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Announcing the 5th Annual Texas Rodent Academy

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Two-Day Training Course in Rodent Management for Pest Management Professionals

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service IPM Experience House is offering our three-day, intensive rat control training course for pest management professionals.

Purpose

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?

This course is intended for pest management professionals, universities, public schools, and others involved in the rodent control/management programs.

Curriculum Content (In classroom learning)

The 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 and how?
  • Alternative tools & techniques for rat control
  • Mouse Integrated pest management in apartment/private homes
  • Rodent control

Curriculum Content (hands-on outdoor learning) 2021rodentacademyagenda 

Participants will be broken into small groups for each class days hands-on learning exercise

  • Site specific inspections — what to look for
  • Bait station, snap traps, exclusion

Speakers:

Dr. Niamh Quinn, Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, South Coast Research and Extension Center

Niamh Quinn is University of California Cooperative Extension Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor, based at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine. Her focus is directed on the coordination of Cooperative Extension programming regarding human-wildlife conflicts, particularly within the residential and industrial areas within Southern California where significant human-wildlife conflicts are occurring. Her research and education focus on everything from mice to mountain lions, but she mostly focuses on rodents, their management, and the pathways and effects of rodenticides on non-target wildlife.

Dr. Claudia Riegel, Director, City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite & Rodent Control Board,

She earned an undergraduate degree at Purdue University, a Master’s at the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. from the Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida. As director, she provides technical support for the City of New Orleans and the pest control industry. She conducts independent research and collaborates with the pest control industry to enhance existing products and test of new products. She also collaborates with government organizations and universities on a variety of research projects involving rodents, mosquitoes, termites and a variety of other urban pests.

Mr. Tim Madere, Rodent Specialist, City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board,

Tim Madere is a Mosquito and Rodent control Specialist for the City of New Orleans Mosquito, Rodent, and Termite Control Board. Timmy has worked on research studies and urban pest issues concerning everything from termites and bedbugs to coyotes and raccoons; but his primary focus is on commensal rodents and urban rodent control. He also writes a column on urban rodent control for the National Wildlife Control Operators Associations’ quarterly newsletter. Timmy has a BA in History from the University of New Orleans and is considered one of the leading rodent control experts in the country.

Ed Dolshun, Technical Director, VP Business Development, APG (Catchmaster)

Dolshun works in product specification development and periodic review. New market development of a variety of products. Atlantic Paste & Glue is the worlds leading manufacturer of adhesives and related products for the Pest Control Industry. Ed’s specialty is developing protocols for rodent trapping.

Nina M Dacko, Vector Control Supervisor, Tarrant County Public Health

Collaborates with others at Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) department in making changes and/or major decisions in regard to the West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance program. Develops SOPs for WNV surveillance including trap setting, spray recommendations, mosquito identification and mosquito control. Trains others in mosquito identification, trap setting, scouting and mosquito control. Develops arboviral response plans. Identifies insects brought in by public. Reports data to TCPH and cooperating incorporated cities. Neutral party for hotel bed bug inspections. Bed bug consultant for public/others working in government. Educates public and others working in vector control in matters involving WNV/SLE Surveillance, mosquito biology and mosquito control. Enjoys public speaking/presenting. Developed arboviral response plan encompassing West Nile virus, St Louis Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika and how these responses would differ. Developed and maintains a morphological dichtomous key for mosquitoes found in Tarrant County, Texas. Was elected onto the board of the Texas Mosquito Control Association TMCA. Added surveillance for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in the light of the possibility of Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue viral introduction utilizing BG Sentinel traps. Built and sample mosquito resting boxes to survey Culex parity at local level. Developed educational material for mosquitoes and the diseases that they carry.

Janet Hurley, ACE, Senior Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Ms. Hurley has a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health from Texas Woman’s University and Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas.  Ms. Hurley was hired by AgriLife Extension in 2001 to oversee the Texas School IPM program. Ms. Hurley coordinates school IPM coordinator training for public schools in TX and oversees the statewide effort to educate schools about their Integrated Pest Management programs.  Hurley is also known for her work on the National School IPM Workgroup, which helps coordinate efforts amongst states to offer quality training and education to those interested in IPM.  Hurley has also been a long-standing committee member of the International IPM Symposium and has been cochairman of the Awards Committee for the IPM Symposium. Primary focus for Extension is understanding the laws and rules that impact schools and pest control businesses. Secondary focus is on vertebrate pests (rodents, bats, wildlife) as well as most structural pests of concern.

