Vultures are expanding their North American reach and causing bird-related problems.

There are three types of condors in North America: California condors are hardly rescued from extinction. The turkey vulture is the most familiar, and it is found all over the United States. Black vultures are now migrating north from South America and the southern United States, and their numbers have exploded in the past 10 years. They will come to a site near you!

I have worked with a flock of more than 2 million starlings, 1 million birds, and more than 100,000 pigeons, but these birds are a whole new dimension in the field of bird management. First, they are protected by the migratory bird treaty law. If you intend to do anything other than structural modification or harassment, you will need the US Department of Agriculture's 37 form for the state in which the problem is located, and indicate the need to obtain a plundering permit. Form 37 must be accompanied by a federal application to obtain a plundering permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Why are they a problem. Urea from roosting vultures can shut down equipment and eat paint on walls and vehicles. It is very acidic and will even corrode the metal in the handrails and rubber-coated wires over time. Some buildings and parking lots also have problems with vultures pulling rubber seals and windshield wipers around windows from vehicles. I didn't even discuss the smell. (This article does not include scratching and sniffing stickers!) The wingspan of a vulture is about 6 feet. When inhabited around electrical equipment such as substations, this will cause power to shut down and is one of the main causes of cell phone tower failures. In the United States alone, maintenance costs are as high as hundreds of millions of dollars. I have developed a system for cell phone towers. So far, its repellency is very good. I said that in the past 40 years, everything will succeed and everything will fail, depending on the situation.

The main characteristics of vultures. Textbooks point out that the black vulture is not as sensitive to smell as its turkey vultures, which are almost always found in the same habitat. It is worth noting that the turkey vulture has one of the largest olfactory bulbs (a part of the brain that helps to control odors). This should make it better at locating carrion than the black vulture, which has a much smaller olfactory bulb. The theory is that the black vulture just follows the turkey vulture to find and actively grab the carrion found by the turkey vulture. On the other hand, because of my research on two birds in the past 10 years, I am questioning this theory. I buried the carrion in the ground, and most of the corpses were invisible. I also put the carrion in a plastic garbage bag so that no part of it could be seen. Half of the time, the black vulture will still appear before the turkey vulture. This reminds me of the early 1980s, when I was learning computer programming. Computers at the time were only the size of a car. Now, your mobile phone has more functions than the large computers of the time. Therefore, I question the theory that the greater the efficiency, the greater the efficiency. But don't tell the turkey vultures. I don't want to participate in that discussion.

Location is the key. What attracts a large number of condors to buildings or manufacturing sites and cell phone towers? Place. Oil and gas refineries are becoming a favorite habitat for vultures because they are built and designed to attract vultures. The habitat of oil refineries is usually close to fresh water, or they have large fresh water ponds for fire monitors. In addition, the gas released by the oil and natural gas refined at the factory site is the same as the gas released by the decomposition product: methane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and methyl mercaptan. These are just a few of the many gases that are by-products of the refining process. For oil executives, these aromas mean money. To the vulture, it smells like a huge hodgepodge. Many times, when I climbed through the habitat of large vultures near the oil rig, I couldn't help noticing the gratifying smiles of hundreds of these birds. They obviously thought in their hearts: "Is there any better life than this?"

Shooting can be done in certain locations (such as food locations, garbage dumps, etc.), but not on oil and gas facilities. If the entire ledge is covered and there is no space for them to stand comfortably, the shock absorbers in some places with ledges can work. Products that produce sparks, such as shock-absorbing tracks, cannot be used in oil refineries because they will blow up the oil refinery and level it. This will strain your relationship with your customers. 

High-strength steel wires have been tried, but birds have been observed to use steel wires as handles, if possible, by folding the wings on the steel wires to help stabilize themselves in strong winds. And the higher you go, the stronger the wind. The structural modification works well, but it must have a 90° tilt, otherwise the condor will use it as a sofa. Have tried methyl anthranilate, but these birds buried their heads in the carcass and liked it. So, they just sleep with their heads under their wings.

Bird control expert and PCT writer Pete Markham is busy with condor control. Persistent harassment seems to be effective, but many times it involves climbing, moving and lethal clearance (with a permit) overnight. Lasers will make them temporarily uncomfortable, but if nothing is deadly combined with lasers, birds will soon get used to its use. Compared with the roosting birds, the number allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is very small. And always, when it comes to fatal removal, don't discuss it or write children's books about it. This will cause you to be questioned by the local public.

An important point. Vulture management is a risk, but we must maintain a balance in our efforts. Many people think that they are just "a group of vultures" that will cause serious damage, and few will miss them. In fact, vultures are true spokes on the wheels of the ecosystem. They have a place in our universe, and we know what happened to the California Condor.

The author is the president of A-Mark Pest & Bird Management and has offices in Baytown, Texas and Rockville, Indiana. Please contact him at pmarkham@gie.net.

