IPM Experience House
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Open House November 4, 2022 to Welcome our new Entomologist

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Bryant McDowell ’19 and Janet Hurley

It is with much please to announce that we have hired a new entomologist for the Dallas Center.  Mr. Bryant McDowell graduated with his Master of Science in Entomology in 2019 from Texas A&M University.  His thesis: Population genetics and the colony breeding structure of the invasive tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva, in Texas will allow him to help Texans with identifying ants.

McDowell’s role as the Extension Program Specialist for Urban IPM will be to support the IPM Experience House by providing training classes for pest management professionals.  In addition to the IPM House, Bryant will also be supporting Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s County Agents with insect identification, master volunteer training and supporting county programs.

McDowell will also support the school IPM program by helping with the educational events that are conducted with Dr. Don Renchie at the four regional events.

We hope you can join us for this event.

Join us on Friday, November 4th from 3:00 – 6:00 PM at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Water and Land Resources Building for light refreshments and a chance to talk to the entomologist.  Tours of the IPM Experience House will also be available. Follow this link to register for the event.

There is no charge to attend; however, we are asking that everyone register so that we can have an accurate head count for the food and beverages.  Even this planner knows it’s a Friday afternoon during football season, so we do suggest wearing your favorite sports team gear as well.

To our past and present donors, our registration website has a place for you to sign up to donate to the IPM Experience House.  Bryant and I are hoping to use this event, our fall IPM seminar Nov. 15th and rodent academy to ‘pick’ your brains on what classes you would like to see us hold in 2023.

2020 Fall IPM Virtual Conference

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For anyone who needs structural or ag CEU credits in turf and ornamental pest management, 2020 Fall IPM Conference registration is now open, and we are going virtual.

We understand this year has been a challenge and getting your CEU credits is still required, so like everything else there is a Zoom meeting for that.

Never Fear AgriLife Extension is Here. You can trust us to have speakers that will help keep you engaged and teach you a thing or two.

When: Wednesday, November 18, 2020 – Zoom conference room will open at 7:45 AM. We will break for lunch (on your own) and begin right at 1:00 PM with Dr. Renchie and will be done by 3:30 PM.

Our speaker lineup includes Dr. Becky Bowling talking about water and how that impacts pests – too much or not enough is that is needed to stress an area out. Dr. Eric Reasor will discuss herbicide resistance, this applies to all of us as we watch products drop off the market. Dr. Sonja Swiger will be discussing a topic we haven’t heard from in a while – flies and that’s not just mosquitoes, but flies are always problematic in certain areas. To ensure you are awake after the lunch break, we have Dr. Don Renchie scheduled to cover laws and rules, yes, he will still get you to say an Amen or Hum at least once during his session. Our final speaker of the day will be Erfan Vafaie, discussing some of the smaller insect pests that occur outside on vegetables and ornamentals.

Did you realize a couple of names were not listed as speakers? No, we didn’t all retire, only Dr. Mike Merchant retired in August, Dr. Chrissie Segars and Janet Hurley will be part of the program only we will be monitoring the chat box and you the participants to make sure you are there. online! 

How to Register

This virtual conference brings some changes to our normal registration process. All payment and registration will be done through our registration link only. You MUST register here  and have your payment to College Station by November 16th. This is a hard deadline and no exceptions will be made. We are unable to take registrations on the day of the conference due to the nature of the virtual format. We appreciate your patience with this process. All necessary information will be sent to your email once registration is complete. You must have an email to access the zoom webinar information.

To qualify for CEU’s, you must enter your correct license number and be present for the entirety of the virtual conference. The online platform will monitor your presence at the conference and CEU’s will be awarded accordingly. More explanation will be given the day of the conference.

Wednesday, November 18

Webinar Register online! scroll to the webinar section http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/IPM

Registration/Payment Questions: agriliferegister@tamu.edu  979-845-2604

Cost $50 through November 16 Please enter your current pesticide license at registration!

Cancellations received no later than Nov. 16 will receive a refund minus a $10 administrative fee

Seminar questions: Sharon Harris 972-952-9201 SRHarris@ag.tamu.edu

Ant identification class

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carpenter ant adult

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

2019 ACE Prep Class in Dallas

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A prep class for the Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) exam will be offered December 12-13 in Dallas.  The class will provide an [optional] opportunity to take the ACE exam on the second day. The class at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas is part of IPM Experience House course series for 2019.

ACE Prep class members 2018

Prep classes are usually small and lively in discussion. Last year’s class included (from left): Brandon Guy and Bruce Guy (Bugs and Blooms), Mike Merchant (Instructor), David Gayle (Gayle Pest Control), Brad Hudson and William (Ashley) Jenkins (Presto-X) and Rodney Hall (Home Exterminating Services).

With over 1,000 ACEs nationwide, the Certification program of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) is the fastest growing certification program for PMPs.

We find that the biggest hurdles for PMPs wanting certification include uncertainty about how to prepare for the ACE exam, and fear of test-taking.  That’s where the ACE Prep Class comes in.  The Dallas class, December 12-13, is a one-and-a-half day course followed by an opportunity to take the ACE exam on the afternoon of day 2.

