CLEVELAND, Ohio — As part of the Greater Cleveland Pest Control Association’s annual spring meeting and awards banquet in April, GCPCA recognized Univar’s Bill Birkner with the first-ever GCPCA Lifetime Achievement Award. Birkner was not able to attend the meeting, so Univar’s Carl Hinderer accepted the award on his behalf.

Birkner has long been an important behind-the-scenes contributor, lining up speakers not only for GCPCA training events, but for training programs held by various Ohio pest control associations. Hinderer described his colleague as “the ultimate professional” who has been a steadying presence through several mergers and acquisitions, most recently in 2010 when Southern Mill Creek Products of Ohio was acquired by Univar. 

In other GCPCA news, the association’s president, Molly Patton, Patton Pest Control, provided a member update. Patton, who also is vice president of the Ohio Pest Management Association (OPMA), encouraged members to earn Associate Certified Entomologist (A.C.E.) credentials from ESA. She noted that at OPMA’s Winter Meeting the association held an A.C.E. training/testing course that resulted in four professionals earning their A.C.E. credentials. Patton also said Ohio pest management professionals benefited from a recent technical, hands-on training program presented by Ohio State entomologist/professor Dr. Susan Jones.

Lonnie Alonso, president of Columbus Pest Control, provided a legislative update. Alonso noted that there have been a couple of incidents in which errors were found in Ohio re-certification tests, and that if PMPs think “something doesn’t look right” with the tests, they should contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture directly, or contact him. Alonso also encouraged members to get involved legislatively and set up meetings with their elected officials. “In my experience, most politicians are trying to do a good job,” Alonso said. “Meet with them and tell them about your families. Let them know you are a business that hires workers and pays taxes.”

The featured speaker was Rich Kozlovich, president of Pest Management Inc., Mentor, Ohio, who gave a rebuttal to “Silent Spring,” the 1962 Rachel Carson book that launched the modern environmental movement. Carson argued widespread misuse of agricultural chemicals was having serious cumulative effects throughout the ecosystem. The book was instrumental in the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Kozlovich noted that while Carson was a skilled writer/communicator, she was not a scientist, and that if “Silent Spring” would have been peer-reviewed it would have been exposed for having many scientific inaccuracies. In “Silent Spring,” Carson wrote of the hazards of DDT, which was removed from shelves not long after EPA was formed; the international community soon followed suit. Kozlovich said many believe the removal of DDT internationally is largely responsible for the re-emergence of malaria and other vector-borne diseases throughout the globe. — Brad Harbison

PCT Announces Additions to Online Label Training

VALLEY VIEW Ohio — PCT announced that the California Structural Pest Control Board has approved 27 online label training courses for CEU credits. The courses can be accessed from https://training.pctonline.com and from Univar’s ProTraining library at www.pestweb.com/protraining.

The following courses have been approved:

• AMVAC Nuvan Directed Spray Aerosol
• AMVAC Nuvan Fog 5%
• BASF PT Avert DF Dry Flowable Cockroach Bait
• BASF Termidor HP Termiticide — Part 1
• BASF Termidor HP Termiticide — Part 2
• BASF Termidor HP Termiticide — Part 3
• BASF Termidor SC Termiticide/Insecticide — Part 1
• BASF Termidor SC Termiticide/Insecticide — Part 2
• BASF Termidor SC Termiticide/Insecticide — Part 3
• BASF Termidor SC Termiticide/Insecticide — Pest Control Uses
• Bayer DeltaDust
• Bayer Maxforce Magnum Roach Gel Bait
• Bayer Tempo Ultra WP Insecticide — Part 1
• Bayer Tempo Ultra WP Insecticide — Part 2
• Bayer Temprid FX — Part 1
• Bayer Temprid FX — Part 2
• Bayer Temprid Ready to Spray
• Innovative Products Gourmet Ant Bait Gel
• Innovative Products Gourmet Liquid Ant Bait
• MGK Crossfire Bed Bug Concentrate
• Noble Pine SteriFab
• Liphatech Takedown Soft Bait
• Syngenta Advion Ant Gel Bait
• Syngenta Advion Cockroach Gel Bait
• Syngenta Tandem Insecticide — Part 1
• Syngenta Tandem Insecticide — Part 2
• Syngenta Talon Weatherblok XT

Also, PCT announced the addition of the following label training modules from Control Solutions: Taurus SC, Parts 1 and 2; and Taurus — Misc./Pest Control.

Accessible by computer, tablet or smartphone, PCT’s Distance Learning Center training is presented in modules designed to take a half-hour to an hour to complete. Their brevity gives individuals the opportunity to fit this label education in whenever their schedules allow. And if a user needs to stop while taking a course, no problem: He or she can close the program and pick up at the point left off later.

