1

President’s Pen - Campbell Perrin

Hello Members,

I trust that you are surviving the cold snaps for now. With the start of daylight savings so

begins the season for flies and other insects. The long-term forecast is that we will be having

another long hot, dry summer.

I need to share this story with you all. Whilst recently out walking my dogs I got caught in the

rain but, we were not the only victims, as my poodle found some ducklings stuck in a drain. It

appeared they had been washed along the gutter and through the grate. I tried to get the grate

off to save them but, could not budge it. It looked like it had not been opened in a very long

time, and not wanting them to be flushed away in the drain, I rang the SPCA who came and

rescued them, to my relief. While I am used to eliminating pests, I did not have the heart to see

these ducklings die. Well done me!

Last month I attended a function at CareerForce where they announced that 23th October is

the launch date for the new, New Zealand Certificate in Pest Control – (Level 3).

Please see the last page of the newsletter for their contact details.

We have a large number of new members wanting to join the association and become a

professional pest manager, possibly due to site audit requirements. We are seeking members

to provide mentoring to these new trainees. This is something Steve Hunn and I believe will

benefit all, so please let either of us know if you’re happy to help. We need mentors from all

parts of the country.

PMANZ are investigating the feasibility and implementation of a CPD (Continuing Professional

Development) scheme. Points should be earned by attending training sessions approved by

NZQA, not by attending a product launch or presentation about how products work. This will

count towards NZQA requirements to upgrade your qualifications from your current Level 2 to

the Level 3 qualification. Continuous training in the future, will keep members ahead of the

auditors.

Cont’d on page 2

Bi-Monthly

Newsletter

October 2014

Volume 7 No. 5

BILL THAT WOULD IMPACT

NEONICOTINOID USE IN

CALIFORNIA

Proposed California legislation, AB 1789, which would create a timeline for the Department of Pesticide Regulation to complete its current re-evaluation of neonicotinoids, has passed the legislature and is now awaiting the governor's signature. If signed by the governor, the department would have until mid-2018 to complete its findings, and then two additional years to adopt any necessary control measures.

PESTWORLD 2014 MOBILE

APP IS LIVE

The mobile app created just for PestWorld 2014 is now live. Download it for free to your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Once installed, you will have instant access to awesome features, like: • The full event schedule and customizable agenda • Detailed info about speakers and exhibitors • Social sharing with other attendees • Notifications of important updates • And more! Search for "NPMA Events" in the iTunes store or Play store.

Journal of the Pest

Management

Association of New

Zealand

WHAT’S BUZZING?

IN THIS ISSUE President’s Pen 1

Lessons from the Field 3

Plant Room 4

Urban Bird Control 6

Rats on Airplane 8

New Zealand News 10

Occasional Invaders 15

Technical Hints 19

PMANZ Officers 20

2

PMANZ advert in October edition of NZ House and Garden

Building Services Contractors (BSC) in Wellington who provides PMANZ with secretarial office staff, have advised us of a

substantial increase in management costs, and it has been decided by the council to terminate our contract with them. We are in

the process of finding a new secretariat to administer the association, and we have until the 12th December 2014 to change

over. We have a few options and will let you know the outcome after we have our next meeting 6th November 2014.

On that note, it is with sadness that we bid farewell to Marja Verkerk who has been a familiar face to many members over the last

15 years. As a result of changes she has decided to resign from BSC. It will be sad to see her leave us as she has been an asset

for PMANZ over the years, working away behind the scenes, keeping things running. We wish Marja all the best with whatever she

does in the future.

As you are aware we ran ads in the August editions of the KiaOra magazine and NZ House and Garden. But, recently we have

been informed by the owners of the in-flight magazine, Bauer Media, that the Insects (we wanted a Cockroach and Fly for the

October and December editions respectively) or our mouse that we had in the August edition, will not be acceptable anymore.

This is being them ‘PC’ at its best.

Air NZ issued the following statement:

“Air New Zealand will not accept any advertising in KiaOra which shows any ‘pest’ animal imagery – e.g. mouse, rat, cockroaches.

We appreciate that pest control is an important service offering but we need to ensure that we consider the potential sensitivities of

all our passengers. We don’t believe that actually depicting these pests improves upon the overall advertising”

Finally, a reminder to all members that the miss-use of the PMANZ logo is not acceptable and your membership may be withdrawn.

PMANZ is green logo with white writing only. Thus, if you have been requested by the office to correct the logo you display, please

do so immediately.

Be Safe Out there, see you all soon.

Cam

3

From the Editor Email: peter.barry@pestconsultancy.com

Lessons from the field

Having recently completed a survey and pest risk

assessment of a milk plant after an audit failure, I was

thrilled by the service provider’s ability to reduce the

site’s rodent population over a four month period from

100% activity in all bait stations down to 12%.

