dec. by: Into Positive Results Pest Managment Education, Inc. 5814 Nob Hill Blvd. 25 PCO Pointer: Mosquito Control Licensing Port Orange, Florida 32127 Phone (352) 392-2326 26 Contracts and Cooperation: Termites and Bed Bugs Copyright © 2017 by Pest Management Education, Inc., a nonprofit corporation working to help UF 29 Capitol Corner: Government Action Committee Urban Entomology. Technical information provided by the University of Florida and other sources.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 Landscape Insects and Mites | New Guinea Flatworm Pest Management Education, Inc. Learn the Latest PESTPRO Insecticides From Pest Management Education, Inc. to Landscape and Pest Managers ON THE COVER 5814 Nob Hill Blvd. Plants, Flooding and Salt Damage Port Orange, FL 32127 Citizen Science When the cookie crumbles, the ants come Using People Power To FOR ADVERTISING information contact our Map and Monitor Ants crawling. Thus begins a citizen science advertising manager, Sandra Krempasky, at (904) 679- project for anyone, anywhere. The simple 5615, or by email at [email protected]. act of mailing in ant specimens can improve scientists’ knowledge of the world around us.

Cover photo by Jane Medley Port Orange, FL 32127-5801 FL Orange, Port

November/December 2017 Blvd. Hill Nob 5814 Pest Management Education, Inc. | PestEducation, Pro 1 Management Pest November/December 2017 | PestPro 3 New FendonaTM CS controlled release insecticide means business

Introducing serious perimeter pest control that helps protect your customers and your bottom line. Fendona CS controlled release insecticide contains a powerful new active ingredient, alpha-cypermethrin, that’s four times more potent than regular cypermethrin. It kills a wide spectrum of arthropod pests fast. Its advanced micro-mesh encapsulation protects the active and ensures broad coverage, making it your premier perimeter pest solution.

To learn more, contact Brian DeChirico, [email protected] (Northern Florida) or Herman Giraldo, [email protected] (Southern Florida)

Fendona-Means Business-PestPro_FP_ad-special CTA.indd 1 6/22/17 12:20 PM New FendonaTM CS controlled release insecticide means business

To learn more, contact Brian DeChirico, [email protected] (Northern Florida) or Herman Giraldo, [email protected] (Southern Florida)

Fendona-Means Business-PestPro_FP_ad-special CTA.indd 1 6/22/17 12:20 PM Enemy Irma Inspires FPMA Spirit of Giving Message from the President of FPMA Anne-Marie Tulp

HEN I first heard of the recent other. The strength of this association is Next up will be the 2018 Business hurricane predicted to make a due to all of you and is felt by the new and Operations Expo on January 11–13 beeline for Florida, it reminded members as they come on board. They at the Hilton Orlando, Lake Buena meW of when I was a little girl. On a weekend join because they want to be a part of Vista. Full registration has stayed at trip to her apartment, my favorite great-aunt this fellowship. 2017 prices and promises to continue Dottie and I watched an old black-and-white Speaking of membership, by this with the theme of providing you with Jerry Lewis comedy, “My Friend Irma.” time you should have all received your new, up-to-date info on what you need Flash forward all these years later to when dues renewal and, as promised, there to continue to grow your business. Expo we all realized that Irma was anything but have been some price DECREASES for is also the time when I hand the gavel Florida’s friend. According to our state’s some categories. Remember, when you to president-elect Steve Lum. Having Office of Insurance Regulation, the storm are a member of FPMA, ALL of your worked on the executive committee with is expected to eventually cost close to $100 employees are automatic members at Steve over the past four years, I know billion, which would top the $45 billion in NO ADDITIONAL COST and are that he is committed to continue to costs from Hurricane Andrew in 1992. eligible to take advantage of all member grow this association and make it even As Florida residents, we have all been benefits. The 2017 annual membership better. But I’m not gone yet — I still affected in some way by Irma. Some of at the first level (Bracket A) is presently have work to do! us lost power, had damage to our homes $229 and will be reduced to $149 for As always, don’t forget to check out or businesses, lost revenue and possibly 2018. That’s an $80 per year annual the Past President’s Corner on page 13, customers as a result of this storm. Even savings! See page 30 for the Dues where we feature Pamela Jordan Wolf, if you did not personally experience the Renewal/New Member Application who was FPMA president in 1987–88. impact of this hurricane, surely you know Form. I wish you and your families a many who were. wonderful holiday season. I look forward Once the storm passed, FPMA made Moving Forward to seeing you all at Expo in January. PP deliberate moves to make sure our members Now that Irma is in the rearview — Anne-Marie Tulp, knew we were there for them. Many of us mirror, it’s time to get back to business. President, FPMA reached out to our association friends in the November 3 was our first-ever “Behind line of fire to check in, even though our cell the Scenes” site visit. Six member service was intermittent at best. We formed companies — Bryan Pest Control, PS: For those of you who may want a task force with our president-elect, Steve Fahey Pest & Lawn Solutions, Hoffer to check out that old black-and-white Lum, spearheading this initiative to find Pest Solutions, Larue Pest Management, movie: https://youtu.be/FGYf6oReI9g out how we could help those who were in McCall Service, and Slug A Bug — need. A bulletin with a Hurricane Irma opened their doors to give you the assistance email address was established so inside scoop on how to take YOUR that members in need could reach out for company to the next level. This one-day, our help. The FPMA Foundation quickly member-exclusive event was chaired by called a board meeting to determine how to Kyle Verona, who did an excellent job of financially help those in need as those emails making the first annual site visit a great and calls came in. success. If you were unable to attend in This, folks, is what “member driven” is all 2017, I would strongly recommend you about. Yes, we are competitors, but first we sign up early next year to be sure to get are members who sincerely care about each a spot!

6 PestPro | November/December 2017 Pest Pro Community Pulls Together

OTHING The other FPMA is worse in events were site visits Florida than a to successful pest Nbad hurricane season. management companies. Hurricanes have really The participants got to see affected the state and the physical arrangement the pest management and equipment other industry. At PestPro companies use to provide magazine, we hope services. This type of everyone survived the open-house meeting was storm and has been able something completely to repair damages and get unique and shows how back to normal business. giving this industry can be It is interesting that for others. We often think pest management is a that the inner workings of close-knit family that a company are top-secret helps others in need. It is and kept from view. The in times of disaster that we open house showed that find out how important the top pest management other members of the industry are. Of FPMA SUPPORTS PEST PROS companies want other companies to see course, FPMA is a family of friends FPMA recently led a site visit program what is successful for them. This improves looking out for each other. Even though that was highly successful. The idea was to the industry as a whole, and everyone then the companies are competitors, they help bring companies together to show the inner benefits. It was great to see such openness each other and their communities in times workings of the industry and the University and caring for the industry. of need. The recent hurricanes have shown of Florida. The UF Urban Entomology Lab that very clearly. led a tour of laboratories at the main campus PEST PROS SUPPORT THEIR I remember living through the tornado in Gainesville. This is the No. 1 entomology HOME COMMUNITIES that tore through Gainesville several years department in the world, so the facilities here Even though we lived through a disaster, it ago. I heard the roar early in the morning, are superb. did not take a hurricane to bring everyone went back to sleep, and woke up for We displayed the cockroach colony room, together. People in the industry have always work with no power in the house. When where we have 16 species of cockroaches in been supportive and want to do what is best I pulled out of the driveway, I looked up colony. It is interesting to see all these different for everyone, including their communities. the road and saw trees blocking the road species alive and in their natural state. We You can see that with donations of time and to my left. I looked down the road and also showed the ant room, where we have 18 services for those in need. In fact, after the saw trees blocking the road to my right. species of ants. It is hard to identify ants in hurricane season, there will be increased need So I pulled back into the garage and went nature, but we have them live and in colony. in pest management services. Fire ant masses back into my house with no power. We The bed bugs were interesting because we have have been in the news floating on flood were without power for five days, and in colony two species: the tropical bed bug and waters. Cockroaches have been driven into we met all of our neighbors. Up to that the common bed bug. In addition, we showed people’s houses looking for harborage above point we had not met anyone except our mosquitoes, house flies, two species of fruit the water table. Termites will be thriving next-door neighbors. It took a disaster for flies, termites, silverfish, and stored product because they don’t drown easily. Mosquitoes everyone in the neighborhood to become pests. The best part of the day was that each will thrive because of all the water for larval friends. participant learned how to prepare their own breeding. Flies will breed in all the decayed I hope that same sense of community insect collection of pest species. So they got food and sewage that has been spilled and comes out of the Hurricane Irma disaster. to go home with a variety of insect pests as a not able to be picked up. It will be hard to Everyone in Florida experienced some training collection for their technicians. find a pest that won’t thrive in the aftermath sort of problems, some more severe than of the hurricane. others. But just the process of everyone It is great to be in Florida, surrounded helping each other creates a sense of by a pest control industry that cares and community. That community can easily provides the best-quality service. I know your gel into lifelong friendship as a result of all community needs this industry, and this these problems. That community is clearly industry is there to help their community. seen in FPMA. In good or bad times, the Thank you for all you are doing. PP association really tries to help everyone in — Dr. Philip Koehler, the pest management industry. Managing Director, Pest Pro November/December 2017 | PestPro 7 TIMES and

1940s – 1950s CHLORINATED INSECTICIDES HYDROCARBONS DDT chlordane dieldrin Are Changing heptachlor ! Philip Koehler and Roberto Pereira 1950s – 1960s ORGANOPHOSPHATES Are you ready for some shocking news? chlorpyrifos The urban pest management industry is diazinon malathion facing more changes in the insecticides CARBAMATES that will be available for use. carbaryl propoxur OR THE PAST 70 years, Modern Pesticides: From the 1980s to 2010, the methomyl a constant stream of novel A Brief History pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, chemistries has been the The urban pest management fiproles, oxadiazines, and Fbasis for the growth and survival industry really thrived when diamides replaced the previous 1950s1980s – – 1960s 2010 of urban pest management. The the chlorinated hydrocarbons chemistries. ORGANOPHOSPHATESPYRETHROIDS stream has narrowed and almost burst onto the scene in the late The stream of new chemistries been choked off by increasing 1940s and 1950s. Although continued through to the 2000s. chlorpyrifospermethrin insecticide regulations and fear these products heralded the The typical process to develop cypermethrindiazinon of the effects of insecticides on birth of modern pest control, each chemistry was to synthesize malathioncyfluthrin humans and the environment, they are long gone in the thousands of candidate chemicals, deltamethrin as well as other factors. Not only United States. In the 1950s and screen them for activity against has the stream of new insecticide 1960s, the organophosphates several insect species, determine NEONICOTINOIDS chemistries been choked off, but and carbamates revolutionized toxicity and hazard to mammals, imidacloprid the number of manufacturers of the industry. In the late 1990s, and then select the best for clothiamidin insecticides has decreased as the the organophosphates and the further development, marketing thiamethoxam industry has consolidated into a carbamate registrations began and sales. That process was handful of manufacturers. The to disappear in urban pest extraordinarily expensive and FIPROLES number of companies developing management. time consuming. fipronil novel insecticides has decreased, Of course, there have always Figure 1 breaks down the and the cost of bringing a new been chemistries to take the mode of action for all insecticides OXADIAZINES insecticide to the market has places of those removed by sold worldwide. In urban pest skyrocketed. regulations and public concerns. management, the primary way indoxacarb to kill insect pests is by using DIAMIDES nerve and muscle agents that paralyze or cause overexcitation chlorantraniliprole of the organism. Unfortunately, cyantraniliprole these effects on the nervous and muscle systems of insects are very similar to the effects of these same products on humans and other mammals. There has always Percent of worldwide insecticide sales, been a concern about using these by mode of action, in 2015 Figure 1 8 PestPro | November/December 2017 Discover and screen Crops thousands Urban of candidate chemicals Medical Veterinary Develop for 1950s to 2010 Neonicotinoids major crops — Traditional insecticide development cotton, corn, Pyrethroids soybeans Figure 3 Organophosphates Register Develop for Diamides Develop product and urban pest Develop for for medical Avamectins market for management veterinary use entomology crops — — termites, — fleas, ticks, Carbamates – mosquitoes, cotton, corn, cockroaches, heartworm flies soybeans ants

