YUMA, Ariz. — An outbreak of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) has been reported in parts of Arizona and many believe the problem will only get worse because bureaucratic red tape is hampering control efforts.
Red imported fire ants were discovered on the grounds of Cibola Senior High School by a technician from University Termite and Pest Control in Yuma, Ariz., in late July. The technician captured then sealed a suspected ant in a vial during a routine monthly service call. Doug Seemann, technical director at the company, identified the ant species and state employees and scientists at the University of Arizona Department of Entomology confirmed that it was a red imported fire ant.
“They looked at it and said, ‘Oh my God, you’ve got a fire ant. Where did you get this,’” says Rick Rupkey, Sr., president of University Termite and Pest Control. “Within 24 hours the school was quarantined and ribboned off. It was a huge issue.”
The reason the issue is so important is because red imported fire ant colonies can spread quickly and pose a serious threat to public health and building structures. Red imported fire ants are aggressive, hostile pests whose stings leave raised pustules on the skin. A small portion of the population is prone to having an allergic reaction to the ant’s venom that can result in death.
Red imported fire ants will also nest inside or next to electric appliances, causing extensive damage. It is believed the ants are attracted to the DC and AC currents in electric appliances. Evidence of red imported fire ants having chewed through flat roofs of commercial buildings has also been recorded.
Both the school and the State of Arizona are in for continued (and big) problems with fire ants. A thorough inspection of the 18-acre Cibola High School grounds by the Arizona Department of Agriculture determined that more than 5,000 mounds were present at the school.
The task of removing the red imported fire ants from the grounds of Cibola High School is now in the hands of University Termite and Pest Control. The Arizona Department of Agriculture told the company to treat the site by drilling holes into the mounds and slabs adjacent to the school and injecting the holes with Dursban 4E. However, University and the Arizona State Structural Pest Control Commission informed the Arizona Department of Agriculture that Dursban 4E is not labeled for injection use.
After reviewing alternatives to Dursban 4E, University, working with the Commission, decided that Dursban TC, a termiticide that is registered for injection use, was the best option. However, they also determined that the product would be much more effective if applied at a higher concentration than what the Arizona Department of Agriculture approved.
“What we had was two different government entities looking at a situation with totally different perspectives,” Rupkey says. “In agriculture, you are talking about pounds per acre; in structural pest control, you are talking about the percentage of active ingredient in the concentrate and about total gallons of diluted material.
“The (Arizona) Department of Agriculture says you have to apply product at so many pounds per acre. The problem with that is one acre might have 200 mounds and on another acre there might be 2,000 mounds. If you put down the same amount of pesticide over that square footage, you are not going to get those 2,000 mounds — we need a per mound rate.”
The Arizona Department of Agriculture then turned the issue over to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA took the most conservative approach, turning the matter back over to the Arizona State Department of Agriculture.
“We told the Department of Agriculture, ‘You’re not going to get the kill you need,’” Rupkey says. “They said, ‘We know that and that is okay, just come back next week and do it again and the week after and do it again, etc., until the problem is gone.’ We are saying that if we do it right the first time, it won’t be an issue.”
Rupkey says treating the school grounds with the Dursban product at its current concentration rate could be lengthy and costly. The company has already charged the Yuma School System $53,000 for three weeks of service and that cost only covers the total amount of labor hours provided by workers. The Yuma School System’s budget has already felt the impact of the service. The district is appealing to the state of Arizona for emergency relief funds.
“If it takes five years, we’ll make a lot of money on this deal,” Rupkey says. “We could do it for a week and it would be good for the school system and good for us.”
Rupkey’s company would like to finish the job as soon as possible because it already has all the work it can handle. In fact, Rupkey says he’s had to subcontract some of the work at the school to another area pest control service because his company is in its peak season and needs all of its manpower.
“The question is are we going to be able to do the job the way it needs to be done given these label anomalies...or are we in fact going to let the infestation spread as a by-product of what we are doing — and that is applying at less than lethal rates in some cases,” Rupkey says.
It is believed the red imported fire ants have actually been present in Arizona for eight to 10 years, but until University reported the sightings in Yuma, there were no official reports and no action had been taken by the state. One possible reason the state hasn’t taken action prior to these sightings is fear of losing its status as a “fire ant-free” state, Rupkey says.
Currently, Arizona is classified as “fire ant free,” but that status will no doubt change. If Arizona loses its fire ant-free status, it will cost more for the state to export crops — crops that will require fumigation and must be checked at certain state borders.
LOCAL LEGISLATION VICTORY IN NEW YORK
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Governor George Pataki recently vetoed bill A.B. 1158, a bill that would have given local governments the authority to both regulate pest control and ban federal- and state-registered pesticides. The veto is a substantial one for the structural pest control industry.
