Hollywood Bug Guys Bring Act to NPMA PestWorld

Twin brothers Jeffrey and Jason Linford, owners of the pest control firm Hollywood Bug Guys, have made a name for themselves in pest management and in entertainment. The 34-year-old Arizonans made their NPMA PestWorld debut at the Mattress Safe booth last year, where they entertained attendees with fiddling fun.

The Linfords were introduced to pest control while in college, working as door-to-door sales professionals for Bulwark Exterminating in 2004. In 2010, they launched Green Worx Pest Control, the forerunner to their current business, The Hollywood Bug Guys. The company serves the East Valley area of Phoenix.

Growing up, the duo was always involved in music, particularly playing the violin, which they put to use selling pest control services (they were known as the twin-fiddling pest control salesmen). And they’ve kept their musical interests alive, first performing as the Linford Brothers and now on television as the Hollywood Bug Guys. They created an act that combines fiddling and performance art — specifically costumed cockroaches. “We developed a show called ‘We don’t fiddle around with bugs’ that received first place in Arizona’s Rock’in with Talent Show competition a few years ago. We have been fortunate and blessed to perform on a couple of national television shows like America’s Got Talent and The Gong Show revival on ABC.”

For their Gong Show appearance, the Linford brothers fiddled to the tune of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” as dancing, costumed cockroaches closed in on them. Although the duo did not win, they scored well with the judges and did not get the dreaded gong!

The Linfords said future plans include continuing this marriage of pest control and entertainment. Specifically, they have been pitching themselves to those in Hollywood such as producers, casting directors and production companies with the hopes of becoming reality TV stars. — Brad Harbison

Termite-Themed Cake Was Center Stage at BASF Booth

At NPMA PestWorld 2017, BASF called upon one of host city Baltimore’s most famous institutions — Charm City Cakes — to help it launch the new Trelona ATBS annual inspection interval. The result was an eye-catching cake featuring a below-ground perspective of termites surrounding a Trelona Advance Termite Bait System (ATBS).

The custom-designed cake also featured decorative termites and a backyard scene complete with above-ground landscaping (e.g., trees, flowers and vegetation).

The termite-themed creation was another addition to Charm City Cakes’ impressive portfolio of custom cakes. Founded by guitarist-turned-chef Duff Goldman in 2002, Charm City Cakes prides itself on “churning out cakes the world had never seen before: cakes with sound, cakes with smoke, cakes with motorized moving components and life-sized baby elephant cakes,” according to the bakery’s website.

The bakery and its team of colorful decorators caught the attention of Food Network producers, who made them the subject of a hit reality TV program “Ace of Cakes.” Check out behind-the-scenes clips.— Brad Harbison