Register Register Register Register product product and product product and and market market for and market market for for other urban pest for medical veterinary use Percent of worldwide insecticide sales, crops — fruit, management entomology vegetables, by class of insecticide, in 2015 rice, potatoes, Figure 2 etc. older products around humans, New Kids Are Here: chemicals (Figure 4). Rather than especially children and the GMOs and screen thousands of molecules for elderly. DESIGNER CHEMICALS their effect on insects, chemists A further breakdown of The process of insecticide are able to three-dimensionally worldwide usage, by class of development has recently look at the target site (for instance, insecticide, is shown in Figure changed from screening a sodium channel of a nerve), 2. The remaining 27 percent of thousands of compounds with design a molecule to bind to insecticide products usually are unknown insecticidal action that site, and deactivate it. Once (Figure 3) not used in the urban market. to developing that molecule has been designed, Crops The most recent valuation of genetically modified organisms, chemists then work on modifying insecticides is that a little more or GMOs, and designing the basic molecule to make it more Urban than $17 billion of products specific molecules to interact efficient, more stable, and safer to Medical were sold per year worldwide, with a target site in the pest. manufacture and use. Continued Veterinary excluding fumigants. Most of this GMO crops have genes for value, of course, was insecticide insecticide production inserted GMO Plants Designer Chemicals products used to treat crops. into the plant from bacteria Discover GMO plant and designer Discover The urban pest management and other organisms. Therefore, insecticidal genes chemical development new designer industry has always been a the plant itself kills the insect, in microorganisms for insect control chemistry specialty market that received so the dynamic has changed. Figure 4 insecticides first developed for There is no need to develop Transfer Screen for crop use and then adapted for insecticides to be sprayed onto insecticidal veterinary use use in and around structures like many crop plants, and the genes to crop This process does not occur with GMO plants — fleas and plants ticks residences, businesses, hospitals, manufacturers of insecticides and has not occurred with designer chemicals Develop for restaurants and food facilities. do not find it profitable to Develop urban pest Develop for for medical Produce seed management veterinary use Develop for In fact for the past 50 years develop crop sprays (Figure 4). entomology — termites, — fleas, ticks, with genetic – mosquitoes, veterinary use cockroaches, heartworm or so, insecticides had to first Therefore, a specialty market flies resistance to ants — fleas and show value for application to like urban pest management pests ticks cotton, corn and soybeans. If an gets few new chemicals. Register Register Register product and product product and insecticide was not satisfactory for The development of new market for and market market for Market urban pest for medical Register spraying those crops, it usually insecticides for pest control veterinary use seeds to management entomology product and would not get developed for the has also shifted because of the produce crop market for urban market. ability to develop designer plants that kill veterinary use pests

November/December 2017 | PestPro 9 Sodium channels along nerve the brain. In that work they need Cutting-Edge Technology: Sodium channels along nerve to have an in-depth knowledge of Isoxazolines and More the way nerves and muscles work. The newest class of insecticide Much of that work concentrated chemistry is isoxazoline. You on neurotransmitters and have probably never heard of this channels within cell membranes chemistry, but there are several Sodium pore that transmit the sensory products registered from that impulse along the nerve group that are being sold in the cell. Because these newest United States and around the

Sodium pore chemistries are primarily world. These chemistries have developed within the medical been patented, researched, and

Doyle, 1998 Doyle, and veterinary community, a developed by companies like Sodium channel et al E.N. Claire, electronmicrograph Sodium channel drawing of whole new dynamic of insecticide DuPont, Bayer, BASF, Merck molecular arrangement development has evolved. (MSD Animal Health), Elanco, Sodium channels in nerve cells that The new method of and Syngenta. However, these transmit the nerve impulse development is to design chemistries were developed in chemistries that affect nerves. If the drug and pharmaceutical HESE POTENTIAL departments or disappeared in they find that the new chemistry development sectors of their insecticides can be the wake of GMO research in affects human nerves, it may companies. designed to fit specific plant departments and designer be developed as a human and The isoxazolines that are Tsites within the insect, and they chemicals in medical and veterinary drug. If they find a commercially available are: target molecules that are vital for veterinary research facilities. new chemistry affects insects but aAfoxolaner (Nexgard by pest survival and reproduction, There is no longer a pressing need not humans, it may be developed Merial) for veterinary use in shown above. Because insect for entomology, just molecular as a parasite medication for dogs against fleas, target sites are sometimes subtly scientists who work on inserting animals. That means that the aFluralaner (Bravecto by Merck different from human target sites, insecticide genes into plants for first registrations for the product Animal Health) for veterinary insecticides are being developed insect control and chemists who would be with the Food and use in dogs and cats against that are highly effective and have design and produce chemicals Drug Administration. For fleas and ticks, little to no toxicity to humans that interfere and stop certain those company researchers, it aLotilaner (Credelio by Elanco) and other mammals. Designer vital processes in insects. is probably easier — because for use against fleas and some molecules are now driving the Since 2010 most insecticides they typically deal with the tick species, and discovery of new insecticides. have actually been designed FDA registration process — and aSarolaner (Simparica by The combined effects by chemists working in possibly cheaper for them to get Zoetis) for use in dogs against of GMOs and designer medical research portions of an FDA registration than an EPA fleas and some tick species. chemicals have also affected commercial companies. Many registration. This new process is pest management research at of these researchers were actually shown by the development of the It is interesting that both universities. Many entomology developing medications to most recent classes of insecticides afoxolaner and fluralaner were departments at universities alleviate pain — blocking the that are not EPA registered, but first discovered by DuPont have been merged into other nerve so pain signals don’t get to FDA registered. and Nissan, but have been registered and marketed by other Structure of isoxazoline insecticides. companies. The new dynamic is that the Isoxazole is the base molecule for the class newest insecticide chemistries are being developed for the veterinary parasite market first, and maybe later will be introduced as crop insecticides. Isoxazole Lotilaner The isoxazolines started appearing in the pesticide literature since 2010 for fluralaner and 2014 for afoxolaner. The base molecule for these compounds is isoxazole, shown in the graphic at left. Afoxolaner The isoxazolines affect the Flurolaner chloride channels in the GABA receptor of nerves. They bind to the chloride channels in insects Sarolaner Continued on Page 12

10 PestPro | November/December 2017 School of Ants SUBMISSION FORM on page 32 CITIZENCITIZEN SCIENCE:SCIENCE: UsingUsing PeoplePeople PowerPower toto MapMap andand MonitorMonitor AntsAnts Andrea Lucky

Florida is rich — in ants, that is. Our state HIS IS great news if you are identifies the ants in each sample and adds fascinated by ants, but alarming to them to the samples on the Ant Map. You can boasts more than 200 people who think of all these ants then look up what you collected online1. species — greater Tas pests. Learning about the ants in our own backyards can help us distinguish those ‘Crowd-Sourced’ Research ant diversity than troublesome species from the ones that are Citizen science is a way for nonspecialists almost any other state good for us and our environment. Ultimately, to contribute to scientific research. There we can control the “irrit-ants” and encourage are other names for this kind of public in the nation, not to the “import-ants.” One way to learn about involvement, such as public participation mention more than ants, and to get close and personal with them, in scientific research, amateur science and is through a citizen science project called citizen monitoring. The idea behind them many other countries the School of Ants1, which is mapping and all is the same — research benefits from the around the world! monitoring the ant species of the United involvement of all kinds of people, and people States. benefit from participating in research. You can join the thousands of citizen Citizen science is an old idea, dating back scientists who have participated in the project. to a time when science was a pastime or a You learn how to easily sample your local ants, passion for people who were curious but didn’t and we add them to the School of Ants ant identify as professional scientists. Today, many map. It’s as simple as crumbling some cookies people who are not academic researchers can on a piece of paper and waiting for the ants to help study a particular topic or solve a local come, as shown at left. After about an hour, problem through the many citizen science collect the ants and freeze them overnight (a projects available. humane way to kill insects). Make sure to Why should you participate in citizen record on our website where and when you science? For many people it is a chance to sampled your ants. The last step is to send the make a positive contribution to research while ants to the Ant Lab at the Entomology and doing something you enjoy. For others it is a Nematology Department at the University way to feel connected to fellow citizens who of Florida. There, the School of Ants team share your curiosity. Projects that map the Continued on Page 14 1www.schoolofants.org November/December 2017 | PestPro 11 Insecticides, continued from Page 10 Future Chemistries in Various Stages of Development for Pest Control and ticks, blocking the transmission of nerve signals. The chloride channels in insects are Pesticide Chemical Year Mode of slightly different than in mammals, so affected Class Discovered Action insects are paralyzed and die, and there is little Afoxolaner Isoxazoline 2014 GABA gated chloride channel effect on humans and other mammals. These Sarolaner Isoxazoline 2016 GABA gated chloride channel products are administered to animals orally or Lotilaner Isoxazoline 2014 GABA gated chloride channel as a topical treatment and are absorbed into the blood stream for distribution throughout Cycloxaprid Cycloxaprid 2011 Nicotinic receptor the animal’s body. Fleas and ticks taking a Triflumezopyrim Mesoionics 2013 Nicotinic receptor blood meal ingest the insecticide treated Cyclaniliprole Diamide 2013 Ryanodine receptor blood and die. Tetraniliprole Diamide 2014 Ryanodine receptor The insecticidal action of the isoxazolines Afidopropen Afidopropen 2012 Unknown is not restricted to fleas and ticks. Isoxazolines Flometoquin Flometoquin 2011 Unknown have broad spectrum insecticidal activity. Besides fleas and ticks, they are toxic to flies, Fluhexafon Fluhexafon 2014 Unknown mosquitoes, cockroaches, beetles, lepidoptera, plant-feeding bugs, mites, spiders, thrips, and Homoptera. In comparative tests on German cockroaches, the 24 hour fluralaner LD50 was 27 ng/insect — not quite as effective as fipronil at 5.2 ng/insect. Fluralaner also has been shown to effectively kill cat fleas, stable flies, blow flies, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, ticks, and spider mites. The isoxazolines are not the only new chemistries being developed for pest control. Other classes of chemistries are coming, like the metadiamide, cyclxoaprid, cyclaniliprole, tetraniliprole, afidopyropen, flometopquin, and fluhexafon compounds (see table above). Some of these compounds have unknown modes of action, but most are affecting the neuroreceptors for GABA, acetylcholine, and ryanodine. In almost all cases, the new insecticides affect insects much differently than humans and other mammals. So the insecticides would affect insects, but not be hazardous to use.

Final Thoughts Even though the process of developing and introducing new insecticides into the market has changed, new products are on the horizon. The process of discovering and marketing new chemistries is still occurring, but the method of development for the urban pest management industry has changed. Hopefully new insecticides can be developed for the urban pest management industry. This process is slower in getting new products for urban pest management because the companies will first deal with FDA registration as a drug and later EPA registration as an insecticide. PP

Philip Koehler is Endowed Professor and Roberto Pereira is Research Scientist at UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department.