The prospect of bird work is easily exciting. Compared to traditional pest control, changes in rhythm and routines may be exciting. But do you really know how different these two services are?

When starting a business, it is important to consider the final outcome. If your goal is to eventually sell the company, you will definitely make a different decision than if you intend to run the company permanently. The bird control market provides unique opportunities and interesting challenges.

Today, the selling price of traditional pest control companies is several times their annual income. The auditor measures the value of the cash flow security of the pest control business relative to the recurring income pest control account, whether it is residential or commercial. Add it to any real estate, own vehicles and equipment, materials on hand, possibly the brand value of a specific market, and start sales negotiations.

However, the best measure of the value of bird control actions includes only the aforementioned tangible assets plus the value of the existing contract on hand minus the expected cost of completing the work and the discounts associated with the work-related risks. Although bird control may become a profitable business opportunity now and in the future, people cannot add a premium due to its uncertainty.

Unfortunately, in reality, structure/architectural bird control has little future value. There is almost no guarantee of duplication of business in the field of bird control. Once the work is completed, if everything goes according to plan, then the customer will have no problem.

In addition, depending on the value of these architectural bird control projects, funding usually comes from a capital budget, where fees or low bid price requirements from multiple suppliers have been more rigorously scrutinized. Therefore, the statistical possibility of repeated business is reduced.

It can be said that maintenance contracts or service agreements are additional terms for recurring income, but these agreements are difficult to sell. Customers do not want to hear that their new and expensive bird treatments will incur additional long-term operating costs. Due to fear of losing early sales, sales staff are not even willing to mention this situation.

Is bird control appropriate? The stability of pest control accounts and the uncertainty of landing projects, additional indirect marketing and management costs, and risk factors associated with operating bird control businesses mean that this market niche is not suitable for everyone.

It is difficult for small companies to compete with the resources of well-known enterprises and national giants whose brand and marketing resources have penetrated into the local market. On the other hand, even the largest company in our industry has difficulty applying scale to bird control work. They strive to retain employees and ensure quality assurance to customers through scattered branches and non-core areas.

Although general pest control, wildlife management, or other chemical-based treatments have consistent (perhaps seasonal) cyclical cash flows, the bird control system installation business is full of ebb and flow, more like a building Companies, which apply long-term forecasts and apply established growth strategies to large and stable businesses.

The place to start. Product suppliers in this industry provide a one-day course that teaches the basics of bird control. You can learn which products are suitable for various applications, get hands-on product installation or assembly, and get tips on how to sell bird control work. At the end of the course, you will be the "authorized" or "certified" installer of their products. Then, you add the nickname to your website and business cards, and you have it.

Unfortunately, too many people think that this is what the service provider and customer/buyer side need. There is no real skill test or experience check used to "certify" anyone. Companies may think that bird jobs are easily based on a day’s course and then end in a sea of ​​professionals, often trying to price or execute the work in their heads. Unfortunately, the entire industry ultimately devalues ​​the quality work involved by underestimating the work. The amount of work, or the value of equally important work to potential customers.

You are in business. If you are careful, carrying out your first job should not be that difficult. Just recognize your abilities and start small. Unless you have experienced personnel (whether from other industries or other PCO companies) to undertake the project, you should not start with anything complicated. There should be no jib lifts with large nets or electric rails on the streets in urban areas.

Try to use a simpler remedy to create a success story for your customers and your company, such as installing some bird nails in simple locations, such as on a window sill, a single ledge above a storefront, or on the roof. Work with existing customers you have a relationship with so that there is room for forgiveness when you need to modify your work in the future.

be careful. Fall protection and all other forms of PPE are essential. If there should be an elevator for work, please take the elevator. Ladder brings more safety risks and makes work take longer. Ensure that you and your employees receive appropriate training.

Worker injuries and damage to property or equipment are not worth the cost savings. Your insurance company will thank you for this mentality. Your customers will thank you for this mentality. Your employees will thank you for this mentality. This is good for the company and the conscience of being a manager or business owner.

The price is reasonable. When considering pricing for work, it is important to go beyond the formula labor + materials + elevator = price.

Bird control is rife with unforeseen and often unrecognized administrative expenses that are critical to providing customers with the products they buy. Remember, they are not buying tools, materials, elevator rentals, and working hours. They buy the result and expect a seamless experience when implementing it. You must charge enough for the work you do to cover the sneaky projects that enable your company to complete the work first.

If the customer understands the expertise, training, and risks associated with performing bird control work, and is unwilling to pay your price, then you can and probably should walk away. Sometimes the best jobs are those you don't do.

long. Making it a bird control company requires more than just getting "certified."

Ideally, the company should have sufficient resources to handle the work, including finances that pay for labor, materials, and equipment while waiting to be paid. In most cases, especially for commercial, institutional or government customers, purchase orders and contracts with customer-specified payment terms are the norm.