Ms. Hurley’s background in public health and administration. Her position with AgriLife Extension has been assisting school districts with their IPM programs. Rodent management has been an ongoing focus for Hurley.

We will have a discussion around the rodent monitoring systems and how to use those and game cameras to enhance your program.

Please wear comfortable shoes and clothes appropriate for the field, you will be outside each day of the workshop.

Tuition: $200 is to cover the cost of materials and meals during the training

Class Size: To ensure quality and good instructor-to-student interaction, the Academy can only accommodate approximately 50 students this session.  It’s first come first serve so sign up early.

Location:  Class will begin each day at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, 17360 Coit Rd, Dallas, TX 75252 Water & Land Resource Building

Course Pre-requisites: Academy students must have a basic understanding of rodent control principles (biology and behavior, rodenticides, traps, etc.). It is suggested supervisors, managers, and owners attend the Academy and teach their employees.

Student Involvement and Expectations: The Academy is not a ‘sit back and listen’ seminar. This is a working Academy, intended for pest, city and building professionals wanting to receive in-depth training in rodent Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Academy Completion Certificate and CEU Credits

To Receive a Certificate of Academy Completion

  • Students will be expected to participate in class activities, hands on exercises, and classroom discussions.
  • All students must also pass a final exam.

Video or audio taping of any session of the Academy is prohibited, except with the express and prior permission of Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension

Continuing Education Credits

Structural Pest Control Credits will be given for those participants who request them.

Enrolling and Attending

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

 

IPM Experience House Announcing Structural Pest Control Training this Fall

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First up is the Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) Certification program which is part of the Entomological Society of America (ESA). It is the fastest growing certification program for pest management professionals nationwide, founded by Dr. Mike Merchant (retired) and Dr. Bob Davis to promote professionalism. This 3 ½ week course will provide a comprehensive review of fundamental entomology and basic knowledge requirements for the ACE exam. The training is intended as either a kickoff for the studying process, or as 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.

Over the course of 7 zoom events Bob Davis, Robert Puckett, Sonja Swiger, Wizzie Brown, Molly Keck and Janet Hurley will cover content from the “IPM for the Urban Professional: A Study Guide for the Associate Certified Entomologist” in 2-hour slots each Thursday morning and Friday afternoons starting on October 22, 2021 and finishing on November 12, 2021. Zoom meetings will be held on Thursdays 8-10 am and Fridays 3-5 pm – Oct. 28-Nov. 12; you must be present during that time to view the content. Register here 

Second do you need your annual CEUs? Registration is now open for our 2021 Virtual Fall IPM Conference November 16, 2021: 8:15 am – 4 pm for pesticide applicator CEUs. If you need CEUs before your license expires, the Fall IPM Conference is a great place to get them. This is your invitation to join us for our annual fall pest management training – a full day of pesticide applicator CEU’s from experts at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and our community. This year we are adding termite to the end of the program per your request.

You will receive the latest updates on pesticide laws, pest biology and identification, and pest management strategies. As always, participants are eligible to receive CEU’s whether your license is from Texas Department of Agriculture or the TDA’s Texas Structural Pest Control Service. This year we will offer 5 Ag, 5 Structural, and 1 Termite CEU. You MUST enter your correct TDA License number at registration and MUST have an email address to receive instructions to access the virtual conference. To qualify for CEU’s, you must be present for the entirety of the virtual conference. The online platform will monitor your presence and CEUs will be awarded accordingly. Register here 

Next up is the fall course on Understanding Termites and Wood Destroying Insects, this will be an in-person class held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center on November 15, 2021, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Register here

technician digging termite trench in front of IPM House sign

IPM House Termite training, participate showing his skills.