12 PestPro | November/December 2017 PAMELA JORDAN WOLF, ARAB PEST CONTROL, FPMA PRESIDENT 1987–1988

Name: Pamela Jordan Wolf (Pam) Best business book: I believe everything I need Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana to know about business and life can be found in Where you live now: Tampa, Florida the Bible. As for business books, one of my recent About your company: I was raised in the pest favorites is “Extreme Ownership.” control industry. My dad was Herman B. Jordan, Best piece of founder of Arab Pest Control and Federal Chemical business advice Company, beginning in 1929. I graduated from you received: From college in 1977 with a degree in finance and my friend, business management. My dad, who had franchised Arab in mentor, and former multiple states, said, “Come to Florida and work in president of Arab, the family business for a year, then I will send you Randy Vaughn: Be the to law school, all expenses paid.” Away to Tampa first to show up and I went. He started me in an entry-level role at the last to leave, but minimum wage. also remember — stop My dad bought a small company in Tampa in and smell the roses. As the late 1950s that was now doing about $3 million you build a business, in sales. He had kept the business in Florida, owned you must remember by family and a minority partner. Six months after woman president of that association’s history. you are also building PAMELA I arrived in Florida, my father passed on a Friday We sold in 1989 when I got an offer that was a life. JORDAN WOLF evening of a massive heart attack. I was 24. too good to be true. Waste Management was What you would tell someone new to the What to do now? Selling was not really an happy to pay top dollar for a company with 300 pest business: Join the trade associations and option. We were too highly leveraged for that. employees, 13 offices around Florida, and an get involved. Read as much as you can. Become The only option? “Run the joint!” So I did! Along infrastructure they could use to integrate a lot of friends with others in the business and gain wisdom with a lot of amazing people on the Arab team. smaller companies they had purchased. from those who have gone before you. Most Service businesses are always all about the people! First paying job and what you learned importantly, don’t give up! Employees, customers, suppliers and advisors. from it: I was a hostess at Red Lobster. What I Where can we find you when you are I had the joy of being part of a leadership team learned: show up on time, make sure your uniform not at the office: With my children and that saw Arab go from $3 million to over $15 is crisp and clean, be willing to do whatever is grandchildren (total of seven now), on the golf million in just 12 short years. We grew organically needed, and NEVER despise small beginnings! course, or traveling with my hubby. and through acquisitions to open new markets. First break in the pest business: The What is the most important trait you look Eventually I would have the honor of serving invitation from my dad to come to Florida and for when hiring: Attitude, desire and integrity. on the Board of FPMA and was elected the first work for a year in the family business. The rest can be taught!P P

November/December 2017 | PestPro 13 Citizen Science, continued from Page 11 world around us are trying to better understand Sharon Pruitt Sharon the diversity that is hidden in plain sight — whether that is the weather, geology, plants or animals, including ants. You may know about one of the longest- running citizen science projects, the Audubon annual Christmas Bird Count, which tracks the bird species present in the United States and Canada in late December. Birdwatchers across the continent who dedicate a few simultaneous Ants help us by cleaning up garbage hours each year to looking and listening for birds make it possible to piece together an annual continent-wide snapshot of the state of our birds. The vast array of other citizen science e + ig cid r = projects boggles the mind. If you want to see lti o u n ropr d e yd ene a -H b what projects are available in your area, you s ) r t (S e e a can browse projects at a website like www. INTRO p k D s U C t scistarter.com . Whether you want to test your h I

N e

i local water quality, track the bud burst rhythms

of trees, or map stars in our galaxy, you’ll find c

f something for you. All of the projects listed

c l have a common desire to bring the public closer e roaches a to “doing” science. ck nd o c d s r Large-scale public participation means ll a i i k n the power to tackle tough questions that

n scientists can’t answer alone, and in the process, d

u participants benefit by seeing and doing the

i t

research up close. School of ants is a project that i e

s does just that — brings people closer to the ants that live around them.

Which Brings Us Back To Ants Most of us haven’t taken much time to look closely at the littlest inhabitants of our yards, sidewalks and gardens, but what you will notice if you do is the massive importance of ants to many other plants and animals. Consider Check out our new app at the “good ants.” Many are food for spiders ZoeconFieldGuide.com approve and lizards. Ants also provide helpful services d fo r by performing tasks such as aerating soil,

s dispersing seeds of flowering plants, and — e

A especially important in cities — cleaning up

o garbage by scavenging dead insects and other

h of

a refuse. Some ants even go about collecting

Complete d l

s n a g e

r a caterpillar poop, which they bring back to their nests to grow a special mushroom to feed their young. Truly, ants are amazing! With all this good behavior, you would GO FURTHER WITH A DUAL-ACTION PRODUCT expect ants to be widely appreciated, but a ® ® Zoëcon’s trusted line of Gentrol products reaches a new level of power with Gentrol handful of problematic species give ants a Complete Aerosol. Combining an insect growth regulator with an adulticide, Gentrol® bad reputation. The “bad ants” include fire Complete Aerosol breaks the life cycle of listed pests while providing a quick knockdown ants, crazy ants, ghost ants and others, all of and residual control. This one-step product is approved for use in sensitive areas such as which are nonnative species that have become food handling establishments. established and invasive in Florida. Learn more at Zoecon.com If any of these species have been problematic for you, you know how frustrating and costly it can be to manage them and keep them from Gentrol is a registered trademarks of Wellmark International. Central Life Sciences with design is a registered trademark of Central damaging people and property, and you are not Garden & Pet Company. ©2017 Wellmark International. alone. Ants rank among the worst insect pests 14 PestPro | November/December 2017 pest detective worldwide because of their highly organized societies. Their numbers give them an advantage over other species in finding food and places to live. Once they are established they can quickly invade new areas, and it can become impossible to eradicate or control them. Our best bet to keep troublesome species from Cowpea weevil eggs spreading and to keep new pest ant species from gaining a foothold is to keep a close eye on the ant communities around our state. The earlier we can detect and control new invasive ant infestations, the better we’ll do in the long run, economically and ecologically. So, how can you tell if the ants around your home or workplace are pest ants that need to be Cowpea weevil controlled or wildlife that should be celebrated? If you have a microscope, or a very good magnifying glass, you might be able to identify the species of ants you have by comparing them with photos of ants in field guides. But not everyone can or even wants to do that. Bean weevil exit holes This is where the School of Ants is eager to help you: Send us your samples, and soon you’ll Bean weevil get a notification about your species’ identity, with links to information about the ant species Photos by Lyle J. Buss. All photos highly magnified. you collected and what role they play in the ecosystem. You can find out if your ants are native species that belong in Florida, or among those few introduced exotic species that can be problematic. Seed Beetles Lyle J. Buss YOU Can Be A Citizen Scientist Mexican bean weevil Citizen science is a win for science and a win for anyone who participates. By partnering with the BET MANY of you often get cases of “tiny beetles in a house,” and it’s public, these projects can grow huge! Our team not always easy to figure out where they are coming from. That’s when has collected data on much larger geographic identification of the pest can really help. Let’s say you can identify it as a stored scales than most other ant scientists. Projects Ifood pest, at least. That helps a lot, but you may still end up looking over a lot of can also run over much longer time scales if food products in the kitchen. But when you have a case of seed beetles and can there is enough public interest. recognize it as such, you’ll be able to narrow your search to dry beans and peas. Participants who have our cookie crumb Seed beetles are sometimes called seed weevils, although they are not in the recipe for ant catching have often shared with same family as true weevils like the rice weevil. They are small, stout beetles us their excitement and satisfaction about around 1/8 inch (3 mm) long. The first segment of their hind leg, or the femur, is contributing to real-time science. Many report enlarged or swollen. that they are more interested in insects around Seed beetles are “internal feeders,” meaning that each beetle develops inside them than before they participated. People a single seed. The species that are stored food pests develop in legumes, namely also note that they feel more trust in science beans and peas. Eggs are laid on the surface of the seed, and the larvae burrow after having the opportunity to participate in into the seed to feed. They pupate inside the seed, and the adult creates a large, research as a citizen scientist. round exit hole when it emerges. So if you are interested in ants or some other The species that I see most often in Florida homes is the cowpea weevil, topic in which you are not an expert, you can Callosobruchus maculatus. They do especially well in black-eyed peas, but also may become a citizen expert today. Join a project occur in other beans like chickpeas and lentil beans. Bean weevils are olive-brown and learn about the ants and other animals that share the spaces we live in. After all, who should mottled with dark-brown and gray and attack stored beans and peas. Mexican care more about the wildlife in your backyard bean weevils are similar to bean weevils, and are not to be confused with Mexican than you? PP bean beetle — a bright, spotted crop pest in the family of ladybird beetles. Like most pantry pests, management is accomplished by finding and discarding infested foods. Besides the obvious dry beans in the kitchen and pantry, also Andrea Lucky is Research Scientist at UF/IFAS inspect decorative items that contain whole beans. PP Entomology and Nematology Department. See the Lyle J. Buss, Scientific Photographer, manages the Insect Identification Lab at the UF/IFAS School of Ants submission form on page 32. Entomology and Nematology Department. November/December 2017 | PestPro 15 Partially eaten snail New Guinea Flatworm Larvae mature and lay eggs. First-stage larvae hatch in lungs

First-stage larvae passed in feces

Larvae reach CNS, Feces consumed, allowing larvae to cause eosinophilic develop within molluscs meningitis

New Guinea flatworm Vegetables potentially contaminated with Platydemus manokwari third-stage larvae

Pierre Gros Pierre (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae)

A NEW GUINEA FLATWORM feeds on a European land snail in France. Third-stage larvae Notice the distinctive light belly and the dark dorsal color. Under certain in snails or slugs conditions, this flatworm can help spread rat lungworm to humans.

