Mosquito Misting Systems What Do Pest Management Professionals Think

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Mosquito Misting SystemsWhat Do Pest Management
Professionals Think?

• Bobby Jenkins
• ABC Pest and Lawn
• Austin, Texas
• Rick Bell
• Arrow Exterminators
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Mike Rottler
• Rottler Pest Lawn Solutions
• St. Louis, Missouri

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Consumers Want Solutions to Mosquito Problems
 

• Pest Pressure in Texas extremely high
• Mosquito season lasts 9 months
• Backyard landscaping is very dense

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What Do Consumers Want?

• Desire to utilize outdoor living space
• Large investment in backyard
• Pools, hot tubes, patios, outdoor fire places,
  outdoor kitchens, sport courts, children
  playscapes
• Children and adults need to be able to access
• People willing to invest significant dollars
• Misting systems average from 2000-3000 in Texas
• Quarterly charge 150

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Do Mosquito Misting Systems Work?

• System Results
• More than 300 installed in Texas
• Customers very satisfied
• Mosquito populations reduced by over 95
• Can now utilize back yard more often

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Misting SystemsChallenges for Pest Management
Professionals

• There are two broad areas of challenge facing
  PMPs who desire to successfully integrate misting
  systems in their business

Internal Challenges
External Challenges
SUCCESS
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External Challenges

• Is this I.P.M.? (population density, action
  threshold,)
• Effect on beneficial Insects
• Resistance
• Target Pests
• Non-target Pests
• System Damage
• Cut Lines
• Leaking nozzles
• Ruptured Drums
• Homeowner Intervention
• Changing formulations
• Access to timer / remote control
• Kids exposure

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Internal Challenges

• Additional licensing / certification from the
  state.
• Soliciting customer involvement.
• Commitment to specialized training.
• Commitment to explore additional methods and
  materials.
• Is this I.P.M.? (scientific data vs. anecdotal
  data)
• Guard against overselling.
• Can we satisfy the customer?
• On demand vs. Timed application.
• Did we install correctly? How do we know?

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Overcoming These Challenges Together

• Pest Management Professionals welcome assistance
  from state regulators and the EPA

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Overcoming These Challenges Together

• Responsible advertising and promotion
• Eliminate misleading ideas from marketing vehicles

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Overcoming These Challenges Together

• Regulate sales and service by licensed operators
  only
• Require systems to be secured

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Overcoming These Challenges Together

• Eliminate risk of direct exposure
• Implement override mechanisms
• Replace use of timers with on-demand systems

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Overcoming These Challenges Together

• Establishment of workgroup with key stakeholder
  involvement
• Uniform policies throughout the United States

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Pest Management Professionals want Mosquito
Misting Systems to be

• Safe
• Effective
• Available