General Pest Management A Guide for Commercial Applicators Extension Bulletin E -2048 • October 1998, Major revision-destroy old stock • Michigan State University Extension General Pest Management A Guide for Commercial Applicators Category 7A Editor: Carolyn Randall Extension Associate Pesticide Education Program Michigan State University Technical Consultants: Melvin Poplar, Program Manager John Haslem Insect and Rodent Management Pest Management Supervisor Michigan Department of Agriculture Michigan State University Adapted from Urban Integrated Pest Management, A Guide for Commercial Applicators, written by Dr. Eugene Wood, Dept. of Entomology, University of Maryland; and Lawrence Pinto, Pinto & Associates; edited by Jann Cox, DUAL & Associates, Inc. Prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Certification and Training Branch by DUAL & Associates, Arlington, Va., February 1991. General Pest Management i Preface Acknowledgements We acknowledge the main source of information for Natural History Survey for the picture of a mole (Figure this manual, the EPA manual Urban Integrated Pest 19.8). Management, from which most of the information on structure-infesting and invading pests, and vertebrates We acknowledge numerous reviewers of the manu- was taken. script including Mark Sheperdigian of Rose Exterminator Co., Bob England of Terminix, Jerry Hatch of Eradico We also acknowledge the technical assistance of Mel Services Inc., David Laughlin of Aardvark Pest Control, Poplar, Program Manager for the Michigan Department Ted Bruesch of LiphaTech, Val Smitter of Smitter Pest of Agriculture’s (MDA) Insect and Rodent Management Control, Dan Lyden of Eradico Services Inc., Tim Regal of and John Haslem, Pest Management Supervisor at Orkin Exterminators, Kevin Clark of Clarks Critter Michigan State University. With their help, we were able Control, George Baker of DowElanco, Marian Tyrkus of to adapt the pest information from the EPA manual so Pest Control Supply Co., Joan Martin of the Huron River that it had greater relevance to the pest situation in Watershed Council, Phil McConnell of Ann Arbor Public Michigan. Thanks also to Julie Stachecki Schools, Clay Porter of Wayne State University, Ron Dice Johanningsmeier for arranging the initial review of the of Delta College, Chris Difonzo of Michigan State EPA manual and for obtaining permission to use University, and Jeff Zimmer, Larry Swain, and Gina Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations. Davis of the MDA. Equipment information in Chapter 3 was improved Our thanks also to the 1998 Michigan Pest Control substantially through the use of Truman’s Scientific Guide Association (MPCA) members who contributed with to Pest Control Operations (fifth edition), Purdue their comments and recommendations regarding the University/Advantsar Communications Project, 1997. manual including Bob England of Terminix, Joe Carnegie The Guide was also the main source of information for of Unlimited Pest Control, Inc., Chuck Russell of Eradico Chapter 4, Pest Management in Food-handling and Services Inc., John Ostlund of Ostlund Pest Control, John Other Specialized Facilities. We appreciate the publish- Wells of Wells Exterminating Service, David Driver of 1 er’s permission to use portions of this book. Van Waters & Rogers Inc., and David Laughlin of In addition, we acknowledge the University of Florida Aardvark Pest Control. for the use of several illustrations from the manual General Household Pest Control, Applicator Training Manual, 1 The following illustrations were reproduced from Truman’s Scientific Guide to University of Florida, 1994, Philip Koehler and William Pest Control, 5th ed., copyright by Advanstar Communications, Inc: Figures Kern, editors.2 Special thanks go to Jane Medley of the 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 6.15, 19.3, 19.9 (some original drawings by Arwin Provonsha, Purdue University). University of Florida for arranging the use of the pho- 2 The following illustrations were reproduced from General Household Pest tographs. Control, Applicator Training Manual, with the permission of the University of Florida: Figures 2.1, 2.6, 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.14, 7.5, 7.8, 8.1, 8.2, We would also like to acknowledge the University of 8.5, 8.6, 8.11, 8.12, 8.13, 8.19, 8.20, 8.23, 9.1, 10.1, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 11.1, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, Wisconsin manual Structural Pest Control (fourth edition) 11.7, 11.8, 11.9, 11.10, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.8, 12.9, 12.13, 12.14, 13.2, 13.3, 13.8, 14.1, 1997, (Dan Wixted, Roger Flashinski, Phil Pellitter, and 14.3, 14.4, 14.6, 14.9, 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5, 15.6, 