This is testament to the good work the technician had put in over the months to rid the site of those pests, particularly

given that this service provider had just taken over the site. However, one thing bothered me as I wrote up the report

for my client, and that was why the previous service provider could not get control? I started to contemplate whether

the reason was that they were using just one type of rodent bait…

As the previous service provider could not get control, I wondered whether “bait shyness”, was possibly the cause.

The fact that the new service provider introduced a different bait brand and had 100% hit on all stations within weeks

of the changeover, makes me think it may have been the problem?

*Robert M Corrigan, PH.D., says, “Exterior baits should be changed every four to six weeks on a need-it-or-not

basis. Contrary to popular belief, rats prefer fresh, high-quality foods and will reject spoiled or inferior food items

when given a choice. Therefore, rodent baits should be made from high-quality food materials, and baits which have

become rancid or insect-infested should be discarded”.

Usually corn, oats, wheat, or barley are the grains most preferred by commensal rodents. Preference varies between

rodent populations and among individuals. Baits similar to foods that rodents are accustomed to eating are often a

good choice, particularly if their normal foods are limited or can be made less available to them.

To determine bait preference, a bait-choice test can be conducted by placing small amounts of each of several bait

formulations and brands in a few locations at the high activity areas where rodents are present. Baits are then

checked during the next few days to determine which baits are preferred. Rats are suspicious of new objects and

novel foods therefore, they may not accept new bait until the third or fourth day. But once it is determined which baits

the rodents have selected, bait can be switched over to that formulation or bait brand.

What’s your practice? Are you going to lose a contract by not changing the bait regularly when it comes to rodent

management? You decide…

*Dr Corrigan is the author of Rodent Pest Management: A Practical Guide for Pest Management Professionals;

the Mallis Handbook of Pest Control on rodents; and co-author of The Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations.

The 2015 conference is

being held in Wellington

from 19th - 21st August

2015. Diarise the dates

now, and watch this space

for further details

4

PLANT ROOM:

what pests

may be lurking

and why?

Plant rooms may not necessarily be the first place

that you consider when thinking of pest activity.

Just because plant rooms aren’t particularly

hospitable for humans, it doesn’t necessarily mean

pests feel the same.

Consider what a pest typically requires to survive -

warmth and harbourage (a safe place to live that is

relatively undisturbed). Think of a plant room in

that kind of context then it starts to become a more attractive proposition. Place that room in an environment that

offers a nearby food source, such as a production line, manufacturing plant, rubbish area or kitchen, and we have a

viable living area for pests.

What about the noise and moving parts present in a plant room, surely these will discourage pests? Possibly not,

pest species such as rodents are skilled adaptors. They will overcome obstacles such as noise if the prize of safety,

warmth and food can be obtained.

The less human disturbance the better, so a plant room which may be secured to prevent human access is perfect.

Plant rooms with vents are often open to the intrusion of pests such as rodents. Mice are fantastic climbers and will

have no problem gaining access to plant areas from a high level if the rewards are great.

Risks from rodents

If species such as rats and mice do become resident in plant areas, there are a number of risks to be considered.

Rodents can be incredibly destructive to plant and machinery if infestations go undiscovered. This is due to their

need to habitually gnaw and chew. Rodents’ front incisor teeth grow constantly and so must be worn down by

gnawing on hard surfaces. Their incredibly strong teeth can chew through wire, cables, wood, cement and even

brick. A chewing rodent amongst plant machinery can cause serious damage to equipment and hours of downtime

as faults are tracked down and repaired. Fire is also a real risk if cables are damaged. Destruction can also be

caused by rodents nesting amongst warm machinery if debris from the nest becomes entangled in moving parts.

5

Insect pests

Maintenance staff which enter plant rooms should also be aware that these locations are often just as attractive to a

number of insect pests as they are to rodents. Cockroach species such as the German and the Oriental cockroach

are both extremely comfortable with warm areas such as plant rooms. If the sites you work on offer a combination of

high temperatures, accessible food, moisture and hiding places, it could be perfect for cockroach breeding and

activity.

The presence of flies is also a serious vector for disease; species such as the common house fly transmit a number

of pathogens due to their unsavoury breeding habits. House flies can go through a full life-cycle from the point where

they lay an egg to becoming an adult in 5 to 7 days in favourable conditions. Opening doors and windows should be

screened against insect intrusion, and electronic fly killing devices should be considered to capture any fly that

manages to get through your proofing measures. Scrupulous hygiene in plant room areas will also remove potential

breeding sites for fly and other insect species that prefer warm, damp conditions.

