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Mosquito class offering July 19

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french drain on an artificial turf site in a backyard

French drains are an often overlooked mosquito breeding site. Do your technicians know how to assess a property for mosquito risk?

For which important urban insect pest did 70% of pest control companies get more calls last year? For which pest are 88% of pest management professionals (PMPs) confident that control options are better than they were five years ago? For what pest do nearly 2/3 of companies have callback rates of 4% or less?

According to a 2017 report by MGK® Co., the answer is “mosquitoes”. It appears that pest control customers increasingly want to fight pesky mosquitoes in their backyards, and are willing to pay for it.

There has never been a better time to consider adding mosquito management to your list of services. If you’ve considered getting into mosquito control, or have technicians in need of mosquito training, IPM House will host a introductory mosquito class on July 19. The course provides essential information for pest control technicians to use in providing mosquito control services to your customers.

Topics to be covered include an introduction to mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit; the role and tools of surveillance; how to conduct a backyard mosquito inspection, mosquito control methods and equipment. In addition, we will use microscopes to look at different mosquito life stages and species.

Classes at IPM House are a combination of hands-on demonstrations and classroom instruction. Lunch will be provided. The class runs from 8:30 am to 5 pm. Instructors are Dr. Mike Merchant, Dr. Sonja Swiger, Mike Nichols, and Scott Sawlis. (CEUs: 7 hours verified training in Pest Category)

Registration is open until the day of the class; however, class size is limited to 21, so register early. Early registration (up to July 16) is $50. Late registration after July 16 is $75. No refunds after July 16.

To register, and for more information, go to https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/Mosquito

Spring 2018 IPM House classes now open for registration

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student looking through microscope

A combination of classroom and hands on learning is what distinguishes IPM House classes.

Three new courses will be offered over the next two months at IPM Experience House. Below are descriptions and links to register for these classroom/hands-on classes.

Rodent Academy

Rodent Academy will be offered March 6-8.  A reprisal of a very successful class held last December, the Spring 2018 Texas Rodent Academy will feature guest trainer, Tim Madere with the City of New Orleans.  With sponsorship from UNIVAR USA, Texas A&M AgriLife will be offering an intensive three-day, advanced rodent control training course.  Tim is one of the leading rodentologists in the country today, and has a lot to offer.

The goal of the Texas Rodent Academy is to provide a highly focused and standardized approach to managing rodent populations through Integrated Pest Management (IPM). After completing this course, graduates will be able to manage rodent populations more effectively, because they will have a better understanding of the biology, behavior, and habitat of rodents, contributing factors to infestation, effective ways of evaluating site-specific responses and strategies, and effective communication strategies with the public to achieve lasting change and improvements.

Who Should Attend?

The course is intended for pest management professionals, municipalities, universities, public schools, and food safety personnel involved in the rodent control programs.  Class size is limited, so register soon.

Speakers:  Mr. Tim Madere, City of New Orleans Rodney Specialist, Dr. Mike Merchant, Emory Matts, Janet Hurley and other experts on rodenticides and rodent control.  A topic we are still looking into is drones and inspections, so sign up early this class will fill up fast.  Click here to learn more and for a link to registration. Cost of the three-day class is $300.

Introduction to Termite Control for New Technicians

Introduction to termite control for new technicians on March 15 is designed to orient new termite technicians to the art and science of termite control (an additional class will be offered on March 16 if there is demand).  Termite control expert, Dr. Bob Davis, will be demonstrating practical field skills for setting up and executing a soil termiticide job.  Kevin Keim, with Dow Agroscience, will provide an overview of termite baiting, including practical aspects of bait placement and installation. They are joined by Dr. Mike Merchant in the classroom to provide some of the basic biology of termites you need to know if you are to be on the top of your game.

Owners, this is a great opportunity to get new or old employees ready for termite season.  Half of the class will be classroom, and half will be in the field (at IPM House) demonstrating skills for performing a termite treatment. One termite CEU will be offered for those who complete the class.  $55 Early registration.  Click here to learn more and for a link to registration.

Trainers: Dr. Bob Davis, BASF; Mr. Kevin Keim, Dow AgroSciences; Dr. Mike Merchant, Texas A&M AgriLIfe Extension. Class size is limited to 21, so register early.

ACE Prep Class

Coming to north Texas by popular demand, we are offering a souped-up, two-day version of the ACE Prep Class on April 12-13.   This class is designed to help candidates prepare for the ACE exam. It provides a concise, well-rounded overview of the science of entomology and of the major pests that a PMP must know for the exam.  The class provides 10+ hours of intensive classroom and lab training in pest control topics for any interested technician. You do not have to be pre-approved as an ACE candidate to take the Prep Class; however, it does serve as an excellent review and confidence booster for candidates who have been preparing for the exam.  The exam will be offered at the end of the class to anyone who has applied for certification and paid the examination fee. Students wanting to sit for the exam are responsible for making arrangements with ESA prior to the class.  Early registration cost of the two-day course is $100.

Achieving the title of “Associate Certified Entomologist” (ACE) is one of the top professional achievements for a pest management professional. The ACE certification program is overseen by the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and is available to anyone with five years of experience in the pest control industry.  The successful applicant must also be willing to subscribe to the ACE Code of Ethics, and able to pass the certification exam.

