Newsworthy, August 1999

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chief staff leaders representing 10 specialty pesticide associations met June 29-30 to discuss pesticide issues of mutual concern in a forum hosted by Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE). The primary focus was on heightened activist success on the local level and the need for coordinated industry grass-roots action.

"More and more communities are approving pesticide-restrictive policies, particularly in schools," said Allen James, RISE executive director. "If the specialty pesticide industry is to be successful in combating such negative actions, it must take a proactive and united approach. We need the help of industry reps in these areas to alert us of local pesticide bans as they arise."

The group also learned about various association programs to enhance the industry, for example, the structural pest control industry’s Industry Awareness Campaign and the green industry’s Evergreen Foundation.

Sound science-based implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) and the increasing significance of non-point source water issues on specialty pesticide uses were also covered in detail. Representatives from the American Crop Protection Association updated the group on H.R. 1592, "The Regulatory Fairness and Openness Act of 1999," the industry-supported bill to ensure that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency makes FQPA regulatory decisions based on sound science and reliable data (see From The Publisher, July PCT). Continued grass-roots support of H.R. 1592 is critical, experts say.

Associations represented included the National Pest Control Association; American Nursery and Landscape Association; Associated Landscape Contractors of America; National Roadside Vegetation Management Association; Professional Grounds Management Society; Professional Lawn Care Association of America; Sports Turf Managers Association; West Virginia/Mountain Lake Vegetation Management Councils; Urban Pest Management Council of Canada; and Utility Arborist Association.

This is the second Specialty Pesticide Association Leaders Conference sponsored by RISE as part of its ongoing effort to strength-en unity in the specialty pesticide industry. A similar session was held in March 1998.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Although much of Wash-ington, D.C. is teeming with rats, a grass-roots effort spearheaded by D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams is determined to put an end to the rodent’s reign.

Williams called together city officials, city department members, various citizens groups, PCOs and industry experts for the city’s first Rat Summit in April. The summit was part of a process to educate the public about the health threats posed by rats.

Components of the summit included a video presentation on rats, addresses made by keynote speaker Dr. Bruce Colvin, senior scientist at Bechtel Corporation, presentations given by a number of noted rodent experts and dialogue sessions among city officials.

"It was a very well-run event and probably the most important result was it brought about community awareness," says Dale Kaukeinen, product service lead from Zeneca Professional Products who gave a presentation titled "The Biology of Rats."

Kaukeinen says the city’s rat problem worsened largely because of community apathy. "People have become used to seeing rats and they haven’t been doing anything about them, despite the health and property hazards they represent," he says. "City agencies won’t do anything if the public is not concerned."

During the 1970s, Washington, D.C.’s rat problems decreased due to a federally funded control program. However, the program was cut during the Reagan Administration and as a result, massive rodent infestations again plagued the city.

"The city and the citizens have been left to pick up the pieces with a grass-roots effort that involves taking action to effect change and influence the public and private sectors to do something," Kaukeinen says.

Step one in that process was April’s Rat Summit. One of Colvin’s major themes was opening the lines of communication in order to transcend political and organizational boundaries. Colvin, who headed a successful city-wide rat control program in Boston for many years, said that D.C. city officials, department members and people involved in community groups must "take their efforts to the street."

"He (Colvin) talked about how important it was for the residents to be educated and take responsibilities for their problems," Kaukeinen said. "The city needs to make people aware that putting garbage in plastic bags out on the curb the night before (trash collection) invites rats, raccoons and other animals."

Following Colvin’s opening statements, noted rodent experts hosted breakout sessions. In addition to Kaukeinen, Albert Greene, Robert McQueen, Dr. Phyllis Mayo, John Antonacci, Elias Dorsey, Leslie Hotaling, John Meaney, Mark Hardin and Scott Akers conducted presentations on a wide array of rodent control issues. Topics covered were "Technological Innovations to Manage Rats," "Changing Human Behavior," "Municipal Lessons Learned: A Round Table Discussion," "The Biology of Rats," and "Landscaping to Control Rodents."