Both the New York State Assembly and Senate passed the legislation after considerable pressure from the New York chapter of the National Audubon Society and local activists in New York City to eliminate the use of pesticides to control pigeons. In the process of moving the legislation through the legislature, the language was broadened to allow local governments to regulate pest control practices not only for government-owned and -operated facilities but also privately owned property. In addition, the legislation empowered the local governments to ban registered pesticides.
If enacted, the law would have set a precedent in the powers it bestowed upon local government. Previous attempts by activists to pass legislation giving local governments authority to regulate lawn care, but stopping short of allowing them to ban pesticides, had failed to pass the State Senate.
Activists mounted a grass-roots letter-writing and call-in campaign to put pressure on the governor to sign the legislation into law. The trade association Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment countered with its own effort, urging the governor to veto the legislation.
Sept. 15: J. D’Ambrozio Pest Management Services and Bergen Community College Pest Management Training Course and Certified Applicators Training, Cockroaches, Bergen Community College, Paramus, N.J. Contact: Joseph D’Ambrozio, 201/843-6200.
Sept. 22: J. D’Ambrozio Pest Management Services and Bergen Community College Pest Management Training Course, Termites, Bergen Community College, Paramus, N.J. Contact: see Sept. 15.
Sept. 24: Urban Insects Solutions Inc. recertification training meeting and credits, Urban Insect Solutions Inc. training facility, Lexington, Ky. Contact: Dana Abner, 606/278-3747.
Sept. 27: Pesticide Applicator Certification Seminar, Okumura Biological Institute, Clarion Hotel, Sacramento, Calif. Contact: George Okumura, 916/421-8963.
Sept. 28: Pesticide Safety & Regulatory Training, Okumura Biological Institute, Clarion Hotel, Sacramento, Calif. Contact: see Sept. 27.
Sept. 29: J. D’Ambrozio Pest Management Services and Bergen Community College Pest Management Training Course, Carpenter Ants, Bergen Community College, Paramus, N.J. Contact: see Sept. 15.
Oct. 1: Hawaii Pest Control Association’s Annual Conference and Trade Show, Ilikai Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii. Contact: Tim Lyons, 808/533-6404.
Oct. 2-3: Hawaii Pest Control Association’s Managers and Owners Conference, Hilton Waikola Hotel, Waikoloa, Hawaii. Contact: see Oct. 1.
Oct. 3-6: 31st Annual Conference of the Society for Vector Ecology, Radisson Hotel, Asheville, N.C. Contact: Dr. Major S. Dhillon, 909/340-9792.
Oct. 6: J. D’Ambrozio Pest Management Services and Bergen Community College Pest Management Training Course, Fleas and Ticks, Bergen Community College, Paramus, N.J. Contact: see Sept. 15.
Oct. 12-14: University of Kentucky 29th Annual Pest Control Short Course, Lexington, Ky. Contact: Dr. Mike Potter, 606/257-5955.
Oct. 13: J. D’Ambrozio Pest Management Services and Bergen Community College Pest Management Training Course, Fleas and Ticks, Bergen Community College, Paramus, N.J. Contact: see Sept. 15.
Oct. 27-30: National Pest Control Association Pest Management ’99, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga. Contact: NPCA, 800/678-6722.
Nov. 3-5: 23rd Annual Field Day and Workshop, Entomology, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee. Contact: Bill or Jan Peters, 850/599-3912.
Nov. 10-11: Iowa Pest Control Association Fall Expo, Holiday Inn University Park, Des Moines, Iowa. Contact: Leslie Parker, 319/363-1676.
Nov. 19: Urban Insects Solutions Inc. recertification training meeting and credits, Urban Insect Solutions Inc., Lexington, Ky. Contact: see Sept. 24.
Dec. 12-16: Entomological Society of America Entomology ’99, Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, Ga. Contact: ESA, 301/731-4535.
Send announcements at least 10 weeks in advance to PCT magazine, 4012 Bridge Ave., Cleveland OH 44113, or fax them to 216/961-0364.
Send announcements at least 10 weeks in advance to PCT magazine, 4012 Bridge Ave., Cleveland OH 44113, or fax it to 216/961-0364. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two proposed bills that would require the Environmental Protection Agency to use sound science when reevaluating and reassessing chemicals under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 are gaining momentum in the U.S. Congress.
“The Regulatory Fairness and Openness Act of 1999” (H.R. 1592), introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in March, already has 143 cosponsors and is continuing to gain bipartisan support. Rep. Richard Pombo, (R-Calif.), who introduced the legislation, said it is realistic that the number of co-sponsors could grow to 200 and possibly even gain a 50% House co-sponsorship.
“It is an issue that has touched all across America,” Pombo said. “Whether because of protecting crop protection methods or whether it is assuring a safe and abundant food supply at an affordable price, (H.R. 1592) impacts all members of Congress. A number of (congressional) members with very diverse issues and political interests are supporting it.”
