“Based on our conversations with privately held companies, we believe the strength is due to a combination of higher pricing, improved customer retention and a step-up in new customer accounts last year,” says William Blair Equity Researcher Tim Mulrooney. “The two-year compound annual growth rate in March 2022 was 16 percent, driven by increased market penetration rates over the last two years.”

 

PCO M&A Specialists / PCO Bookkeepers Managing Member, Dan Gordon remarked “ We are extremely proud of the index, which we have been reporting on since August 2020, and has been back tested to August of 2017. It’s correlation to the quarterly growth numbers reported by the publicly traded pest companies is highly predictive and extremely useful to analysts and industry participants.”

 

March’s performance was driven by strong year-over-year growth across all four subindices (residential, commercial, termite, and bed bug).

 

 

 

 

Most such exotic arthropods may thrive locally in their new habitats, but some, in particular various species of ants, become truly invasive causing harm to food crops, other animals and even people. Likely, the most invasive insect species in the U.S. has been the red imported fire ant. Originally imported in the South during the 1920s, fire ants have spread across the Southeast becoming a serious public health threat as well as a pest in agriculture. Other invasive ant species include the Argentine ant, the Pharaoh ant, various types of crazy ants, and the dark rover ant.

 

The Asian multi-colored lady beetle and brown marmorated stink bug have largely displaced native overwintering pests, such as cluster flies and box elder bugs, as the key pests plaguing buildings during the fall and winter. These two insects continue to expand their range, moving into more states.

 

The brown widow spider made a big splash in many sites along the Gulf Coast and parts of California, but it has since become a localized pest where it occurs. In the past five years, the Joro spider from Southeast Asia has become a noticeable resident of yards across northern Georgia into neighboring states. A large orb weaver, the Joro may be out-competing native orb weavers such as the various Argiope garden spiders. Although not a threat to humans or pets, the large Joro spiders may concern many homeowners.

 

ARE YOU PREPARED? Pest professionals living where one or more invasive pests thrive must be prepared to offer services for controlling such pests in and around their customers' buildings. Each pest species is different but most all originate from outside the building where exterior and perimeter services are the key to stopping inside sightings of these pests. A number of invasive species, particularly crazy and Argentine ants, can be very difficult to control and require a comprehensive strategy. For pests like the brown marmorated stink bug and lady beetles, the timing of treatments can be critical.

 

As with any pest situation, a survey of the conditions around a building that attract and support target pests should be completed. A plan to address conducive conditions should be presented to the customer with explanation of the benefits provided by eliminating or minimizing such conditions. For example, removing piles of items from the the ground where ants will nest can reduce the numbers of ants found on the property. Replacing aphid-prone plants with those less prone to aphids in landscaping can be very helpful in limiting Argentine and crazy ants. Sealing off potential entry points and ensuring all vents have tight screens is especially important for long term relief from overwintering pests.

 

For ants, it is helpful to choose a water-based product that can be used to drench or treat ant colonies as they are uncovered as well as labeled for application to the foundation and into exterior cracks where ants may enter. Treatments to the base of trees and shrubs may also be necessary if ants are foraging from or up into such plants. A product labeled to control ants directly on landscape plants can benefit some situations. It is also important to look for and treat discovered ant colonies all the way out to the perimeter of protected properties to limit the potential for target ant species moving up to and into the structure.

 

Follow label directions for applying perimeter treatments for ants. Avoid relying solely on a foundation application when dealing with ants. Also, look for active and suspected ant trails and apply spot or band treatments along edges and corners of buildings and other structural guidelines. Again, follow label directions are water-based products containing pyrethroids and other insecticides have restrictions on how and where applications can be made outside.

 

TIMING OF TREATMENT. For invasive and other overwintering pests, the ideal time to treat is just prior to the time these insects begin flying to buildings. The timing varies by area of the country and is tied to when temperatures begin to cool at night. Late August and September are good times in northern states while October and even November might be better further south. Check with local county extension entomologists for recommendations on timing.

 

Application of residual dust or aerosols into exterior cracks around windows, doors and soffits helps to kill insects that may evade surface treatments outside. For overwintering pests, perimeter treatments are focused above foundation level to sites around windows and doors, soffits, fascia boards and around any vents in the foundation and/or attic. Typically, these applications will be spot treatments or band treatments limited to a certain width around entry points. Choosing a formulation that sits on top of a variety of surfaces is preferred as these are more easily picked up by insects as they crawl to enter cracks.

 

Invasive pests can be difficult to control, especially in chronic or severe infestations. Understanding where the target species prefers to live or harbor and its habits goes a long way to successful control. Remember, a perimeter treatment is not simply application to a building foundation but entails the direct application to ant nests, insect harborages and potential pest entry points. Choosing a control product labeled for a variety of application sites is helpful in being efficient when controlling any exterior pest situation, but be sure to use multiple formulation types and products when needed.