Following a second breakout session that took aim at problems specific to Washington, D.C., council members from the city’s eight wards met and summarized their situations.

The challenge now facing Washington, D.C. is taking what was accomplished at the Rat Summit and formulating it into a working rat control program. But the city has begun implementing control strategies, many of which were discussed at the Rat Summit.

"I think we started to see a number of ideas coalesce at the Rat Summit," said Dr. Patrick Canavan, special assistant, Washington, D.C. Health and Human Services. "I think a number of people had been kicking around ideas. The summit helped focus on a comprehensive solution to the problem."

A short-term initiative draft for rat control, part of Williams’ Clean the City campaign, has been launched. The initiative’s goal is to better manage waste, remove rat harborage and correct unsanitary conditions in food establishments.

The plan included bringing Colvin back to assist in legislative issues and develop a cross-agency inspection approach to ensure compliance with all District codes in public spaces, private homes, apartments and food establishments. The two other key parts of the plan were the distribution of 50,000 heavy-duty plastic garbage containers with attached lids to residences in the "Inner Core" neighborhoods and the implementation of a massive education program targeted at children.

Kaukeinen added that before PCOs and city workers can begin making major impacts using glueboards, traps, rodenticides and other control measures, sanitation must be achieved throughout the city.

NEW CASTLE, Del. — Dr. Mark Lacey, an industry professional known for his technical expertise, has announced the formation of IPMNetwork, a corporation that provides a global link to pest management companies, groups, agencies and individuals involved in the urban pest management process.

While the acronym IPM is normally thought of as Integrated Pest Management, the "IPM" in IPMNetwork stands for International Pest Management. Through the use of video conferencing, satellite transmissions and a multi-language website, IPMNetwork will provide clients on a worldwide basis with the most advanced information, materials and assistance to enable them to provide "cutting-edge pest management and unmatched customer satisfaction," according to Lacey.

"The goal of IPMNetwork is to provide the highest standard of excellence in urban pest management and customer satisfaction around the world," he says. "The concept is unique in that it interfaces with, in addition to pest management companies, any and all groups, entities, agencies and/or individuals involved in the pest management process."

According to Lacey, pest management companies chosen to become a part of the IPMNetwork are selected based upon specific criteria. These criteria include a progressive outlook, the highest degree of professionalism, a strong desire to improve, a belief in the value of the service they provide and the desire to improve the standard of the industry in the eyes of the general public. To ensure cooperation, member companies will not overlap service territories and thus will not directly compete.

Lacey describes IPMNetwork as a "conduit through which information can be stored, evaluated and shared will all members of the network."

For more information, contact Lacey at 888/476-6674.

CLEVELAND — Isn’t it nice to be recognized when your company does something well?

PCT and Service Technician magazines were both awarded a handful of journalism awards in June. PCT won two awards from the American Society of Business Press Editors — a first-place editorial award for our State of the Industry special report last September and another first-place graphics award for last November’s "Risk Cup" cover. Service Technician magazine brought home a first-place award for best tabloid cover for its July 1998 issue.

PCT also won two additional first-place awards from the Press Club of Cleveland. PCT’s two "Ohio Excellence in Journalism" awards were for Trade Publication Graphic Presentation, January 1998 ("The Coming Storm") and Trade Publication Computer-Assisted Reporting (Sep-tember’s State of the Industry special report).

"These awards are yet another indication of our staff’s commitment to publishing excellence," said Dan Moreland, publisher of PCT and Service Technician magazines. "We strive every day to produce the highest quality magazines possible for the more than 40,000 pest management professionals who receive our publications on a monthly basis. Being recognized for that effort is gratifying, but the opinion that continues to count most is that of our readers."

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Renowned entomologist Dr. Louis Vasvary died in Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center, New Brunswick, N.J., May 22. He was 69.