Bird control requires great attention from the company's marketing efforts. Strategically speaking, the company needs to demonstrate its quality and experience. In order to win customers and build reputation, it needs a better presentation, not just add a web page under your service list with a few sentences about various pests and birds. While this may be good for your SEO, once people visit your website and possibly make a five-figure purchase, they will need more information.

In my previous life as part of a well-established bird control company and working with customers of all sizes across the country (including buyers and installers), I learned some important things. Most bird jobs are only as good as current project managers and field technicians. The amount of experience planning and execution in this particular niche market may be the best indicator of a job’s success for the client and profitability for the company. Therefore, retaining employees is critical to the long-term health of the bird control entity. It is much more difficult to hire and train people to work with birds than to control pests.

in conclusion. Due to the value of bird control to customers and the profitability of business owners, bird control will continue to be part of pest control. Related challenges create opportunities for differentiation and excellence for high-quality companies.

Author's Note: The Bird Control Consulting Company initiated a survey to assess the status of the bird control subset of the pest control industry. Please visit www.birdcontroladvisory.com/survey to participate.

Heath Waldorf is the principal consultant of Bird Control Advisory, a New Jersey-based company that helps architects and engineers plan bird control efforts. As a bird control design/build contractor, he has more than 12 years of experience, advising large and small pest management companies on how to successfully operate a bird control business. Learn more on www.birdcontroladvisory.com.

Editor's note: Suppliers, if you want to focus on bird products in the next issue, please send press releases and high-resolution photos to jdorsch@gie.net.

Avitrol recently released its first bird control app with a bid calculator. The company says that version 2.0 of the Avitrol app takes technology-based bird control a step further. In this version, users will find updated bid calculation functions, built-in dilution calculator functions, intuitive input suggestions for handling sensitive birds, and detailed pest bird ID information. The new Avitrol Bird ID section is an online reference for 15 top pest birds. This section provides high-resolution photos of pest birds, young birds, nests, feeding habits, etc. Avitrol said that Avitrol Bid Calculator version 2.0 supports more birds than before, expands the margin function, and will provide users with a suggested fee amount within a few seconds. The new Avitrol dilution calculator enables users to accurately determine the mixing ratio locally, intuitively set the ratio according to the sensitivity of the treatment part, support more pest birds than previously available, and output the recommended amount of live and premix. -Bait required for PMP bird work.

Bird-B-Gone offers a wide range of bird deterrent products to help solve problems in commercial, industrial and residential environments. The company stated that Bird-B-Gone products are manufactured in the United States with industry-leading guarantees, and that the company is the world's largest manufacturer of professional bird control products.

The correct choice of bird control products is critical to solving customers' bird problems. PMP needs to know where the birds land and what they are doing. Do they build nests, roost, or just land in search of food? It is also helpful to know the species of birds you are dealing with. Birds that land on the edge of the roof may be stopped using bird spines, bird impact tracking systems, or other physical bird control products.

Bird-B-Gone stated that it provides the following services to pest management professionals involved in the bird control industry:

Bird Barrier America operates a huge facility in Carson, California, and provides thousands of products and training programs for bird removal and related waste repair, nest cleaning, and structural damage repair. Bird Barrier's solutions include:

The company provides Bird Coil, Daddi Long Legs, StealthNet exclusion nets and hardware, Bird-Flite Spikes, Bird-Shock Flex-Track, Eagle Eye, Tree-Shock, Dura-Spike, Optical Gel and many other solutions. The company said that all Bird Barrier products are humane: they can repel pests, prompting them to move to other places without harming them. For example: Bird-Shock of Bird Barrier is recognized by the American Humanitarian Association.

"Our mission is to provide lasting solutions to various bird problems," said Cameron Riddell, President and CEO of Bird Barrier. “From the very beginning, we focused on developing and providing solutions to solve the unsolvable pest problems. We are almost there. Today, there are very few pest problems that bird barrier solutions cannot solve.”

BirdBuffer stated that its products control flying birds in open spaces by releasing invisible vapors produced by liquid bird repellents that are lighter than air. These liquids contain the active ingredient methyl anthranilate (MA). The company stated that MA is a concentrated grape skin extract that has been approved by the FDA for a variety of purposes, including bird control. BirdBuffer Q-4 and TD-II systems are electronically controlled automated machines that are programmed to evaporate MA and maintain fresh steam in the air at preset time intervals. They are strategically placed in areas where birds are actively flying. These machines emit micronized steam particles at speeds up to 60 mph, and use a small amount of fluid to protect a large area.

Tiny vapor particles (less than 10 microns) penetrate the mucous membranes of birds. BirdBuffer says that steam penetration can cause a safe but irritating response in the trigeminal nerve of birds. The company said that this process can be used as a natural, environmentally friendly insect repellent, allowing birds to fly away and relocate. When the birds try to return, they inhale the irritants and fly away. Birds will remember that there are irritants in the area, and as long as there is steam in the air, they will stay away. BirdBuffer reports that this is a key factor in keeping birds away from the target area.

