Outdoor pest control includes a wide range of services and the State of the Outdoors Market Report aimed to better understand what treatments PMPs are providing and how these vary by region.
According to the survey, 93% of professionals offer rodent control — a consistent figure nationwide, with the Western U.S. slightly lower at 88%.
Dennis Mastrolia, owner of Arthropod, Inc., Lynn, Mass., described his approach: “We assess the property, check for entry points, bait around the perimeter and follow up to ensure activity is under control. Then we continue with exclusion work to prevent re-entry.”
CRAWLING/FLYING INSECTS.
Perimeter treatments are offered by 92% of PMPs to control crawling and flying insects, followed closely by hornet and wasp nest removal at 90%. According to the survey, these are the top three outdoor services provided.
Stan Frierson, owner, DAPS Services, Atlanta, offers quarterly treatments primarily for fire ants, mosquitoes, fleas and ticks, along with other pests. “We’ve perfected our outdoor program,” he said. “We rotate products effectively and use high-quality materials to get it right the first time.”
More than 70% of PMPs provide treatments targeting spiders, termites, mosquitoes, ants and fleas/ticks. Less common services include broadcast turf treatments (48%), shrub, tree and ornamental care (38%) and wildlife control (36%).
Timing also plays a key role: 71% of PMPs offer outdoor services year-round. Regional differences are notable, with only 36% doing so in the Northeast compared to more than 80% in the South and West.
QUARTERLY TREATMENTS.
Quarterly seems to be the frequency that most PMPs are providing outdoor pest control, at 65% of those surveyed. In the South, quarterly treatments jump to 83%, almost double what it is in other areas.
“Some people just aren’t comfortable with people coming into their house, some get embarrassed when we need to tell them how to clean up,” said Dan Lauderback, a former pilot who retired and started up his own firm, Contact Pest Control, in Cleveland.
The State of the Outdoors Market survey also showed the dramatic difference between outdoor and indoor pest control. Across the board, 23% of accounts require PMPs to enter the home, while 64% either only enter when requested or they don’t enter at all.
Mark Hayden, owner of Total Pest Control, Greater Hartford, Conn., said the mantra is simple. “Stop them before they get in,” he said. “Many pest issues can be resolved from the exterior. Customers do not need to be home, which makes scheduling easier.”
PRODUCT TYPES.
The survey reveals that PMPs use a variety of products for effective outdoor pest control, with 95% relying on liquids or sprays. Granular baits are used by 78%, and granular pesticides by 64%. Regional differences are evident, with 77% of PMPs in the South using granular pesticides compared to just 40% in the West.
Exclusion was more common than many traditional services, being offered by 54% of surveyed PMPs. This approach reflects Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which combines proactive strategies and a variety of tools.
“As part of IPM, we focus on minimal product use and more exclusion services, like cleaning up the property and removing plants that attract insects,” said Eric McCool, Critter McCool Bee Extractions & Control, Summerville, S.C. “I recommend simplifying landscaping to reduce pest attractants. IPM is about long-term solutions, not just applying products for quick fixes.”
McCool also emphasized the need to focus on outdoor treatments. “Pest control should be exterior-focused unless there’s already an interior issue. Preventing problems before they start is key.”
EQUIPMENT USE.
PMPs are using backpack mister/blowers, extension poles and hand-held sprayers two-thirds or more of the time in every area of the country, according to the survey.
Product usage by region includes the following: 86% of the South uses backpack mister/blowers and 85% in that region led the way for the use of extension poles. Hand-held sprayers are most used in the Northeast by 73% surveyed.
Dusters and truck-mounted rigs are used by 49% and 42% of respondents. Other typical equipment needs like ladders, spreaders, ULVs and riding spreaders are used at lower numbers.
Drones have yet to make an impact on the day-to-day pest control business according to the survey. Only 3% utilized them and only in the South.
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