Bird pests

Birds also have a habit of accessing plant rooms for warmth and shelter if given the opportunity to. Again this can

cause health issues for staff coming into contact with residues. If you have had birds in a plant room and the debris

has not been cleared, it is essential that you investigate a means of removing the waste. Remember; deal with them

if they are causing certain issues using approved methods. Always consult a bird control specialist for advice before

undertaking any control measures.

Removing unwanted pests

Often, the key to pest eradication is early detection. If you are aware of pest activity in your employers or customers

plant rooms, don’t sit on your laurels. Inform the site and clear the problem. PMANZ members are qualified, insured,

committed to Continuing Professional Development, and have access to industry leading Health and Safety

consultants to ensure they are working safely and responsibly. They benefit from the backing of a not-for-profit trade

association that is available to support them, and their customers with pest prevention advice and awareness

training.

6

URBAN BIRD CONTROL AND DETERRENTS

Urban bird population poses a major challenge for business owners and facilities

managers. BPCA Technical Manager Richard Moseley looks at the hazards associated

with urban birds and the control methods employed by professionals to deal with

infestations.

Like all pests, urban birds such as gulls, pigeons, starlings and sparrows are great opportunists. Handed a ready

food source on a plate, these persistent and insatiable scavengers will not be shy in taking advantage. Couple this

behaviour with the rapid growth rate of urban populations and before long nesting sites that initially attracted a few

birds can become a magnet for large thriving colonies.

Problems urban birds can cause

In the urban environment some bird species carry disease, can damage buildings, encourage insect infestations and

have the potential to contaminate food. These are serious matters especially for homeowners, business owners and

facilities managers who want to maintain high standards of hygiene and presentation of their buildings, both old and

new.

Bird droppings are acidic and can corrode and erode metals and certain building materials such as stonework often

associated with buildings of historical importance. More commonly, bird activities (specifically nesting materials,

droppings and food debris) often result in gutters becoming blocked, so that rainwater drains back into the building.

Whilst in some cases this may only lead to minor damp damage or increase the chances of rot, in others the

problems can be more serious. Chris Turner, director of BPCA Member Rokill explains “on a recent job, carcases,

droppings and nesting materials had blocked up the internal gutter and basically backed up into the store flooding

the sales floor. They had to close the store for four days while it was cleaned up.”

7

In addition, any building covered in bird fouling looks unpleasant, can smell

and projects a poor image of the business; if the business cannot clean up

its building, how well is it going to look after its customers? Also closely

linked to bird activity are parasites such as mites, fleas and beetles.

Therefore, if they have a current or past problem with urban birds, you may

find you’ll suffer from a parasite infestation too.

Despite all of that, the most important reason you’d want to prevent or

control urban bird infestations is that there is evidence urban birds carry a

wide variety of disease-causing organisms such as Salmonella, Listeria and

E.coli. The chances of catching diseases from birds are fairly remote, however poor standards of hygiene after

contact with bird droppings significantly increases the risk.

Much more serious is the potential for inhalation of the airborne disease agents that these birds can carry. Such

respiratory diseases can be fatal. In most cases, healthy people catching diseases like Ornithosis, Histoplasmosis or

Cryptococcosis are hardly affected, but for more susceptible individuals such as the very young, the elderly or those

with damaged immune systems, these diseases can be much more serious - critical if birds are found around

hospitals, nurseries or nursing homes.

Proofing and control

As with any pest control problem, the starting point for urban bird management is to try to remove the reasons why

the pest is present. This basically means denying the pest species access to food and harbourage. Before employing

active control methods, you need to investigate the reduction in food supplies which may be the key to controlling a

population of birds.

However for facilities managers who may be responsible for a group of buildings, or even an individual property, this

is no easy task as it requires the support of everyone using the property to prevent access to food. According to

Mark Wenman, Technical Manager at Network Bird, there are two different aspects to managing birds – single

building management where proofing and deterrents are used, and area population management. “A lot can be

achieved in relieving problems on individual buildings, but area management is more of a challenge,” he says.

"Taking early action to prevent birds from nesting is vital as this will significantly reduce behaviour problems. If

preventative measures are not put in place, you’ll find it will be too late to prevent an infestation.”

Proofing

Over the years a wide range of proofing tools and methods have been created to deal with bird infestations. The

first principle of any proofing system is to cause the birds no lasting harm, but to prevent or discourage them from

landing on buildings. There are a variety of methods, tools and techniques which can be used to great effect;

spikes, nets, wiring, electric shocking systems and gels are all designed to cover harbourage areas to prevent birds

from nesting and perching.

Similarly, audible and visual scaring methods such as

mirrors, balloons, silhouettes and models of predatory

creatures can be used to create negative associations

in birds wishing to land or roost on buildings. However,

these methods aren’t effective for all types of birds as

they all react differently, and in some cases can lose

their effectiveness over a sustained period of time.