Classes provides a review of fundamental entomology and basic knowledge requirements for the exam. The training is intended as either a kick off for the studying process, or as a last minute review and confidence building class (not a substitute for comprehensive studying).  Coincidently, the class is also good for new technicians who would like a broad overview of the science of pest management.

Test taking success rates are much higher with good preparation.

Costs for the class

Registration for the Dallas class is available online and costs $60 ($70 after 12/09; click here for agenda and registration). Snacks and water are provided at the Dallas class; lunch is on your own. As part of the IPM Experience House curricula, the Dallas class also includes some extra time with microscopes and specimen viewing.

Size of the prep class is limited to 30 students.  Up to 4 CEU credits will be available for those providing license numbers.  In addition, you have the option to purchase the highly recommended: ACE Study Guide “IPM for the Urban Professional: A Study Guide for the Associate Certified Entomologist.” Entomological Society of America -$49

How Do I Get Certified?

So what’s involved with getting certified? First you have to qualify. To become an ACE, you must:
Have five years experience in pest control (three years for those with an entomology degree);
hold a current U.S. pesticide applicator’s license; and agree to sign the ACE code of ethics.
If you think you qualify, you can apply through the ESA/ACE website. The application fee is $355 for ESA members and $395 for non-ESA members.

After being approved by the ESA, you will need to study to take the ACE exam. Information about how to study for the exam and what study materials are recommended can be found on the ESA website. Note: if you plan to take the exam after the class prior study is highly recommended. The Prep Class is not a prerequisite for taking the exam, however many people find that the class is a useful way to prepare for study.

GDPCA End of Year meeting and Termite CEU event

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Come join us for an evening a friendship and learning at the IPM Experience House.  We will meet at the Healthy Living (Brick Education Building) starting at 6:00 PM.  We will have a light evening meal, beverages and a lesson on termites for those needing a termite CEU credit to complete this years TDA/SPCS CEU credits.

Register for the event here 

Finishing 2019 Strong at IPM House

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We are please to offer three courses for pest management professionals this November and December at IPM Experience House. All IPM House classes provide a mix of lecture, demonstration and hands-on practice.

The PMP Toolbox

Successful pest control requires being familiar with the tools of the trade.  Tools of the Trade: Equipment and Materials for Pest Control, is a new class to be offered on November 8. This class will provide an overview of essential pest control tools, how they work, how to use them, and how to maintain them.  We will also cover exclusion materials and techniques for pest proofing. All topics will be covered from the perspective of Integrated pest management (IPM) and new technologies will be discussed.  This will be an excellent class for both new and seasoned technicians.  Guest trainers include Randall Kennedy, with Dallas Fort Worth Wildlife Control, and Greg Orr with B&G Equipment Company.

This is a one-day class that runs from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Certificates will be given for 7 hours of verifiable classroom training for apprentices. Up to 3 Structural CEU credits will be awarded. Lunch is provided. Cost is $60 preregistration. Click here to register today, class size is limited.

Rats!

We are proud to offer Rodent Academy for the third year in a row with Dr. Bobby Corrigan.  Rodent Academy is in demand across the U.S. and this is your only Texas opportunity to take it. The course is intended for pest management professionals, municipalities, universities, public schools, and food safety personnel involved in the rodent control programs.

This year’s course will be held December 17-19.  In addition to Dr. Corrigan, we will have distinguished presenters Dr. Claudia Riegel, from the City of New Orleans, Travis Gates with ABC Home and Commercial Services in Dallas, Scott Smith with Bell Laboratories, as well as the IPM House faculty, Dr. Mike Merchant and Janet Hurley.  If your company does rodent control or exclusion, or would like to expand into this lucrative area, you’ll want to sit in on this fascinating three days of lecture and hands-on activities.

Note that Rodent Academy will be held in a new location this year. While still at the Texas A&M AgriLife Dallas campus, we have moved into the classroom located in the new Water Education building on the north end of the main parking lot.  Check the map on the registration page for directions. Cost for the three-day class is $300, lunches and snacks included.

ACE Prep

If you’ve been a pest control professional for five years or more and would like to be recognized by your peers and your customers for your hard work and professionalism, consider the Associate Certified Entomology program. This program is available to qualified professionals who can pass a certification exam.  The ACE Prep class is an intensive one-and-a-half day class designed to help prepare you to take the ACE exam.

The ACE Prep class is really for three kinds of people. It’s for young professionals starting out who would like a succinct overview of the science of entomology and pest control.  It’s for the ACE candidate who has studied hard on their own and just wants a final “cram” and confidence booster before the exam.  And it’s for anyone interested in preparing for the ACE exam, but who isn’t sure how best to study.  If you fall in this last category the ACE Prep class is just the thing to orient you to what to study, and get you pumped up to hit the books.

This year’s ACE Prep class will be held in the Healthy Living Building Classroom (formerly the Education Building) on December 12-13.  Lunch is provided. Cost for the two-day class is $100.  Mark your calendar now; registration is coming soon.

 

Getting the bugs out: Bed bug Academy 2019

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Registration is now open for our first ever bed bug training academy at IPM Experience House.