Larvae enter NEW SPECIES of land bloodstream in intestine planarian — a terrestrial, Third-stage larvae potentially found in land crabs, frogs, predatory flatworm — freshwater shrimp, lizards, hasA been introduced into South and planarians Florida. New Guineea flatworm was first found in Florida in 2012 in Miami-Dade County and was Kay Weigel Jarvi Lab, Univ. of Hawaii Univ. Lab, Jarvi Rat lungworms, detected in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Adapted from Wang et al. (2008) highly magnified in 2014. Years before, it was carried by human commerce to numerous larvae, it could result in an infection deposited on a leaf or fruit that a islands in the tropical Pacific causing human eosinophilic (type of person eats without washing or CDC Statement and Indian oceans. It had been white blood cell) meningitis. cooking. On Rat Lungworm previously found in Oahu, Hawaii, What sequence of events is but the Florida introduction was required for the New Guinea Each of these steps has a the first record from continental flatworm to transport rat lungworm probability that it will occur at a DON’T eat raw or North or South America. and infect a human? given place. All of these steps have undercooked snails The primary ecological concern aRoof rats or Norway rats in the to occur in the same place and at is due to its feeding habits. New area must be infected with adult the same time for transmission to or slugs, frogs, or Guinea flatworm is a predator of rat lungworm. occur. A 2017 study conducted in shrimp/prawns. If land snails. It may feed on whatever aThe juvenile J1 lungworm larvae Florida found that rat lungworm snail is most abundant, such as are dispersed by the rat in its was found in either rats or snails you handle snails or invasive snail species like the giant feces. in Alachua, Duval, Hillsborough, slugs, wear gloves African land snail, the Cuban aThe J1 larvae are ingested by Orange, and St. Johns counties. brown snail, the Asian tramp snail, snail host when it eats the rat’s Of 171 roof rats examined, only and wash your hands. and Paropeas achatinaceum. New feces. 39 were found to be positive for Always remember Guinea flatworm also poses a threat aThe lungworm grows and molts rat lungworms. Of 1,437 snails to thoroughly wash to native snails, including endemic twice inside the snail to become examined, only 27 tested positive tree snails of Florida. It has caused an infective J3 larva. for rat lungworms. fresh produce. When the decline of some Hawaiian tree aAt this stage usually the rat eats The probability that a person traveling in areas snails in Oahu. the snail, and a J3 larva infects could become infected with a rat The second concern with the the rat, or a person accidently lungworm from a New Guinea where the parasite is New Guinea flatworm comes from eats something covered in snail flatworm is extremely small at the common, avoid eating its potential to act as a mechanical slime that contains the infective current level of infestation within paratenic (transport) vector of larvae and becomes a dead-end rats and snails in Florida. However, uncooked vegetables. rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus host. it is just good practice to wash all cantonensis. The giant African land aBut sometimes, a predatory land fruits, herbs and vegetables that will snail, another invasive species, is planarian eats an infected host be consumed raw. Cooking kills the known to be a particularly good snail. The infective lungworm infective worms, but do you really host of rat lungworm. If a human larvae ride on the land planarian’s want either a worm or snail slime eats J3 infective-stage rat lungworm slime, and the slime may be on your food, even if it is cooked? 16 PestPro | November/December 2017 New Guinea Flatworm William H. Kern, Jr. PLANARIAN IDENTIFICATION A TWISTING TALE The previous two introduced species THE DIAGRAM at left shows of land planaria, Bipalium kewense and Dolichoplana striata, have been potential routes of infection in Florida for a considerable period, of the human central nervous perhaps as long as 100 years. They are a nuisance or a curiosity, but system (CNS) by the rat not considered serious pests. They lungworm, Angiostrongylus are predators on earthworms in wet THE THREE FLORIDA land planaria. environments. Differentiating the From left: Bipalium kewense, with a shovel- cantonensis. three species is easy based on shape and shaped head; Dolichoplana striata, with a pattern. pointed head and slender body; and New The normal life cycle involves: Guinea flatworm, Platydemus manokwari, (1) consumption of molluscs PLANARIAN CONTROL which generally has a broader body than by rats, then There are no pesticides registered Dolichoplana. for land planarian control. Habitat (2) excretion of nematodes in manipulation, i.e., decreasing moisture, rat feces, which are then has been used on worm farms to reduce damage from Bipalium or (3) consumed by molluscs. Dolichoplana. Dry weather causes land planaria to retreat into moist refuge in Human infection can occur: the soil. Limiting their food supply by (4a) when uncooked, infected controlling pest snails would likely be the most effective measure homeowners molluscs are eaten or, or pest control professionals could more rarely — use to reduce New Guinea flatworm populations. Registered snail baits CLOSEUP DORSAL PATTERN of the (4b) when vegetable matter or should always be used according to the three Florida land planaria. From left: (4c) uncooked, contaminated label directions. The active ingredients Bipalium kewense, tan with a strong dark in some snail baits are highly toxic to median stripe; Dolichoplana striata, generally paratenic (transport) wildlife and pets. Local rat control black or dark gray, sometimes with a faint hosts are consumed. would also help reduce the miniscule midline stripe; and New Guinea flatworm, risk of rat lungworm accidental human Platydemus manokwari, with dark back, From J. Capinera and H.S. Walden infection. PP strong, light midline stripe, and belly Rat Lungworm, Featured Creatures, UF/IFAS distinctly lighter than the back. William H. Kern, Jr. is Associate Professor of Entomology at UF/IFAS Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center.

Exotic Snails Found to Host Rat Lungworm

1. Giant African land snail, Lissachatina fulica (R. Zimmerman, USDA-APHIS) 2. Cuban brown snail, Zachrysia provisoria (Lyle Buss, UF/IFAS) 3. Asian tramp snail, Bradybaena similaris (Jax Shell Club) 4. Paropeas achatinaceum (Pest Net) 1

November/December 2017 | PestPro 17 2 3 4 ABOVE: Pine harborage used to lab test American cockroach longevity without food or water. Wood pieces were wetted to various moisture levels.

LEFT: Dallin Ashby identifies insects under a microscope for Florida Pest Control. Pest Expert, Dallin Ashby Family Man

ALLIN grew up as dropping the makeshift bomb During his days off, he used an enthusiast of the onto the mound. It produced a a homemade butterfly net to outdoors, partaking very loud BANG, but resulted collect several butterflies and Dof the many available activities in zero mortality (though it other insects. Though he was and observing the natural did garner some curious looks unable to bring the insects world around him. Fortunately, from the neighbors). These early back to the United States with even his small backyard was experiences set the stage for him, he took pictures of what big enough to explore, and he what would become a lifelong he could and made bookmarks oftentimes sneaked the critters pursuit of entomological of the butterfly wings as he found outside into his home, learning and application. mementos. much to the chagrin of his Perhaps it can be said that what Three weeks after returning mother. Anything from crickets brought Dallin to where he is in home from his mission, to garter snakes was fair game. life now is the fact that he just Dallin met the young woman In his early years, Dallin never grew up! who would become his wife, In Utah, one can find conducted experiments on Outside of entomology, Allyson. She attended school insects and sought out ways Dallin’s most life-changing at Brigham Young University. excellent locations of killing them en masse. experience was serving a church In 2008, he graduated from to mountain bike, Experiments included testing mission in the Philippines from Salt Lake Community College the effect of decreased air 2002 to 2004. While overseas, with an associate of science water ski, hike, camp, pressure on wasp locomotion, he learned to communicate in degree in general biology, the duration of alcohol exposure the Tagalog language, learned to which he transferred to the and, of course, collect needed to kill box elder bugs, love the culture, learned to love University of Utah. In 2010, insects. This was the and nest dominance among the people, and learned to live he earned his bachelor of several wasp species competing on his own. science degree in general environment into for a single foundling nest. Though his focus was on biology from the University which Dallin Ashby He also attempted to kill serving as a missionary, Dallin of Utah, where he spent much an ant colony by combining couldn’t help but notice the of his time volunteering in was born in 1982. the granules of 150 “snaps” wonderful insect diversity multiple entomological research into a single paper towel and that existed on the islands. endeavors.

18 PestPro | November/December 2017 Q and A With Dallin

What brought you to readily eat wood, though the Florida from Utah? wood consumed apparently did Finding a job post-graduation not provide sufficient nutrition proved to be more difficult for survival. than expected, but I eventually landed a job in Salt Lake City As a recent graduate, as a pest control technician. have you pursued your I handled residential and entomology career? commercial accounts, taking I graduated at the end of the care of pest issues such as summer semester in 2017, with tracking odorous house ants, my master of science degree in excluding rats, controlling fleas, entomology and nematology. dispatching raccoons, handling Upon graduating, I started cockroach elimination, trapping working for Florida Pest Control pocket gophers, obliterating and am learning what it takes yellow jackets, and repelling to be a training director for pigeons. the company. My focus is on After four fulfilling years in learning about taking care of the pest management industry, lawns and shrubs while being my wife and I decided it immersed in the Florida Pest was time for me to pursue Control culture. I spend time further education and to getting to know the technicians realize my dream of being an and gaining experience with the entomologist. In 2015, I applied equipment and chemicals that for the master’s program in the the company uses. Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of How do you unwind Florida and was accepted. after a busy day in the lab and field? What path did your In my free time, I have many research take at the hobbies and interests including Urban Entomology Lab? running, cycling, mountain Under the direction of Dr. biking, collecting insects, Philip Koehler, I conducted drawing, painting, photography, research on American playing various instruments, and cockroaches and their ability spending time with my family. to survive without food or I am well known among my water for extended periods of friends and associates for my time. It was discovered that propensity to commute by bike, under conditions of starvation having ridden thousands of and entrapment within wood, miles over the years, commuting American cockroaches would to school and/or work. During

PHOTOS AT RIGHT, FROM TOP:

Dallin Ashby with a backpack sprayer as part of training for Florida Pest Control.

Dallin Ashby after graduating with his Master of Science degree in Entomology/Nematology from the University of Florida. With his wife, Allyson.

The Ashby Family, from left: Nathaniel, Allyson, Briant, Carmen (dog), Dallin, Eliza, Rose, Myles

November/December 2017 | PestPro 19 my time at UF, I rode over tough and rewarding at the Physical Barriers 5,000 total miles to school and same time. My family means ® back, traveling about 12 miles so much to me, and it was to termite Entry per day. Today, most of my really having them to come Pre-Construction cycling miles are recreational, home to that helped me keep Post-Construction sustainable pest barriers riding both solo and in groups. my sanity. I love getting hugs Above all else, I enjoy being from the kids before leaving in with my family. My wife, the morning and being greeted Sustainable Allyson, and I have enjoyed 12 with enthusiastic clamor when Pretreatment Supplements Post-construction Treatments years of marriage and are the I return home. The only real proud parents of five children. burden has been financial, Our children, Myles, Rose, but even that has not been Eliza, Briant and Nathaniel, insurmountable. I hold to the are 11, nine, seven, five and idea that no other success can one year old, respectively. compensate for failure in the TERM® Sealant TERM® Barrier Particle Barrier home. Would you choose to For me and my family do it all again, without the future looks bright, and the challenge of I am enjoying my life as an simultaneously raising entomologist as I support my a family? family. As a kid who grew up thoroughly enjoying my time ® No way! Family life while TERM All Pest Well House playing with insects, I am Bath Trap Barrier application going through six-plus years living a dream come true! PP of higher education and early career development has been

214-515-5000 www.InsectExclusion.com

20 PestPro | November/December 2017 The Year in Review: Insects and Mites in the Landscape Adam Dale

OST pest management We know from previous professionals are familiar with research that secondary the suite of insects or mites they pests like mites, scale Mneed to watch for every year. Many also know insects, and mealybugs the phenology, or seasonality, of those pests, frequently break out which helps them gear up before it’s too late. when disturbances like 2017 was characterized by weather extremes, environmental changes or with a serious drought through the spring and broad-spectrum pesticide the most precipitation on record during the applications occur. summer. Although environmental conditions To me, the frequency Bermudagrass mite damage, closeup directly affect insects, most remained of these pests breaking predictable throughout the year. However, out emphasizes our some were more difficult than others. need for effective IPM There were two primary pests that tactics in the landscape. This means proper these mites break out and cause plant generated the most noise from turfgrass plant maintenance, plant selection, pest damage that disfigures its normal growth professionals this year. Both are obscure, control measures, and other components of habit. Bermudagrass mites create shortened hard to find in low numbers, difficult to a multidisciplinary IPM program. In some internodes and tufted growth, or witches control, and found in turf. These were the cases, pest control managers need to adjust brooming, which can create masses of knotted bermudagrass mite, Aceria cynodeniensis, and their programs. However, we also lack, or are plant material that turns yellow and dies back. Tuttle mealybug, Brevennia rehi. Given the just beginning to understand, many of the This past spring, I was contacted several right — or wrong — conditions, these pests effects that our management practices have on times by golf course superintendents and can break out and cause extensive damage to pest success in the landscape. sod producers with large infestations of large areas of turf. bermudagrass mites. One of the biggest The mite challenges with managing these pests is that The similarities The bermudagrass mite is a well established there are very few, and only broad-spectrum, Both of these arthropods are secondary pests. pest throughout the southern United products labeled for their control. Multiple Secondary pests are always present in a plant States, but has recently reared its head. studies have shown that plant-feeding mites system, but remain below damaging levels This is an eriophyid mite, which is a family frequently break out in response to broad- because they are regulated by things like of microscopic mites common on many spectrum insecticide applications — e.g., biological control organisms or plant defenses. landscape plants. Under the right conditions, pyrethroids or carbamates. This has been explained by a handful of reasons, but most commonly due to natural predators being killed by the insecticide, which leaves the mites that remain free of threats. Two of the most commonly applied insecticides to bermudagrass on golf courses and sod farms are pyrethroids and imidacloprid. Research has shown that some spider mite species produce more offspring after feeding on leaves treated with imidacloprid, and others become more abundant after applications of pyrethroids. I am not saying that overapplication or indiscriminate use of these products has contributed to increased occurrence of this pest. However, evidence from previous research should make us think more critically Lawn with bermudagrass mite damage about what effects our current practices are having on nontarget organisms and secondary pests. Continued November/December 2017 | PestPro 21 Y LAB has found promising results with recently Mreformulated and relabeled chemistries like abamectin, but the options remain few and mostly limited to use on golf courses. Encouragingly, we have found that by simply mowing low, or scalping, and collecting clippings in affected areas, we can reduce mite damage on the new growth by about 40 percent, which persisted in our study for the remainder of the season. Combined with abamectin we reduced mite damage by over 90 percent.

