Prudent Pesticide Use When Patrolling the Perimeter

 

Perimeter treatments to building exteriors do have a role for the control of many types of pests including ants, millipedes, crickets and European earwigs, but they should not be the sole treatments used for exterior pest services. Less overall insecticide can be applied in a more effective manner when targeted at active and likely pest harborages.

 

Each exterior service situation is different, having different types of vegetation, landscape beds and potential harborages. Some buildings have more of these than others and thus may require more service time. The more vegetation, mulch, leaf litter and/or items on the ground that are present, the greater potential for higher pest activity. The goal is not to eliminate all pests outside but instead to lessen the likelihood pests will make their way inside and be seen by the customer.

 

ANTS DRIVE SERVICE CALLS. Ants are by far the most prevalent and persistent exterior pest, constantly exploring for new resources. Most inside sightings are from colonies located outside, and, in some cases, subcolonies may be established inside. The most effective way to limit ant invasions inside is to find and treat colonies outside. Efforts should not just focus next to the foundation but extend away from the building to the property boundaries as colonies left untouched away from the foundation will move to infest treated areas.

 

It is smart to carry a sprayer while inspecting for ants as when a colony is uncovered, the ants can quickly relocate within minutes. Drenching each colony as it is discovered is both efficient and effective, allowing for minimal insecticide application. Other pests found while turning over items, looking through piled items, or searching in landscape beds for ants can also be treated as they are discovered.

 

Besides location and treatment of active pest harborages on the property, prevention of pest incursions indoors should target potential pest entry points. Insecticides applied directly into cracks and holes where pests may harbor or enter will last longer than those applied to surfaces around such openings. A variety of formulations may be used to treat inside exterior cracks and holes, including dusts, aerosols, baits, foams, and water-based products. Which formulation is used depends on the situation, such as the depth of the space behind the crack or the type of pest being targeted.

 

Overwintering pests, such as lady beetles or cluster flies, benefit from the application of a residual insecticide applied into exterior cracks combined with spot applications to the surfaces surrounding such openings where these pests land before crawling inside. For ants, application of a non-repellent insecticide into the cracks contacts and kills ants as the forage to the inside. Peridomestic cockroaches may best be treated using baits applied into openings and into soffits.

 

Initially, it may take considerable time to treat exterior cracks. Involving the customer to seal off cracks and openings or selling them an exclusion service to do it for them reduces the need for future retreatments, thus saving time and treatments on future service visits.

 

Spider management is another aspect of perimeter service. A common approach is to sweep off webbing using a cobweb brush on each service, but this step alone does little to reduce spider numbers. Spot treatments applied to corners under soffits and porches and other sites where web-building spiders locate their webs (1) contacts spiders and their egg sacs and (2) leaves behind residual deposits on surfaces where future spiders may contact while constructing new webs.

 

PERIMETER TREATMENT OF THE FOUNDATION. Last, perimeter treatments to foundations should focus on the situation at hand rather than routine application to all label-allowed exterior services. For example, a home with high pressure from ants, such as Argentine ants during summer in California, will benefit from a full label­-directed perimeter treatment during those months. At other times of the year when ants are less prevalent, targeted treatments where ant trails are seen will be effective and save time and material. Where a customer has an issue with peridomestic cockroaches, a perimeter treatment will provide less results than targeted treatment with baits and other residual formulations.

 

Pest professionals can, and should, be prudent with their application decisions during exterior services. They should keep in mind the target pests affecting the customer and then make selections of treatments and formulations to fit the situation, targeting active harborages and pest entry points for a more efficient and effective overall service.

 

 

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Barricor SP offers a valuable new option for high-frequency, low-impact maintenance services in both residential and commercial accounts. The product features an innovative solid particle (SP) formulation that provides outstanding performance on complex surfaces (i.e., mulch, concrete, gravel, etc.) by allowing the active ingredient to remain more bioavailable to more than 40 common pests.

 

Barricor SP is also technician-friendly, requiring no personal protective equipment to apply, and is also friendly to your company's bottom line since it is available at a similar cost per home to economy pyrethroids. Other features and benefits include:

• Ease of Use

• Broad Label

• Effective on Complex Services

• No Signal Word

• Proven Active Ingredient

• Cost effective

• Low Dose Rate

 

The high-performance, low-dose rate formulation product is available in a 32-ounce precise tip­and-pour package. To learn more about Barricor SP, contact your local Bayer representative or visit www.es.bayer.us/barricor.

 

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The goal of perimeter pest management is simple. Stop pests outside before they enter a customer's home or business.

 

When there are no pests inside, a perimeter-only treatment is common practice for maintenance service to residential accounts during the year. This strategy is largely possible due to advances in pesticide technology where Bayer has led the way with new products and formulations that work better and last longer around the home. Perimeter-only service has advantages for both PMPs and customers:

 

• Convenient scheduling - the customer doesn't have to be home

• Less time required to service the account

• No pesticide applied inside, reducing the chance of exposure

• Control pests outdoors at the source or nest

 

Non-chemical control methods provide added value and can result in additional revenue. These methods include:

 

• Remove alternative food sources - trash cans with tight-fitting lids

• Seal exterior gaps

• Confirm that doors and windows are screened properly

• Basement/crawlspace vents working properly

• Move firewood away from the home

• Remove clutter and harborage away from the foundation

• Remove excess mulch from around the foundation, recommend gravel

• Trim bushes and trees away from the structure

• Ensure vents are screened

• Reduce excessive moisture

• Make sure gutters are clean and functioning

• Remove dead trees, stumps and landscape timbers

• Make lighting recommendations

• Remove spider webs