***updated on 1/11 at 10:15 a.m.***
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For the last 88 years, the Purdue Pest Management Conference has brought together leading industry professionals to share the latest in progressive pest management. At this year’s conference, held this week in West Lafayette, Ind., speakers carried on this tradition while also discussing how pest management professionals (PMPs) play a role in One Health.
As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), One Health is “an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.”
Carrie Campbell, president of Hatfield Pest Control, LaPorte, Ind., and the industry chair of the Purdue Pest Management Conference, noted that PMPs play an important role in this initiative “with our knowledge and practice of Integrated Pest Management. We are on the frontlines of protecting the health of people, animals, food and environment. We are tasked with similar challenges as epidemiologists, veterinarians, and members of CDC, USDA and other prominent disciplines.”
Following Campbell was a video from “anchor” Mark VanderWerp (Rose Pest Solutions), who provided a humorous look back at the year in pests (2023). VanderWerp noted that popular YouTuber Mark Rober’s bed bug video (shot at Dr. Changlu Wang’s lab at Rutgers University and in the field) has garnered 28.5 million views and counting. “Mark [Rober] is known for fun engineering feats like glitter bombs, filling pools with Jell-o, and building a cannon that can launch t-shirts out of a stadium. I thought this was awesome that a serious influencer like Mark did a video on bed bugs, while also simultaneously being seriously let down that he didn't engineer a way to launch them into low-earth orbit, or something a little more Mark Roberish.”
University of Florida entomologist Dr. Faith Oi further explored One Health and where the pest control industry fits in. Oi noted that while PMPs protect humans, animals and environmental health there is nothing in the One Health initiative about safeguarding the “built environment.” Oi said the pest control industry deserves a seat at the table as they are “implementers” who rise to the occasion. For example, CDC recently came out with a report saying vector control districts were not prepared – that they were missing one competency. “That’s when they come to the industry and say ‘Help us.’ So we deserve that seat at the table,” Oi said.
Another highlight from this year’s Purdue conference was a cockroach control panel moderated by consultant and former PCO Pete Schopen and featuring Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian (Rose Pest Solutions); Ameya Gondhalekar (Purdue University), Morgan Wilson, (Virginia Tech University) and Mike Bentley (NPMA). All of the panelists agreed that the No. 1 mistake PMPs make when it comes to cockroach control is not using enough bait. Gondhalekar said that although resistance remains a concern, the pest control has done a good job addressing this challenge thanks to a collaborative effort from researchers, manufacturers and PMPs.
- FMC’s Eric Ham presented on "Truck Equipment." Ham reviewed a variety of service vehicles on the road and considerations for retrofitting them. “Set your vehicles up to be most efficient for technicians, and get their feedback on how to do so,” Ham said.
- Cassie Krejci, Rentokil Terminix, gave PMPs a better understanding of how to read labels, calculate chemical usage and prepare solutions in the field. “If you’re not doing the math correctly and putting too much chemical down, that’s loss,” Krejci said. “It’s important to remember calculating the amount of material that’s supposed to go down to do the job, a leading indicator on why math is important.”
- Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian, Rose Pest Solutions, discussed four functions of cockroach monitoring: to determine population size and scope; to track activity; to indicate elimination; and early detection.
- Jeff McGovern, The Resource Shop, kicked off the 88th Annual Purdue Pest Management Conference by discussing the “three C’s” of safety in small spaces: crawling, climbing and crouching.
- At Pi Chi Omega’s annual membership meeting, president Desiree Straubinger announced that Burt’s Termite & Pest Control and the Indiana Pest Management Association made a $5,000 donation to the Pi Chi Omega Industry Grant Program in Gene White’s memory. Doug Foster, Carrie Campbell and Rob Jackson were on hand for a ceremonial check presentation. Straubinger also recognized Sheperdigian for having served on the Pi Chi Omega Board of Directors for the last eight years.
- Attendees were treated to laboratory tours at Smith Hall, home of the Purdue University Entomology Program.
On Wednesday, Bobby Corrigan, RMC Pest Management Consulting and Hardy Kern, American Bird Conservancy, shared the stage. Kern shared how EPA reaches decisions regarding rodenticides, while Corrigan provided the PMPs' perspective, discussing how the pest control industry can adapt to possible forthcoming EPA restrictions to second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides. Corrigan said the industry needs to be brace itself for "a near future without second generation anticoagulant rodenticides," but he is not concerned because of the technology and practices available to PMPs to protect public health and properties.
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