PCT Awards Gift Cards to Mosquito Survey Participants

CLEVELAND — Pest Control Technology (PCT) magazine announced the winners of $50 Visa gift cards for participating in PCT research conducted by third-party firm Readex Research. Results from these surveys were from PCT’s State of the Mosquito Market report in 2024.

The following PMPs were awarded the gift cards for completing the surveys:

• Efrain Velasco B.C.E., technical director, Lloyd Pest Control, San Diego, Calif.
• Alan Harlan, A.C.E., vice president of service and quality control, Team Pest USA, Loganville, Ga.
• Mark Franz, operations manager, Superior Pest Service, Arundel, Maine.
• Anthony Mortellaro, account executive three, Rentokil North America.

Harlan designs and manages the development and implementation of products and programs, provides internal training and reinforces Team Pest USA’s company culture and philosophy.

He said the key to employee retention is to, “be patient and hire the right person, take care of them and give them a reason to stay.”

German cockroaches in multi-family housing keep Team Pest USA the most active, Harlan said. “We have an extremely low callback percentage [on cockroaches],” he said.

Velasco manages the quality control, safety and regulatory departments at Lloyd and remains involved in state and national associations. “I am an active member of California’s Pest Management Associations, Urban Pest Management committee, Entomological Society of America, International Society of Arboriculture, and California Department of Pesticide Regulation's Pest Management Advisory Committee,” he said.

Velasco said rover ants, roof rats and mice are the top pests in Southern California; compared to Florida where mosquitoes, cockroaches and termites are keeping PMPs busy, Mortellaro said.