Chris Turner argues the most effective deterrent is

netting, provided that it is installed properly. “You do

need to know what you are doing,” he stresses. “You

can get inexperienced people that have a go at it, and

sometimes trap the birds. That is not the way forward. A

professional would install the netting in a specific way

and at the right time of year to make sure it’s effective.”

8

Control methods

Where you have a high pressure of bird activity, and proofing options haven’t been applied in the early stages of the

infestation, then effective control methods such as trapping, culling and the use of predatory birds could be

employed. It is becoming increasingly common to fly live captive bred predator birds such as Hawks and Falcons to

disperse pest birds from sites. (This is not usual practice in New Zealand, although some people have tried it. Ed)

Live trapping can also be useful for the removal of small local populations however, it will prove ineffective with larger

infestations.

This is where culling may be the only viable option to help reduce populations. When used by skilled marksmen,

shooting can be a very humane, killing quickly with minimal stress. However, culling is only permitted for certain

species under strict conditions.

In New Zealand pigeons, starlings and sparrows can be shot as no protection is afforded them, whilst swallows are

protected; seagulls and pukekos can only be shot once permission is obtained from the relevant authority. However

in all instances it is prudent to advise the RSPCA and NZ Police that shooting is taking place. Otherwise you do so at

your own peril…

Source: adapted from an article by British Pest Management Association

NEWS BITES

NEW DELHI: An Air India aircraft had to be fumigated at IGI airport after a rat was reportedly spotted on board.

The plane, which landed from Ranchi, had to be withdrawn from service and extensive fumigation was carried out

inside it. While Air India officials did not confirm the presence of rodents on the plane, they did admit that the aircraft

was fumigated.

This is the third such incident reported on Air India flights. On May 28, based on transcripts obtained by TOI, a pilot

of a Delhi-London flight is said to have informed the control room mid-air of a rat in the cockpit. Sources say when

the aircraft was checked in London, the panic was found to have been created by a ball-point pen near the rudder;

however some have claimed there actually was a rat on board.

On August 4, rodents were also allegedly spotted on a Delhi-bound flight from Kolkata. Sightings of rodents are hard

to establish as airlines choose to stay mum and DGCA does not order any inquiries into such reports.

According to officials an aircraft in which a rodent has been spotted has to be fumigated.

Source: The Times of India

9

10

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Rat population threatens native wildlife - DOC

A population explosion of rats in New Zealand's second

largest national park poses a major threat to native wildlife,

says the Department of Conservation.

Kahurangi National Park is one of the newest parks to be

gazetted and is in the northwest of the South Island.

Between May and August, rat tracking levels in the park

rose from 54 per cent to 90 per cent in the Fyfe River area,

from 31 per cent to 51 per cent in the Cobb Valley, from 43

per cent to 78 per cent in the Waingaro River area and from

34 to 63 per cent in the Oparara Basin. Rat tracking shows

the percentage of baited tracking tunnels entered by rats

over one night within a monitoring site.

Photo / Thinkstock

DOC blamed the population explosion on an exceptionally heavy beech seed fall -- known as a mast -- providing

abundant food.

DOC Westport conservation services manager Bob Dickson said research indicated tracking levels would reach 100

per cent in parts of the park in November, without pest control. He said more rats also meant more food for stoats,

causing their numbers to explode in summer.

11

"We can't let Kahurangi's vulnerable native species suffer heavy losses from this growing predator onslaught."

DOC planned aerial 1080 drops over about 270,000 hectares in the western, northern and eastern parts of the park

this spring as part of its Battle for our Birds programme. The drops would begin in coming weeks, when weather

conditions allowed.

"We are particularly concerned to safeguard threatened populations of whio, great spotted kiwi, kea, kaka, rock wren,

long-tailed bats and powelliphanta snails (giant snails)." Mr Dickson said aerial application of cereal baits containing

biodegradable 1080 pesticide enabled large-scale protection in difficult terrain.

It rapidly knocked down rats to near zero levels. Stoat numbers also substantially reduced through their eating

poisoned rodent carcasses.

The Kahurangi aerial 1080 pest control would also reduce the number of possum, which caused browsing damage to

native vegetation and also preyed on native birds, their eggs and native snails. The Kahurangi operation was one of

25 confirmed Battle for our Birds operations using aerially applied 1080 over about 680,000 hectares of South Island

beech forests, Mr Dickson said.

With plentiful food, rats can produce litters of five to eight pups every six weeks. The pups start breeding at 12 weeks

old.

Stoats breed only once a year but breed particularly well during a beech mast and produce 10 to 14 kits in spring. As

a result, stoats can undergo a five to seven-fold population increase in summer when the young stoats emerge from

dens.

