[Focus On] Aeorsols

Visit your local Home Depot on any given weekend and it’s apparent aerosols are the formulation of choice for millions of American consumers. Fortunately for the pest control industry, however, home-owners don’t always possess sufficient knowledge of the biology and behavior of insects to apply aerosol insecticides where they’ll do the most good, often prompting a follow-up call with an industry professional when their do-it-yourself treatments prove ineffective.

Yet the technology isn’t the problem. Aerosols are among the most effective formulations in the PMP’s control arsenal, according to industry experts contacted by PCT magazine. "I’ve been studying, working with and teaching people about aerosols for over 30 years," says Jeff Tucker, consulting entomologist, BASF Pest Control Solutions, "so I have some insights about what works best for PMPs. The aerosols that are manufactured and applied in the pest control industry are truly professional products," he says, controlling a wide array of pests in a variety of commercial and residential settings.

Aerosols are particularly useful when performing pest control inspections, arguably the most important component of an effective IPM program. "Insects are cryptic," Tucker says, so what better way to identify a cockroach or ant harborage than with a pyrethrin-based aerosol? "Coupled with a flashlight and a curious, well-trained technician, a pyrethrin aerosol will quickly uncover harborage sites in crack and crevices and wall voids," he says.

"Aerosols are just fantastic for putting concentrated amounts of insecticide into small, confined spaces," Tucker adds. Anywhere targeted, precision applications are required – such as homes, offices, and other sensitive locations – "aerosols just shine," he says. "If you encounter insects in any of these locations, after applying an aerosol insecticide they’re not going to be alive in those locations for long."

The targeted nature of aerosols is one of the primary reasons they are an attractive control option for sensitive accounts. "Since it’s such a directed application, it’s very environmentally friendly," observes Chris Bowley, product manager, FMC Professional Solutions. "Aerosols, if used in a targeted fashion, fit nicely into any IPM program," he says.

Yet precision application is only one of the benefits associated with aerosols. As is true in the consumer market, "the main thing aerosols bring to the party is convenience," Bowley says. "Aerosols are ready to use, so you don’t have the handling issues associated with some other types of formulations." In addition, he says, "You don’t have to worry about the technician applying it at an incorrect rate. It’s the same every time," a theme echoed by Kevin Kirkland, president of Nisus Corporation. "One of the things that continues to strengthen the case of aerosols is (their) ease of application, no mixing, and controlled application rates," he says. Those are "all very important (product characteristics) to PMPs."

Tucker said another advantage of modern-day aerosols is they feature a wide array of active ingredients, providing a smorgasbord of control options for PMPs. "Aerosols allow PMPs to access a wide variety of active ingredients," he says. "By my count, we (BASF) have approximately 25 aerosol products with 15 different active ingredients."

With FMC’s acquisition of Waterbury’s CB Professional Products line in 2009 (see related story, pg. 93), as well as new product offerings from Central Life Sciences, Paragon Professional Products, MGK, Nisus Corporation and others, there’s no shortage of quality aerosols on the market for those PMPs interested in taking advantage of this technology, which has its roots in protecting American GI’s from the ravages of malaria during World War II.

A BRIEF HISTORY. "Back in World War II, American soldiers were fighting for their lives," says the Aerosol Products Division of the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA). "They were also being eaten alive by mosquitoes. They needed a way to protect themselves. Scientists turned to a technology that had actually been around since the 18th century, but needed some modifications. Since then, step-by-step, aerosol technology has evolved to what we use today."

Whitmire Research Laboratories (now BASF Pest Control Solutions) popularized the use of aerosols in the pest management industry with the introduction of its Prescription Treatment® product line, including The System III, which has remained virtually unchanged since being developed by industry icons Blanton Whitmire and Dan Stout in the early 1980s. "Some things just don’t need to be improved or modernized," Tucker said. "It features the same components that have been used very successfully for 30 years."

What has changed is "what happens to that aerosol once it leaves the can," Bowley says. "In the past, you were limited to a relatively small number of actuators, but now there’s a large variety of actuators and stem types available that allow for different types of applications."

Kirkland agrees. "There have been improvements in the valves and actuators to tailor products to specialty applications," he says. "The ability to have some products with a very fine mist and wasp and hornet products with a long reach are valuable to PMPs. There are also improvements in the chemistry inside the can," providing pesticides with "improved efficacy."

As a result of these improvements, PMPs have a variety of applications at their disposal including flushing and contact aerosols; total release foggers; residual aerosols designed for crack and crevice and void treatments; long-range wasp and hornet sprays; and metered aerosol dispensing units. "PCOs now have a number of options," Bowley says. "I feel very good about the future of aerosols."

EDUCATION IS KEY. Critics of aerosols frequently cite the higher cost of this formulation, but Tucker says aerosols can be used efficiently if technicians receive the proper training. "If you have a tech that’s not trained properly in applying aerosols, they can overuse the technology," he says. "That’s the single biggest issue with aerosols. If you train your techs about how to use them correctly, however, there’s a cost benefit in using the technology efficiently."

