INDUSTRY WATCH: Rain On Your Parade

An extended dry spell and unseasonably warm temperatures throughout the East Coast, especially in the Northeast, is having an impact on pest management professionals. Droughts have been declared in parts of 15 states from Georgia to Maine, and 14 states in the Midwest and West. The hardest hit area has been the Northeast. Parts of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Connecticut are under drought emergencies, with mandatory water restrictions.

Richard Berman, manager of technical services, Waltham Services, Waltham, Mass., says Waltham and other pest control companies throughout New England have witnessed an increase in termite control jobs this winter because of the mild temperatures.

“We’ve had constant termite pressure this winter,” Berman said. “We’ve seen mud tubes on chimneys and that is unheard of in New England in the winter.” Berman says the lack of rain and snow has had a minimal effect on other pest pressures, but he says the impact of the drought may be felt in the spring. “If we have a dry spring we may not get the calls for carpenter ants,” Berman said.

Mike Powers, owner of Powers Pest Management, Elizabethtown, Pa., said he has already seen the effects of the drought. Boxelder bugs, cluster flies and lady beetles were almost non-existent in his area this past September and October, he said. “Even rodent calls are way down from other years and it’s not just the economy. The local stores that sell do-it-yourself products said their sales are down too,” he said. “Now they’re discussing water rationing, which also could have a negative impact if we’re not exempted. It was nice not having any termite jobs rained out last year or not having to shovel much snow, but there may be a price to pay.”

Jim McHale Jr., president of JP McHale Pest Management, Buchanan, N.Y., says, as expected, his lawn care business has been more negatively impacted than his pest control business, but he too is cautious about this spring. “Of course, if there is a drought you will be down with some of the insects that require moisture to swarm,” he says. “But a lot of times heat will stress insects too and cause them to swarm, so it could actually be a positive.”

Berman agrees that a lack of rain can actually be good for business. “We had a very dry summer last year and experienced an increase in wasp and bee calls,” he said. “Plus, the lack of snow this winter has been good for our technicians running their routes because they have had better driving conditions.

The author is managing editor of PCT magazine.

SURVEY SAYS…
Each week on www.pctonline.com, PCT surveys its readers about issues facing the pest control industry today.In late February, PCTonline.com heard from more than 200 readers regarding weather extremes in their part of the country. Here’s what they had to say:

Q:  Do weather extremes have a significant impact on pest problems in your area?
 YES: 94 percent
 NO: 6 percent