Source: Westport News

Warm winter brings rise in rat numbers

While it might not yet be a plague, the rat

population has exploded thanks to the

warm start to the winter and a feast of

beech mast seeds, pest controllers say.

And the rodents are squatting in houses

to keep warm and away from the wintry

conditions.

Rentokil NZ regional technical manager

Bill Paynter said there had been a

significant number of callouts from

residential properties this year. Many

calls had come from clients with beech

trees - which provide a favourite food of Photo / Thinkstock

the pest.

"The other thing we've had is a reasonably warm winter ... and when you get warm weather like that, mortality in the

nest is significantly lowered. You will get potentially eight baby rats coming out when normally you'd only get two."

In Auckland, callouts to eradicate rats from homes had increased by 33 per cent on last year, Mr Paynter said. "I

think potentially some of the active ingredients in our rodenticides have been around for quite a few years now and

we might well be getting some resistance to those."

“About every six weeks, mature rats have a litter of six to eight babies”, he said. “And then they mature in three

months - so you've got the potential for quite an explosion of rodents. Houses near trees, where branches were

rubbing against the building, were in danger of rats crawling across the branch and into the roof cavity”, Mr Paynter

said. Areas that had suffered the worst infestations included Northland, Auckland and the West Coast.

12

Target Pest New Zealand South Island director Kurt Loklindt said their workload would normally slow down by this

time of year, "but we're still getting lots of callouts".

Plants were starting to grow and flower earlier than usual. This, combined with extreme weather such as flooding,

had probably contributed to the increase, he said.

Department of Conservation senior services ranger for Whangarei Nigel Miller said the best way to kill rats was with

traps and poison. "Kill them away from your house," he said. "[Set] two or three traps around your house, up to 100m

away. Get on to them before they get into your house."

Source: Adapted from the Herald and Department of Conservation and Rentokil

Invasive pests are also taking a much wider toll

New Zealand has proved a happy hunting ground for

invasive wasps, which thrive in the absence of natural

predators. Such is the persistence and abundance of

wasps that policymakers are investigating the costs

the pests impose and devising novel ways to destroy

them.

A Ministry of Primary Industries and the Department of

Conservation study, to be published next year, will

show that wasps cost the economy tens of millions of

dollars.

The work - a measure of the pain the insects cause -

is for the Wasp Tactical Group, which comprises

scientists, government agencies, pest control experts

and regional bodies. The group is preparing a strategy

to fight the wasp menace.

Professor Phil Lester of Victoria University, who

studies the effect of pathogens on wasps, says the pests are too firmly established to eradicate. But he thinks control

is possible with toxic baits, biological control, parasites and pathogens.

Cutting edge science is involved, and early work on an insect growth regulator (IGR) is showing promise. IRGs stop

insects maturing to a reproductive stage, so could stop a wasp colony in its tracks. The challenge is devising fool

proof ways to get wasps to cart what amounts to their death sentence into their home.

Scientists involved with this work say it is too early to discuss it publicly but are encouraged by progress.

But as with all wasp research, the aim is to kill invasive wasps, and spare other vital insects such as bees.

Wasps have become New Zealand's most damaging invertebrate pest. They hurt the honey industry by attacking

hives, displace bees from honeydew beech forests, disrupt vineyard pollination, imperil logging work in forests,

compete with native birds and animals for food and have been observed killing chicks. Between 2010 and last year,

the ACC dealt with 4160 claims arising from wasp attacks, with costs of $330,000. The last person to die from a

wasp attack was Maurice Robert Stretch, 62, who had a heart attack after being stung hundreds of times in the

Marlborough Sounds in 2012. At least two deaths in Auckland between 1985 and 2005 were blamed on wasps.

University of Auckland Associate Professor Jacqueline Beggs, who has been studying wasps since 1991, said the

pests were insidious, pernicious and likely to get a whole lot worse with the spread of giant willow aphids, an insect

first reported last December. The aphids produce honeydew, which wasps find irresistible as a carbohydrate food

source. "If the aphids become abundant as it looks like they will, I think we're going to see areas of New Zealand that

will have a wasp problem they didn't have before."

13

The problem: When Captain James Cook came ashore in 1769, he was assailed by deafening birdsong. Anyone

who has been in the Nelson Lakes National Park beech forests knows the drone of invasive wasps has drowned out

the chatter of native birds.

Wasp densities in that dramatic landscape are higher than anywhere else on earth. Research indicates the weight of

wasps in these forests is as much or more than birds, rodents and stoats combined.

Honeydew-feeding kaka struggle to get a look-in and the sheer number of wasps can even alter forest floor structure

by reducing nutrients available for decomposition.