Vasvary was employed by the College of Agriculture, now Cook College at Rutgers University, from 1960 until his retirement in 1994.

As an extension specialist in entomology, Vasvary received numerous awards in recognition of his research, including the Distinguished Service Award from the New Jersey Pest Control Association (NJPCA) in 1989.

Known by many students, faculty and friends as "Dr. Lou," Vasvary volunteered his time lecturing and teaching PCOs at clinics, monthly meetings and special Rutgers courses offered to the industry. He was also known to go into the field and help members with difficult or unusual pest control problems.

"Dr. Vasvary was a true supporter and helper to the success of our industry and he gave unselfishly of his time," said Ed Bradbury, a past president of NJPCA. "He was always there to answer any of our questions."

Vasvary is survived by his wife Catherine and daughter Amy Louise.

CLEVELAND — When residents throughout the Midwest were leaving their houses this spring and summer, they may have thought they had entered the set of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. The reason? Swarms of noisy cicadas emerged from their 17-year underground cycle and blanketed much of the region.

Cicadas are large insects with transparent wings that swarm every 13 to 17 years. They are frequently described as "periodical" cicadas.

The adult Magicicada Brood V Cicadas that reappeared this year are black insects with reddish-orange eyes and legs that measure up to 1½ inches in length. It took 17 years for this species to reappear because of its unique life cycle. The cicada nymphs feed on plant roots for 17 years in the immature stage, then emerge as adults to mate.

Once they make their way above ground, male cicadas produce a loud buzzing noise while the females’ time is largely consumed cutting slits in small twigs on trees where they then lay eggs.

Cicadas are not known to carry any diseases, but their loud buzzing and abundant numbers are a nuisance for residents. Hundreds of thousands of the insects blanketed the region this spring. The range of the 17-year cicadas extends east and west from Massachusetts to eastern Kansas and north and south from Vermont/Wisconsin to northern Georgia with scattered populations in Texas.

Dr. Richard Kramer, president of Innovative Pest Management, Brookeville, Md., said cicadas do not harm humans or cause damage to structures, but their swarming can prompt phone calls from customers, so it’s a good idea to know something about the biology and behavior of this insect.

"Probably the biggest danger is that large wasps are predators on cicadas and they can blend in with a swarm of the cicadas," Kramer said. "People won’t realize wasps are in a pack of cicadas because they are nearly the same color and size."

MONTVALE, N.J. — Officials from AgrEvo Environmental Health have unveiled a unique promotion that offers a new style of flashlight to PCOs who buy a case of the company’s Suspend SC Insecticide containing the active ingredient DeltaGard brand deltamethrin.

The program runs until Sept. 30 and is open to all PCOs who purchase AgrEvo’s general purpose Suspend SC Insecticide through their distributors. To receive their free flashlights, PCOs have to send in their original invoices showing one case or more of Suspend SC Insecticide purchased during the third quarter of 1999. For every case purchased the company will send out a flashlight, giving PCOs the potential to outfit their entire staff.

The free flashlights featured by AgrEvo are the newest from Streamlight — the Streamlight ProPolymer Series 4AA.

For more information, call AgrEvo at 800/438-5837.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Safe Science, Inc. and the University of Florida Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) have entered into an agreement whereby SafeScience has licensed worldwide rights from the University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. to all patents and patent applications on several potent strains of the microbial agent Beauveria bassiana (fungus) for the development of natural products for pest control.

Products based on this fungus have been shown to be effective in controlling household ants, cockroaches, termites and fire ants, according to SafeScience.

"These unique, natural microbial agents have tremendous worldwide commercial potential for the control of noxious pests in urban and agricultural settings," said Dr. Leona C. Fitzmaurice, associate director of the Office of Technology Licensing. "The SafeScience management team has the expertise to take these biopesticides through regulatory approval and the marketing initiatives and distribution channels to introduce these products worldwide."

