5 Questions with Harry Bryan, Sponsored by Nisus

1. Where are the most common harborage sites for small flies in commercial accounts and why are these pests so difficult to control for PMPs?

While small flies can develop in numerous locations throughout a commercial account, the most common harborage sites are drains. Small files navigate far down into drains and nest quite nicely in the gunk along the top section of the pipe where they are immune to the effects of products poured down the drain. Foaming these drains with Nibor-D® treats the entire interior surface of the pipe and turns the residual gunk that creates food and breeding sites into a bait that continues killing these insects. Some overlooked areas of potential infestation are in plain sight, like grout lines with no grout left from constant power washing which drives food particles and moisture into cracks and creates a new pest habitat. Other overlooked areas in commercial accounts include salad bar stations, soda dispensers, floor mop basins, and behind refrigerators and dishwashers, to name a few. Why are small flies so difficult to control? You can get rid of pests you see, but if you don’t find the feeding sites, the problems will continue. It’s like treating a symptom without curing the disease.

2. What are the most common mistakes PMPs make when servicing commercial accounts for small flies?

Based on my years of experience observing PMPs in the field, three mistakes immediately come to mind. First, not allowing sufficient time for a thorough inspection and missing the source (feeding site) of the infestation. Second, low bidding. Many low-bid restaurant accounts are some of the worst offenders when it comes to sanitation, making control difficult. Nevertheless, our treatment protocol is getting results in many of those tough accounts. Third, misidentification of the small fly species. Knowing which small fly species you’re battling is critical to successful control. Each requires a specific battle plan. It’s also very important to have an open line of communication with the key decision-maker at the account about your treatment process and any follow-up measures required to ensure the problem doesn’t reoccur.

3. What should be included in a treatment protocol for small flies in commercial accounts?

First, an intensive inspection followed by a walk-around with management to help them see and understand the issues. Second, a thorough after-closing cleaning and treatment of all drains and other identified fly habitats. Foam should be applied in all the places pests love to hide — under equipment, inside stainless-steel table legs, where counters attach to the walls, under shelving, inside wall voids where plumbing penetrates, in garbage receptacles and dumpsters — and don’t forget the soda and beer drains and under the bar mats. The TrueTech® 2000 Power Cart from Nisus is a unique piece of equipment that’s a sprayer and a foamer with an on-board compressor. You can literally pump foam 40, 50, even 100 feet down a drain. This was critical for Tri State Exterminating in Morgantown, West Virginia, when they discovered that the build-out of a restaurant required new drains, but the old drain system was left in place, creating a perfect environment for an extremely large small fly infestation. The ability of the TrueTech 2000 Power Cart to maintain pressure and continue to pump foam until the void is filled is one of the keys to success when encountering such a treatment challenge. The other is the group of four products that are used in rotation to disinfect, kill, and clean. Nibor-D® is the insecticide; Nisus DSV™ is a disinfectant, sanitizer and viricide; Bac-Azap® is a powerful bio-remedial product that breaks down organic matter; and ProFoam® Platinum is the premium foaming agent that makes it all work. With this protocol, many companies are finally getting control in accounts that have had problems for years.

4. What marketing and educational resources are available from Nisus to help grow a pest control company’s small fly revenue?

While we have literature and flyers pest companies can use to explain the program, I think the very best resource has been a simple challenge. Give us your toughest small fly problem and we’ll help you fix it. We have not been beat yet! In addition, our representatives can provide training for your technicians and educate them on the different types of small flies and the challenges of each species. We can do hands-on training at your customer’s site. We also have a “cocktail card” quick look at the process, and a Scope of Service that explains the products and protocol in detail.

5. Why is Nisus so heavily invested in the small fly market?

We invest because the need is there, and we have developed a system that solves the problem. The results we’ve seen are amazing! One account required two technicians and two trips a week but following treatment went 40 days without a callback. A food processor with a significant cockroach problem refused to shut down, but after a Sunday night application while his employees worked, he found them sweeping up hundreds of dead cockroaches on Monday morning. If you would like to learn more about Nisus products and how we can help you grow your small fly or cockroach control revenue, call 800-264-0870 or email info@nisuscorp.com and we will put you in touch with your area rep and send you all the information you need to get started.