The 1080 pest control approach - where poison is dumped from the air - is out of bounds for wasp control because it

would kill too many other insects.

Bait stations, containing wasp-specific toxins mixed with meat, have limited value because wasp numbers are so

high and nests proliferate in difficult country.

The solution: One trick, says ecologist Ronny Groenteman, is to unite wasps with their natural enemies.

Dr Groenteman, a Landcare Research scientist, is working on making biological control more effective while

ensuring non-target species are not harmed.

A tiny mite looks one of the best bets, as it appears confined to wasps.

"I suspect if it was damaging to bees we would have known by now, but nonetheless we don't want to do anything to

increase the densities of the mite if it could be damaging to either honey bees, bumblebees or native bees," Dr

Groenteman said.

"If we discover any of these groups could be at risk from the mite, we will abandon it as a biocontrol solution."

Dr Bob Brown, who found the mite by accident during his PhD research, said it was not yet known whether the mites

were destroying wasp nests or carting a pathogen into the colonies.

At Lincoln, near Christchurch, Plant and Food Research scientist Ashraf El-Sayed is working on a superlure specific

to wasps, a combination of compounds derived from mussels and honeydew.

Beech forest trials using the lure and a poison took a heavy toll. The approach held promise where traps could be

laid, but different methods were needed in hard-to-reach places.

Dr El-Sayed said a pheromone or chemical message from queens identified during his research had the potential to

disrupt wasp behaviour, but needed more work.

Ecologist Jacqueline Beggs thinks wasp control will need a pile of weapons.

"We're dealing with a colonial animal and they've got so many strategies to ensure the survival of the colony. While it

feels good to put out traps and see them fill up with worker wasps, it does ‘diddly squat’ to control the population

because the queen is safe in the nest and able to up her production and pump out heaps more”.

"So, some of the standard control techniques are not so effective for a social insect."

Dr Beggs says using the wasp's own biology to get a toxin into the colony was perhaps the most promising, because

workers would seal their fate with the queen.

"Then its game over”, she said. "With wasps we've had this issue that they're not a top pest problem for any industry.

But if you lump it together you see that they're a problem which is getting bigger. We've just got to hope there will be

funding around to deal with it."

Source – NZ Herald

14

15

OCCASIONAL INVADERS: THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE

Occasional invaders are warning signals that if they can get into your building, so too can higher-risk pests.

Occasional invaders are pests, primarily insects that live

outdoors but will venture into structures in search of food, water,

or shelter. Although they are not normally considered to be

structural pests because they do not breed indoors, those that

do get into the processing areas of a facility, or worse, into the

product itself, will be considered a contaminant or adulterant.

“Occasional invaders are considered to be nuisance pests for

the most part,” said Clark Pest Control Food Safety Field Trainer

and Content Developer Al St. Cyr. “But when they get indoors,

they can quickly pass from nuisance to significant economic

problem.”

Occasional invaders may include a variety of insects depending on the

region in which your facility is located and the time of year. Some of the

most common are centipedes, millipedes, ground beetles, crickets,

spiders, and night-flying insects. In certain areas, cluster flies also can

become pests in the late summer or autumn. But no matter what the

insect is, “these pests winding up in a facility demonstrate a lack of

structural integrity,” St. Cyr said.

This lack of structural integrity means that other pests can get in as

well. As such, said Western Pest Entomologist John Kane, “Occasional

invaders can be kind of like the canary in a coal mine.” They are warning signals that if they can get into your

building, so too can higher-risk pests. “The presence of occasional invaders indicates permeability to pests,” he said.

Occasional invader entry can also be due to employee practices, Kane said. “When I see them, it implies that there

is access somewhere within a reasonable distance. It may be a structural issue or a housekeeping issue—such as

employees propping doors open.” Thus, the best defence against occasional invaders is prevention. “What you need

to do is develop a long-term strategy,” St. Cyr said.

Steps to consider for inclusion in such a strategy are:

1. Inspect the facility and property. Conduct a detailed, honest inspection of the facility and the property, using

sticky traps to determine exactly the pests with which you may be dealing, St. Cyr said.” Look at the history: There is

something that is attracting the pests. Find out what it is and remove it.” It also is important to look not only at the

plant’s property, but also at any areas that are immediately adjacent that may be attracting the pests or providing

conditions conducive to their survival. In some cases it may be necessary to take a situation into your own hands -

such as the food processor that was having issues with occasional invaders originating from the field of an adjacent

airport. Because the airport would not mow the field, the food processor eventually hired a lawn company to do so -

which eliminated 90% of its problems.

2. Use glueboards at entrances. Using glueboards at doors can help reduce the migration of insects into the plant

in the same way that flying insect traps can catch flies before they have a chance to move farther into the facility.