This class is designed to orient new apprentices, technicians, and certified applicators to a better understanding of termite biology and control, as well as some of the most common wood destroying insects as well. As with all IPM Experience House classes, instruction is a combination of classroom and hands-on demonstrations. Dr. Robert Puckett, Assistant Professor and Urban Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension College Station will be joined by Mr. Ronnie Holder of BASF Corporation, Mrs. Nefertiti Darby, of Corteva Agriscience, Ms. Marty Keane, of Nisus Corp and Ms. Janet Hurley from AgriLife Extension.

Finally, plans are underway for the 5th annual rodent academy to be held in Dallas in person.  The dates have been blocked Dec. 14 & 15, 2021 and speakers are being contacted.  Confirmed speakers are Mr. Tim Madere and Dr. Claudia Riegel, City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board, along with Dr. Niamh Quinn, Ph.D. Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor, from the University of California Cooperative Extension.  This two-day event will blend learning about the biology of rodents with hands on activities.  For those of you wondering on Dec. 16, 2021, that day will be reserved for registered sanitarians and code enforcement with a focus on rodents, cockroaches and other indicator pests that can be a sign of a rodent infestation. Once we have all the details, we will post to our conference services website as well. 

To register for ALL of our events visit our conference services website at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ the ACE course and Fall IPM Seminar will be found under the Webinars Tab, the termite class will be posted under the Home page or you can search “IPM or Integrated Pest Management” to find all the courses we have available in person or via Zoom. 

Termite Category Training

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This 8 hour course is designed to satisfy the Apprentice Training Requirements as specified in Section 7.132 (i) (2) “8 hours of classroom training in each category in which the Apprentice is to provide pest control services”.  In addition, the course can be used to prepare for the Structural Pest Control Termite category examination. The class is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with an hour lunch (lunch is not provided). The $150 course fee includes the required category training manual, Termite Category (AES-5075), a $25 value, and instruction from experienced Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service trainer, Dr. Brittny Jones.

Welcome to 2021 Everyone Do you need CEUs

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Not much has changed as we begin the new year, if you are needing those CEU credits for your license you will find most of it has moved online via Zoom or other Cloud based software.

For those of you who are licensed with TDA either as a commercial or noncommercial applicator you still must obtain your CEU credits. Over the holiday break the Department of Agriculture sent out this notice to all CEU providers.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current rise in cases across the state, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is extending its allowance for Department approved CEU courses and Technician Training Courses, normally held in-person, to be given as a web-based interactive and live courses, where the audience can ask questions of the instructor and exchange information. To address the CEU and licensure requirements for Structural Pest Control Certified Applicators (CA’s) and Technicians, the TDA will work with the CA’s, prospective Technicians, CEU Course providers, and Technician Training Course providers of Texas to make CEUs and training available during this critical time. Licensed CA’s needing CEU’s and Apprentices needing to become Technicians will be allowed to take CEU Courses and Technician Training Courses as online, web-based interactive and live courses to meet their CA CEU requirements or eligibility requirements through December 31, 2021.

TDA will continue to enforce requirements for CA’s to obtain their CEU’s for their respective license and categories each calendar year. CA’s must complete their calendar year 2020 CEU’s by 12/31/2020 and their 2021 CEU’s by 12/31/2021. Per 4 TAC § 7.134, self-study online CEUs may be used every other year to meet CEU requirements. Web-based interactive and live online courses as authorized by this notice are not considered self-study online courses.

Commercial and Noncommercial Structural Pest Control

If you have a structural pest control license, you must receive your continuing education credits each year, which is Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. Those credits are so you can renew your license the next year. For example, my license expires in May, but I need to obtain 2 General, 1 Pest, 1 Lawn & Ornamental, and 1 Weed as those are the categories, I’m licensed in between Jan 1 and Dec 31 each year. Everyone who is licensed in structural MUST obtain 2 general category CEUs, plus 1 CEU in every category you are licensed in.

The above provision also applies to those Agricultural Pesticide Applicators who are Private, Commercial, Noncommercial, Noncommercial Political Subdivision license holders as it pertains to obtaining your CEU credit to renew your license.

Commercial, Noncommercial, Noncommercial Political:

These licenses must be renewed annually. TDA interprets annually based on licensing period, so if you are licensed from May 2020 to May 2021, your CEUs must be obtained between that 12-month licensing period for you to be able to renew. The license holder must complete 5 CEUs each year to be eligible to renew, with one credit each from two of the following categories: laws and regulations, integrated pest management or drift minimization.