Bowley agrees, pointing out that’s one of the primary reasons consumers frequently have problems controlling household pests with aerosols. "Homeowners don’t understand the importance of directing pesticides at a specific location," he observes. "They tend to over apply the product as a result," but technicians won’t make the same mistake if they’re trained properly. "If the PCO is trained on how to use these materials properly, that’s the big difference," Bowley says.

As the public continues to embrace all things "green" disposal is also an issue, but Tucker says that not a problem either. "All of the components of an aerosol can are recyclable," he says, "so they’re not just going into the garbage dump."

That’s not to say, however, that aerosols are right for every type of pest control scenario. Despite their ease of use and highly targeted nature, there are situations where aerosols "just aren’t suitable," Tucker says. "For instance, if I was going to select a product to treat the exterior perimeter of a building, aerosols are not the formulation that I would choose."

And what about the often expressed concern that aerosols undermine the perceived professionalism of PMPs since consumers equate the technology with over-the-counter products. "It is neither positive nor simply negative," Kirkland says. "They (aerosols) are simply a convenient way to dispense product. Aerosol pesticide products used in the home are not a replacement for the service of a PMP."

"In my book it’s a positive that consumers use aerosols," Tucker adds. "It’s really not the can or the insecticide in the can; it’s how that technology is used. If you walk into any structure and you know what you’re doing and you behave and act like a professional, there won’t be a question about your ability to do the job."
 

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Aerosol Facts

The Aerosol Industry Contributes to the Nation's Economic Growth

• The Consumer Specialty Products Association estimates that approximately $15 billion in annual revenue is generated from the sale of aerosol products nationwide.

Aerosol Packaging is More Environmentally Friendly than Most Realize

• The aerosol industry removed chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from aerosol products in the 1970s. Today, no aerosol products contain CFCs – which scientists believe could harm the ozone layer.
• Steel aerosol cans contain an average of 25-33 percent recycled material. If the more than 3.6 billion aerosol products sold annually were all recycled when empty, that would produce enough steel for more than 160,000 automobiles. Most recycling programs today accept empty aerosol cans along with other recyclable packaging.
• Aerosol products reduce waste through their long product shelf life and minimum spillage.

(Source: www.AboutAerosols.com)
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Storage Recommendations

When it comes to the care and handling aerosols, Consulting Entomologist Jeff Tucker says, like virtually any product, it’s best to avoid temperature extremes and to store aerosols in a secure location. "It’s not a good idea to carry aerosols in an open box in your pick-up truck where someone other than a technician can gain access to it," he says.

"You also want to store them in areas where temperatures won’t exceed 130 degrees." If the cans get hot, the gas inside expands, which can cause the container to rupture, although it doesn’t happen very often, according to Tucker.

It’s also a good idea to avoid extreme cold when transporting aerosols to the job site or when storing them at your facility. "Most aerosol products won’t freeze," Tucker said, although foam formulations contain more moisture than traditional aerosols and, therefore, are more susceptible to freezing.

The bottom line? It’s best to store all aerosols at room temperature and in a secure location – whether it’s in a locked supply room at your facility or a secure storage container on your vehicle.
 

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Controlling Pests in Restaurants and Commercial Kitchens

There’s a lot riding on your treatment strategy: Even the finest restaurant can be brought down by poor pest management. And to make things even more challenging, a restaurant or commercial kitchen is a complex environment, requiring a range of well thought out management tactics. The Prescription Treatment® philosophy of pest management, from BASF Pest Control Solutions, is built around Crack & Crevice® treatment. Prescription Treatment Pest Management is a five-step process that integrates all the necessary steps to control pests in a manner consistent with IPM. They include:

Inspect – Inspection is the cornerstone of Prescription Treatment Pest Management. The reason is simple: when you have good information, you make informed decisions.

Prescribe – Prescribing is choosing the right treatment based on the information gathered during the inspection. In an integrated approach to pest management, several prescriptions may be right for a given situation. Understanding the strategy, product, and treatment options – and the advantages of each – is necessary for prescribing the most effective solution.

Treat – Treatment techniques are the actions taken to solve pest problems, focusing on how the prescription will be implemented. Learning each technique and the product attributes will arm technicians with the knowledge to make effective applications.

Communicate – Communication equals value. Period. The more a customer understands what you’re doing and why, the more your service is valued. It begins with the sales process and is applied during every phase of service – it never ends.

Follow-Up – Leaving the service only half completed is a common problem. The service doesn’t end when all the pests are dead or when you leave the account. Careful follow-up is the key to effective pest management, happy customers and repeat business.

Targeted aerosol applications using the System III are a key component of BASF’s Prescription Treatment philosophy and one of the best techniques pest management professionals have for delivering highly effective performance while optimizing the amount of pesticide used in these sensitive accounts, according to BASF.

