Pest Control’s Bigger Purpose

Any time I meet someone new and mention that I am an editor for a magazine that covers the structural pest control industry, the questions and pest-related experiences immediately follow: “My son brought bed bugs back from his college apartment. What should I do?” “I’m allergic to yellowjackets. How can I keep them away from my patio?” “Every night I am hearing rustling in my attic. What do you think that is?”

I do my best to give a few suggestions based on pest control knowledge I’ve gained while working for PCT the last 27 years, but I always leave them with the same message: Your best course of action is to hire a professional.

I was once again bombarded with pest-related questions in early May, soon after the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean killed three people and left at least three other passengers ill. As reported by PCT (see page 25), fortunately the overall risk to the American public remains extremely low because, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no confirmed U.S. cases of Andes virus associated with the cruise ship outbreak had been identified as of May 18.

This most recent high-profile disease outbreak underscores the importance of PCT’s annual fly control issue. House flies, small flies and mosquitoes are important public health pests because they can harbor and mechanically transfer harmful bacterial pathogens to humans and animals through their breeding habits and contaminated body surfaces.

In “Filth Fly Offensive” (page 58), urban entomologist Josh Shoemaker shares how PMPs can develop a successful filth fly management program by exploiting predictable fly behavior, incorporating resistance management principles and excluding flies from entry. Renowned entomologist Tom Myers takes a deep dive into the importance of addressing sanitation and cultural measures in “Cutting Off Survival” (page 64), and Adam’s Pest Control Technical Training Director Mohammed El Damir provides a practical, step-by-step approach to identifying, preventing and eliminating blow fly infestations in and around structures.

Included in our fly control coverage are two features on mosquitoes, which are close relatives of small flies and filth flies (mosquitoes and all types of flies belong to the taxonomic order Diptera). In “Mosquito Traps Explained” Chelle Hartzer takes a look at the science, placement and integration of mosquito traps for effective population management. PCT Digital Editor Patrick Rhonemus interviewed Trent Frazer, lead entomologist and senior director of quality assurance at Aptive Pest Control, for the article “What Winter Does to Mosquitoes”. Frazer shared how both severe and mild winters impact mosquito populations and what this can mean for mosquito season.

Whether it’s questions I receive about pest-related public health threats or flying insect-transmitted diseases, I’m reminded how fortunate PCT is to have access to so many academics and in-the-field experts. I’m also reminded how proud I am to be a part of an industry that plays a critical role in protecting public health.

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PCT Assistant Editor McKenna Christy recently returned from the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA) sixth annual Women’s Forum, which was held in Charlotte, N.C., in late May. Over the course of three days, attendees learned about leadership skills, connected with other industry professionals and found ways to become empowered in their roles. NPMA President Emily Thomas Kendrick reflected on how the presence of women in the pest control industry has changed since she began serving in NPMA leadership positions. Kendrick recalled attending a women’s event in the basement of a casino at PestWorld in 2000 in Las Vegas and “There were seven of us just staring at each other,” she said. “And now, look at this. This is awesome!” Much of this year’s Women’s Forum was documented in McKenna’s coverage, including highlights, video interviews and feature stories. Download at www.pctonline.com/tag/womens-forum.