Each applicator will be required to maintain proof of the number of CEUs necessary to renew a license or certificate. Certificates of completion verifying attendance at approved activities during the previous licensing period must be maintained by the applicator for a period of 12 months after the most recent renewal of their license or certificate. The department may audit the CEUs an applicator has obtained during an onsite inspection or by letter requesting that copies of certificates of completion be mailed to the department. Certificates of completion will be compared with course attendance rosters on file with the department. Credits obtained at a single course cannot be split or divided between licensing periods.

Private, Certified Private:

Private applicator licenses and certificates are valid for five years, and the applicator must obtain 15 CEUs during that time to renew, including two (2) credits in laws and regulations and two (2) credits in integrated pest management (IPM).

Testing:

The Texas Pesticide Law requires that persons must be licensed or certified by TDA to lawfully use a restricted-use pesticide, state-limited-use pesticide, or regulated herbicides. For more information on Agricultural Applicator licensing and testing check out this website link

The Structural Pest Control Act (Chapter 1951 of the Occupations Code) requires licensing of businesses and individuals that perform structural pest control for hire. Additionally, employees of units of state government who apply pesticides as part of their job duties, and persons performing pest control at an apartment building, day-care center, hospital, nursing home, hotel, motel, or lodge, warehouse, food-processing establishment (other than a restaurant, retail food, or food service establishment), or school must be licensed. Structural pest control includes but is not limited to pests that may infest parks, buildings or structures and adjacent areas, industrial plants, streets, docks, railroad cars, trucks, ships, or airplanes. Structural pest control includes the following activities for compensation:

  • identifying infestations,
  • making inspection reports,
  • providing recommendations,
  • submitting estimates or bids,
  • contracting,
  • performing services to prevent, control or eliminate infestations, or
  • advertising such services.

How To Schedule SPCS Licensing Exams can be found at this website link

Looking for CEUs Here is what I have found for the next two months, I added the Purdue Annual CEU workshop because they are offering TX CEU credit and it’s not something you will get a chance to attend unless you travel north. At the same time, the annual spring CEU program we offer through the Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center in Dallas, is going virtual as well, we are working on our registration now.  You can always check out TDAs CEU website search for classes that are being added weekly.

Name of conference Website to register Dates
Purdue Pest Management Conference https://www.extension.entm.purdue.edu/urbanconference/assets/pdf/brochure_2021.pdf January 11-14, 2021
2021 Professional Grounds Keepers Conference https://bell.agrilife.org/2021-professional-grounds-keepers-conference/ January 21, 2021
Bexar County Virtual CEU Workshop https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/productListingDetails/3305 January 29, 2021
North Texas Pest Management Virtual Conference https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/productListingDetails/3303 January 29, 2021
Spring IPM Seminar Save the Date – we are working on registration website February 23, 2021

Finally, if you did not take any on demand courses last year (2020) you can take them this year visit our AgriLife Learn website https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/catalog?pagename=Pest-and-Weed-Control to see all the CEU courses we offer.

2020 is the Year of the Rat and Rodent Academy is going Virtual

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The Texas 2020 Rodent Academy is going virtual!

Register early to join us for this unique urban rodent management virtual workshop. Come spend two-days with experts from around the country discussing better ways to understand rodent ecology and integrated pest management (IPM). Learn about rodent disease, monitoring, trapping, urban rodent surveys and much more.

This event will be December 1 & 2, 2020 via Zoom and will be from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM with time for you to chat with our speakers.

Cost is $75 per person and we ask that you register by Nov. 30th at 3:00 PM to give us time to send you the video link for the meeting.

Who Should Attend?

This course is intended for pest management professionals, municipalities, universities, public schools, and food safety personnel involved in the rodent control programs.

Curriculum Content

The 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
  • Rodent Sensing Systems – which one is right for your business

 Class Size:  since we are going to be virtual, we will allow for a larger class than our in-person events. However, it will still be limited to 75 people to keep the group somewhat small so we can chat at the end of each day.