Last year, Bird-X announced the launch of Solar Yard Gard, which is the solar version of the company's ultrasonic Yard Gard products. Many of Bird-X’s large sonic devices require power outlets, but they can also be powered by solar panels connected to 12V deep-cycle marine batteries. The company said that solar panels are a good one-time investment that allows Bird-X electronics to stay on while keeping the power off.

In order to educate consumers, Bird-X has created a page on its website that specifically introduces how solar energy is used with its products, which products are compatible, and what size solar panels are required for each device.

In remote areas or where there is no constant power supply, the control of birds and pests can be difficult, and usually must be handled manually, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Depending on your geographic location, pigeons can breed throughout the year (although breeding is usually concentrated in spring and autumn). Innolytics says that if you consider the OvoControl program for pigeons or other pests, winter is a good time to start.

The first step is to adapt the birds to daily bait procedures using automatic pigeon feeders and pre-bait (broken corn). These cost-effective devices eliminate all labor for the OvoControl program and allow poultry to "eat breakfast" every morning. The birds got used to daily life and began to look forward to distribution. You know, when the flocks show up 10-15 minutes before the feeder triggers, they have already adapted. For complete details, please refer to the OvoControl User Guide.

Once the weather gets warmer and the day gets longer, the chicken transitions from broken corn to OvoControl. It's not that the population surges every spring, but it's watching the sheep dwindle in the summer.

OvoControl is a ready-to-use bait that can be placed on a flat roof with an automatic wildlife feeder. The manufacturer stated that this user-friendly technology is particularly useful for managing birds in larger areas without the use of chemical controls or labor-intensive trapping procedures.

Nixalite stated that it is now easy to protect PVC vents from insects, rodents, birds and debris. The company's terminal ventilation nets are available in sizes of 2 inches, 3 inches, 4 inches and 6 inches. Nixalite says these screens can be easily connected to standard PVC pipe fittings. The screen is designed with a slotted side to allow the condensate to drain. The small mesh stainless steel screen is ideal for removing birds, rodents, and large insects from stove vents, water heater vents, power vents, and exhaust vents. The shell is made of HD Schedule 40 PVC material, and the screen is made of 3/16 inch square mesh stainless steel.

Nixalite says these screens can provide easy additional sales to residential and commercial customers of pest management professionals.

Preventing seagulls from landing on commercial rooftops is a difficult task, but there are a variety of products that can help PMPs involved in this work.

A few years ago, when I impressed my youngest son at a marina restaurant during my vacation in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, I inadvertently contributed to the increasingly brazen behavior of seagulls. A flock of seagulls hovered on our table. I did not discourage this behavior, but encouraged it by throwing French fries into the air while watching the seagulls catch them during the flight. Our young son couldn't restrain their excitement because they started throwing French fries into the air so that hungry birds could catch them. Although this is fun for our family (except maybe for my wife), it is not good for restaurants or piers, because we have developed a new learning behavior for seagulls.

While doing research for this article, I learned that since the 1950s, there has been a surge in seagull populations across the United States, and their living areas have expanded beyond beach communities and piers. Due to the continuous acceleration of human development and the unlimited food supply provided in landfills and other waste treatment facilities, seagulls can now be seen inland. Seagulls have adapted to the areas where humans live, and it is common for seagulls to nest on roofs and other buildings.

In order to prevent seagulls from nesting in commercial buildings, Bird Doctor Nationwide uses various types of products to help control these bird pests.

Control the product. To help combat seagull nesting, the seagull grid line system, also known as the seagull line system or the seagull parallel line system, has been used by bird deterrent installation companies to control seagulls (many suppliers provide such products, including Bird-B- Gone, bird barrier, seagull control system, etc.). Control products can be used for commercial rooftops, restaurant exteriors, outdoor areas of swimming pools and resorts/hotels, docks, parking lots and garages, courtyards, fish farms, ponds and lakes. The seagull grid line system includes the installation of telescopic columns or poles on the outermost circumference of the roof. Then install the tensioned wires horizontally in a checkered pattern at approximately 3 feet intervals and connect them to the telescopic poles.

We use orange nylon coated seagull wire, which can be seen by seagulls, and can also be seen by any maintenance workers on the roof. For extra visibility, we install a short strip (3 to 6 inches) of Mylar glitter tape on the wire every 4 to 6 feet. This prevents seagulls from landing on the roof. The wingspan of seagulls in flight is very wide, so it is difficult for them to penetrate and land on the roof with the control system. When seagulls try to land on the roof, they will soon know that the roof is not safe for them. Our company recommends installing telescopic poles 6 to 8 feet above the roof so that maintenance personnel can have full access to the roof. For added protection, gull wires can also be installed vertically on all sides around the system. We have seen many times that HVAC technicians refuse to work on the roof until the seagull problem is resolved. When humans enter the space of their nesting site, seagulls can be very aggressive. Nesting of seagulls is usually carried out from April to July, and it is common for seagulls to build nests on or under HVAC equipment.