The bug Compared to the bermudagrass mite, Tuttle mealybug is relatively new. It is an established but spreading pest of zoysiagrass lawns throughout Florida. Prior to 2016, this historically Tuttle mealybug favors thatch in zoysiagrass southern-Florida pest was not documented north of the Orlando area. However, it has since spread throughout north Florida and created a frequent management challenge. The spread of this insect has been somewhat surprising due to the sedentary nature and relative immobility of mealybugs. However, zoysiagrass lawns have been and continue to become more common. Coinciding with the increase in zoysiagrass lawns has been a growing realization that people are less familiar with its maintenance needs. One of the biggest challenges that improper zoysiagrass management leads to is thatch accumulation. As we know through experience with other pests, too much thatch can harbor insect pests by providing refuge that protects them from control and makes it difficult to get insecticides to the right place. Tuttle mealybug closeup on blade of grass Our current evidence suggests that the most effective approach to controlling Tuttle mealybug is by reducing thatch. This opens up the turf canopy, which facilitates access by natural enemies and insecticides. It also reduces favorable microhabitats where these insects can hang out and reproduce. Once lawns are already infested with these bugs, thatch reduction in addition to mowing low and removing the clippings will expose them to control. This is a preventive practice and a component of curative control. Thatch accumulation in zoysia lawns contributes to more WE NEVER issues than Tuttle mealybug. To address this suite of challenges, the turf faculty at the University of Florida have developed BACK DOWN a series of zoysia management workshops that take place throughout Florida.

FROM BACKING In summary As insect activity slows down, it is important to think about what YOU UP. happened this year so that you can be more prepared for 2018. Evaluate your management program to identify potential areas of improvement. Think about the cultural practices and chemical inputs that could be affecting insects in the landscapes you manage and do your best to minimize their unintended effects. Spring is on the way, and it will soon be time to monitor for mole crickets, survey for bermudagrass mite damage, and implement practices that increase your chances for success. PP w

For the hardest working medium-duty trucks, every part Adam Dale is Assistant Professor at UF/IFAS Entomology and known to man, and a top-notch service department, Nematology Department. For more information about research talk to us. We got your back. and Extension programs from the UF/IFAS Turf and Ornamental Entomology Lab, visit http://dalelab.org. NextranUSA.com

22 PestPro | November/December 2017 Market Hardware Start Turning Negative Reviews Into Positive Results Alain Parcan

OUR ONLINE reputation plays contact you directly to try to resolve the remove their negative review. Just proceed a big part in whether or not a error? with caution. You don’t want to undo any potential customer decides to hire Responding with a version of these goodwill you may have reestablished. you.Y Your reputation is largely based on can help buy you time and move the If you do not feel comfortable asking the the unfiltered opinions of your customers, conversation into a more private setting. customer to remove the review, ask them to who have access to a larger audience than Communicating with an upset customer reply to their initial review with an update ever before. While dealing with unhappy in a personal manner, such as over the on the situation. You don’t want it to look as customers has always been a challenge for phone or in person, can help eliminate any though no action was taken after the initial business owners, today negative reviews are misunderstandings and speed up solutions. response. If people see you’ve taken the time for everyone to see, which makes handling It will also show the disgruntled to remedy a negative experience, this can go the situation properly even more important. customer you are aware of the situation a long way in boosting your reputation. This begs the question: What’s the best way and are working to sort it out. Perhaps to deal with a negative review? more importantly, anyone else that sees the Step Five: Be Proactive — negative review will know that you care Get Positive Reviews Step 1: Take a Step Back and Relax enough to address a customer’s concerns Whatever the outcome is from the first This is both the most important step in about your business. several steps, the No. 1 strategy when it dealing with a negative review and the comes to combatting negative reviews one most business owners get painfully Step 3: The Nonconfrontational is to consistently encourage your happy wrong. If someone leaves a negative Confrontation customers to leave positive reviews. One review about your business, chances are Now that you’ve thought rationally about blemish won’t have much of a negative it isn’t personal. However, many business how you want to deal with the review and effect when surrounded by several glowing owners take negative reviews personally, indicated to the disgruntled customer that reviews, and the fact that reviews boost your and understandably so — they’re proud of you’re looking into the situation, it’s time to search rankings makes this an added bonus. the service they deliver, so when someone follow up directly. Rule No. 1: Be as polite Typically, only a small portion of your makes a public comment about that service as possible (this is why Step 1 cannot be customers will take the time to leave being lackluster, those business owners feel skipped). Demonstrate to the customer that reviews online. This group tends to have threatened, hurt and upset. you genuinely care and value their feedback. the strongest feelings toward your business, In these cases, it’s important to take a step A positive attitude will help get a positive whether positive or negative. Try to get in back and try to remove emotion from the result. In many cases the customer just the habit of encouraging your customers to equation. Reacting emotionally tends to lead wants to have their voice heard, and being leave you reviews online or even consider to an over-the-top response, which usually receptive to what they have to say might be sending out an email blast with a link to just adds fuel to the fire. Instead, take some all it takes for them to remove the review. different review sites, with Google being a time to relax and think about where the Which brings us to the next step … priority. Chances are you have many happy customer may have felt slighted — whether customers who would be happy to take a they are right or wrong. Step 4: Removing the Review minute or two to leave a review. (Optional!) Your online reputation is vital to your Step 2: Respond Reasonably For starters, remember that most review business’s success. It affects your online Once you’ve taken some time to consider sites won’t let you take down a negative marketing strategy, so don’t take it lightly. all angles of the situation, it’s time to review, and probably won’t even bother Monitor the popular review sites regularly, respond. You never want to air out an entire to investigate a potentially false negative and make sure you follow these directions conversation in a public forum, so start review. It would take up too much of their closely if you do happen to run into a with a simple, generic response. Rebecca time and resources to sift through every negative review along the way. PP Hussey, Market Hardware’s director of negative review to find out which ones have account management, suggests the following legitimate claims in them. Alain Parcan, Director of Marketing for Market responses: So, based on how well you completed Hardware, Inc., contributed this article. Alain brings • Thank you for voicing your concerns, steps 1 through 3, you’ll have to make an nearly 10 years of experience in educating businesses [NAME] — we are looking into your on-the-fly decision about this step. If you so they can market themselves more effectively. account, and will be in touch to work feel like you’ve had a positive conversation Market Hardware helps small businesses compete on toward a resolution. with your formerly disgruntled reviewer, and the web and offers special discounts for professional association members. You can reach Alain’s team at • I’m sorry to hear that you weren’t happy you’ve addressed their issues appropriately, 888-381-6925. with your service, [NAME] — could we it may be time to ask them to edit or November/December 2017 | PestPro 23 YOU CAN EXPECT MORE MORE LOCATIONS MORE PRODUCTS MORE PURCHASING We deliver Now with 39 Locations— a An even more comprehensive OPTIONS National presence providing line of quality, effective By phone, in person or Pest Management same-day or next-day delivery. products and solutions. using our simple and convenient online store. MORE REPRESENTATIVES MORE TRAINING solutions Now with over 150 to offer more Specialized to your needs with industry experience, expertise online CEU’s coming soon! in MORE ways and solutions than ever before. than one.

Learn How Our Certified and Experienced Staff can Partner with You! 800 352 3870 target-specialty.com TSP PESTPRO 17 R1_08-07-17

PEST MANAGEMENT | FUMIGATION | VECTOR

24 PestPro | November/December 2017 PCO Pointer Mosquito Control Licensing MOSQUITO CONTROL activities are divided License Renewal Information about exam study materials and into two groups: A renewal license will automatically be sent to FDACS Public Health Director Certification can • Individuals or contractors operating on a for- license holders who have completed and submitted be found at http://www.freshfromflorida.com/ hire basis making mosquito-control applications at least 16 CEUs. Failure to meet the CEU Business-Services/Mosquito-Control/Mosquito- to private or commercial properties (homes, requirements will result in a 90-day temporary Control-Licensing. PP hotels, resorts, etc.) expiration grace period. If the CEU requirements • Government entities or government-contacted are not met during the grace period, the license will For questions about the Public Health Pest Control or vendors making widespread community or permanently expire. You will be required to retake Core exams, contact Cherie Trimble at Cherie.Trimble municipal mosquito-control applications over a both examinations and reapply for a new license. @FreshFromFlorida.com or call (850) 617-7997. large area Individuals operating a business installing and servicing automated mosquito misting devices and/or offering residential or commercial fogging and barrier treatments to clients other than local government entities must obtain a pest control business license and have on staff a pest control DON’T ENCASE THEM... operator certified in General Household Pest Control or Lawn and Ornamental Pest Control. Pest control companies contracted to perform KILL THEM mosquito control activities for a government agency or mosquito control district must have a Public Health Pest Control license or be operating under the direct supervision of a Public Health license holder.

How to Obtain a Public Health Pest Control License Examinations Two exams must be passed to qualify for certification.The first exam, referred to as the Core exam, tests the applicant on general pesticide use and safety. The second exam, known as the Public Health Pest Control Exam, covers the applicant’s knowledge of mosquito biology and habitats, control methods, regulations, medical importance, and nonmosquito arthropods of public health importance.

How to Schedule an Exam There are no set examination locations, dates or times. Exam scheduling arrangements must be made through your local county Extension office. There are no fees required to take the exams.

Continuing Education Requirements The Public Health Pest Control License is valid for four years. During the four-year life of the license, the applicator is required to attend 16 hours of continuing education training. Training must cover specific areas of study listed in Section 5E- 13.040(4), Florida Administrative Code. Activities that qualify for CEU credit: Starts working within 10 minutes • FDACS-sponsored mosquito control workshops • • Florida Mosquito Control Association (FCMA) • Provides Prevention & Control for 2 years and American Mosquito Control Association annual spring and fall meetings • Easy to Install • FMCA/FDACS/IFAS-sponsored Plenary, Specialty and Regional Dodd Short Courses • Up to four hours of Core training obtained through county Extension offices. Please contact FDACS at (850) 617-7997 if you have earned www.allergytechnologies.com • (866) 978-6288 Core CEUs that you would like to count toward your Public Health License renewal. November/December 2017 | PestPro 25 Customers’ Roles in Termite Protection and Bed Bug Treatments: Contracts and Cooperation Allen Fugler