What: This class will provide basic and advanced training in bed bug recognition, treatment methods and problem solving. Registration open until September 25, or until the class is full. Class size limited to 20.  No refunds after September 23.

Where: Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Building E Classroom.

When: September 25, 2019. 8:15 am to 5 pm.

Instructors: Mike Merchant, Janet Hurley, Alan Brown.  (CEUs: 8 hours verified training in Pest Category, 1 CEU IPM, 1 CEU Pest)

How to Register: Click here to register online.

Agenda: 

  1. [8:15 – 8:30 am] Pre-test
  2. [8:30 am] Introductions/orientation
  3. [8:45 am] Introduction to bed biology & ID [classroom – Merchant]
  4. [9:45 am] Break
  5. [10:00 am] Introduction to IPM, monitoring, inspections [classroom – Hurley]
  6. [11:00 am] Round 1 Stations. Stations [IPM House – All instructors]
    1. Inspection: sofas [Merchant]
    2. Heat treatment – solarization [Hurley]
    3. Heat treatment setup [Brown]
  7. [12:00 pm] Lunch
  8. [12:30 pm] Control options for bed bugs [Classroom – Brown]
    1. Vacuuming/steam/tape
    2. Heating/cold
    3. Dusts for bed bug control
    4. Pesticides
    5. Fumigants
  9. [2:15 pm] Round 2 Stations [IPM House – All instructors]
    1. Bed bug ID [Merchant]
    2. Checking heat treatment [Brown]
    3. Applying insecticides [JJ]
  10. [3:30 pm] Thresholds and low-income customers [classroom – Brown]
    1. What is a threshold?
    2. Options for low-income customers
      1. Other options?
    3. [4:00 pm] Mystery bugs and bed bugs [classroom – Merchant]
      1. What are mystery bugs?
      2. Delusional clients
    4. [4:15] Problem solving exercise. [Classroom – all instructors]
    5. [4:45 pm] Evaluations and Post-test
    6. [5:00 pm] Dismissal

 

 

Spring class schedule includes mosquitoes and general pests

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Instructor Scott Sawlis

Instructors, like Scott Sawlis of the Dallas County Health Department, bring years of experience to the classroom.

Spring is a great time to learn!  With that as inspiration, we want you to know about two new IPM House courses scheduled for May and June.

First, mark your calendars for May 28. On this day we’ll be offering Introduction to Mosquito Control for PMPs –a great class if you are a technician or owner considering adding mosquito control to your list of services.  The class on May 28 is an introduction to mosquito management–perfect for owners, managers or technicians.

The course provides essential information for any pest management professional engaged in providing mosquito control services. Topics 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.  Instructors include Extension medical entomologist Dr. Sonja Swiger, and Target Specialty Product‘s Vector Control specialist, Patrick Sutton.

mosquito control class learns about insecticide spray equipment

In IPM House classes, students learn practical use and maintenance of equipment for mosquito and pest control.

On Friday, June 28 we will be offering General Household Pest Training.  This class provides necessary Pest Category training for new apprentices and introduction to general pest control for new technicians.  Topics to be covered will include introduction to entomology and general orders of insects; general insect pests; mosquitoes; rodents and other animal pests.  In addition, we will cover an introduction to IPM and pesticides, and equipment used in pest control.  Hands-on activities include use of various sprayers and dusters, bait applications and situational problem solving.

All classes at IPM House provide a combination of hands-on demonstrations and classroom instruction. Lunch will be provided. Both classes have a $50 early registration fee ($75 late registration).  Class size is limited, so register soon.  Details and registration for both classes can be found at the https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu website (search for “mosquito” or “household pest”). Or click on the following links.

Mosquito Control Training May 28

General Household Pest Training June 28

Intro to termite control April 4

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subterranean termite swarmer

Time to prepare your team for termite swarming season.

On April 4 the IPM Experience House will offer its next course in termite control for te

chnicians.

This is our third year to offer this class for orienting new termite technicians to the art and science of termite control. Termite control expert, Dr. Bob Davis, will be demonstrating practical field skills for setting up and executing a soil termiticide job. Kevin Keim, with Corteva, 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.

technician digging termite trench in front of IPM House sign

IPM House Termite training includes hands-on experience.

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, conducting a termite treatment. One termite CEU will be offered for those who complete the class.

Topics covered:
• Introduction to termites
• Theory and practice of termite baiting
• Introduction to termite soil treatment
• Hands-on Demonstrations at IPM Experience House
o Preparing the treatment diagram
o Estimating a bait job and station placement
o Problem solving
o Estimating a soil termiticide job
o Soil injection equipment
o Spray rig calibration
o Safe mixing
o Application of soil applied termiticides

Details

Dallas Center map

This year’s class will be held in Building E – the Education Building classroom.

Hours of the class are from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.  The class will be held in the Building E (Education Building) classroom at the Texas A&M AgriLife Center on Coit Road. Because of ongoing construction, we ask that you enter the campus through the secondary (south) entrance, and park directly behind Building E (see map).

Class size will be limited to 22 and lunch is included with registration. Click here for registration and additional information.

 

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