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The BMPs note that only canine teams (the handler and the canine) can be certified. Without human handlers interpreting the behavioral changes in their canine counterparts, canines have little value as bed bug detectors.
A common misconception is the idea that a canine can be individually certified. The BMPs note that only canine teams (the handler and the canine) can be certified. Without human handlers interpreting the behavioral changes in their canine counterparts, canines have little value as bed bug detectors. If multiple handlers are assigned to perform inspections with a single canine, each combination of canine and handler must be tested individually. If a single handler works with multiple canines, the same rule applies. The reason for this requirement is that each canine has unique, often subtle, behavioral cues that indicate that it has de- tected a target odor, so handlers need to be trained and tested for work with each canine. In the same way that the BMPs do not provide for certification of individual handlers or canines, individual com- panies are not able to be certified either.
Q A
These tiny collected from a client’s garage. Hundreds of them were found on the floor. Each morning 10–20 additional insects can be found near a light source. What are they and how can I treat?
The insect in question is a male scale insect. These tiny insects look like miniscule wasps and can be identified by their reduced rear
wings, vestigial mouthparts and style located at the tip of its abdomen. Male scale insects don’t feed on plants like their female counterparts; in fact, these male scale insects don’t feed at all. They only live for a short period of time, during which their only purpose is to mate. Interestingly, some species of scale insects don’t produce males at all; instead, females reproduce parthenogenetically, essentially producing a genetic clone of herself. The mystery now is this: why were hundreds of
them on the garage floor? You will need to track down the source then treat it. I would check the plants nearby to see if you can find any female scales attached to the stems or undersides of leaves. They may be attracted to light in the garage and enter at night. Check for plants inside or outside of the garage to see if they are infested with scale insects. (Maybe they got caught on a wind gust and blew into the garage.) Finally, keep in mind that you will need an orna-
mental license to treat shrubs or other plants for scale insects. Check with your state lead agency to deter- mine what the requirements are in your state.
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32 PESTWORLD NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
www.npmapestworld.org
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