 

 

 

© iStock

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: The brown marmorated stink bug measures ½- to 5/8-inch in length. It is shield-shaped, with a large triangular plate on its back. Its color is mottled or marbled brown, with broad whitish bands on the outer two antenna! segments. It has alternating dark and pale bands on the abdomen which are visible along the abdominal side margins, and there is a dark area where the wings overlap toward the rear.

 

 

 

Lady Beetle: Lady beetles are hemispherical in shape and 1/16- to ¼-inch long. Brightly colored, most

species are red, brown or tan with black spots; a few are black with red spots. The adults have three tarsal segments, the part of the leg farthest from the body, a characteristic that distinguishes them from destructive beetles of similar size and shape which

have four tarsal segments. 

 

 

 

Perimeter treatments to building exteriors do have a role for the control of many types of pests including ants, millipedes, crickets and European earwigs, but they should not be the sole treatments used for exterior pest services. Less overall insecticide can be applied in a more effective manner when targeted at active and likely pest harborages.

 

Each exterior service situation is different, having different types of vegetation, landscape beds and potential harborages. Some buildings have more of these than others and thus may require more service time. The more vegetation, mulch, leaf litter and/or items on the ground that are present, the greater potential for higher pest activity. The goal is not to eliminate all pests outside but instead to lessen the likelihood pests will make their way inside and be seen by the customer.

 

ANTS DRIVE SERVICE CALLS. Ants are by far the most prevalent and persistent exterior pest, constantly exploring for new resources. Most inside sightings are from colonies located outside, and, in some cases, subcolonies may be established inside. The most effective way to limit ant invasions inside is to find and treat colonies outside. Efforts should not just focus next to the foundation but extend away from the building to the property boundaries as colonies left untouched away from the foundation will move to infest treated areas.

 

It is smart to carry a sprayer while inspecting for ants as when a colony is uncovered, the ants can quickly relocate within minutes. Drenching each colony as it is discovered is both efficient and effective, allowing for minimal insecticide application. Other pests found while turning over items, looking through piled items, or searching in landscape beds for ants can also be treated as they are discovered.

 

Besides location and treatment of active pest harborages on the property, prevention of pest incursions indoors should target potential pest entry points. Insecticides applied directly into cracks and holes where pests may harbor or enter will last longer than those applied to surfaces around such openings. A variety of formulations may be used to treat inside exterior cracks and holes, including dusts, aerosols, baits, foams, and water-based products. Which formulation is used depends on the situation, such as the depth of the space behind the crack or the type of pest being targeted.

 

Overwintering pests, such as lady beetles or cluster flies, benefit from the application of a residual insecticide applied into exterior cracks combined with spot applications to the surfaces surrounding such openings where these pests land before crawling inside. For ants, application of a non-repellent insecticide into the cracks contacts and kills ants as the forage to the inside. Peridomestic cockroaches may best be treated using baits applied into openings and into soffits.

 

Initially, it may take considerable time to treat exterior cracks. Involving the customer to seal off cracks and openings or selling them an exclusion service to do it for them reduces the need for future retreatments, thus saving time and treatments on future service visits.

 

Spider management is another aspect of perimeter service. A common approach is to sweep off webbing using a cobweb brush on each service, but this step alone does little to reduce spider numbers. Spot treatments applied to corners under soffits and porches and other sites where web-building spiders locate their webs (1) contacts spiders and their egg sacs and (2) leaves behind residual deposits on surfaces where future spiders may contact while constructing new webs.

 

PERIMETER TREATMENT OF THE FOUNDATION. Last, perimeter treatments to foundations should focus on the situation at hand rather than routine application to all label-allowed exterior services. For example, a home with high pressure from ants, such as Argentine ants during summer in California, will benefit from a full label­-directed perimeter treatment during those months. At other times of the year when ants are less prevalent, targeted treatments where ant trails are seen will be effective and save time and material. Where a customer has an issue with peridomestic cockroaches, a perimeter treatment will provide less results than targeted treatment with baits and other residual formulations.

 

Pest professionals can, and should, be prudent with their application decisions during exterior services. They should keep in mind the target pests affecting the customer and then make selections of treatments and formulations to fit the situation, targeting active harborages and pest entry points for a more efficient and effective overall service.

 

 

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Barricor SP offers a valuable new option for high-frequency, low-impact maintenance services in both residential and commercial accounts. The product features an innovative solid particle (SP) formulation that provides outstanding performance on complex surfaces (i.e., mulch, concrete, gravel, etc.) by allowing the active ingredient to remain more bioavailable to more than 40 common pests.