In Memoriam: Marv Morford, Founder of Gremar

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Marv Marford, inventor of the Kwik Katch Mouestrap and PowerPuff Duster, died on Dec. 5, 2017, at age 92.

Morford spent 42 years in the pest control industry, first working for Lystad’s in 1952 and later retiring as district manager for Ecolab in 1994. This experience led him to believe there was a need for a better mousetrap; after many prototypes he came up with the first plastic multiple-catch trap. Marv and son Greg Morford started a family business, Gremar, that continues today. In 1999 Morford invented the PowerPuff, the first hand-held battery-powered duster.

Morford spent his retirement years volunteering and working on neighborhood, church and family projects. He was a WWII veteran.

Dugas Pest Control’s Laura Simpson Receives Award of Excellence from LPMA

BATON ROUGE, La. — Laura Simpson, president of Dugas Pest Control, was presented with the Paul Adams Award of Excellence at the annual banquet of the Louisiana Pest Management Association (LPMA) held in late January. This award, which has only been given to 13 people since its creation in 1983, is the highest honor the association can bestow upon a member.

“Laura has done so much for our industry both in Louisiana and nationally through the National Pest Management Association,” said Jeff Porter, executive director of LPMA. “She has served the local, state and national organizations with skill and leadership for many years and is a well-deserving honoree.”

Simpson has been the president and primary license holder of Dugas Pest Control since 1996, succeeding her father, Doug MacPherson, who purchased the company in 1973. She has been active in the pest control industry for more than 35 years, serving as president of both the Louisiana Pest Management Association and the National Pest Management Association.

Dugas Pest Control, a QualityPro Certified and family-owned company, has been serving South Louisiana for more than 50 years.

CPCO of Georgia to Host 20^th Anniversary Fall Conference

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — The Certified Pest Control Operators Association of Georgia (CPCO of Georgia) announced the association’s annual Fall Conference will be held Oct. 3-5 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. “CPCO of Georgia celebrates their 20^th anniversary this year and we are on the track to success,” says president Marty Jones of Prestige Pest Control. “We are very excited to offer pest control professionals throughout Georgia a fun, innovative and educational experience at Atlanta Motor Speedway this fall.”

Glenda Lehmberg, executive director, CPCO of Georgia, says, “CPCO of Georgia is very fortunate to have leadership that is willing and able to be creative in its efforts to bring great value to pest control operators and professionals in Georgia. CPCO has been assisted by Jeff Swaney of Jeff Swaney Consulting Group who has been instrumental in developing this year’s conference venue and events.”

Highlights of the fall conference include keynote speaker Dr. Austin Frishman, sponsored by Syngenta, pace car rides, a P.E.S.T. Relief International fundraiser, a pit crew competition and a networking gala. Learn more at www.cpcoofga.com.

CPCO of Georgia is a membership-supported pest management association dedicated to promoting professionalism within the pest control industry. The association offers a wide variety of services to the industry, including district training around the state, online webinars, a webinar-style course to assist professionals prepare for the Certified Operator’s Exam, A.C.E. training, the Premier Business Development series and more.

$3 Million Gift from PMP Victor Hammel To Launch Cohen-Hammel Fellows Program at Penn State Berks

READING, Pa. — With a joint gift to Penn State Berks, two Penn State alumni couples have launched a comprehensive new scholarship program and raised the bar for private giving to the campus. The $3 million gift from Irvin and Lois Cohen and Victor and Dena Hammel — one of the largest ever to the campus — will create the Cohen-Hammel Fellows Program for outstanding Penn State Berks undergraduates. In addition to providing participants with significant scholarships, the program will prepare students for leadership within the Reading community and beyond, the university said.

Victor Hammel is former president and CEO of J.C. Ehrlich and chairman of Rentokil Pest Control, North America.

Kathryn Quinn, Penn State Berks

“The Cohen-Hammel Fellows Program will prepare some of our most talented students to become leaders of principle at our university, in their careers, and in their communities,” said Penn State President Eric Barron. “We are fortunate that Irv and Lois Cohen and Vic and Dena Hammel have chosen to make this innovative program a reality through their visionary philanthropy.”

The Cohen-Hammel Fellows Program will be designed to prepare students to become engaged and ethical leaders in the 21^st century. Each year, a cohort of outstanding undergraduates across all academic disciplines will receive a combination of scholarship support; mentoring from faculty and community leaders; and educational opportunities such as undergraduate research, travel and service within the Reading community, the university says. Cohen-Hammel Fellows will continue to participate in the program until they graduate.