ERMITES and bed bugs may seem like term if corrections noted during the annual Retreatment of structural modifications may very different pest treatments, but both inspection are not corrected within 60 days. involve costly and time consuming drilling, and have one common trait for treatment All Florida termite treatment contracts should that’s why the homeowner has responsibility Tsuccess: customer cooperation. Once that refer to regulation 5e-14.105 8 (c) to cite their to notify the company of changes that could cooperation becomes a partnership to remove rights. disturb the retreatment and endanger their and prevent infestations, contracts can prevent In addition to making applications termite protection. Your contracts should require misunderstandings from becoming claims and according to label directions, pest professionals homeowners to notify you in a reasonable time, lawsuits. have the responsibility to explain their no more than 60 days, of new patios, driveways, treatments, how long they will take to control pavers, landscaping or other work. Failure to Termite Contracts termites, and for how long treatments can notify you should allow you to void or change Termite protection is a partnership between the control termites. Even today’s chemistries warrantees and/or charge for retreatments. Be homeowner and the treating company. Without degrade over time, and manufacturers, such sure to check your state’s regulations for your both parties living up to their respective as BASF, recommend a retreatment interval of contractual rights. responsibilities, the termites “win,” defeating no more than ten years on treatments that are Contracts should sunset (end your offer control efforts and damaging the biggest intact and made under optimal conditions. Use of renew) and mention a retreatment offer, investment most homeowners will ever make — the company technical bulletin found online to even without listing costs. That will tell the the houses they call their homes. explain the need for retreatment to customers.1 homeowner to eventually expect retreatment Customers have the responsibility to properly BASF recommends a retreatment interval of no costs in excess of their annual contact renewal. maintain their homes to avoid leaks, excessive more than 10 years. Contracts should also include these moisture, poor drainage and ventilation, Treatments that have been disturbed disclaimers and clauses to help define your cellulose/wood-to-ground contact, and other by landscaping, building additions, soil responsibilities: conducive conditions that can defeat the best movement, or subsidence must be retreated a Aerial infestations (no ground contact) treatments with the most effective products. to be effective. By referring to the previous are excluded — especially important in They have the responsibility to notify you about year’s graph, an inspector conducting an Formosan termite-prone areas. changes in the structure — more on that below annual termite renewal inspection can detect a Definition of “new” damage is to include — and to correct conditions for which you and treat these areas and note the changes presence of live termites at time of notify them. In Florida, pest control regulations in the structure on the graph for next year’s inspection; “old” damage is assumed to allow a company to cancel a contract mid- inspection. be present prior to treatment and not the responsibility of the company. 1 http://pestcontrol.basf.us/fallpromo/resources/2016-termidor-restoration-pmp-guidance-excluding-ok-ne.pdf a Binding arbitration is required (state laws vary on how arbitration can be compelled and administered). a An inspection by the state pest control regulatory agency must be conducted before any legal action is initiated (a regulatory agency inspection report can determine that you followed label directions and help defend allegations of negligence). a Structural modification, landscaping, and conducive conditions require written notice within 60 days, or the treating company reserves the right to void or change warrantees and/or charge for retreatments. a The company reserves the right to charge a deductible as customer responsibility prior to payment of damages. a Additional treatment methods different from the original treatment (i.e., fumigation) and exploratory deconstruction are the Termite protection is a successful partnership only when all partners do their part. responsibility of the customer.

26 PestPro | November/December 2017 a Carpet, wallpaper, and wood flooring electrical outlets — places that do not have the may be depreciated in calculating repair/ potential for human exposure. Since infestations replacement costs. begin in harborage areas of untreated mattresses, Interior inspections should be made during bed bug populations will often build to an annual renewal inspections to check problematic intolerable and noticeable level before they move areas like bath traps. If interiors are inaccessible into the treated areas. during annual inspections, written notices Cryogenic treatments use a directed stream 2 provided to homeowners will help document of liquid nitrogen, or CO , to kill bed bugs your attempts but is not a replacement or on contact. This method is labor intensive release for termite infestations that could have and a direct contact kill only, so its use is been seen in an interior inspection. Remember, usually limited to modes of transportation and attic inspections are part of thorough interior furniture/furnishings. There is no residual with inspections. this treatment. Photos and moisture readings, especially Heat treatment for bed bugs has become a around windows, can be recorded on graphs commonly accepted alternative or addition to and stored in customer files very inexpensively. conventional pesticide treatments. Consumers and “guaranteed to not get bed bugs after Most pest management software systems often believe heat is a “green alternative” treatment.” The latter should not be used for allow storage of photos and correspondence that eliminates potential pesticide exposures. any of these treatments, unless you are willing to in customers’ files. Emailing these structural Research shows that bed bugs die when exposed come back and retreat for free. And even then, conditions to customers with renewal notices is to temperatures of 120°F, so standard treatment you cannot “guarantee not to get bed bugs after strong documentation and puts the homeowner protocols call for heating areas between 120°– treatment.” There is no insurance coverage for on notice that corrective action must be taken. 140°F and holding temperatures in that range this type of guarantee, and you must bear all This can be especially helpful on those “problem for several hours to allow lethal heat to penetrate retreatment costs. houses” where construction makes control mattresses, upholstered furniture and all Remember, nonresidual treatments difficult and retreatments have been necessary. potential harborage areas. There is no residual cannot provide extended protection against Explaining your and your customer’s with this treatment. reinfestation. You cannot control infestations responsibilities, documenting and notifying your Heat may cause property damage, especially from sources beyond your control, and customer of conducive conditions, and having in fragile plastics, wax, cosmetics, electronics overpromising the future efficacy of nonresidual a well written, legally reviewed contract will and other items left in the heated environment. treatment will create claims exposures. The limit your claims exposure only if live termites The use of a preparation checklist for heat next hotel guest, subway passenger, movie are discovered in a structure you have under treatment, signed by customer and retained theater customer, halfway house resident, or contract. In that case the allegation will likely in files, can help protect companies in these housekeeping employee can transport bed be that your treatment was faulty, and your cases. They require the customer to cooperate bugs and start a new infestation. Bodily injury negligence allowed termite entry and resulted by removing items, washing clothing and allegations can come from hotel guests who in damage. By accepting renewal payments, bedding, and eliminating clutter that provides transport bed bugs into their own hotel rooms you accepted responsibility and the liability that safe, cooler harborage for bed bugs during the or leave bed bugs in their rooms for the next followed. Only your willingness to nonrenew treatment. Customer cooperation in treatment guests. the contract of an uncooperative customer will area preparation is critical for the successful heat Check with your insurance company on protect your company from the irresponsible treatment elimination of bed bugs. language you may want to add to contracts. The actions of your customer. Termite protection is a Fumigation is uncommon due to its high insurance company HIIG-CRU provides sample successful partnership only when all partners do costs, but is an effective control method. Bed bed bug contract language that will clearly their part! bug fumigations are conducted like treatments explain the treatment limitations and guarantees for drywood termites, with the required tarping, on the client area of its website. This language Bed Bug Guarantees aeration times, displacement of occupants, and should be adopted in your agreements for all Bed bugs have reemerged as a significant pest removal of items identified on a preparation types of bed bug treatments. after decades of obscurity. With inexpensive checklist. It is effective in reaching areas that Other features you may find at the HIIG- national and international travel, they have heat may not penetrate, such as cluttered rooms CRU website include a free online driver safety become fully established in many urban areas in and wall voids. Once the structure is cleared for course (recommended for all drivers), a database the United States. Since the ban of chlordane in reoccupancy, there is no residual with fumigation. of state pest control regulations, a pest ID the 1980s, bed bugs have developed resistance Bed bug and all general pest agreements submission form sponsored by the University to the classes of chemistry in available products, should include a bodily injury disclaimer for of Florida Entomology and Nematology compounding the difficulty of their control. insect bites and stings. If you are offering any Department, and downloadable OSHA Current types of treatment include chemical, type of guarantee against reinfestation, you have compliance assistance and other regulatory and cryogenic spot treatments, heat and fumigation. to communicate that heat leaves no residual and loss control checklists and information. PP Each type of treatment offers its own advantages bed bugs can be reintroduced immediately after and limitations: a hotel room or any treated area is put back into Allen Fugler is Director of Risk Management for Chemical treatments do not provide an inventory or use. The only guarantee that you Houston International Insurance Group – Capital instant contact kill, but offer some long-term, can make is the elimination of bed bugs in the Risk Underwriters, a leading national provider limited residuals. Most products can be applied treated area at the time of treatment. of insurance products and services for the pest only to nonbedding areas such as crevices of Any guarantee offered should differentiate management profession. Contact him at afugler@hiig. bedframes, headboards, bedside tables, and between “bed beg free at the time of treatment” com and 407-241-3037.

November/December 2017 | PestPro 27 How Pet Pythons Set Off An Unlikely Chain of Events That Could Make You Sick

OMETIME in the 1980s, it became But not all of them. coolcool toto ownown aa petpet reptilereptile inin Florida.Florida. One hardy species endured the invasion: Cooler still was owning one from invasion:the hispid the cotton hispid rat. cotton There rat. are There a number Sfar away, like from Madagascar, Egypt are a number of theories about why the Sfar away, like from Madagascar, Egypt of theories about why the rat survived. It Burmese python oror Burma.Burma. TheThe moremore exotic,exotic, thethe better.better. ratcould survived. be that It its could population be that wasits population already Thousands of coldblooded creatures moved wasdense already and abundant, dense and or abundant, that its predators or that throughthrough Miami’sMiami’s internationalinternational airportairport toto its— predatorsfoxes and —bobcats foxes —and were bobcats eliminated. — were theirtheir newnew glass-boxglass-box homes.homes. eliminated.Or it could Orbe thatit could the hispidbe that cotton the hispid rat fromfrom Venezuela,Venezuela, GuatemalaGuatemala andand Mexico,Mexico, The Burmese python — which can be cottonreproduces rat reproduces even more even prolifically more prolifically than where it is thought that viruses in the same drapeddraped aroundaround aa neckneck —— waswas especiallyespecially thanrabbits. rabbits. (A female (A female can breed can breed again again within a familyfamily maymay havehave spreadspread fromfrom ratsrats toto people.people. popular.popular. AA babybaby pythonpython isis justjust 1010 inchesinches withinfew hours a few of hoursgiving of birth.) giving birth.) Together with three of his students, Burkett- inin length.length. MuchMuch toto thethe surprisesurprise ofof somesome ofof The rat is also one of the only Cadena spent five months collecting “blood- theirtheir owners,owners, thosethose babiesbabies couldcould growgrow upup toto knownknown hostshosts ofof aa particularparticular strainstrain ofof thethe engorgedengorged females”females” fromfrom thethe EvergladesEverglades andand 2020 timestimes thatthat size.size. Venezuelan equine encephalitis complex, Vero Beach, Florida, to see whether the Maybe it was those overwhelmed knownknown asas thethe EvergladesEverglades virus,virus, whichwhich isis mosquitoes’ eating habits changed at snake- ownersowners whowho letlet theirtheir snakessnakes loose.loose. MaybeMaybe itit spreadspread byby mosquitoes.mosquitoes. infestedinfested sites.sites. (Only(Only femalesfemales drinkdrink blood,blood, inin was Hurricane Andrew, which destroyed a And, with fewer big mammals to feed preparation for egg-laying.) reptilereptile breedingbreeding facilityfacility inin 19921992 andand mightmight on,on, thethe nativenative EvergladesEverglades mosquitomosquito hadhad “We“We nevernever getget toto sitsit downdown andand talktalk toto aa have sent its specimens into the wild. fewerfewer choiceschoices forfor itsits nextnext meal.meal. mosquito and say, ‘Hey, you feeling OK? Let One way or another, by thethe early 2000s, According to a new study, the amount meLet feelme yourfeel your forehead forehead — seems — seems like likeyou’ve Everglades National Park was teeming with ofof ratrat bloodblood inin thethe EvergladesEverglades mosquito’smosquito’s gotyou’ve Everglades. got Everglades. Do you Do remember you remember what giantgiant nonnativenonnative pythons,pythons, whichwhich strangled,strangled, dietdiet hashas quadrupledquadrupled sincesince 1979.1979. animalwhat animal you bit you last?’ bit ” last?’ he said. ” he said. andand thenthen gobbledgobbled whole,whole, almostalmost anythinganything “We“We werewere asas surprisedsurprised byby thethe resultsresults McCleery, who was not involved in his inin sight.sight. asas anyoneanyone elseelse wouldwould be,”be,” saidsaid NathanNathan colleague’scolleague’s study,study, saidsaid thethe missingmissing mammalsmammals Foxes and rabbits, which once Burkett-Cadena, an assistant professor of would have far-reaching impacts. “As commonlycommonly roamedroamed thethe park,park, appearedappeared toto entomologyentomology atat thethe UniversityUniversity ofof Florida,Florida, ecologists,ecologists, we’vewe’ve knownknown thatthat thisthis isis reallyreally have vanished. Deer, raccoon and opossum whose research, published this past week in badbad forfor somesome time,”time,” hehe said.said. “You“You can’tcan’t populationspopulations dwindleddwindled byby asas muchmuch asas 9999 thethe journaljournal Biology Letters,, lookslooks atat whetherwhether completelycompletely alteralter anan ecosystemecosystem andand notnot percent.percent. TheThe snakessnakes targetedtargeted moremore thanthan invasiveinvasive speciesspecies couldcould increaseincrease thethe riskrisk expectexpect thatthat therethere won’twon’t bebe otherother implicationsimplications mammals: Once, a 13-foot python ate an ofof diseasedisease forfor humanshumans byby settingsetting offoff suchsuch thatthat willwill impactimpact humans.”humans.” entireentire 6-foot6-foot alligatoralligator beforebefore exploding.exploding. chainschains ofof events.events. Kenneth L. Gage, an entomologist and InIn 2015,2015, BobBob McCleery,McCleery, anan associateassociate InIn humans,humans, thethe EvergladesEverglades virusvirus cancan ecologistecologist atat thethe CentersCenters forfor DiseaseDisease ControlControl professorprofessor ofof wildlifewildlife ecologyecology andand causecause fever,fever, headacheheadache and,and, inin somesome cases,cases, andand Prevention,Prevention, saidsaid exoticexotic speciesspecies couldcould conservationconservation atat thethe UniversityUniversity ofof Florida,Florida, encephalitis,encephalitis, aa swellingswelling ofof thethe brain.brain. disturb ecosystems in ways that humans sentsent 2626 rabbitsrabbits intointo thethe Everglades.Everglades. “I“I don’tdon’t thinkthink thatthat anyoneanyone couldcould havehave couldcould notnot anticipate.anticipate. Three-quarters of his tracking devices — predicted that this large snake, decimating “We“We havehave nono idea,idea, really,really, whatwhat we’rewe’re alongalong withwith thethe rabbitsrabbits —— endedended upup inin thethe somesome nativenative mammalsmammals inin aa relativelyrelatively wildwild doing when we move all these animals and stomachsstomachs ofof thethe snakes.snakes. area,area, couldcould havehave somesome kindkind ofof cascadingcascading pathogens around the planet,” Gage said. PP “The“The bestbest explanationexplanation forfor thethe rapidrapid impactimpact forfor humanhuman health,”health,” Burkett-Burkett- — Livia Albeck-Ripka declinedecline ofof mostmost mammalsmammals throughoutthroughout Cadena said. The New York Times southernsouthern FloridaFlorida isis pythons,”pythons,” McCleeryMcCleery While no known human outbreaks October 2017 said.said. MostMost ofof thethe mammals,mammals, hehe said,said, areare have occurred in Florida, Burkett-Cadena simply gone. and his team pieced together information simply gone. and his team pieced together information Hispid cotton rat PestPro | November/December 2017 28 J.N. Stuart

