Trusted Name, Tested Formulation
Crown Leadership Awards Sponsored By Syngenta - Crown Leadership Awards
Sprayable Advion WDG insecticide provides versatile, effective control for a broad spectrum of target insects, including large-colony ants.
© Henrik_L | iStockphoto
The customer calls roll in fast in late spring and early summer—complaints that those ants are at it again. Pest management professionals (PMPs) who deal with large-colony ant species like Argentine and tawny crazy ants know just how fast these mega families multiply.
"We call them super colonies because they take up acres of land, and they don't fight—it's one big colony where the ants are not aggressive toward each other," says Daniel Suiter, an entomologist at the University of Georgia, who has been testing Advion® WDG insecticide from Syngenta on these large colonies.
"Most ants that come from the same species (but different colonies) fight, and that limits their foraging range," he explains. "But super colonies have multiple queens with hundreds of thousands of workers that can dominate a large area."
So, Suiter and his team tank-mixed Advion WDG with Demon® Max insecticide. They applied the product to sites where large-colony ant invasions are a perennial problem—and they made the first test application in May, in hopes of heading off infestations and improving service. A second application was scheduled for late July, when these ants are notoriously high-pressure.
"Six weeks after the early-season treatment, the [Advion WDG] control was still performing really well," Suiter reports, adding that this efficacy is especially notable. Managing large-colony ant species is a real challenge.
Additionally, Advion WDG is versatile because it is labeled for control of an expansive range of pests, from cockroaches and termites to pantry pests and ants. All told, there are 40 different pests listed on the label. "PMPs gain a lot of flexibility with this product," Suiter says of the non-repellent, non-pyrethroid and non-neonicotinoid formulation.
Versatile, Low-Toxicity Control
PMPs can give customers peace of mind with Advion WDG because of where and how the formula works. The sprayable product can be used in high-volume, low-concentration applications in areas where a PMP might use an Advion gel bait, but needs more widespread control, particularly for managing large-colony ants.
Chris Keefer, Technical Services Manager, Syngenta PPM
The active ingredient indoxacarb works by blocking insect neuron sodium channels. The formula's MetaActiveTM effect differentiates between pests and non-target organisms, which makes it well suited for treating inside and outside homes and commercial sites, in commercial kitchens and food-handling facilities, and up to 10 feet out from a structure. "Indoxacarb requires metabolic activation by the insect before it can block the sodium channel," explains Chris Keefer, technical services manager for Professional Pest Management at Syngenta, North America.
"Indoxacarb has low toxicity to mammals because we have different enzymes in our bodies than insects," Keefer says, relating that PMPs can assure customers that by incorporating Advion WDG into a program, they can control pests with a solution that is targeted and effective. "The active ingredient was registered under the EPA's Reduced Risk Program*," he adds.
Keefer explains how the high-volume, low-concentration Advion WDG applications can help manage complex, widespread ant colonies. "You want to attack these ants in early spring when they have their brood up in the upper echelon of the soil profile, and by using a higher volume, you are encouraging the product's active ingredient to push into the soil profile to attack the insects before they become a problem," he says.
Suiter adds that the gradual action of Advion WDG allows ants to spread the product to nestmates, enhancing efficacy. "It gives the ants time to move it around," he says.
The convenient sprayable formulation makes treating roughly four dozen other pests efficient and effective. Plus, PMPs say that customers recognize the Advion product name.
"Our Advion cockroach baits are number one in the market, and people know that," Keefer says. "Everyone knows the brand name and they associate it with great control. Now, we have introduced a sprayable Advion to the market, and that is an advantage to PMPs and their customers."
Targeted Insect Pest Control
Advion WDG is a versatile non-pyrethroid insecticide that provides effective and flexible control of a broad range of pests in residential and commercial accounts. Key features and benefits include:
Contains indoxacarb (oxadiazine chemistry); the only sprayable chemical in its class
Unique mode of action: bio-activation of the active ingredient by the insect enzymes
Controls flying and crawling insects such as ants, cockroaches and flies
Favorable environmental profile; registered under EPA's Reduced Risk Program
Non-repellent
Advion WDG insecticide comes in a variety of packaging options.
