Monday, April 28, 2014

Newest Certified (Feb 8th thru April 4th 2014)

Our hearty congratulations to these newest certifiied professionals, all of whom passed their ACE or BCE exams recently.

New BCEs:
Major Lesly C. Calix, BCE, (US Army 65th MED BDE), APO, AP  USA.  Certified on 2/28/2014.
Mr. Stephen E. Smith, BCE, (Rose Pest Solutions), Toledo, OH  USA.  Certified on 2/28/2014.
Mr. Steven Ray Abramavage, BCE, (Practical Pest Solutions and IPM Consultants LLC), Ocoee, TN  USA.  Certified on 3/14/2014.
Mr. Wade Petersen, BCE, (US Army), Ft Lewis, WA  USA.  Certified on 3/26/2014.

New ACEs:
Mr. Michael G Boyle, ACE, (Envirosafe Pest Control), Carol Stream, IL  USA.  Certified on 2/7/2014.
Mr. Robert Evan Chavez, ACE, (Clark Pest Control), Lodi, CA  USA.  Certified on 2/13/2014.
Mr. Greg Ingram, ACE, (Clark Pest Control), Lodi, CA  USA.  Certified on 2/13/2014.
Mr. Travis Mickel, ACE, (Clark Pest Control), Lodi, CA  USA.  Certified on 2/13/2014.
Mr. Brad Avansino, ACE, (Clark Pest Control), Lodi, CA  USA.  Certified on 2/13/2014.
Mr. Ken Fish, ACE, (Clark Pest Control), Lodi, CA  USA.  Certified on 2/13/2014.
Mr. Eric Paulsen, ACE, (Clark Pest Control), Lodi, CA  USA.  Certified on 2/13/2014.
Mr. Ken Molter, ACE, (Clark Pest Control), Lodi, CA  USA.  Certified on 2/13/2014.
Mr. Eric Michael Radabaugh, ACE, (The Industrial Fumigant Company, LLC), Lewisberry, PA  USA.  Certified on 2/14/2014.
Mr. Michael Hunt, ACE, (Cats USA Pest Control, Inc.), North Hollywood, CA  USA.  Certified on 2/14/2014.
Mr. William Travis Hardin, ACE, (OPC Pest Control), Louisville, KY  USA.  Certified on 2/18/2014.
Mr. Ryan Levi Shelton, ACE, (Conn Pest Control), Flagstaff, AZ  USA.  Certified on 2/21/2014.
Mr. James Minor Harwell, ACE, (Orkin LLC), Covington, LA  USA.  Certified on 2/26/2014.
Mr. Robert Scott Adams, Jr., ACE, (Terminix Service Inc.), Columbia, SC  USA.  Certified on 3/4/2014.
Mr. Chris L McNeil, ACE, (Univar), Gilroy, CA  USA.  Certified on 3/7/2014.
Mr. James Edward Donovan, ACE, (Donovan's Pest Control, Inc), San Mateo, CA  USA.  Certified on 3/7/2014.
Mr. Bradley Neil Pearson, ACE, (Gregory Pest Solutions), Anderson, SC  USA.  Certified on 4/1/2014.
Mr. Jeffrey J. Colburn, ACE, (Greenhow Pest), Auburndale, MA  USA.  Certified on 4/4/2014.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Going Fishing: Improper Use of the BCE and ACE logos

This morning I did a little googling (who doesn't from time to time, right?). I do it every week or so as a kind of fishing expedition.

Every couple of days I spend some time looking out over the web trying to find instances where the ACE, BCE, and ESA Certification Corporation logos have been used inappropriately.  Often this is fruitless (which reinforces my belief that overall most people in this industry are responsible and trustworthy), but it is an important task nonetheless.

I do this to protect you, the ACE or BCE.  Anyone who inappropriately uses the ACE or BCE logo is causing you direct harm.  Here's why:

As the ESACC certification programs continue to grow in popularity, seeing a certification logo will have an increasingly larger impact on the customer's purchase decision. Both the BCE and ACE logos connote that the individual has proven themselves to be sufficiently knowledgeable of entomology to take and pass a rigorous examination. And that is something to be proud of. Putting the ACE or BCE logo on your website is a great way to publicly declare to your customers your accomplishment.

When a non-ACE or non-BCE (including former ACEs and BCEs) use the logos or say that they are Associate-Certified or Board-Certified when they are not, it waters down the overall importance of the certification.

