Discussions about the use of botanical insecticides for cockroach control elicit a wide range of opinions. But there are several opportunities for PMPs to use these products in specific situations.

University of Kentucky entomology researchers have found that skin triglycerides, or lipids, prevent bed bugs from staying very long on human hosts.

The San Gabriel Valley District of the Pest Control Operators of California held a tailgate party at the National Hot Rod Association Finals at Pomona, Calif., on Nov. 13.

POMONA, Calif. - The San Gabriel Valley District of the Pest Control Operators of California kicked off the end of a great season with a tailgate party at the National Hot Rod Association Finals at Pomona, Calif. on Nov. 13.

All attendees brought their families and enjoyed a day of food, fun, games and, of course, drag racing. Bell Laboratories’ Nick Branca helped sponsor the event including some awesome raffle prizes such as two radio-controlled drag cars.

There was no clear winner of the cornhole tournament. A great barbeque lunch broke it up in the middle of the semi-final match, said Jim Harmon, PCOC member and owner of California Pest Management.

NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson stopped by for autographs, lunch and play time with the kids. All kids present received a Tim Wilkerson shirt and hat to remember the event.

California Pest Management and Choice Pest Control donated the incredible barbeque feast from the local butcher shop. All attendees received a yellow custom shirt for the event. A complete section of the stands was full of yellow shirts as PCOC was given a shoutout over the P.A. system by NHRA organizers.

All proceeds from the event went to the local PCOC districts. For an “end of the year,” party, all of the attendees had a blast and renewed friendships with competitors from years ago from San Diego to Santa Barbara, Harmon added.

Specific and smart product choices will help PMPs avoid cockroach bait aversion.

The company is working with the Solano County Department of Agriculture to control the pest, which vector’s the bacterium that causes Pierce’s disease – a disease that kills grapevines.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter thrives on most landscaping plants and vegetation (e.g., citrus, jasmine and crape myrtle trees) so the concern is that they will become established on residential properties and then spread to nearby vineyards.

King said the first part of the Pierce’s disease control program is to saturate these residential properties with sticky traps to limit the extent of the infestation. Once this is accomplished, the next step is eradication efforts. 

After a formal bid process, the county selected Neighborly Pest Management, Sacramento, Calif. to perform the eradication. Neighborly had experience with the glassy-winged sharpshooter, having done this work the last time they were found in Solano County in 2004. 

Neighborly Owner Jim Steed said for this year’s treatment his company performed foliar treatments using Tempo Ultra SC. “It’s not a real heavy treatment. Right now, it is fall (in California) so we have to be careful with wind, but we are treating any host material that we can,” Steed said.

Prior to the application, the county will notify residents, and Steed said the goal is to treat homes where “finds” have been confirmed, as well as adjacent properties. “We’ve been treating 15-30 homes per days,” said Steed, who added that ag department officials are on site to witness the application. To date, Steed said Neighborly has treated about 60 homes.

During the next two months, King said, the Solano County Department of Agriculture will continue to monitor the treated areas and continue public outreach efforts to raise homeowner awareness about the glassy-winged sharpshooter.

Steed added that it’s been gratifying for him and his team to be involved in these eradication efforts.  “The pest control that we perform everyday plays an important part in public health but this project also protects one of California's signature resources," he said. "We are thrilled to be a part of this project."