Photo courtesy of Syngenta
A Turnkey, Tested Solution
"There's only so much room on a pest control technician's truck," Keefer says matter-of-factly. The versatility of Advion WDG and its impact on a broad range of pests allows PMPs to consolidate their inventory. "With a product like Advion WDG, you can use it on residential and commercial sites, commercial kitchens and food-handling areas."
PMPs can even make room for other products like termiticides or rodenticides on the truck, which can expand business opportunities. "It gives them the ability to carry other products they might not have had the capacity for before," Keefer says.
Tank-mixing Advion WDG with Demon Max or Optigard® Flex liquid insecticide can enhance efficacy. This has been proven in field testing, Suiter points out, referring to the Advion WDG-Demon Max mixtures applied to control large-colony ants on problem sites.
Advion WDG has a product label with concise, easy-to-read information that is formatted so it's simple for PMPs to follow, Keefer says. "The fact that PMPs can use Advion WDG indoors and outdoors is a big advantage compared to some other insecticides."
Advion WDG: Functional & Flexible
Advion WDG insecticide is a sprayable formulation of the trusted Advion brand that is labeled to control a broad range of pests including large-colony ants, cockroaches, pantry pests and termites. Its formulation can be used in multiple ways across both commercial and residential accounts to help add convenience and flexibility to a PMP's service offerings. Advion WDG can be used in food-handling establishments as a spot or crack-and-crevice treatment as directed by the product label, even when the facility is in operation. It also can be applied outdoors as a 10-foot perimeter band and indoors as a spot or crack-and-crevice treatment.
In fact, PMPs visiting a commercial kitchen or food-handling facility can make crack-and-crevice applications of Advion WDG while the operations are open—yet another advantage for PMPs and clients who are struggling to run a business uninterrupted by pests.
Advion WDG is just one result of research and development efforts at Syngenta, which invests billions annually in product development. "I encourage PMPs to support large manufacturers that are reinvesting in PMPs' futures, because with more regulations coming down the road and more active ingredients being phased out, it's important for us to continue searching through our catalogue of molecules and investing in new products to bring to the market," Keefer says. "Being a steward of the industry is critical."
To learn more about Advion WDG, visit SyngentaPMP.com/AdvionWDG.
*A reduced risk pesticide use is defined as one which may reasonably be expected to accomplish one or more of the following; (1) reduces pesticide risks to human health; (2) reduces pesticide risks to non-target organisms; (3) reduces the potential for contamination of valued, environmental resources, or (4) broadens adoption of IPM or makes it more effective. Advion WDG qualifies under one or more of the above criteria.
©2019 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties and/or may have state-specific use requirements. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration and proper use. Advion®, Demon®, For Life Uninterrupted™, MetaActive™, Optigard® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368).
Success Through Innovation
Former secretary of state and retired four-star U.S. Army Gen. Colin Powell once said, "Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty and persistence." In the pest management industry we have seen so many professionals who have embodied these traits, and once again Syngenta is proud to sponsor the Crown Leadership Awards to recognize some of our industry's most successful and impactful leaders.
2019 has been a year of challenges that unfortunately are not new to our industry – increased regulation and opposing public policy, ongoing threats from public health pests, and unpredictable weather and environmental conditions that continue to make pests an ever-moving target. The leaders we are honoring continue to be persistent in defending the industry against increased pressure, defending the public from pest-related health threats and defending against all types of pests with new innovations and hard work.
We are excited to congratulate this year's Crown Leadership Award winners: Claudia Riegel, City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite & Rodent Control Board; Gene White, Rentokil Steritech; Tom Jarzynka, Massey Services; Ben Walker, Gregory Pest Solutions; and Ray Meyers, RJM Contracting. The Lifetime Achievement Award winner, chosen by his or her peers for outstanding contributions to pest management, will be announced during the Crown Leadership Awards ceremony at PestWorld 2019. We are thrilled to honor these individuals, who have shown great loyalty to this industry and have worked hard to leave lasting impacts on our industry.
At Syngenta we are also working hard to support these professionals and the industry with needed solutions for controlling pests and growing your businesses. In 2019 we have been excited to introduce Advion® WDG insecticide, a sprayable formulation of the trusted Advion brand, as well as the seventh SecureChoiceSM assurance program, which offers a proven combination of products and integrated pest management strategies to control cockroaches. Additionally, we continue to offer a portfolio of trusted brands, all of which qualify for yearlong rebates through the industry's longest-running loyalty and savings program, PestPartnersSM 365. We're persistent in our development of new solutions and programs to support your business and we value your partnership.