Click here to learn more and for a link to registration.  Class size is limited to 30, so register early.  Principal trainer: Dr. Mike Merchant.

We hope to see many of you this Spring.

Sign up for Texas Rodent Academy

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Norway rats active during daylight hours in a NYC park. Photo by Bobby Corrigan

The IPM Experience House will be offering a Rodent Academy course for the first time this fall.  Based on the popular New York City Rodent Academy, the 3-day course will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Center at Dallas on December 5-7. Special guest trainer for the training is nationally recognized “rodentologist”, Dr. Bobby Corrigan. Bobby will lead the class through a highly focused, science-based approach to managing rodent populations through IPM.

Goals for the course include improved management of rodent populations through better understanding of the biology, behavior, and habitat of rodents; helping students better understand factors that contribute to rodent infestations; and training students to develop better site-specific problem solving skills and more effective communication with customers.

Who Should Attend?
This course is intended for pest management professionals, municipalities, universities, public schools, and food safety personnel involved in rodent control programs.  This is an advanced course, so students should already have a basic understanding of rodent control principles. The Academy is not designed, or appropriate, for new-hire training. We suggest that supervisors, managers, and owners attend the class with the intent to be better prepared to teach their own employees.

Curriculum

Critter cams offer new insights into rodent behavior. Video still shot by J. Hurley

The course will include both in-class and field training components.  Classroom
topics will include:

  • Health significance of rodents
  • Rodents and allergens
  • Biology and behavior of rodents
  • Overview of Integrated Pest Management
  • Pesticide labels and federal regulations
  • Exterior bait boxes – what, where, how?
  • Alternative tools & techniques for rat control
  • Mouse IPM in apartment/private homes
  • Rodent control

Hands-on, field training will involve small group interaction at real field sites. Topics addressed by the group will include:

  • Evaluating the account: what to look for
  • Proper placement of bait stations and snap traps
  • Rodent exclusion techniques
  • Site-specific best management practices

Tuition

Tuition for the 3-day class is $300, which includes cost of a class notebook, other handouts, snacks and lunches.

Course Requirements

Students should plan to attend all days of the class.  To receive a certificate of Rodent Academy Completion, each student will be expected to:

  • Participate in all class activities
  • Complete two homework assignments
  • Participate in a field trip that involves team work and team analysis for designing a real-world control exercise for a few different rodent infestations.
  • Pass a final exam

Other

Structural Pest Control CEU credits will be available in IPM and Pest for participants who need them. Please, limit your registration to two employees per company. To ensure quality and good instructor-to-student interaction, the Academy can only accommodate approximately 35 students per session. Please wear comfortable shoes, and clothes appropriate for the field.

Registration

If your company is interested in the Rodent Control Academy, please complete and submit the online registration form:  https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/productListingDetails/2392

 

If you are unable to register because the class has reached it’s maximum enrollment, and you wish to be added to a waiting list, send an email to class organizer, Janet Hurley at (jahurley@ag.tamu.edu).  You will be given first notice about subsequent Rodent Academy classes.  To join our IPM Experience House mailing list and receive alerts for future Rodent Academies and other IPM Experience House-sponsored training classes, click here. 

 

Termite training draws old and new

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termite infested box

Termites are resourceful insects as shown by this damaged book box brought to class by Anita Woessner.

Yesterday’s IPM House training was designed for new technicians, but that didn’t stop a few seasoned veterans from turning out.  Experience in pest control ranged from just a few days on the job to 30 years, making for a very diverse class.

use of termiticide foam

BoJack Jalowy, with Naturescape Texas out of Kerrville, tries out canned foam in a simulated wall void.

Anita Woessner, Affordable Pest Control of Denton, TX, brought in a termite ridden box of books.  Taken from a client’s garage, the box sat for years on the concrete floor, over a cold joint in the slab.  Eventually subterranean termites discovered their treasure and had their way with it. Part of the course covered basic termite biology and behavior, and part dealt with the practical matter of how to approach a termite control job.

Rotations in the afternoon walked the class through microscopic identification of termites and ants, using a measuring wheel to diagram a WDI inspection, and learn how to calibrate a termite rig.  In addition students learned about use of foam in termite jobs and in-ground baiting for termites.

The class was introductory, so many of the finer details were not covered to the veterans’ satisfaction; but everyone seemed to take away something useful.  Look for Advanced termite training to be offered at sometime in the near future.

Mosquito class offered for first time

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Keith Haas demonstrates use of a handheld ULV applicator to the class.

For which important urban insect pest did 70% of pest control companies get more calls last year? For which pest are 88% of pest management professionals (PMPs) confident that control options are better than they were five years ago?  For what pest do nearly 2/3 of companies have callback rates of 4% or less?

According to a 2017 report by MGK® Co., the repeated answer is “mosquitoes”. It appears that pest control customers increasingly want to fight pesky mosquitoes in their backyards, and are willing to pay for it.

Ultimately, this increased interest in mosquitoes is what brought 15 interested PMPs to the “Practical Mosquito Control” course last week at IPM Experience House. [Read more…] about Mosquito class offered for first time