17.2, 17.3; the following color photographs in Appendix F: sawtoothed grain beetle, book Scott Craven, editors) for use of the calibration example louse, black carpet beetle, flea eggs and feces, bedbug; and all other color pho- for a hand-held sprayer in Chapter 3 and the Illinois tographs in Appendix F which match the black and white figures already listed. Acknowlegements ii General Pest Management INTRODUCTION How to Use This Manual This manual contains the information needed to The Category 7A certification exam will be based on become a certified commercial applicator in Category 7A, information found in this booklet. Each chapter begins General Pest Management. This manual is intended for with a set of learning objectives that will help you focus use in combination with the Pesticide Applicator Core on what you should get out of each chapter. The table of Training Manual (Extension Bulletin E-2195), available contents for each section of the manual is provided to through the Michigan State University Bulletin Office. help you identify important topics and understand how However, this manual would also be useful to anyone they relate to one another through the organization of interested in learning more about general management of headings and subheadings. As you prepare for the exam, structure-infesting pests. read each chapter and answer the review questions locat- Category 7A—General Pest Management—covers the ed at the end. These questions are not on the certification management and control of pests in homes, businesses, exam. They are provided to help you prepare for the office buildings, hospitals, health care facilities, storage exam. Questions on the exam will pertain directly to the areas, industrial plants, schools and other structures. It learning objectives. discusses control and management of insects, other The appendices and glossary, including an answer key arthropods (such as spiders and ticks), and vertebrate (Appendix A), at the end of this manual provide supple- pests (such as mice and rats) that may become problems mental information that will help you understand the inside buildings. The chapters contain basic scientific topics covered in the chapters. Terms throughout the information as well as guidelines for practical solutions manual text that are bold and italicized can also be found to pest control problems. The manual is divided into four in the glossary. sections: This certification manual benefits the applicator and • Section I—General Pest Management Information— the general public. By learning how to handle pesticides covers general pest management and control includ- correctly, applicators will be able to protect themselves, ing legalities, equipment use, and basic methods of others, and the environment from pesticide misuse. For pest control. more specific information on how to become a certified • Section II—Structure-infesting Pests—covers insects applicator in Michigan, refer to the beginning of the core that commonly live inside buidings. manual (E-2195) or the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s web site at: http:\\www.MDA.State.MI.US. • Section III—Invading Pests—covers insects that invade buildings from outside habitats. • Section IV—Rodents and Other Vertebrate Pests— covers vertebrate animals such as mice, rats, and rac- coons that can become pests of structures. General Pest Management iii Introduction iv General Pest Management GENERAL PEST MANAGEMENT A Guide for Commercial Applicators ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................. ii INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... iii SECTION ONE TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................... vi SECTION TWO TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................... vii SECTION THREE TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................... ix SECTION FOUR TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................... x SECTION ONE GENERAL PEST MANAGEMENT INFORMATION . 1 Chapter 1 Legalities of General Pest Management . 3 Chapter 2 Using Equipment in General Pest Management . .11 Chapter 3 Pest Management and Control . 25 Chapter 4 Pest Management in Food-handling and Other Specialized Facilities . 31 SECTION TWO STRUCTURE-INFESTING PESTS . 41 Chapter 5 Insects and Their Relatives . 43 Chapter 6 Cockroaches . 47 Chapter 7 Ants . 61 Chapter 8 Stored-product and Fabric Pests . 73 Chapter 9 Silverfish and Firebrats . 87 Chapter 10 Fleas . 91 SECTION THREE INVADING PESTS . 97 Chapter 11 Houseflies and Their Relatives . 99 Chapter 12 Stinging Pests . 107 Chapter 13 Spiders . 117 Chapter 14 Ticks, Mites, Bedbugs and Lice . 125 Chapter 15 Miscellaneous Invaders . 143 SECTION FOUR RODENTS AND OTHER VERTEBRATE PESTS . 151