Once again, congratulations to the Class of 2019 Crown Leadership Awards recipients and to the Lifetime Achievement Award finalists! Thank you for your hard work, loyalty and persistence to ensure we can all experience life uninterrupted by the nuisance and threat of pests.
Pat Willenbrock
Head of Marketing, Professional Pest Management
Syngenta, North America
www.SyngentaPMP.com
Termite Mounds Hide Secrets to Sustainable Buildings of the Future
Departments - RearView
©Veronica Bogaerts | AdobeStock
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology has been awarded $475,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study how termites construct mounds with the idea that humans might one day adapt the energy-efficient home building techniques of the insects. The award is a follow-up to a previous grant by NSF of $300,000.
Mines faculty researchers spent time in the African country of Namibia to study the shape and function of termite mounds. The mounds are resilient and naturally energy efficient. Their intricate interior designs provide ventilation and temperature regulation throughout what can easily be a 15-foot-tall home for a single colony of 2 million termites.
"An understanding of the natural processes involved in termite mound construction and function can be adapted to inform engineering applications related to the construction of man-made structures that require zero or minimal energy inputs," the NSF award letter noted.
Co-principal investigator Andrea Surovek, Ph.D., a research scientist from Mines' Department of Mechanical Engineering, has led research that examined hundreds of slices of termite mound and has developed 3D models of numerous mounds using photo capture technology. "The termites have an innate sense of how to build a stable structure, which is remarkable since they construct them one piece of soil at a time. We have found that the external form of the mound is less dependent on the climate and more on the type of soil available for construction," Surovek said.
This study focuses on the makeup of the constructed mound material to help establish how the air is coming into and circulated through the mounds. The multidisciplinary project involves engineering, material science and biology and will lead to advances in materials and structural forms that require significantly less energy and are more sustainable than traditional construction. "Research outcomes will move the U.S. toward greater energy independence and security. Technology transfer of new materials and systems will grow manufacturing and strengthen national economic development," said the NSF award announcement.
NASA Fed Apollo 11 Lunar Samples to Cockroaches
This summer as America commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, just about every aspect of that historic voyage was revisited by the media.
In July, CNN reported that NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin collected lunar samples as part of the Apollo 11 mission. In order to ensure that it was safe to store lunar samples on Earth, scientists had to run a number of tests to make sure contamination was not possible, according to NASA. Armstrong and Aldrin were quarantined for weeks on their return from the moon, and they had a few extra roommates: mice that had been injected with lunar material.
Judith Hayes, chief of NASA's Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences division, told Space.com, "They always wanted to know how the rodents were doing. If the rodents did well, then they would likely be released on time, if the rodents weren't well, they would likely be examined much more carefully and longer."
NASA chose a number of different animals to represent other species. Birds were represented by Japanese quail; brown shrimp, pink shrimp and oysters were used to represent shellfish; house flies and moths joined German cockroaches to represent insects; and guppies and minnows were used to represent fish.
So how did German cockroaches fare after being fed "moon dust"? According to NASA, cockroaches exhibited "no unaccountable gross or histopathologic changes."
Leadership Lessons From the World of Insects
Columns - Pest Perspectives
Glen Ramsey, BCE
I've been absorbed in a fair amount of leadership reading lately. I'm sure you see posts on social media sites about good reads and pick up a book every now and then yourself. If we want to grow, we should seek examples from others to model behaviors after. Why should the world of insects be any different? I wonder what we can learn if we just slow down and observe before we squash...
BUGS ARE GROSS. We live in a society that typically sees bugs one of two ways: either as beautiful creatures or as crawling/flying death machines. Think about it. When was the last time you saw someone with decorations depicting cockroaches or bed bugs? Maybe the occasional ant graces a picnic basket print, but the ant is stealing. Not the best imagery. Pretty bugs get all the glory. Lady beetles, butterflies and dragonflies regularly are praised by society while others are feared. This is mostly perception, of course. While some insects or arachnids can cause physical harm, I truly don't believe this is done by intent or malice. If you think about insect numbers in comparison to the human population, they dramatically outnumber us, yet their measurable "crime rates" are nonexistent. The just seem to live their lives, do their jobs and coexist with neighbors. Trust me, they fight, but only when they have to.