Liability issues. Another problem is that the faeces, feathers and nesting materials of seagulls can block the roof ventilation system, thereby spreading airborne diseases throughout the building. Seagull droppings are a health hazard that can cause diseases such as bird diseases, E. coli and salmonella. Manure can also cause structural damage and block drains. These clogged drainage ditches can cause a large accumulation of roofs, leading to roof collapses. In addition, if customers or employees slip and fall, feces on the ground can also become a problem. Needless to say, this may be a liability issue that led to litigation. As we all know, seagulls will also peck at the roof membrane, thereby damaging the roof and causing leakage inside the building. They will also throw shells and bones onto the roof from above. This can be particularly problematic if there are solar panels on the roof. Falling shells and bones can cause solar panels to break.

All debris on the roof should be removed to prevent workers from stepping on and piercing the roof membrane. In fact, before starting to install seagull grid lines, the roof should be disinfected and all feces, feathers, dead bodies, nesting materials and debris should be removed. Workers must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when cleaning up the water to ensure their health and safety. In addition, appropriate disinfectants and cleaning materials should be used for drip cleaning. Power washing is not the solution. (You can write an article about the proper cleaning of bird droppings!)

When installing the grid line system, it is recommended to use stainless steel products or UV resistant polycarbonate products to prevent rust and corrosion. You should be extra careful when installing the Seagull Grid System, because you don't want to penetrate the roof membrane or damage the customer's roof membrane warranty. A cushion can be installed under the telescopic column to protect the integrity of the roof membrane.

Maintenance plan. Finally, an annual bird control inspection/maintenance plan is recommended. Maintenance plans and annual physical inspections on site will ensure that all hardware is operating properly. In fact, we recommend an annual maintenance plan for any type of bird deterrent device. Whenever your company's "good reputation" is related to any bird deterrent installation system, it is wise to maintain good customer communication and inform them of any problems or additional work required. This is a good business practice and can also build up your bird work that you repeat every year.

Although I focused on the grid line system in this article, there are many other effective ways to control seagulls, such as installing bird spikes, bird nets, electrified tracks, fishing lines, Duddy long legs/bird spiders, bird slopes/ Bird slides, sonic devices, sound deterrent devices (including seagull distress signals), visual deterrent devices, flashing tapes, balloons, propane cannons, insect repellents, trained dogs, fireworks, poisons (only with appropriate permission ) And lethal methods are available in some cases, but absolutely require a Federal Predation Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Therefore, with the full set of services in our toolbox, I can only say that Seagull should be careful! Now you can enjoy a seaside dinner with your family, without flying tourists taking your fries off the table!

Stuart Aust is an Anticimex senior consultant and the former president of Bird Doctor Nationwide in Paramus, New Jersey. For more information, please visit www.birddoctorinc.com.

Grayson Brown, a mosquito control expert, said that PMP should strive to provide effective, economical and environmentally sound services.

"The pest control industry must adopt the best practices of mosquito suppression management-through effective, economical and environmentally sound technology to achieve high customer satisfaction. If this does not happen, the quality of mosquito control does not happen or improve-then sooner or later you will Have best practice standards set by legislation. And you don’t want that."

These are the caveats of Dr. Grayson Brown from the Public Health Entomology Laboratory of the University of Kentucky when he chaired the PCT annual mosquito control virtual conference.

Brown further defines the term "best practice" as "techniques that are generally accepted as superior to all alternatives because they produce better results than other technologies and help achieve our goal of mosquito suppression to ensure high customers Satisfaction."

According to Brown, current mosquito control services have a high placebo effect. "Therefore, you must ensure that you are actually controlling these pests by operating an ethical business that provides effective, economical and environmentally friendly services.

"Mosquito control is a fast-growing service because the prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases in cities and suburbs will continue to exist, and so will the news media coverage of them. Initiate and use best practices and explain them and educate your customers about them They are very important," he said.

Compare the two biology. As the general background of the webinar participants, Brown compared the biology of two common mosquitoes circulating in the United States: Aedes and Culex.

"Aedes is responsible for the transmission of viruses that cause dengue, eastern equine encephalitis, hockey encephalitis, chikungunya and Zika virus; while Culex mosquitoes are the main vectors of West Nile virus, Western equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis. ," he explained.

"The Aedes mosquitoes mainly attack mammals, and the Culex mosquitoes mainly attack birds, but they can also cause some human bites," Brown added.

Cleaner stagnant water. "The adult Aedes mosquito bites during the day and the evening, and (they) prefer clean water, while the Culex mosquito moves late at night and early in the morning and is attracted to stagnant water.

“The habitat of the Aedes mosquito was found close to the ground (less than 10 feet from the ground), while the habitat of the Culex mosquito was higher, usually 10 feet above the ground.”

In2Care mosquito traps have recently been approved by the EPA for use in PMP and mosquito control areas.