The new fungal-based products have proven effective in stopping fire ants in southern California, according to SafeScience.

ST. LOUIS — Whitmire Micro-Gen has released a new and updated website located at www.wmmg.com. The site has been divided into three sections: corporate, structural pest control and turf and ornamentals.

The following are just a few of the features available on the site:

• Distributor locator: type in a state to locate a distributor and you’ll be able to obtain the name and phone number of all distributors in that state.

• E-training: Learn about the many options of electronic training, locate Skill Development Seminars and find information on the Whitmire Micro-Gen Symposium.

• Literature: A variety of literature is available to download including management guides, door hangers, table tents and brochures.

• Markets: Learn more about the company’s product offerings in animal health, food safety, structural pest control and turf and ornamentals.

• Products: Information on structural pest control products can be found by typing in the product’s name and hitting "search."

• Quarterly publication: Preview the Pest Management Quarterly that is published by Whitmire Micro-Gen.

• Feedback: Let the company know how to improve its website.

NORTHFIELD, Vt. — Richard L. Keenan, chairman of the board at Waltham Chemical Co., was presented with an honorary doctorate of business administration by his alma mater, Norwich University, at the university’s commencement exercises in May.

The degree was presented to Keenan in recognition of his outstanding service to Norwich and his leadership and achievements in business. A 30-year Waltham employee, Keenan has also served as the company’s president and treasurer.

Keenan has been active in NPCA and founded CPS Insurance Co. in Hamilton, Bermuda. CPS exclusively supports the pest control industry.

Keenan, who is currently a trustee at the university, was also named a Norwich University Distinguished Alumni in 1978.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Innovative Pest Control Products has donated $500 in cash and $500 worth of ant control products to Dr. Thomas Weisling and Dr. Betty Ferster in support of the white-footed ant research being conducted by the pair.

The donated products include "Ant Café" reusable insect bait stations, locking flat ties, double-stick foam tape and various liquid ant bait products. The goal of the research conducted by Weisling, Ferster and the rest of the University of Florida Entomology Department is to help demonstrate the most effective baits and baiting techniques for control of the white-footed ant.

ST. LOUIS — Whitmire Micro-Gen has published a Pressurized Products Brochure that is designed to help select the best Prescription Treatment brand pressurized product for a specific insect control problem. The Pressurized Products Brochure introduces symbols that will be placed on future Whitmire Micro-Gen labels. Each symbol represents a different application technique, formulation/delivery system or special classification that may be used to show the most important features of each product. Whitmire Micro-Gen uses active ingredients from a wide range of insecticide classes in its pressurized products.

On the inside of the brochure, each aerosol’s features, benefits and general use instructions are given. An explanation of what each aerosol does is presented next to the product picture. The Aerosol Cross Reference-Prescription Treatment Pest Control Chart can be found on the back of the brochure. This chart gives information about active ingredients, size of a product, application techniques, rate of application, food handling approval and USDA and EPA registration numbers.

CLARK, N.J. — Residex Corporation, a New Jersey-based pest control products distributor, has expanded for the third time in three months, giving the company a total of 15 branches. The company added branches in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Hartford, Conn.; and Saddlebrook, N.J.

MONTVALE, N.J. — AgrEvo Environmental Health has discontinued the rodenticide bait product Vengeance. According to the company, the decision to exit the rodenticide market this year was made in order to concentrate on its branded core products and proprietary chemistry.

"The decision to phase-out our rodenticide products was a strategic one," said George Raymond, marketing manager for AgrEvo. "Vengeance is an extremely effective product, however, AgrEvo’s focus is on our core products, specifically our DeltaGard branded line of insecticides."

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC) legislative chairperson and past president Larry Musgrove, on behalf of PCOC, presented a check for $1,000 to the American Cancer Society recently. Musgrove presented the check to Lynne Pillsbury, past regional council chair for the Los Angeles County Region of the American Cancer Society in June