One easy way to do this is to place glueboards in the rodent control stations that are set at these points and check

them regularly for any insect captures. Using glueboards by doors also can double as insect monitoring stations,

Kane said, providing a warning signal that insects are gaining access and indicating a need to determine the cause.

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3. Manage the exterior. “Bugs try to stay in their

natural habitats,” said Guardian Pest Control

Technical Director Hao Yu, so if you don’t create a

“walkway” into a structure, pests are less likely to

go there on their own. Such walkways could

include mulch or other ground cover up against

the building; instead, it is recommended that a six-

to eight-inch non-vegetative buffer be maintained

around the perimeter of the building. “If you can

do 30cm out, it’s even better,” Yu said.

The foliage around a building can also be an

attractant and enable pest survival, he said.

Native plant species are better than exotic, as

native species will support local insects, but will

keep populations down because there is a natural

balance. Exotic plants, however, can overly

support a particular insect species, enable large

populations to build, and increase the likelihood

that this insect will make its way indoors.

This is an area where the pest management

professional can be very helpful, St. Cyr said.

They can examine what is planted and explain, for

example, “Here’s what you can expect, and here’s

how to prevent it or how you can change the

plants to prevent it.” It is also in this respect where

a PMP/plant partnership is particularly important.

For example, he said, the pest management

professional’s inspection may reveal that you

need to take out plastic that was put beneath mulch or plants, and use natural rock or some other barrier instead.

Once attracted to and at the exterior of the building, the insects will find gaps and cracks to slip through and into the

structure. Thus managing the exterior means conducting regular inspection and maintaining the structure and

grounds, removing attractants, and sealing and repairing any gaps and cracks. While newer buildings are less likely

to have insects invade through worn seals, loose siding, eaves, etc., inspections need to be regularly conducted to

watch for the beginnings of any structural deterioration, etc.

Additionally, Kane said, “The way a building breathes is often overlooked.” That is, determining whether a structure,

or area of the structure, has positive pressure (which will push insects out) or negative pressure (which will draw

them in) enables corrective action, where and when needed.

4. Manage exterior lighting. “I frequently find exterior lighting is very important to occasional invader presence,” Yu

said. The insects, such as night-flying insects, are attracted to the lights; then other pests, such as spiders, are

attracted to the night-flying insects. To prevent this, LED, high-pressure sodium vapour or halogen lights should be

installed, which are less attractive to insects than incandescent and fluorescent lighting.

5. Manage the interior. While occasional invaders do not—usually—breed indoors, conducive conditions can

enable them to survive longer and get farther into the building (and, even, sometimes breed indoors). For example, if

ground beetles come in through a loading dock door, where interior conditions are moist and dark, they will be able

to survive longer and potentially move into processing areas.

Prevention is also important because elimination methods can kill the insects, but leave dead insects within the

walls, which can cause secondary pest invasion, such as warehouse beetles, which feed on the dead insects.

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6. Track pest records and seasonal impacts. “A good facility manager should evaluate pest management records

on a regular basis,” Kane said. Track any trends, both seasonal and location within the structure, as this can point

you in the direction of corrective action. When you do find a trend, follow the “5 Whys” of an iterative question asking:

a. Why is there a wasp on the glueboard? (It got in from outside.)

b. Why did it get in? (The door was open.)

c. Why was the door open? (It was propped with a wooden block.)

d. Why was it propped? (Employees wanted to get in and out easily.)

e. Why did employees want easy access? (They wanted to take a smoking break.)

The final answer explains the issue, its corrective action, and why an alternative solution (e.g., spraying for wasps)

would not have worked. “It’s almost never a real mystery,” Kane said.

7. Educate employees. “From a pest control point of view, the fixes are usually simple,” Kane said. “The challenge

is getting buy-in from management and employees.” For example, management may fix the issue by requiring that

doors not be propped open, but if employees only comply in the presence of management, the issue will remain. The

best way to get buy-in, Kane said, is to educate employees on the actual costs of occasional invader (or any pest)

presence; explaining the tens of thousands of dollars that could be lost if a shipment is rejected for insect presence,

a recall is required, or a food poisoning occurs. Then explaining, further, how this could lead to company cut backs,

including worker job losses. “The consequences of failure to follow GMPs can be high,” he said. “Consequences are

happening every day.” Thus, “compliance is safeguarding yourself and safeguarding your staff.”

8. Understand the pest. Beyond indicating an access issue, accurate identification and understanding of the type of

pest found also can indicate further issues. For example, springtails can indicate a moisture issue; the

predatory/scavenging nature of ground beetles can be indicative of dead insects in walls; fungus beetles can mean

that roofing materials were contaminated during construction and need to be replaced; and what may initially be

thought to be an Oriental cockroach could actually be a new invasive species of Turkestan cockroach. Pest species

also can be a warning signal of needed corrective action.

