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2 months ago | 
mypmp.net | Sarah Bernard |Mel Whitson |Chris White |Matt Remmen
Ants love to follow straight lines, which makes it easier to target them when baiting. Ask customers when and where they see ants and whether they’ve noticed any patterns in how the ants move. Their input can help you find ant trails and where to place bait. Place baits within bait stations along these trails — including on sidewalk edges, pathways, windowsills or near plant stems that touch the house — so the ants can easily take it back to their colonies.
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Oct 3, 2024 | 
mypmp.net | Joey Ciccolini |Greg Pettis |Mel Whitson
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) has confirmed the first locally acquired human disease case of Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis. The emerging tick-borne disease is transmitted by the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum, and is similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). Cases of the disease have been reported in the southeastern part of the country, but this is the first report of this disease in the Northeast.
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Oct 2, 2024 | 
mypmp.net | Joey Ciccolini |Greg Pettis |Mel Whitson
This year’s Tick Academy will take place Oct. 16-17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern. Once a year, the Tick IPM Working Group hosts the event, which is an opportunity for researchers, educators, students, public health professionals, pest control professionals, public-space managers and citizen scientists interested in learning more about what they can do to stop the spread of ticks and tick-borne diseases in their communities.
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Aug 12, 2024 | 
mypmp.net | Stuart Mitchell |Greg Pettis |Mel Whitson |Matt Remmen
Before treating an infestation of cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis), it’s crucial to thoroughly understand the behaviors of the cat, dog — yep, dogs can get cat fleas — or other companion animals involved. This begins with a detailed interview of the pet owners, documenting the pet’s specific resting and sleeping habits. Cat flea larvae comprise about 35 percent of the population, which otherwise consists of eggs at about 50 percent, pupae at about 10 percent and adults about 5 percent.
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Aug 9, 2024 | 
mypmp.net | Greg Pettis |Mel Whitson |Matt Remmen |Tim Husen
When treating for fleas and ticks in a yard, many pest control firms offer a combo treatment. This is great for the customer — it’s a bigger bang for their buck. But the habits of these two bloodsuckers are different and your application should reflect that. Fleas are going to be down in the grass, while ticks will be at the top of grass blades as they “quest” for a host. Each requires a different application strategy.
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Aug 7, 2024 | 
mypmp.net | Jamel Sandidge |Mel Whitson |Matt Remmen |Tim Husen
Recent regulations have limited the number of products that can be used to combat fleas and ticks indoors. There often are limitations on carpet applications or long re-treatment intervals. These regulations can make customers a little nervous, however, because they may continue to find these pests and suffer from bites. The biggest issue with these pests is often the sheer number present, thanks to high reproductive success.
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Aug 5, 2024 | 
mypmp.net | Mel Whitson |Matt Remmen |Tim Husen |Mike Shields
Surges in flea and tick activity are sure to accompany the warmer weather and heavier rainfalls. Known for transmitting Lyme disease and other ailments, ticks thrive in wooded areas, tall grass and leaf litter, and near water sources. Inspect these zones carefully — along with stone walls, woodpiles and garden ground cover — to prevent tick-borne illnesses from spreading.
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Jun 20, 2024 | 
mypmp.net | Pete Schopen |Matt Remmen |Diane Sofranec |Mel Whitson
When I first came up with the idea for “Start-up Diaries” and presented it to Pest Management Professional’s Marty Whitford in 2006, I had no idea whether my company, Schopen Pest Solutions, would be successful. That was what made the column so cool: Would Pete fail or succeed? Now I see the next generation of start-ups growing their businesses in “Start-up Stories,” and it’s exciting to monitor their progress.
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Jun 19, 2024 | 
mypmp.net | Matt Remmen |Diane Sofranec |Mel Whitson |Dan Gordon
EnvuPMPs can treat flies and other outdoor invaders with sprays and baits, but to prevent callbacks, it’s important to educate customers about steps they can take to keep pests from entering their homes or businesses. Other tips for effective control include:▶ Eliminate attractive odors. Whether it’s from the grill, the trash or the dog, flies are attracted to smells. Remind customers to be vigilant about keeping the property maintained both inside and outside. ▶ Keep the pests outside.
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Jun 19, 2024 | 
mypmp.net | Diane Sofranec |Mel Whitson |Dan Gordon
As bed bug awareness escalates, professionalism, education and compassion help alleviate customer anxiety. Bed bugs have been a revenue generator for pest management professionals (PMPs) for decades. But when public awareness of Cimex lectularius skyrocketed late last year thanks to highly publicized infestations in Paris, France, the public’s fear of these blood-sucking pests seemed to escalate.