“The Cohen-Hammel Fellows Program will enhance our ability to recruit and retain outstanding students at Penn State Berks, which will in turn elevate the climate of our entire campus,” said Penn State Berks Chancellor R. Keith Hillkirk. “As one of the largest gifts ever to Penn State Berks, the Cohens’ and Hammels’ support also elevates our understanding of what is possible through private philanthropy.”

Through “A Greater Penn State for 21^st Century Excellence,” the university’s current fundraising campaign, Penn State will provide $1.25 million in matching funds and endow the Cohen-Hammel Fellows Program at $4.25 million. These funds will support the program in perpetuity.

“We are grateful to be able to assist students in attending Penn State as we did, where we met more than 50 years ago,” said Vic and Dena Hammel. “We are extraordinarily impressed with the quality education and experience that Penn State Berks provides, and we believe that the Cohen-Hammel Fellows Program will make that even more accessible to some of our area’s brightest students.”

CURRENT READER POLL

PCT keeps a pulse on the industry with timely Reader Poll questions. Below is the most recent question for pest management professionals at www.pctonline.com: Is your company seeing more or fewer driver incidents than it was five years ago?

READER POLL RESULTS

Here’s a look at results from a recent Reader Poll:

Which of the following is the biggest barrier preventing you from offering lawn services?

Source: PCT Reader Poll, April 2018

ONLINE EXTRAS

PCT announced that Alaska has approved six online label training courses for CEU credits. The courses can be accessed from https://training.pctonline.com and from Univar’s ProTraining library available at www.PestWeb.com/protraining.

Interactive Top 100 Map

PCT Online’s Top 100 coverage includes an interactive map that shows the locations of each of the headquarters of PCT’s Top 100 firms, all of the demographic data included on the list and live links to each of the companies’ websites. Visit Online Extras on the PCT Online homepage to download this map.

PODCAST: Fear of Insects

PCT recently caught up with Dr. Jeffrey Lockwood, entomologist from the University of Wyoming. Lockwood recently penned “Murder on the Fly” — the second installment in his “Riley the Exterminator” mystery series. Visit “online extras” on the PCT homepage for a podcast in which Lockwood discusses his new book and also provides insights into fear of insects – a topic he was interviewed about in February PCT.

Nominate a Technician of the Year Online

In April, PCT launched its annual Technician of the Year awards program, sponsored by BASF. The awards recognize a trio of standout service professionals in the residential, commercial and termite categories. Be sure to nominate your company’s standout service professionals. For your convenience you can fill out the online form, available at www.pctonline.com/page/tech18.

With the impending nuptials of Great Britain’s Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle, my thoughts recently turned to “Romeo the Frog.” Who is Romeo the Frog you may ask? He is a Sehuencas Water Frog who has had such a hard time finding love — unlike Prince Harry — that he finds himself on the Endangered Species List. (Well, that’s not the only reason, but you get the idea.)

Fortunately, Romeo the Frog has scientist Arturo Muñoz of Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) in his corner. (Think “The Bachelor’s” Chris Harrison, only working towards his Ph.D. in veterinary science.) Prior to Valentine’s Day, the scientist turned matchmaker created a Match.com profile for his amphibian alter ego, hoping to raise $15,000 to fund an expedition that would allow Romeo to find his Juliet. The profile read, in part: “I’m Romeo. I’m a Sehuencas (pronounced “say-when-cuss”) Water Frog and, not to start this off super heavy or anything, but I’m literally the last of my species. I know — intense stuff. But that’s why I’m on here — in hopes of finding my perfect match so we can save our own kind (no pressure ;-)).”

Romeo describes himself as stocky, about 6.22 centimeters tall, definitely interested in having children, never been married and a moderate drinker. For fun, not surprisingly, “leg days at the gym” are among his favorite leisure-time activities.

“I’m a pretty simple guy,” the profile continues. “I tend to keep to myself and have the best nights just chilling at home, maybe binge-watching the waters around me. As for who I’m looking for, I’m not picky. I just need another Sehuencas like myself. Otherwise, my entire existence as we know it is over (no big deal). So, if you’re willing to help an old Romeo find his one and only Juliet, donate to my cause so we can get out there and start the search for my one, true match!”

Proving once again that love conquers all, people from around the globe responded, raising $25,000 to send expeditions into the field where Sehuencas Water Frogs were once common, and to similar habitats where biologists have not had a chance to look before in hopes of finding a mate for Romeo, the last-known individual of his species. Muñoz, a GWC associate conservation scientist and founder of the Bolivian Amphibian Initiative, said he and his colleagues were “overwhelmed” by the public’s support. “Romeo is an ambassador for all of the frog species in his genus that are teetering on the edge of extinction,” he said. “Thanks to the help of everyone that donated, we hope that our next big announcement will be that we found Romeo his Juliet and established a conservation breeding program to save his species from extinction.”