In2Care mosquito traps utilize the life cycle and breeding habits of mosquitoes. The company stated that the trap is based on scientific knowledge and uses organic scent bait to attract mosquitoes. It has a float with a bioactive coated gauze that can target mosquitoes in two ways:

In2Care US Sales Director Ted Worster said: "Our goal is to develop a green solution; a tool that is not just based on chemicals. Mosquitoes have developed resistance to many of these chemicals. Our mixture is very unique. It Use mosquitoes to kill their offspring."

In2Care BV is a private limited company registered in the Netherlands. The product is distributed by Univar in the United States. Learn more at www.in2care.org.

In explaining how mosquitoes are attracted to people, Brown said, for example, people in the backyard release a plume of carbon dioxide (CO2). "Studies have shown that mosquitoes can detect very low concentrations of carbon dioxide. Once detected, they will move to the source of the plume and bite the target," he said.

Suppress service. So, what should PMP do when facing the threat of Aedes mosquitoes such as Zika virus? Brown said the answer is to sign a contract with a good containment service, which uses the best perimeter spraying practices for quality products to develop a good degree of protection.

"We understand that mosquitoes fly very short distances and are easily affected due to their behavior. They are extremely susceptible to peripheral spraying applications of residual pesticides. Subacute doses will not necessarily kill them, but can cause serious damage. Their ability to target and locate hosts."

Spray pattern. He explained that the important thing about peripheral applications is the spray pattern. "Start spraying near the house and address it. Target vegetation-but not grass or flowers. Chase thick bushes, honeysuckle or ivy, and then go deep. Spray below the deck, crawl space-anything cool, dark, or damp The sprayer will blow mosquitoes away from the area, and when they return, they will not be able to penetrate the barrier created by the surrounding spray application.” Brown recommends that PMP spray high-quality synthetic pyrethroids, and it is expected that mosquito problems can be reduced by 75-80%.

Pyrethroids. Brown said that using other effective products when necessary is another best practice. He discussed how insect growth regulators (IGRs)-chemicals that disrupt and hinder the life cycle of eggs and larvae during development-are used by some to treat mosquitoes. The idea of ​​IGR is that if mosquitoes cannot reach adulthood, they cannot reproduce.

Brown said that there are many high-quality pyrethroids on the market. "In some of our early work using high-quality residual synthetic pyrethroids, we reduced the number of mosquitoes by about 60% in six weeks. Now, we have adopted some formulas designed to maximize the duration of the effect. A regular reduction of more than 80% within a week."

Gravity trap. Brown also suggests that granular larvicides can be used on damaged drains or other areas where stagnant water has not been eliminated.

Homeowner partnership. According to Brown, it is worthwhile to provide clients with a handout highlighting common larval breeding sites. He recommends using environmental assessment forms for this; some are commercially available. "Or you can create your own," he said. "It should pay attention to inspection areas where larvae or adults are usually found. This will help homeowners understand the breeding area, which is usually information they don’t know. The form can also include a simple map showing which areas need to be processed or Do not deal with it, and which areas need to be aware of mosquito activity."

"Obviously, high-quality application processing is an important part of best practices," he said. "But on the other hand is to realize that the homeowner has the responsibility to suppress mosquitoes and communicate these responsibilities to the homeowner. This will help you achieve your goals. Residents must be responsible for clearing the area of ​​stagnant water that may be a source of larval reproduction, including storage. Water damage drains. Before you treat, they should trim nearby leaves, such as Japanese honeysuckle."

Brown said that the environmental assessment form can also serve as a useful reference for planning return visits to customers. "Or, if you need to send a different technician for a return visit, this form will be very helpful to the employee."

He said that the completed environmental assessment form can be included in other documents provided to customers, such as bills or receipts. "It can help further inform and educate your homeowners and customers-this is a very important best practice."

The author is a PCT special writer.

Even the tiniest water can become a breeding ground for certain mosquitoes. This is what you need to do to eliminate them from the client’s assets.

Most pest control professionals start looking for mosquito breeding grounds on the water, but sometimes these pests will breed in less conspicuous containers, which makes controlling them more challenging.

Container mosquitoes, namely yellow fever (Aedes aegypti) and Asian tiger mosquitoes, lay eggs along the waterline of the container. It seems so simple until you realize that anything that can hold water is a suitable container, including the grooves of plastic drain extenders, the curves of old tires, and even water cups that have been left outside for too long a day.

In a large backyard, all these containers are difficult to identify by humans, but mosquitoes can easily find them. Container mosquitoes lay eggs along the water lines in these unconventional containers, and the eggs exist in a dry, suspended state for up to a year. However, once irrigation or rain raises the water level enough to make contact with the eggs, they will hatch.

Once the aquatic phase is complete, the adults will not fly too far from their larval habitat because they have a food source and a place to lay their eggs there.