FPMA Government Affairs Committee Update

Corner CAPITOL Corner Sean Brantley and Suzanne Graham

Y THE TIME you are Many companies have Check your files, I bet you really seriously talking about reading this article, been misinterpreting the will find an “uh-oh” along removing the requirement Florida’s legislative rule and offering treatments the way. for GHP applications when Bsession is just around the without warranty, or some Pretreatments make for a broadcast applications aren’t corner. This is an early year, and other type of treatment, lot of questions with these used, such as L&O or fleas. we are already in “committee and not issuing a written forms, as you can imagine. There are no real plans in weeks” ahead of the regular contract. That is not If you read the forms and place for rulemaking in 2018, session. There is plenty of compliant with the rule. In the rule, there is deliberate but that could always change. action already, with a lot of addition, because they aren’t guidance on pretreatment discussion around Hurricane issuing a written contract issues and the rule DACS SPENT a great deal Irma, water issues, and utilities they are not getting the compliance. The Consumer of time on mosquito control just from the big storm in Consumer Notice Form Consent Form wouldn’t since Zika’s introduction September. And yes, there are signed. So they are now in really apply to new home and most recently in the still elections coming and a lot double trouble. To be clear, construction, but could post-Irma applications. The of posturing to get in the best you have to issue a contract easily apply to you issuing a DACS mosquito control places to say the best things and even if the contract says there whole house warranty for a program has been applied get those votes. That is all very is no warranty or guarantee, pretreat you performed on an to nearly every county that fluid, and a magazine article and prior to that you must addition where the original requested assistance and has written more than a month ago have the Consumer Notice structure was under contract taken its toll on resources and just can’t cover it correctly. But Form signed. currently. The Consumer personnel. we certainly have other issues The older form, Consumer Notice Form would be issued DACS has arrived at the to discuss with you. Consent Form, is another to the builder along with thought that industry needs one that a lot of companies the contract(s) and passed to be on the same page with THE CONSUMER Consent are not issuing as specified. to the buyer at closing. Yes, treatment methods and Form (FDACS-13671) and This form is specifically for a Consumer Notice Form is patterns. UF is working on Consumer Notice Form the consumer’s consent to required when you did the basic practices for mosquito (FDACS-13692) seem to be a contract where a prior pretreatment for the addition treatments and DACS is something we need to discuss contract was in force. In we mentioned above. There going to get the word out a little more. The newer form, other words, if Mrs. Jones will be times where both to applicators. To be clear, Consumer Notice Form, is to had a Termidor contract forms are getting signed there is not likely to be new be signed by a consumer prior current with A2Z Termite prior to your issuance of the endorsement or training to entering a contract for any and you sold her a Sentricon contract. requirements. This is meant to wood-destroying organism job, Mrs. Jones must The rules are a great thing be industry training that helps treatment. Remember that acknowledge the second to reread and study from unify efforts among mosquito according to 5E-14.105 (1) contract via the Consumer time to time. Rule 5E- control programs. Look for you must enter a written Consent Form. 14.105 is a good one to go that to materialize soon. contract with the property And yes, if you are doing to right now and revisit. You Keep your eyes open — owner for any treatment of a take-over warranties you can access the rule at www. the 2018 legislative session wood-destroying organism. should have these as well. flrules.org and enter 5E-14 is in January, and we will be That means spot-treats, whole- These are the forms that in the Florida Administrative busy following the issues. house guarantees, retreatment people are talking about and Code search box. Attend your local FPMA only, repair and retreatment, often mistakenly messing up. meetings and participate. no warranty, and any other The Consumer Notice Form SPEAKING OF rules, Come be heard and get type of application, service or is for every job you do that we have been discussing involved. PP treatment for wood-destroying treats WDOs. The Consumer the lawn signs again with organisms. Are you doing that? Consent Form is for issuing relation to your general Sean Brantley and Suzanne Make sure you are, because a contract when one already household pest control Graham are Co-Chairs, FPMA DACS is checking. exists from someone else. applications. And yes, we are Government Affairs Committee

November/December 2017 | PestPro 29 Florida Pest Management Association PMP Membership Application/Renewal Your dues payment provides for a joint membership in FPMA and NPMA.

THIS IS A:  RENEWAL  NEW MEMBER APPLICATION JOINT MEMBERSHIP DUES SCHEDULE Active Member (PMP) Please circle appropriate category A pest control company actively engaged in the pest control industry in Florida (licensed by appropriate State Agency under Chapter 482, Florida Category Annual Sales Revenue Dues Amount Statutes) is eligible to be an Active Member and is entitled to one voting representative for each registered office or branch. Active Member Employees and Branch Offices A $0 - $50,000 $149 Any firm with an Active membership in the Association, having branches or separate offices has the option of registering any and all branches or B $50,001 - $150,000 $229 separate offices as Active Branch Offices. Active Branch offices have voting privileges and can hold office. The member licensee shall inform the C $150,001 - $300,000 $359 Executive Vice President in writing of the individual’s name who will have D $300,001 - $450,000 $459 the voting privileges for the Branch Office(s). E $450,001 - $700,000 $598 YOUR INFORMATION: (Please complete all fields.) First Name: ______Last Name: ______F $700,001 - $1,000,000 $884 Business Name: ______G $1,000,001 - $2,500,000 $1,638 Address: ______H $2,500,001 - $3,000,000 $2,949 City: ______State: _____ Zip Code:______J $3,000,001 - $4,500,000 $4,699 County: ______Phone: ______E-mail: ______K $4,500,001 - $7,000,000 $5,897 Website: ______L $7,000,001 - $10,000,000 $6,989 M $10,000,001 - $15,000,000 $10,924 Certified in:  GHP  L&O  Termite  Fumigation N $15,000,001 - $20,000,000 $12,139 BRANCH INFORMATION: P $20,000,001 - $25,000,000 $14,574 # of Branches/Offices in Florida: ______There is no additional fee to list additional branches/offices for mailing Q $25,000,001 - $30,000,000 $16,998 privileges. Please attach a list of all branches/offices in Florida, including company name, contact person, address, telephone and email. R $30,000,0001 - $50,000,000 $19,418 S $50,000,001+ $21,209

COMMUNICATION AGREEMENT: I understand that by providing my mailing address, email, and telephone number, I am consenting to receive communications via these methods from FPMA. I further understand and provide consent that this information will be published in Florida Pest Management Association publications, both online and print. Signature: ______Date: ______

CODE OF ETHICS: I would like to join other Florida Pest Management Association professionals, and I agree to adhere to the Association’s Code of Ethics (found at www.flpma.org). I understand that membership is not effective until payment is received and official notification has been provided. Signature: ______Date: ______

Dues to FPMA are not deductible as a charitable contribution but may be deductible as an ordinary business expense. A portion of dues, however, is not deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense to the extent that FPMA engages in lobbying. The non-deductible portion of dues for 2015 was 8.0%..

PAYMENT METHOD:  Check #______ Visa  Master Card  American Express  Discover Billing Contact Name: ______Billing Address: ______City: ______State: ____ Zip Code: ______Card Number: ______Exp Date (mm/yyyy): ______CVV(V) Code: ______email address for payment confirmation: ______

COMPLETE AND RETURN WITH PAYMENT TO: Florida Pest Management Association P.O. Box 0294 Goldenrod, FL 32733-0294 Questions? Contact [email protected] or (407) 293-8627 30 PestPro | November/December 2017 At the Cummer Museum in Jacksonville, plant damage is evident two weeks after Hurricane Irma flooded the area.