Let’s hope this love story — like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — has a happy ending!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Speaking of happy endings, after years of hard work to address a long-term challenge, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recently unveiled a new dues schedule designed to create a sustainable platform for the future of the association. The dues restructuring proposal, approved by the NPMA Board of Directors in March, was developed by a 15-member Blue Ribbon Task Force comprised of representatives of all stakeholders, including large and small pest control companies, as well as joint and standard states and large joint state affiliates. “We’ve been diligent in our work, conducting a comprehensive review to ensure that NPMA’s future will continue to be bright,” said Bobby Jenkins, chairman of the Task Force. While nobody likes change and some may question specific elements of the plan, there’s no questioning the value of NPMA membership in my mind. The association features a talented staff who works tirelessly to protect the interests of the pest management industry, while providing a wide range of valuable services to its members.

The author is publisher of PCT and can be contacted at dmoreland@gie.net.

Mosquitoes are brilliant at two things — bringing misery to humans and quickly spoiling all efforts to shut them down.

But researchers at UC Riverside (UCR) have found a weakness in the very genes that make mosquitoes so good at adapting to the insecticides humans use to keep them at bay.

The ability to adapt is a critical survival tool for most species, said Colince Kamdem, postdoctoral scholar in entomology at UCR. “One of the main advantages of mosquitoes is that they are extremely polymorphic, which means they have a high amount of natural diversity, a really great advantage to adapting to many different conditions.”

Kamdem and his colleagues dug into the chromosomes of the virulent Anopheles funestus mosquito species, hoping to better understand its rapid adaption abilities. They chose this species because of its extreme efficiency in spreading the most deadly malaria parasites across a wide section of sub-Saharan Africa.

The researchers discovered the genetic diversity that makes mosquitoes so adaptable was primarily located in only one of five chromosome “arms” present in the species. The other four chromosome arms are relatively stable and unchanging, which means they could be excellent candidates for gene engineering, Kamden said.

Gene drive systems have shown promise for adding beneficial or detrimental genes to a population that are heritable, meaning the changes continue with new offspring. In the case of A. funestus, the goal would be to eradicate the mosquito by manipulating its genes.

The beauty of gene drive systems is that the changes would stay within the target species — leaving other species of mosquitoes intact — without the use of insecticides, which mosquitoes seem to rapidly adapt to in just a few years.

NOT SO FAST. But there’s a problem. Researchers have found the new gene tracks can collapse if mutations occur across the target gene. That means the new genes need to be inserted in portions of the genome with very little standing genetic variation, that is, low levels of recombination or polymorphism.

That’s why Kamdem and his team are so excited about their findings. “We’re looking for weaknesses in the natural population that makes them suitable for specific techniques, such as genetic manipulation,” he said. “We’re pretty confident we’ve found the back door.”

The four chromosome arms found in A. funestus are relatively stable, with very low levels of recombination and polymorphism.

“(That) makes this species particularly suitable to gene drive work,” Kamdem said.

A PERSONAL CONNECTION. Kamdem, a native of the African nation of Cameroon, has personal experience with the devastation of malaria, a disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

In 2015, there were 212 million cases of malaria around the world, and 429,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A total of 91 countries — nearly half the world’s population — was at risk of malaria, including populations in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, according to WHO data. But Africa — particularly sub-Saharan Africa — was home to 90 percent of malaria cases and 92 percent of malaria deaths in 2015.

While doing research in Cameroon, Kamdem met fellow UCR postdoctoral researcher Caroline Fouet, and UCR Entomology Professor Bradley J. White, who now works with Google’s Verily Life Sciences mosquito eradication project.

The three worked together on this research, and while the results are promising, there’s much more to be done before gene drive scientists can start manipulating the mosquito’s genomes, Kamdem said.

The next phase of their research involves taking a deeper look at the genes in those stable chromosome arms to provide a kind of detailed map for gene drive scientists.

“With the techniques we are currently implementing, the resolution will be an order of magnitude higher than what we have now,” Kamdem said. “The level of detail can even come up with specific positions of different genes, so we’ll be able to provide an exceptional level of detail about the gene protocol.”

Kamdem warns that genetic manipulation also has some hurdles to overcome before it’s a viable option in the war against insect-borne diseases, but after years of watching mosquito genomes quickly adapt to a variety of new insecticides, he is hopeful about the potential of using gene drive systems to finally outwit A. funestus’ innate ability to adapt and survive.

Their findings, “Chromosome arm specific patterns of polymorphism associated with chromosomal inversions in the major African malaria vector, Anopheles funestus,” were published in the journal Molecular Ecology on Aug. 21, 2017.