By their very definition, occasional invaders only occasionally invade structures, and when they do, it is because

there is something attracting them inside. Because of this, in most cases, the occasional invaders are a facility issue,

with corrective action to be dealt with through structural or housekeeping improvements rather than pesticides. As St.

Cyr said, “It’s not always easy, and it doesn’t always come out of a spray-pump.”

Source: adapted from QA magazine REMINDER - The PMANZ Facebook page is for members use and comment only, not supplier advertising.

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Clothes moths and other fabric pests aren't found only in

wool clothing and carpets

TECHNICAL HINTS

Where to Look for Fabric Pests

Look Beyond Wool Clothes and Carpets

Fabric pests such as clothes moths, carpet beetles,

and hide beetles are found not only in woollen

clothing and carpets. They can be found infesting

almost anything made of animal materials such as

feathers, furs, pet hair; even brush bristles, animal

nests and accumulations of dead insects. To do a

thorough inspection, think beyond the obvious.

Ask about woollen clothing, blankets, down

pillows or comforters, or rugs that have been

stored or unused for some time. Woollens

that were not dry-cleaned before storage are

most susceptible to infestation. Occasionally

cotton, linen, silk, rayon and other fabrics may

be infested if soiled.

Look for old, overstuffed chairs or sofas. If

these have woollen fabric covers, are stuffed

with animal hair, or have accumulations of pet

hair, they could be the source of fabric pests.

Ask where the pets sleep. Look for accumulations of pet hair in these areas or pet bedding that is matted with

pet hair.

Use a knife or small spatula to pull out bits of lint from under baseboards, the edges of wall-to-wall carpeting,

and around the bottoms of door thresholds. Check the underside of wool rugs.

Check for accumulations of lint, crumbs, and pet hair under heavy furniture, under beds, in dark corners, and

in closets. Look for accumulations of lint and hair inside floor registers, air ducts, and clothes dryer vents.

Ask if there have been problems lately with mice, rats, birds, bats, possums or other animals inside the house

or in attics, garages, chimneys, basements. Check these areas, if accessible, for evidence of carpet or hide

beetles on animal carcasses and in animal nests. Check attics for wasp nests or accumulations of dead

insects such as cluster flies.

Look for animal-based decorative objects on shelves or hanging on walls--items such as animal trophies,

oriental rugs, anything made of wool, horn, hide, feathers, or bone.

Finally, check other possible infestation sites: piano felts or felt backing, insect collections, dried flower

arrangements, natural bristle hair or clothes brushes, fur coats, bee or wasp nests inside wall voids, and

horsehair insulation behind old plaster. Carpet beetles can also be found infesting stored food products, seeds

(including seed pictures), pet food, and rodent bait.

Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from Techletter, a publication from Pinto & Associates, Mechanicsville, Md.

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Articles provided in "What’s Buzzing" are drawn from a number of sources. The source of the item is quoted, either

by publication or organizations, in line with the practice of fair reporting.

The information contained in this newsletter is for member information only and does not necessarily reflect the

official views or opinions of the PMANZ Council and/or its members.

FLY THE FLAG

Many local authorities, companies and government

departments now require that pest management

companies they employ are members of PMANZ. The use

of Association Logo on advertising identifies full

membership of a recognised group of professionals whose

members provide services carried out safely and efficiently

in keeping with good practices, to a code of ethics, as well

as maintaining high business standards.

PMANZ OFFICERS PRESIDENT

Campbell Perrincampbell@keyindustries.co.nz

VICE-PRESIDENT

Steve HunnSteve.hunn@nzdf.mil.nz

COUNCIL MEMBERS

Peter Barry peter.barry@pestconsultancy.com

Sandra Charlton sandra@pestawaynz.com

Mike Collins mike@ajetservices.co.nz

Mike Hermansson kwikill@paradise.net.nz

Bill Paynter bill.paynter@rentokil-initial.com

Eric Van Essen eric.vanessen@ecolab.com

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Rowan Washer Rowan.washer@gmail.com

TREASURER

Bill Wills billw@clear.net.nz

SECRETARY

Marja Verkerk info@bsc.org.nz

Pest Management Association of

New Zealand

PO Box 31067

Lower Hutt 5040

New Zealand

Phone: (04)589-0257

Fax: (04)589-0252

Free phone 0800 476 269

0800 4PMANZ

Email: info@bsc.org.nz

www.pmanz.co.nz

Contact Careerforce for how to begin your

new training:

Ben Mashiter 04 550-2428

ben.mashiter@careerforce.org.nz