Carpenter ants are easily distinguished from acrobat and other ants, if you know what to look for.
COVID-19 may have slowed things down temporarily, but IPM House classes will restart next month with advanced training on ant identification. This will be our second time to offer this course with guest trainer Dr. Robert Puckett.
Ants are one of the toughest pest groups for PMPs to identify. Because of their small size, ants generally require a microscope or a good hand lens, and a trained eye to identify. In this class participants will practice identifying a variety of ants with a hand lens and microscope.
Topics to be covered include introduction to ant biology and behavior, ant anatomy and recognition of the important Texas ant genera, ant sampling and surveillance, and fire ant biology and IPM. Hands-on activities include use of microscopes to look at different mosquito life stages and species.
The class is part of the IPM Experience House PMP Advanced Training classes. It will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center on Friday, July 16. Classes at IPM House include a combination of hands-on demonstrations and classroom instruction. Lunch is provided. (CEUs: 6 hours verified training in Pest Category, have requested CEU credit for Ag and SPCS). Early online registration (up to July 16) is $60. On site registration is $80. No refunds after the July 15.
We ask that all participants bring their own face mask. If you do not have one, we will provide one for you. Social distancing will be practiced during the class and hand sanitizer provided.
As a special bonus, Mike Bosco with Safehaven Pest Control will demonstrate proper technique for disinfection, and talk about disinfection as an add-on to your business. To register, and for more information, go to https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/productListingDetails/3150