[Rearview] stories and statistics of interest to pest control operators

BIG ROACH WINS AT ZOO

A 2-inch roach named "Icky" scuttled away with the $500 first prize in Brandon Pest Control’s 2nd Annual Greater Jacksonville Roach Round-Up in June at the Jacksonville Zoo. One of 30 entries, "Icky" grabbed the dough for Maggie Brandon (no relation) as many zoo-goers stood by during the competition for the biggest roach.

Unlike last year’s contest, which suffered through heavy rains, the weather was perfect this year. More than 2,000 people passed through the turnstiles and the contest display by the noon "weigh-in."

Part of the Zoo’s annual Celebrity Sports Celebration, sponsored by Brandon Pest Control, Jacksonville, Fla., the event also featured pictures and autographs with members of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, the Jacksonville Suns’ minor league baseball players and members of the Roar, the Jacksonville Jaguar Cheerleaders.

Brandon president/owner Stuart Herman, who emceed the roach contest, said he intends to return as a sponsor in the future. "Everybody seemed to have a lot of fun," he said, "even the contestants. The beautiful weather was a big help, and this is a great place to hold an event."

Of course, Brandon the termite-sniffing dog was there, too. "He loves meeting people," Herman added. "He’s our best good-will ambassador. He makes lots of public appearances, and people definitely remember him."

Local resident Jessica Francis had the runner-up in the big roach bash. "Shorty" measured 1.76 inches, only .03 longer than "Big Boy," the #3 contestant.

In only its second year, the Roach Round-Up seems to be gathering a following. "Almost a dozen of last year’s participants came back this year," Herman said. "I guess there are some people out there who really are interested in these bugs. Unless, of course, it’s the prize money!"

SENTRICON PROTECTS PATRIOTIC PLACES

This summer, the Travel Channel explored the nation’s most notable patriotic sites in a TV special called "Top Ten Patriotic Places." The Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System from Dow AgroSciences protects three of the historic sites — the Statue of Liberty, the Alamo and Independence Park — from subterranean termite damage.

The Sentricon System also protects historic sites such as Mount Vernon, Monticello and the White House. Dennis Pogue, director of preservation at Mount Vernon, selected it as a preventative termite treatment. "It’s a very proactive system," he said. "Instead of waiting for the termites to cause damage to the building, the Sentricon System monitors for new termite colonies outside Mount Vernon before they have a chance to enter the building."