Fortunately, Dr. Roxanne Connelly, chief entomologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins, Colorado, has five simple steps to help PMP and its customers remove pesky container mosquitoes.

When people are bitten by mosquitoes, they know this, but it does not mean that they know how to determine where mosquitoes may breed or how to clean these containers.

This is why Connery says that education is the first step for pest control professionals to control container mosquitoes.

"A lot of people don't realize that the things in their yard create a good habitat for mosquitoes," Connery said. "Show people where there are mosquitoes near their homes, and show people how to eliminate them."

She suggested volunteering to speak at homeowners association meetings, educate neighbors and visit communities and church groups. Even a trip to a dog park can be an educational opportunity, especially when dog owners hear that these specific species of mosquitoes can transmit heartworms!

Connelly recommends carrying an information leaflet in your vehicle, which contains pictures of the containers commonly found in the yard, which may conceal the eggs of mosquitoes that breed in the container.

"The more you talk, the more you can make people aware of this and show them what they can do, the more we can get ahead of some of these container mosquitoes and hope to prevent some of these mosquito-borne diseases, "Connery said.

"Reducing the source is the key to eliminating these mosquitoes," Connery said. "And I said to remove the source. Now it should be clear what the source is. The source of these mosquitoes is these things that can absorb water and feed the mosquitoes' lives."

She suggested that the neighborhood or community clean-up day should be organized first to allow residents to clear the potential mosquito environment in the yard.

Container mosquitoes are not only a trouble in the backyard, they are also a threat to public health. These mosquito species are the culprits of Zika virus and various other diseases, which have plagued people since the 1800s.

So how do these diseases spread? Although Zika virus can be transmitted sexually or mother-to-child, these diseases are mainly transmitted through female mosquito bites.

Only females feed on blood, they need blood to develop eggs," said Dr. Roxanne Connelly, chief entomologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins, Colorado.

In the 1800s, dengue fever, malaria and yellow fever were the most common diseases transmitted by container mosquitoes.

"Yellow fever is very devastating," Connery said. "But once scientists discover that mosquitoes are actually the cause or carrier of the pathogens that cause these diseases, we can target mosquitoes instead of these unknown things."

Although knowing that these diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes is helpful for prevention and treatment, the number of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes only increased in the 1900s, including dog heartworm, eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), malaria, and St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE).

However, on the positive side, due to the joint efforts of vaccination and mosquito habitat reduction, the last case of yellow fever in the United States occurred in the early 1900s.

"Although we no longer have yellow fever in the U.S., it still occurs in some other countries. It is best to check the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to see if there are any mosquito-borne diseases. Areas you might want to visit," Connery said.

In the future, imported cases of yellow fever may lead to more local infections in new areas.

Today, container mosquitoes still transmit dengue fever and dog heartworm, but they are now also carriers of chikungunya and Zika virus.

Unlike other well-known mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, there is no host other than humans or mosquitoes.

"In the United States, there are no other hosts, and no bird hosts, so pathogens are actually easier to circulate," Connery points out. "It goes from mosquitoes to people to mosquitoes, so it is a fairly easy cycle for them."

Speaking of symptoms, Connery said that these diseases affect everyone differently-some people may be infected but never know, some people may be unemployed for a few days, and some people may experience more severe symptoms.

"There is currently no vaccine against the three viruses we are talking about today-chikungunya, dengue and Zika virus-so the best thing we can do is to reduce the mosquitoes around us and do our best Do everything you can to avoid biting," Connery said. — Laura Straub

"There are limits," she said. "Once you throw away all the cups, bowls, or anything that can come out in the yard, you will still have some containers that people want to stay in place. If possible, please modify these containers."

For example, for gardens with rain barrel irrigation procedures, always tighten the lid or at least have an insect screen cover. The insect screen placed at the end of the extension of the drainage ditch also helps to control pests.

"Because they are corrugated and have those small ribs inside, they lie flat on the ground, and they store water in those small areas, so even if the rain washes over there, you will leave water and mosquitoes in the container like these places. Fly up and lay eggs," Connery said. "One of the best things you can do here is to lift the pipes and dump the water every week."

The bird bath should be dumped and scrubbed with steel wool or a hard brush every week, and any old tires should be properly disposed of. Asian tiger mosquitoes were actually inadvertently introduced into the United States through scrap tires used to transport mosquito eggs.

"If you are inspecting someone's home, trying to find the source, don't forget to look up-look at the roof line," Connery said. The clogged drain is the perfect habitat for container mosquito eggs waiting for the next heavy rain.

Connery said that even tarps or inconspicuous trash like bottle caps can support mosquito eggs in the container. "If it has water and stays there long enough, it will produce these container mosquitoes," she said.

Plants, including the popular bromeliads native to southern Florida, can house container mosquitoes in water tanks in the leaf axils.

"Don't forget to look at plants, because although people may not think of them as containers, mosquitoes do," Connery said. "When people grow these plants in their yards and start to have mosquito problems, we will try to encourage people to continue treating them."