Academy Completion Certificate and CEU Credits

To Receive a Certificate of Academy Completion

  • Students will be expected to participate in class activities via chat or online polling.
  • Both sessions must be attended and completed by the same student from each company.
  • All students must also pass a final exam, which will be given via an online survey software.

Video or audio taping of any session of the Academy is prohibited, except with the express and prior permission of Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension

Meet some of our speakers:

Dr. Claudia Riegel, Director, New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board. She is currently leading a city-wide program of rodent baiting not only considering the increased pressure from the coronavirus pandemic, but out of concern that the higher pressure could spread disease among the homeless population.

Dr. Niamh Quinn, Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension Area Vertebrate Pest Advisor, based at the UC ANR South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine.CA. She facilitates interactions and information exchange among campus-based academics, CE advisors and community stakeholders. Her focus is directed on the coordination of Cooperative Extension programming regarding human-wildlife conflicts, particularly within the residential and industrial areas within Southern California where significant human-wildlife conflicts are occurring, with concentration in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties.

Timmy Madere, Pest Control Specialist, New Orleans Mosquito, Rodent and Termite Control Board. Madere has worked on research studies and urban pest issues concerning everything from termites and bed bugs to coyotes and raccoons, but his primary focus is on commensal rodents and urban rodent control.

Sylvia Kenmuir, BCE Sylvia is an Industrial Entomologist and chair of the West Coast Rodent Academy. She is currently the Western US Technical Specialist with BASF where she is responsible for product support.

Dr. Michael H. Parsons is a Visiting Research Scholar in the Department of Biological Sciences at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY. His work focuses on creating novel biological field assays to explore how scents influence risk assessment, disposition and decision making in small mammals. As a multi-disciplinary researcher, his assays with wild, city rats have been adapted into neuroethological assays and have been utilized for urban pathogen surveillance.

There will also be a discussion about the banning of rodenticides in California, how they got there and what steps everyone should learn from this.

Have you heard about rodent remote sensing?  Are you unsure what it is or how to use? Then Wednesday afternoon will be the day to learn more about this new technology.

Both days will end will a roundtable discussion that will allow participants to ask questions and share ideas with others.

Here is the Rodent academy agenda I will have more detailed information closer to the event.  In the meantime, get registered now.  If you need SPCS CEUs or a certificate of training you must register Online Here  I will notify each participant with the Zoom invite for the meeting.  Once you receive the invite from Zoom, you will have to register again to get the room code.  Please do not share the link.

I look forward to “seeing” you on December 1 and 2, 2020 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

 

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

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 

Save the dates for ants, equipment, safety and bed bugs

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The IPM Experience House has three new advanced training courses on the calendar.  These are not just any classes.  Board Certified Entomologists and experienced professionals share their insights and knowledge in the most personalized training you can find anywhere in the state of Texas.  You will definitely want to add these classes to your calendar.

Ants! Ants! Ants! Register Now!

On July 30 we are offering advanced training in ant identification for pest management professionals.  Topics to be covered include an introduction to ant biology, taxonomy and morphology, how to monitor ants, and general principles of fire ant and other ant control.

We will make extensive use of microscopes to learn to recognize the key aspects of ant structure and develop the ability to identify ants to the genus level with a microscope. Students will collect ants from the field and identify their catch.

Details. Cost $60 in advance and $80 after July 26. Lunch is provided.  Depending on availability, registration will remain open until the day of the class; however, class size limited to 15.  No refunds after July 26.  Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Building E Classroom.  8 am to 3:30 pm.  Instructors: Drs. Mike Merchant and Robert Puckett.  (CEUs: 6.5 hours verified training in Pest Category, 1 CEU Pest, 1 CEU IPM).  Register now at Conference Services Website

Getting the Bugs Out – Register now!

On September 25, long-time bed bug specialist for ABC Home and Commercial Services, Alan Brown, will be providing his insights into best practices for bed bug control. In  addition to classroom training on the finer points of the “modern bed bug,” the class will get hands on experience with inspecting, treating and developing practical and effective follow-up plans for your customers. Register now at Conference Services Website 

Details. SAVE THE DATE. More details coming soon.