The ESACC has established very clear rules for the use of the logos. You are encouraged to read the document and put the ACE or BCE logo on your site. Essentially, here are the rules:

1) Except in very rare circumstances, the ESACC logo should not be used.
2) Any current ACE may use the ACE logo
3) Any current BCE may use the BCE logo
4) Failure to maintain certification results in a revocation of the right to use the logos

It is up to everyone to help enforce the policy.
All ACEs and BCEs are encouraged to report any logo abuse to the ESACC. We are a very small staff and cannot devote as much time as required to protecting our brand. If you come across a site where you suspect that the ESACC logos are being used inappropriately, please contact the ESA Certification Director immediately. You can report abuse anonymously and we will contact the appropriate people to enforce the logo use policy.

Thanks for helping to protect the integrity of YOUR certification.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

State re-certification credits for Maryland

Great news for Maryland-based PMPs!

The ESA Certification Corporation just received notice from the Maryland Department of Agriculture Office of Plant Industries and Pest Management that taking and passing an ACE or BCE exam will qualify the applicant for state re-certification credits.

According to Ed Crow, the state entomologist in charge of licensing, certification, and training, "We will accept the completion of the examinations with a passing grade ... as satisfying our re-certification requirements for the license year in which the examination was taken. Each certification examination will satisfy the full re-certification training requirements for each of the pest control categories (below) that they have been approved."  This has been arranged for both the 2013-2014 and the 2014-2015 renewal years.

The ESACC Certification Exams will count for full credit in the following Categories:

  • ACE Exam (MD course #149508),  Categories 7A, 7B, 7E, and 10
  • BCE Qualifying Exam (MD course #149509), Categories 7A, 7B, 7E, and 10
  • BCE Urban and Industrial Specialty Exam (MD course #149510), Categories 7A, 7B, 7E, and 10
  • BCE Medical and Veterinary Specialty Exam (MD course #149511), Categories 1B, 7A, 8, and 10
  • BCE Plant-related Specialty Exam (MD course #149512), Categories 1A and 10
  • BCE General Entomology Specialty Exam (MD course #149513), Any Category
  • BCE Regulatory Entomology Specialty Exam (MD course #149514), Categories 1A, 2, 3A, 9, and 10
  • BCE Pesticide Development, Analysis, and Toxicology Exam (MD course #149515), Any Category
As proof of completion, the ACE or BCE simply needs to include a copy of their dated confirmation letter from the ESA or a copy of their certificate, as issued by ESA.


If you would like to have us pursue similar arrangement in YOUR state, contact the ESA HQ.


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

New ACE exam content outline dissected: S&I - (Part 2 of 4)

The ACE exam has been revised as has been discussed in many previous posts (see this one and this one for just a sampling).  The exam is based on a what is a content outline (CO).  All questions on the exam relate back to the CO. In October of 2013 I started a process that I am now finally getting back to. Talking about how to study for the exam (See also how to study for the new exam).

There are 4 Knowledge Domains on the new exam. The first is Inspection and Identification which we covered back in October.

The second domain on the exam is Selection and Implementation of Control Methods (S&I).  Under the S&I Domain there are seven skills that a person should be able to perform if they are to become an ACE. Those are:
  • Choose the appropriate control method(s) for pest management
  • Select the appropriate tool(s) for use with the pest management method(s) for pest scenarios 
  • Communicate which pesticides are or are not currently allowed for use by the EPA
  • Follow the label instructions and precautions
  • Educate the customer on their role in pest management
  • Perform selected pest control method(s)
  • Document and communicate the pest control method(s) applied and tool(s) used for application
Analyzed further for each skill, here are the tasks that you should be able to perform if you are going to demonstrate mastery of the skill for this domain.


Choose the appropriate control method(s) for pest management
  • Cultural control options available, appropriateness of each, and advantages/limitations of each (e.g., sanitation, temperature, special lighting, habitat modification)
  • Biological control options available, appropriateness of each, and advantages/limitations of each (e.g., predators, parasites, pathogens)
  • Mechanical control options available, appropriateness of each, and advantages/limitations of each (e.g., traps/glueboards, pest proof design, removal, air curtains, lights)
  • Chemical control options available, appropriateness of each, and advantages/limitations of each (e.g., IGRs, Pheromones/Attractants, Pesticides)
  • Simple modes of action of commonly used pesticides
  • Classifications of commonly used pesticides
  • Pesticide resistance
  • Pesticide formulations
  • Pesticide application techniques
  • Appropriateness (or not) of combinations of products
  • Following label instructions, including disposal
  • Relative effectiveness/efficacy versus risk of various control methods and options within each method
  • Importance of selecting least hazardous effective method(s)/option(s)
  • How to locate local/state regulations that may differ from product labels