When the conditions are right, the hole in the tree can also become a natural container. The cemetery is also a popular breeding ground for container mosquitoes. There are a large number of unattended flowers in the vase; the mosquitoes can enter the vase and lay their eggs.

When you find a particularly annoying pest, go straight to the source: the water source.

There are several different products that can be used to treat water sources, especially in areas where people may not be able to sacrifice their containers, such as rain buckets.

The first is Bti, a bacteria that kills black flies and mosquito larvae after ingestion, and is used in mangers and bird baths. It is formulated with granules or briquettes and can last for 7 to 30 days.

But there is a problem-Bti remains effective until the mosquito larvae stop eating, which is the end of the fourth instar. Once the larva reaches 4th instar, it will stop eating, which means that it will not ingest treated water.

Another option is methoprene, which is an insect growth regulator (IGR). Although IGR will not kill mosquitoes immediately, they will prevent them from becoming functional adults. Like BTI, methoxypentadiene is also available in the form of pellets or briquettes. For larger briquettes, it can be used for 30 to 150 days.

If you are checking and disposing of a potential water source and you want to check it for the presence of container mosquito larvae before disposing, Connelly has a quick and easy way.

"One of the ways we look for larvae in some of these habitats is to use a turkey injector, which is a very cheap tool. Just suck water from such an area and spray it into something with a white bottom. It's like a white pan," she said. "If you see your little swingman there, then it is a source of hope that you can do something."

Connery said targeting adult container mosquitoes is a particularly challenging process because of their mysterious habitat.

"They rest under the vegetation in people's backyards, and it's really difficult to spray space spray where you will affect these mosquitoes," she said.

Although results cannot be guaranteed, some pest control professionals and homeowners use barrier sprays on their vegetation.

"The idea is that when a mosquito falls on the treated vegetation, it will come into contact with this product and it will kill the mosquito, or they will transfer it to a new larval cycle and they will not have any offspring. ," Connery said.

Connelly says another challenge is that mosquitoes can become resistant to the pyrethroids in these adulticides, just like many mosquitoes in central Florida and the Florida Keys. "This is my last resort; you really want to try to target those early stages to prevent them from becoming adults," she said.

According to Connery, surveillance is the step that links all of this together.

"This is really the basic technology for everything we have been talking about," she said. "If you plan to do some treatment, you need to make sure the mosquitoes are there so you can look for the larvae in the container."

Connery suggested putting a glass of water at the root of the tree with a popsicle stick inside. Check every few days to see if there are any eggs sticking to the water line of the stick or cup to see how many mosquitoes are there.

"You can also do this after treatment to see if the treatment is really effective. Are you reducing the number of eggs in that area?" she said. "Just don't forget it, because then it can be a source."

The author is a freelancer in Cleveland and can be contacted at lstraub@gie.net

Dr. Roxanne Connelly, chief entomologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins, Colorado, said: "No matter how much you reduce the source, there are still mosquitoes that will find you and bite you."

Do your customers think they can avoid mosquito bites by buying insect repellent wristbands, patches, and insect exterminators? According to a recent laboratory study, they are wasting time and money.

According to Connery, recent laboratory tests have found that mosquito repellent wristbands and insect repellent patches are completely ineffective. "No matter what the active ingredient is, whether it is DEET-which works well under other conditions-or is like citronella. No protection is provided by wristbands for such things. These are items purchased on impulse," Connery said. "They are actually just protecting the area covered by the band."

This also applies to devices that emit sound to repel mosquitoes. Even insect killers that kill many insects rarely attract mosquitoes.

When it comes to your diet? According to the CDC, no bananas, vitamin B, and garlic have been found to stop nasty bugs.

However, DEET is effective.

During laboratory testing, subjects exposed their arms to mosquitoes to ensure that the insects were interested. Afterwards, they sprayed their arms with insect repellent for testing and re-exposed the arms every 15 minutes. As soon as a mosquito landed on the arm, the clock stopped at the effective time of the product.

"Because we are doing it in a laboratory environment, it will give you a little more protection time than in the real world," Connery said. "You know, when you are working in your garden, you are doing your work, you are sweating, maybe you are swimming or something, some things will reduce the protection time."

According to the test results, the most effective products include OFF! Deep Woods contains 23.8% DEET, which can provide 5 hours of protection; Sawyer Controlled Releases contains 20% DEET, which can provide four hours of protection; leave! Skintastic contains 6.65% DEET, which provides protection for two hours on and off! Skintastic for Kids contains 4.75% DEET, which provides protection for one and a half hours. A child bite blocker containing 2% soybean oil has also been shown to be effective within an hour and a half.

"In general, we found that products containing DEET are effective," Connery said. "When we started to come into contact with these natural products, it only gave us 20 minutes of protection in the laboratory, while in the real world it is basically zero. These natural ingredients cannot provide you with the protection you need against mosquito bites." — Laura Straub