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ASK THE EXPERT
BY JIM FREDERICKS
Q A
Our firm often gets requests to perform flea treatments, but we’re not sure what the service would entail. What can a pest management firm do to help control ticks on a resi- dential property?
Most ticks prefer shaded habitats with relatively high humidity and do not survive well in areas with direct sunlight. To take
advantage of this behavior, most pest management professionals approach tick control by focusing on the areas of a property where ticks are most likely to be encountered. Since ticks will rarely infest a well manicured lawn, the interface (called the ecotone) between the lawn and natural, wooded, or weedy areas is where the application should be fo- cused. Some PCOs will use a high volume sprayer, to create a tick free “buffer zone” between the tick- free lawn area and infested natural areas. Many will also use granules for this treatment in conjunction with the liquid application. It’s important to find a properly labeled product to use for this treatment and make sure that you have the proper licenses/ certifications to make pesticide applications away from the structure. The rules regarding licensing vary, so check with your state lead agency to deter- mine what is required in your state.
In addition to the treatment described above, an
important part of a tick management program is communication. It is good practice to recommend that your customer reduce the amount of weedy or overgrown areas on their property and limit their exposure to infested locations. Repellants containing DEET can be highly effective when used according to label instructions as well.
Q A
What is the definition of an inaccessible area when performing a wood destroying insect inspection report and completing the
NPMA-33 form?
The definition of inaccessible is different for each inspection and each inspector. On page two of the NPMA-33 form you will
find information about obstructions and inacces- sible areas. This section provides additional detail to the
inspector and customer as to what is commonly considered an area obstructed or inaccessible for inspection. It provides guidance on completing Section IV of the NPMA-33 form. This section states that lack of a ladder for access or less than 24 inches of clearance beneath floor joists in the crawl space are acceptable explanations for accessibility to parts of the structure. Note that neither factor is intended to limit the scope or quality of the inspec- tion when the inspector can readily gain access to these areas. Although the 24-inch clearance and no ladder examples are used as reasons for inacces- sibility, they are not hard and fast definitions. If you can fit in the crawl, the rule of thumb is to inspect the area. Since it’s the inspector’s job to find termites (not clear houses) they should make every effort to find them. If during the course of the inspection an area cannot be accessed or is obstructed in a way so that an inspection cannot be performed, then it should be carefully noted in Section IV of the NPMA-33 form.
30 PESTWORLD NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
www.npmapestworld.org
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