[Copesan University] Holiday Pest Management

Editor's note: This article was excerpted from materials by Copesan. Copesan’s Internet training program, Copesan University, is now available to the entire pest management industry. Click on the Copesan University logo at www.pctonline.com for available courses.

When you think of a freshly cut evergreen tree, the aroma of holiday cooking or a fire burning in the fireplace, you probably envision the wonderful sights and smells of the holidays. But take another look. These wonderful holiday staples could bring insects and other pests into your customers’ facilities or homes. Here are some tips to prevent these pests from ruining your customers’ holidays.

CHECK PLANT MATERIAL. Since Christmas trees, greenery, plant decorations, flowers and holiday plants can harbor many different kinds of pests, before bringing any plant materials indoors, your customers should check them carefully. They should be checked occasionally over the next few days for emerging pests. When these “bugs” warm up inside, they will start their spring and summer activities, which means hundreds of hatching insects could be found a few days later. Some common surprises include praying mantids, spiders, caterpillars, mites, psyllids, aphids and other assorted pests. If any of these pests become active, your customer should take the plant material outside immediately and call you.

EXAMINE FIREWOOD. Some pests frequently live in, or overwinter under, loose bark or in cavities in firewood. Before bringing firewood indoors, suggest to your customers that they examine it carefully, bring only enough wood inside to last the day and leave loose bark outside. Infested pieces should remain outside until they can be place on the fire immediately.

INSPECT STORED HOLIDAY ITEMS. Since ants, beetles, moths, spiders, centipedes, mice, geckos, lizards and snakes may take up residence in your customers’ holiday decorations while they are in storage, recommend they consider unpacking decorations outside or in a low-risk area. Also, they should avoid storing wool items, food-based items, plant materials and seeds that attract pests. If a customer finds only a few pests, he or she can use a small vacuum cleaner to clean them up. But if large numbers of pests are encountered, have them call your pest management firm immediately.

EXAMINE HOLIDAY GIFTS. Delivered holiday packages, especially food gift packs, should be examined because they can become infested with food pests or indoor pests. If an item is contaminated with cheese mites, meat maggots, bran bugs, flour beetles, Indian meal moth caterpillars or other food pests, instruct the customer to place the food package into a freezer for a few days, then discard. They should not store food items for more than two weeks unless they take extra precautions, and keep packages cool or refrigerated until they are opened.

CHECK THE LUGGAGE. Holiday guests may bring more than gifts to the host’s home. Bed bugs that hitch rides in the luggage of travelers have become an increasing problem throughout the country and may be unintentionally introduced into a home or facility. Following are some recommendations for travelers or hosts. If bed bugs are suspected, don’t bring the luggage inside. Instead, carefully unpack it outdoors and seal infested clothing in a plastic bag. Next, wash and dry the clothing at the highest heat that the garments can tolerate. Then tie off and immediately dispose of the used plastic bag in an outside trash bin. Pest management professionals can seal luggage in a large plastic bag with a Vapona (dichlorvos, DDVP) resin strip for two or more days. If it’s not damaged, this bag and its resin strip can be used repeatedly for months before replacing the Vapona resin strip. Do not allow continuous contact of items with the exposed resin strip because an oily stain may result.

Of course, a pest management professional should always be consulted if insects that appear to be bed bugs are found.

CLEAN BEFORE CLOSING. Insects can multiply quickly if food and breeding materials are available. For example, during a facility’s two-week holiday shutdown, flies can reach their fourth generation. Before closing for the holidays, your clients should make sure all food items are taken out of employees’ lockers and desk drawers and all garbage is removed from the premises.