A similar bill, introduced in late July by Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) is making its way through the Senate. The bill, S.B. 1464, “The Regulatory Openness and Fairness Act,” had 20 co-sponsors at press time.
Under FQPA, all pesticides have to be assessed by EPA at some point during a 10-year period that began in 1996. The agency has been in the process of evaluating the first group of chemicals to meet this year’s deadline (see related story, HERE).
Currently, EPA relies on past data and assumptions to determine which pesticides are in compliance with FQPA. H.R. 1592 is aimed at clarifying this process. The legislation, which was introduced by Pombo, Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.), Rep. Ralph Hall (D-Texas) and others, would ensure that EPA used sound science and real world data when making evaluations.
“The bill does not change the standards for evaluation of pesticides (under FQPA), it only changes the process — and that is that we use sound science,” Boyd says. “What we know is that right now we are using assumptions that may be outdated, that may be true and that may be inaccurate.”
Farm, food and pest management organizations nationwide have expressed concerns that many of the safe, effective, reliable pesticides they use will not meet EPA’s new standards.
“It could put farmers and other users (including PCOs) at risk of losing important pesticides that may in fact be safe, but whose safety can’t be proven to EPA’s satisfaction because the agency has failed to specify the tests necessary to evaluate the pesticides,” Hall says.
Because of widespread concerns of potential damaging effects FQPA’s pesticide assessment process could have on the country’s crop production, as well as other pesticide uses, congressional support for H.R. 1592 has been plentiful.
“We have had a bipartisan mix,” Pombo says. “People from all over the country, urban representatives as well as suburban and county, and rural representatives like Mr. Hall and myself who have districts heavily in agriculture are in support. A broad and diverse mix has joined us at this time.”
This is good news for not only farmers, but for PCOs, whose chemicals are being assessed under FQPA. In that regard, the pest control industry has been a beneficiary of the support H.R.1592 has garnered from congressional members supporting the bill for agricultural purposes.
H.R. 1592 is currently in committee. At least 218 members must sign on as cosponsors before the legislation can pass the U.S. House of Representatives.
“As we move through the process, I expect one, if not two additional hearings on the legislation,” Pombo says. “If we can make it through that part of the process and continue to find political support for the legislation, then we will begin bringing pressure on committees that have jurisdictions to hold mark-ups and move through the process. Unfortunately the process is slow, but we are going to be pushing as hard as we can to get it through as quickly as possible. I believe time is of the essence when it comes to the decisions that are being made (on this issue).”
ASPCRO TRAINING MANUAL AVAILABLE
ATLANTA — The Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO) has produced a “train the trainer” manual to assist pest control operators in the development of training programs for new service technicians. ASPCRO says they recognized that while many PCOs are knowledgeable in the technical aspects of the industry, they frequently lack the skills needed to properly train new service technicians. While there are many references that provide information on what to teach, there are very few on how to teach.
ASPCRO applied for and received funding for the development and production of the manual from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. State regulatory officials, the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE), the university extension community and the pest control industry all provided input during the development.
The manual provides valuable information that will help a trainer:
1. Identify specific information that ASPCRO believes, as a minimum, should be covered as part of the training of new service technicians.
2. Identify sources of information to provide training to service technicians.
3. Provide advice for training delivery.
4. Provide review questions to help evaluate the effectiveness of the training. Copies of the manual are available free of charge as long as supplies last. Pest management professionals may request the manual from the ASPCRO web site at www.aspcro.org. All requests must be received by Dec. 1, 1999.
MYERS FAMILY ENJOYS GETAWAY
Danny Myers, owner and president of Myers Services, Inc., Euless, Texas, wife Stephanie, daughter Lauryn, 17, and son Judd, 12, enjoyed a three-day, two-night stay in Laguna Beach, Calif., this past March. Myers won the contest at last year’s NPCA Pest Management Conference in Nashville, Tenn. As winners of the trip, the family received free airfare for two to California, the use of a rental car and hotel accommodations. While in California, Myers and family took in the sights and sounds of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills and also took a tour of Universal Studios. “We stayed at a really pleasant, first rate hotel and it was just neat to kick back on the beach, walk up and down the boardwalk and visit some of the quaint little shops in the town,” Myers said.
Be sure to stop by the Bird-B-Gone booth at Pest Management ’99 at booth numbers 332 and 334 in Atlanta for a chance to win the drawing for this year’s trip.
Although the fire ant sighting was initially outdoors, three places inside the school have also been spotted in the library, the weight/exercise room and the hardwood floor in the gym. Ants were found not only at the school, but also at a nearby church and at another site in close proximity to the school.
FT. WORTH, Texas — The Myers family of the Dallas-Ft. Worth area got the opportunity to escape the winter doldrums as winners of Bird-B-Gone’s “California Getaway Contest.”
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