To learn more about how to control pests in restaurants and commercial kitchens using targeted aerosol applications, contact your BASF sales representative or visit www.pestcontrol.basf.us.

(Source: Restaurant & Commercial Kitchens: Strategy and Treatment)
 

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Crack and Crevice Treatment:
What Makes It So Good?

By Larry Pinto & Sandra Kraft

A crack and crevice treatment is the application of a relatively small quantity of insecticide inside a crack or crevice. Crack and crevice treatment can be made with residual or contact insecticides, and with aerosols, liquids, dusts or baits. It is the method of choice for many of our most common pests for a variety of reasons including:

Many pests spend much of their lives hidden in cracks, crevices and the voids behind them (think cockroaches and bed bugs). Fifty years ago common advice given to technicians was to: "Spray where the pests hide during the day." That’s still sound advice, although today we would say "treat" rather than "spray."

Pests often enter buildings and move from room to room through cracks and crevices. Examples include ants and a long list of occasional invaders, from millipedes to lady beetles. Insecticides applied into these cracks and crevice entryways can kill these pests before they become a problem in a new location.

Minimizing the potential human exposure to pesticides is a major goal today, whether you call your service pest control, IPM, or "green." When insecticide is applied into cracks and crevices it is generally inaccessible to people, children and pests … a very good thing. A crack and crevice treatment is also far less likely to contaminate food in kitchens and other food areas, particularly in commercial operations, which is why many product labels limit treatment sites in commercial kitchens to cracks and crevices.

An insecticide in a crack, crevice or void remains effective longer because it is protected from degradation by light, air flow, cleaning, etc.

If an insecticide has any repellency, an insect will avoid it if it can. But that same insect will often put up with repellency in a crack or crevice because of the insect’s need to feel protected in its normal hiding place.

This article was adapted from Techletter, a bi-weekly publication from Pinto & Associates, Mechanisville, Md. To subscribe, visit www.techletter.com, or call 301/884-3020.
 

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Knowing When to Use Aerosols

An emergency phone call at 8:00 p.m. sent Lisa Storey scurrying to a Miami-area bookstore in late August. Manager of the Pest Control Division of Eastern Exterminating, in Florida City, Fla., Lisa knew time was of the essence. The bookstore had been invaded by black ants.

"We really hit the Mother Lode with this situation," notes Lisa, a certified technician with 20 years of pest control experience. "The owner had some roof work done and someone disturbed a nest. Ants were everywhere – getting into the books and the bookcases and up and down the walls. There were thousands of them."

Lisa’s answer? Aerosol products. She sprayed the nest with a flushing and contact agent from the CB product line, available from FMC, to kill ants on the spot. She then followed up with a crack-and-crevice treatment designed to provide residual control. By the next morning, the owner put the books back on the shelves and returned to business as usual.

"We really couldn’t function without good aerosol products, especially a decent flushing agent," adds Maria Storey, Lisa’s sister-in-law and office manager for the family business. Also a certified technician, Maria learned the ropes from her father-in-law, Powell Porter, who founded the business in 1986. The firm offers fertilization, lawn treatments and fumigation in addition to pest control.

Known as the Bug Ladies of South Florida, Maria and Lisa are used to various reactions from customers when they show up to treat their houses. Often, women feel more comfortable working with another woman, Lisa says.

"As pest management professionals, our goal is to solve the homeowner or commercial manager’s problem," she notes. "We fine tune our treatments and adjust to each situation. To do that, we need the right product for each occasion, so we don’t have to come back for a service recall."

Though the industry has seen an increase in use of baits in recent years, Maria says Eastern technicians will never be without effective aerosol products on their trucks. One such product is IGR™ Fogger, from FMC. Eastern uses it for control of ticks and fleas. Each fully evacuating canister of the product delivers up to 5,000 square feet of fast-acting knockdown and control. "We count on it to provide total control of ticks and fleas," adds Lisa. "If you get a recall on a tick service, you definitely lose your profit margin."

They also rely on Invader® insecticide with propoxur as a crack-and-crevice treatment for particularly pervasive commercial pest problems. "We can treat wall voids, crevices and inside wallboards – places you wouldn’t be able to reach without aerosol products," Lisa says.

One of the biggest benefits to using aerosols is their fast action, Maria notes. Not only do these products get into places you could never treat with liquids or baits, they control insects immediately. "If you look at a job and you need to have rapid response, aerosols need to be a key part of your strategy," she says. "In many situations, you simply can’t wait for baits to take effect – you’ve got to knock them down."

Eastern’s business is about 75 percent residential and 25 percent commercial. Maria’s husband, Jess Storey, is the firm’s general manager, overseeing all divisions. Some 99 percent of Eastern’s new business is the result of word-of-mouth advertising, a testament to the firm’s high-quality service.

"We try to make sure our customers are always happy," Maria adds. "Especially in this type of economy, you want to be sure your customers get what they need and more for what they pay. To do that, you need to use the best products possible – and that’s what we have on our trucks."

(Source: FMC Professional Solutions)