Plants, Flooding And Salt Damage Erin Harlow and Maxine Hunter Hurricanes can water, wind velocity, and plant species. Plants or turn yellow soon after the water level that experience long periods of flooding will drops. Some larger plants or conifers may not bring an unexpected usually experience some level of root damage. drop their leaves. Soil testing to measure the The root damage may cause the plant to die electrical conductivity (EC) can give a baseline amount of rainfall soon after the floods, or in the case of larger of the salt level in the soil. Flushing with a to a landscape in a plants, it may take several months to see plant freshwater source such as irrigation water or decline. rainwater is the most effective way to bring short amount of time After flood waters recede, environmental down EC levels. and cause significant changes will occur, usually starting in the Generally, 1 inch of irrigation water can spring, times of drought, or during the flush the top 12 inches of soil, in sandy soils amounts of damage. summer of the following year if the damage similar to those of most of North Florida. occurred in the fall, as is the case with most This should be done after the soil is no longer NDERSTANDING how to prepare hurricanes. The plant can become completely saturated, so the salts leach downward. If the for a storm, what to expect, and what stressed and potentially die because the root irrigation water is coming from a well, then to do afterwards can greatly assist systems are too weak to support itself, or a the irrigation water’s EC should also be tested Uwith recovery efforts for your community, root disease may have been introduced as a prior to attempting to flush salts from the soil. business and customers. If you are in a result of the stress and the plant succumbs to Irrigating from the aquifer has the potential coastal area then salt water in the landscape the disease. If there is a high-value plant at to cycle the salty water back to the top of can add another challenge. This article will the account, a preventive systemic fungicide the soil profile. If the irrigation water has a review what to expect and remediation application to the roots can help protect the high EC level then alternate water sources recommendations. plant while new roots are being generated. A are recommended; this may only be needed fungicide drench should not be considered a temporarily, but monitoring the well water’s Flood Recovery Results Will Vary guarantee that the plant will survive. EC is essential. How well a landscape recovers after a storm If the flood water is brackish or salty, Some literature may suggest applying is dependent on many factors including how then the saline conditions may be too high gypsum prior to leaching, but this is generally long the flood waters were sustained in the for plants to grow properly after the water recommended for soils with clay and not area, if they were tidal, the salt content of the recedes. Most plants will drop their leaves for Florida’s sandy soils. It is recommended Continued on Page 34 November/December 2017 | PestPro 31 Make%Your%Own%Collection%for%the%School%of%Ants%

MATERIALS:% COLLECTION"DATA" %! Collector%Name% Address%where%ants%were%collected% •%8%white%3x5"%index%cards% % % %%%(or%similar%sized%paper)%% Weather%(e.g.%sunny,%cloudy,%rainy)% Temperature%(°F)% % •%1%pen%or%pencil%%%% Collection%Date% Time%of%collection% •%2%Pecan%Sandies%cookies*%%%% % •%8%small%zipLlock%bags%(1Lquart)%% Habitat%type:%GREEN% Detailed%habitat:%GREEN%% •%1%big%zipLlock%bag%(1Lgallon)%% (e.g.%lawn,%forest,%garden)% (e.g.%base%of%tree,%in%grassy%yard)% % •%1%envelope%for%submitting%your%kit%% % %%%%by%US%mail,%plus%postage%% Habitat%type:%PAVED%% Detailed%habitat:%PAVED%% % (e.g.%sidewalk,%driveway,%playground)% (e.g.%gravel%driveway,%street%corner)% *Allergy(warning:(contains(nuts!(( % % % CONFIRMATION"CODE:%(Issued%after%you%enter%collection%data%online)%% % % % % % ~~~~ Thanks%for%joining%our%investigation%of%the%ants%that%live%around%us!%The%School%of%Ants%is%mapping%ant%species%in% cities%and%towns,%starting%in%your%backyard%or%school.%Your%samples%help%us%to%understand%local%biodiversity,% document%native%and%introduced%species,%and%will%help%us%track%the%effects%of%climate%change%and%urbanization.%To% get%started,%follow%these%5"easy"steps%to%collect%and%submit%a%sample.%After(we(receive(and(identify(your(ants,(we(will( alert(you(by(email(that(your(ants(are(mapped!(( ~~~~% Step"1:"GREEN"SPACE.%Take%4%notecards%and%1%cookie%to%a%green%outdoor%space%(lawn,%garden%or%forest),%preferably%on%a%warm% sunny%day.%Write%the%word%GREEN%on%the%cards%and%place%them%on%the%ground%about%1%foot%apart.%Place%a%rock%on%the%cards%if%it%is% windy!%Break%the%cookie%into%4%pieces%and%each%on%top%of%a%card.%Be%sure%the%edges%of%the%cards%touch%the%ground%so%ants%can% easily%discover%your%delicious%crumbs.(Record(your(collection(information(on(this(sheet.%% % Step"2:"PAVED"SPACE.""Repeat%step%1,%but%choose%a%nearby%site%that%has%paved%surfaces%(e.g.%sidewalk,%driveway,%playground)%and% write%PAVED%on%each%card.%Record%your%collection%information%on%this%sheet.%% % Step"3:"COLLECT.%One%hour%after%you%set%out%your%cookies,%it%is%time%to%collect%the%ants!%Pick%up%each%card%and%quickly%pour%the% crumbs,%ants,%and%card%into%its%own%zipLlock%bag%(Note:%some%ants%can%sting,%so%be%careful.%Use%extra%caution%if%you%are%allergic%to% bee%or%wasp%stings.)%Seal%each%bag%right%away!%The%card%should%show%where%your%ants%were%collected%(Green%vs.%Paved).%To% preserve%your%samples%for%research%and%prevent%them%from%decomposing,%place%all%8%bags%into%a%large%zipLlock%bag%and%freeze% them%overnight.%This%is%a%humane%way%to%sacrifice%ants.%*Suggestion:(leave(a(bit(of(air(in(each(bag(to(cushion(the(ants(so(they( won’t(get(crushed(in(the(mail!(( % Step"4:"REGISTER.%Register%your%kit%on%our%website%www.schoolofants.org.%You%will%need%to%make%a%username%and%password.% Follow%the%prompts%to%enter%your%data%and%you%will%receive%your%Confirmation%Code.%Write%this%code%in%the%data%table%on%this% sheet.%% % Step"5:"SUBMIT.%Submit%your%sample%after%completing%this%checklist.%%%% Your%package%should%include:%% ☐8%small%bags%each%with%a%card%labeled%GREEN%or%PAVED,%hopefully%full%of%ants,%frozen%overnight%% ☐This%sheet,%with%the%CONFIRMATION%CODE%you%received%after%entering%your%collection%data%online,%printed%clearly%above.%% ☐Send%your%kit%in%to: The%School%of%Ants%c/o%Dr.%Lucky%%%%%%%% University%of%Florida%%%%%%%% Dept.%of%Entomology%&%Nematology%%%%% 970%Natural%Area%Dr.% Gainesville,%FL%32611L0620%USA%%%%%% % NOTE(that(you(are(responsible(for(postage!((%% % From"the"whole"School"of"Ants"Team,"thanks"for"participating 32 PestPro | November/December 2017 Buy manufacturer direct from THOR LIQUIDS - BAITS - GRANULES - AEROSOLS - BORATES FUMIGANT - RODENTICIDES - EQUIPMENT UV FLY TRAPS - TERMITE BARRIERS

Contact your local THOR representative today! ENSYSTEX Mike Borys, Jr. - Western FL - 866-863-7154 - [email protected] 866-FOR-THOR Mike Kemp - North & Central FL - 866-863-7150 - [email protected] FOR-THOR.COM Gary Riggs - Eastern FL - 855-415-2078 - [email protected] New Bee Lab Breaks Ground The UF Honey Bee Lab Will Open in June 2018

Gainesville, FL — After four instructional efforts in training years and two vetoes by Gov. new students in our beekeeping Rick Scott, ground broke on courses,” Ellis said. Monday for the new beekeeping Although nothing is research lab at UF. currently in place, the college is Last year, the state granted hoping to develop a beekeeping UF $2 million, with the certificate within the UF requirements that the university curriculum. match that amount with Cameron Jack, a third- $500,000 and the beekeepers year entomology doctoral raise an additional $200,000. student, welcomes the new Dr. Jamie Ellis, his four children, and his wife Amanda break ground for Jamie Ellis, UF associate the new UF honey bee lab near Steinmetz Hall in Gainesville, Florida. opportunities and professional professor of entomology, said networking that will come with although the expected amount a new, top-notch facility. totaled $2.7 million, all contributing opportunities for both UF students “That’s a big positive because it will parties went above and beyond, in the College of Agricultural and Life allow me to have collaborations with eventually gathering about $4 million Sciences and beekeepers across the state, these scientists and meet and work with for the construction of the research lab. Ellis said. a lot of these people,” the 29-year-old The new honey bee laboratory, “It will be research projects focused said. PP which will be built near Steinmetz Hall, on honey bee health, extension aimed — Emily Lehman provides ample research and learning at helping beekeepers directly and then Independent Florida Alligator, October 2017

November/December 2017 | PestPro 33 CLASSIFIED ADS Pest Business for Sale Miami-based pest control company. PestPro 25+ years in service with 450+ reoccurring customers. reaches more than Asking $275,000 12,000 pest professionals Contact David Vernon – Broker every issue. (305) 407-7080, [email protected] To advertise, LICENSES AVAILABLE contact Sandra at Need a pest control license? ads@ Certified operator has GHP and L&O in South Florida pestpromagazine.com Call Linda 561-509-7929

Flooded Plants, continued from Page 31

Plant Electrical Tolerance Conductivity Salinity dS/m or mmho/cm mg/L or ppm The amount of Most foliage will turn brown. The best way Sensitive <3 <2100 water needed to leach to determine if plants are still alive is to scratch Moderately Sensitive 3–6 2100–4200 depends on several the surface of the stems to see if it is still green. factors. While it can be The plant may look dead, but may just need Moderately Tolerant 6–8 4200–5800 calculated, it depends on time to recover. Recovery times can be extensive Tolerant 8–10 5600–7000 soil structure, soil pH, for larger trees and shrubs, taking up to several the type of salt in the years to fully recover from serious weather Highly Tolerant >10 >7000 soil, irrigation water EC, events. Some plants will hold their leaves that and the amount of free are brown, and others will lose them, so again, Relationship between plant salinity tolerance and lime in the soils, among it is best to cut into the plant to determine if it soil EC or salinity measurements for sandy soils other factors. It is easiest is alive. Shober, A., reviewed 2015. in a flood situation to Don’t be alarmed if plants continue to die. baseline test your soil Larger plants are going to take longer to expire. to continue to monitor a site’s EC levels for the EC immediately following the water As mentioned earlier, if there are plants on weekly or bimonthly for several months after receding. Then continue to monitor the EC the property that survived the floods but are a major flooding event. If you need assistance level over several months until the soil returns susceptible to root rots, then a fungicide drench monitoring EC levels, contact your local to acceptable conditions. Testing the irrigation could be considered to provide some protection. Extension office. Several Extension offices offer water EC may also be needed to make sure that Patience will be needed by both you and your this testing. or you may send samples to the UF/ well water is not adding sodium back to the customers to let plants regrow and the landscape IFAS Soils Laboratory1. surface. to become balanced once again. PP The table above provides a range of EC levels How a plant responds to flooding will for plants. The plant tolerance describes the depend on the health of the plant prior to the Erin Harlow is Commercial Horticulture Agent for level of sensitivity the plants has in relationship floods, whether salt is present in the soils after UF/IFAS Extension in Duval County and Maxine to the EC. If a plant is very sensitive to salt, the flooding, how long the plant is submerged, Hunter is Residential Horticulture Agent, UF/ then an EC reading above 3 dS/m may cause and various other factors. The longer a plant IFAS Marion County Extension. damage. It is important to realize that soil sits in water, the less likely it will survive. For structure, application method, and environment instance, St. Augustinegrass that is submerged can influence how salts move in the soil. If it in salt water for approximately three days or CORRECTION: George Richardson IV, becomes dry after a flood then the salts can less tends to turn yellow within a week of water Undergraduate Assistant, UF/IFAS Urban have a greater influence on the plant material. receding but most likely will recover fairly Entomology Lab, and Intern, UF/IFAS Duval Salts can also move upward in the soil profile quickly if it was healthy prior to the flood (see County Extension, was coauthor along with Erin back toward the root zone by means of capillary photos on page 31, which were taken two weeks Harlow in the September/October issue of PestPro action. after flooding). for the article “Little Landscape Home Invaders.”

1http://soilslab.ifas.ufl.edu 34 PestPro | November/December 2017 YOUR BUSINESS IS UNIQUE. YOUR TERMITE CONTROL SHOULD BE TOO.

Grow your business with Altriset® termiticide. Altriset controls termites with a low use rate and features an excellent environmental profile when used according to the label. With its unique mode of action, Altriset stops further structural damage within hours of application and has been shown to provide termite protection for nine years and counting. Use Altriset to set your business apart and give your customers peace of mind with a termite-free home.

Learn more at SyngentaPMP.com/Altriset

©2017 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your state or local extension service to ensure registration status. Altriset,® For Life Uninterrupted,™ the Alliance frame, the Purpose icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368). November/December 2017 | PestPro MW 1LGP7045-Unique-AG65 09/17 35 36 PestPro | November/December 2017