Select the appropriate tool(s) for use with the pest management method(s) for pest scenarios
  • Tools available, appropriateness of each, and advantages/limitations of each and related safety precautions (e.g., compressed air sprayer, infrared camera, gas detector, duster)
  • Regulations (if any) pertaining to each tool

Communicate which pesticides are or are not currently allowed for use by the EPA
  • In which cases certain products are used or not (cyclodiences, Chlorinated hydrocarbons (e.g., DDT, Chlordane, Lindane), Carbamates (e.g. aldicarb, carbofuran, propoxur), Organophosphates (e.g. malathion, chorpyrifos, diazinon, mlathion)
  • The reasons why (in general) pesticides are no longer used
  • FIFRA’s major provisions
  • Relationship between state and federal regulations (which takes precedence)
  • Role that EPA plays in federal legislation (e.g., FIFRA)

Follow the label instructions and precautions
  • Common precautions
  • Active ingredients
  • Types of formulations
  • Proper storage and disposal
  • Concentration and mixing procedures
  • Restricted use pesticides
  • Legal and illegal uses
  • Trade names, common names and chemical names
  • Toxic dosages
  • FIFRA

Educate the customer on their role in pest management
  • Critical messages to convey
  • Appropriate methods for message conveyance
  • Behavioral customer modifications

Perform selected pest control method(s)
  • Appropriate application techniques for each of the pest control methods
  • Regulations and restrictions pertaining to application techniques and products
  • Application of the ACE Code of Ethics

Document and communicate the pest control method(s) applied and tool(s) used for application
  • What to document
  • How to document
  • Where to document
  • To whom to communicate
  • Application of the ACE Code of Ethics




Monday, April 7, 2014

Certified Science - March 2014

Certifiedsciencelogo.jpg

A Periodic ESA E-mail Service to ACEs and Urban-Industrial BCEs

The Entomological Society of America is the #1 source of scientific information for the entomologically-focused urban professional. This email is a service of the ESA for all ACEs and any BCEs who hold a specialty in urban and industrial entomology.

Here is a summary of some recent articles in the ESA journals that relate to structural pest management and urban arthropod pests. The abstracts are freely available online for all articles, though access to the full text will generally require member in the ESA, in addition to your certification.

Crop-Emptying Rate and the Design of Pesticide Risk Assessment Schemes in the Honey Bee and Wild Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Authors: Fournier, Alice; Rollin, Orianne; Le Féon, Violette; Decourtye, Axel; Henry, Mickaël

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 107, Number 1, February 2014

Abstract:  Recent scientific literature and reports from official sanitary agencies have pointed out the deficiency of current pesticide risk assessment processes regarding sublethal effects on pollinators. Sublethal effects include troubles in learning performance, orientation skills, or mobility, with possible contribution to substantial dysfunction at population scale. However, the study of sublethal effects is currently limited by considerable knowledge gaps ... (Click here for full abstract)

Pheromone-Assisted Techniques to Improve the Efficacy of Insecticide Sprays Against Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Authors: Choe, Dong-Hwan; Tsai, Kasumi; Lopez, Carlos M.; Campbell, Kathleen

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 107, Number 1, February 2014

Abstract:  Outdoor residual sprays are among the most common methods for targeting pestiferous ants in urban pest management programs. If impervious surfaces such as concrete are treated with these insecticides, the active ingredients can be washed from the surface by rain or irrigation. As a result, residual sprays with fipronil and pyrethroids are found in urban waterways and aquatic sediments. Given the amount of insecticides applied to urban settings for ant control ... (Click here for full abstract)

Field and Laboratory Efficacy of Three Insecticides for Population Management of the Asian Cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Authors: Snoddy, Edward T.; Appel, Arthur G.

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 107, Number 1, February 2014

Abstract:  Toxicity, repellency, and performance of three insecticides, ?-cyfluthrin EC, fipronil granules, and an essential oil EC formulation, were evaluated against the Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, in field and laboratory experiments. The ?-cyfluthrin EC and fipronil granules were significantly more toxic than the essential oil EC formulation under continuous exposure conditions, with LT50 values of 0.014, 0.45, and 11.45 d, respectively. The ?-cyfluthrin EC and fipronil granules were also significantly more toxic (Click here for full abstract)

Spatial Pattern in Aerosol Insecticide Deposition Inside a Flour Mill

Authors: Campbell, James F.; Arthur, Frank H.; Zhu, Kun Yan

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 107, Number 1, February 2014

Abstract:  Aerosol insecticides are commonly used for management of stored-product pests inside food facilities, but the physical complexity of the interior of most food facilities may influence the dispersal and deposition of droplets and create spatial variation in dosage. The spatial pattern in aerosol deposition was evaluated inside a flour mill using a high density grid of bioassay insects. Three insecticides, Aerotech with NyGuard and Pyrocide 100 + Diacon II ... (Click here for full abstract)

An Inexpensive Feeding Bioassay Technique for Stored-Product Insects

Authors: Clark, Erin L.; Isitt, Rylee; Plettner, Erika; Fields, Paul G.; Huber, Dezene P.W.