 

Barricor SP is also technician-friendly, requiring no personal protective equipment to apply, and is also friendly to your company's bottom line since it is available at a similar cost per home to economy pyrethroids. Other features and benefits include:

• Ease of Use

• Broad Label

• Effective on Complex Services

• No Signal Word

• Proven Active Ingredient

• Cost effective

• Low Dose Rate

 

The high-performance, low-dose rate formulation product is available in a 32-ounce precise tip­and-pour package. To learn more about Barricor SP, contact your local Bayer representative or visit www.es.bayer.us/barricor.

 

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The goal of perimeter pest management is simple. Stop pests outside before they enter a customer's home or business.

 

When there are no pests inside, a perimeter-only treatment is common practice for maintenance service to residential accounts during the year. This strategy is largely possible due to advances in pesticide technology where Bayer has led the way with new products and formulations that work better and last longer around the home. Perimeter-only service has advantages for both PMPs and customers:

 

• Convenient scheduling - the customer doesn't have to be home

• Less time required to service the account

• No pesticide applied inside, reducing the chance of exposure

• Control pests outdoors at the source or nest

 

Non-chemical control methods provide added value and can result in additional revenue. These methods include:

 

• Remove alternative food sources - trash cans with tight-fitting lids

• Seal exterior gaps

• Confirm that doors and windows are screened properly

• Basement/crawlspace vents working properly

• Move firewood away from the home

• Remove clutter and harborage away from the foundation

• Remove excess mulch from around the foundation, recommend gravel

• Trim bushes and trees away from the structure

• Ensure vents are screened

• Reduce excessive moisture

• Make sure gutters are clean and functioning

• Remove dead trees, stumps and landscape timbers

• Make lighting recommendations

• Remove spider webs

Ask your peers what's the No. 1 challenge currently facing their business and they'll immediately respond: “Labor.” And with more quality jobs than applicants to fill them, it's a problem that is not going away any time soon, which makes employee retention critical to the long-term success of your business.

 

And what drives employee retention? In addition to competitive wages and benefits, in addition to a healthy corporate culture, "real-world" work conditions are playing an increasingly important role in employee satisfaction and that's why product selection is so important.

 

In today's current business climate, tech-friendly products are a must.

 

EASE OF USE CRITICAL. One key factor to consider when choosing products is the ease of use of a given insecticide product for the pest professional to apply. Ready-to-use (RTU) products, such as aerosols and most baits, have the greatest ease of use as no mixing is necessary. Water-based formulations, by contrast, require mixing and application via spray equipment, but may be more economical than RTU products. Depending on the product, however, factors such as limits on where the product may be applied, what PPE is required for application and any specialized equipment needed may impact the ease of use.

 

Although water-based formulations present more issues than other formulations in terms of ease of use, technology such as measuring devices built into product containers and water-soluble packets have made such products easier to mix. Water-based products also are the most widely used formulations as the pest control industry has transformed toward exterior-oriented services the past 30+ years. Manufacturers continue to develop and reformulate various active ingredients to create products with greater control activity at lower concentrations, longer residual life, fewer PPE requirements and the ability to apply product on a greater number of sites on and around buildings.

 

WHAT ABOUT PPE? A product with fewer PPE requirements may be preferred by many pest professionals. For example, a product that does not require wearing water-proof gloves or long-sleeved shirts would be preferable for most applicators (although some states may require one or both for ALL applications). Pyrethroids and some other active ingredients have restrictions for exterior use to help prevent run-off to nontarget sites. Label directions for both PPE and use restrictions need to be understood and followed.

 

"Every company has to invest in PPE and those costs increased during the pandemic," observed Joe Barile, technical service lead, Bayer Pest Management & Public Health. "But if techs are spending fewer hours in the field wearing PPE, those costs are going to be reduced and technicians are going to be more comfortable performing their jobs. Techs feel better when they don't have to wear PPE."

 

 

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Barricor is a new GIC liquid concentrate from Bayer. It features a new formulation technology with deltamethrin as the active ingredient. The SP in the name is short for solid particle formulation. Barricor is the first product registered with this unique formulation technology. The deltamethrin active ingredient is incorporated into solid particles that will ‘stand up’ on the complex surfaces and increase the bioavailability of the active ingredient for the target pest. Barricor SP provides excellent results for outdoor perimeter applications at very low rates. 

 

Barricor was developed for PMPs providing high-frequency maintenance services who currently leverage economy pyrethroids. 

 

The company was challenged by customers to design an effective, easy-to-use insecticide for high frequency IPM services that has flexible label language, is technician-friendly and available at a cost competitive to economy bifenthrin formulations.

 

(Source: www.environmentalscience.bayer.us)