LEADERSHIP EXAMPLES. If you do a quick internet search you come up with all kinds of words to describe leadership. Some leadership words include patience, reliability, dependability, risk-taking, and effective communication or feedback. Many of us aspire to these qualities as we move through our careers and begin to lead or teach others. Some come easy; some are more work than others.
What is more dependable than an ant bringing home food for its colony?
©Eric Isselée - stock.adobe.com
The first word in that list, "patience," reminds me of spiders. What insect is more patient than a spider? Spiders build a web with the hope (and need) for something to become snared. Once the web is built, the waiting game begins. The spiders just sit there knowing that they did what they needed to do to have their next meal. Remember, this isn't a situation where the spiders did nothing and waited for success. They worked hard and hope to soon reap the benefits of this work. It also highlights that without some rest, there can be little success. If the spiders actively worked the entire time, which would disturb the web, other insects wouldn't fly that way and be caught. It is the rest time, or the patience, that makes the work successful.
Reliability and dependability can be seen in ants. What is more reliable than ants finding something sweet? What is more dependable than their massive numbers hauling food to their colony? Would you consider it a risk-taking measure for a mosquito to obtain a blood meal? What about the dung beetle that runs among much larger hooves? I would! Where would termites be without pheromone trails and trophallaxis? I feel this is one of the best examples of positive feedback and communication in the insect world!
TAKE THE TIME. I could go on and on with many more examples. That isn't really the point here. What I would encourage of you is to slow down every once in a while and look at the beauty that each insect brings to the picture. Some people may only see the bad, but you have the ability, as the professional, to have a bit more information. Maybe you will even see a little more if you just take the time to look and enjoy.
The author is technical services manager at Rollins, Atlanta.
The Timing of Deploying IGR Applications
Columns - Tech Talk
Christian Wilcox, ACE
Although the subject of this article is the use of Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs), its true purpose is to highlight the importance of knowing your target pest's biology, particularly its reproductive cycles. This is a much different way of looking at pest situations. Most products we use have applications based on a target insect's movement, harborage and feeding habits. Those same criteria hold true for IGR applications, but there is a required understanding of reproductive cycles to optimize the IGR effectiveness. This understanding has made IGRs a vital part of a true Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, many times adding a layer of effectiveness that otherwise would not be achieved.
OH, THE TIMES WE LIVE IN! PMPs today are being asked to provide protection in more diverse pest situations than ever before. Fortunately, we have more tools at our disposal to manage these pests than at any time in the history of our industry. The product choices alone can leave your head spinning! With the right information and a little research, it's possible to scientifically determine when to use which product for which pest in which situation for optimal results, which can be a complex equation.
Many times, through trial and error, we find what works for us and stick with it until it doesn't work anymore, rather than identifying diminishing results and course correcting accordingly. This leads to frustration in the field and a loss of value and respect from your clients. The best PMPs have an understanding of target pest biology and habits, as well as how a particular product will affect the target pest. This information is impacted not just by the target species, but by the predictive temperatures and conditions of each season (although not necessarily at the time of application, but for upcoming days or weeks, depending on the target's reproduction cycle).
A BIT ABOUT IGRs. IGRs are pesticides that affect insects with complete or incomplete metamorphosis and inhibit their ability to grow or develop as they naturally would. Different IGR configurations impact different life stages, ranging from eggs that are not viable to hatch; larval and pupal stages that do not progress; or adults that are sterile or have deformed reproductive organs. IGRs have been around for more than 50 years in agricultural use, but access to them for structural pest management purposes began in the late 1980s and early '90s. At that time, Hydroprene revolutionized flea management by affecting other life stages of the flea that adulticides used before did not impact.
Since this discovery, PMPs continue to explore the impact that IGRs have on some of our toughest pest challenges, like German cockroaches, stored product pests, mosquitoes, filth flies and species of occasional invaders. Two common types of IGRs used in the structural pest management industry are juvenile hormones (e.g., methoprene, pyriproxyfen and fenozycarb) and chitin synthesis inhibitors (e.g., diflubenzuron, hexaflumuron and novaluron). Understanding just a bit about how each IGR type interacts with an insect can help you choose the right product for the right situation. Juvenile hormone IGRs harm the mutation and reproductive process, while chitin synthesis inhibitors affect the formation of chitin during molting, which can affect the ability to reproduce or even cause death.
IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION…NOT REALLY. Today much of our society is an "I want it now" society of immediate gratification. But in the world of IGR applications, that isn't the case. IGRs affect insects differently depending on life cycle development. Development time for insects is greatly impacted by environmental conditions such as temperature, moisture/humidity, food availability, etc. Several examples of this can be found in literature used to detail insect life cycles.
One need look no further than the pest management industry's go-to standard, the NPMA Field Guide. As an example, the NPMA Field Guide states that for German cockroaches, the developmental time (egg to adult) usually varies from 54 to 215 days, averaging about 103 days. With variations in development based on environmental conditions and natural biology, the use of IGRs can become a bit of a challenge in setting expectations for treatments. IGR applications will not be evident until enough time has passed for the target pest reproductive cycle to have progressed; it may take weeks to see the impact of IGR usage on a pest population.
UNDERSTANDING BIOLOGY. IGRs can be utilized in more pest situations than may be immediately apparent. Experienced technicians usually identify appropriate applications for IGRs pretty easily. But newer technicians may not have accumulated enough experience to grasp the importance of understanding the target pest life cycle, which may limit their ability to make decisions on IGR applicability in the field. Reviewing IGR labels — which we should be doing anyway, but is worth saying again — may help to open their eyes to some of the possibilities, as well as training opportunities to explain and discuss pest biology and IGRs. This exercise will help technicians develop a thoughtful decision-making process. What follows is a review of common pests impacted by IGRs.
GERMAN COCKROACHES. Let's start with the pest that has probably contributed to countless people retiring from our industry in despair, our nemesis, the German cockroach. Application of IGRs for German cockroaches can reduce egg hatch rates, stunt the molting process in nymphs, and leave adult reproductive organs deformed and unable to copulate (a sort of sick revenge for this prolific, difficult pest). IGRs for German cockroach management can be an effective tool, but a major drawback is that you and your clients are potentially conceding to activity for months while waiting for the existing adult population to expire. Remember, this is an "I want it now society" and many of your clients are not willing to wait for results. Although IGRs will impact pest populations over time, there is no substitute for digging and clawing to find the last cockroach to eliminate the problem right now.
FLIES, MOSQUITOES & OCCASIONAL INVADERS. This is a good one. Every tool in your arsenal needs to be pulled out to effectively manage filth flies like the house fly, blow fly and flesh fly, as well as small flies such as the phorid fly, drain fly and fruit/vinegar fly. IPM is a must in these situations and IGRs can be the missing component between success and failure. The practical challenges that are associated with filth fly and small fly management in some situations are immense. Elimination of the breeding site can be cost-prohibitive or not feasible for a variety of reasons. In some cases, we are lucky to have a client who works diligently to improve or maintain sanitation and implement exclusion efforts that will impact fly breeding sites or entry. The same applies to mosquito and occasional invader situations when standing water removal, vegetation management, exclusion or light management is requested by the PMP.
In these situations, it can be helpful to consider a more creative experiment. Take the house fly, for example. The breeding site is usually an exterior environment — dumpster area, processing waste, livestock waste, etc. When conditions are right, we know in many situations these breeding sites are going to be there day in and day out — they are predictive. However, when using IGRs for this type of house fly problem, most technicians hold off on applications until they see adult flies, effectively putting themselves behind the proverbial eight ball.
Instead, if you understand fly biology as it pertains to reproduction and temperature, and you know the pattern is present for a breeding site, you can treat with IGRs earlier. For individuals in the southern U.S., exterior IGR applications may begin in February or March, depending on weather patterns and temperature. Knowing that a house fly's optimal life cycle temperature is between 70°F and 90°F will determine how and when different geographical locations in the country should begin applications and when it may be best to consider other alternatives.
As PMPs, leveraging tools like IGRs really requires strong knowledge in pest biology and innovative pest solutions from industry suppliers, and even an interest in keeping up with changing weather conditions to ensure we are making the right decisions — the right products and techniques for the target pest and its breeding cycles at the right, most effective, time.
Christian Wilcox, ACE, is the technical director for McCauley Services in Central Arkansas. He is a member of the Copesan Technical Committee, serves on the NPMA Technical Committee and is an ESA member.
Copesan is an alliance of pest management companies with locations throughout North America. To learn more, visit www.copesan.com.