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 107, Number 1, February 2014

Abstract:  We used the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), to compare three feeding bioassay techniques using flour disks. The area (scanner or digital photographs) and mass (sensitive balance) of the same flour disks were measured daily for 1 or 2 wk to assess feeding by insects. The loss in mass and area over 4 h was measured, as some variation over time was noticed in the disks with no insects feeding on them. ...  (Click here for full abstract)

Evaluation of Synergized Pyrethrin Aerosol for Control of Tribolium castaneum and Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Authors: Kharel, Kabita; Arthur, Frank H.; Zhu, Kun Yan; Campbell, James F.; Subramanyam, Bhadriraju

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 107, Number 1, February 2014

Abstract:  Aerosol insecticides are being used in flour mill pest management programs, but there is limited information on their efficacy on different insect life stages. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of synergized pyrethrin applied as an aerosol against eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val. Effects of direct and indirect exposure were evaluated by exposing each life stage to the aerosol and then ...  (Click here for full abstract)

Effect of Abiotic Factors on Initiation of Red Flour Beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Flight

Authors: Perez-Mendoza, Joel; Campbell, James F.; Throne, James E.

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 107, Number 1, February 2014

Abstract:  Traps baited with pheromones are used to monitor the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), populations in flour mills to aid in making pest management decisions, but the factors that influence T. castaneum movement are not fully understood. We investigated the impact of photoperiod, light intensity, temperature, and relative humidity on flight initiation. The percentage of adults initiating flight reached a maximum at 30-35°C, and then fell to zero at 22.5 and 45°C. Only 2% of beetles flew in complete darkness,...  (Click here for full abstract)

Attract-and-Kill and Other Pheromone-Based Methods to Suppress Populations of the Indianmeal Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Authors: Campos, Manuel; Phillips, Thomas W.

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 107, Number 1, February 2014

Abstract:  Three attract-and-kill formulations, a gel, a wax panel, and a plastic cylinder were tested in simulated warehouses at three densities of devices and at three densities of moths, Plodia interpunctella Hübner, per room. Wax panels and the cylinder formulations suppressed all the densities of moths with only one device per room. Two field experiments were then conducted during 2005 and 2006 in replicated commercial pet food and grocery ...  (Click here for full abstract)

Efficacy of Products to Remove Eggs of Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) From the Human Hair

Authors: Lapeere, Hilde; Brochez, Lieve; Verhaeghe, Evelien; Vander Stichele, Robert H.; Remon, Jean-Paul; Lambert, Jo; Leybaert, Luc

Source: Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 51, Number 2, March 2014

Abstract:  Head lice infestations are very common in children aged between 3 and 12 yr old. The eggs of the head louse are difficult to remove and remain firmly attached to the hair even after any head louse treatment. Solid in vitro and in vivo evidence to support the use of any of the proposed products to facilitate nit removal is scarce. The objective of the current study was to determine the efficacy of several products to remove eggshells from human hair ...  (Click here for full abstract)

Vacant Lots: Productive Sites for Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Mérida City, México

Authors: Baak-Baak, Carlos M.; Arana-Guardia, Roger; Cigarroa-Toledo, Nohemi; Loroño-Pino, María Alba; Reyes-Solis, Guadalupe; Machain-Williams, Carlos; Beaty, Barry J.; Eisen, Lars; García-Rejón, Julián E.

Source: Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 51, Number 2, March 2014

Abstract:  We assessed the potential for vacant lots and other nonresidential settings to serve as source environments for Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Mérida City, México. Mosquito immatures were collected, during November 2011-June 2013, from residential premises (n = 156 site visits) and nonresidential settings represented by vacant lots (50), parking lots (18), and streets or sidewalks (28). Collections totaled 46,025 mosquito immatures of 13 species. Ae. aegypti was the most commonly encountered ...  (Click here for full abstract)


In addition to the scientific research, ESA also hosts the Entomology Today blog. Some recent posts of interest include:
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