Pesticon 2024 – Call for Speakers 

2024 is set to be another big year for Pesticon, with Pesticon 2024 – ‘The People in Pest’ being held on 14-16 August.   

AEPMA is constantly striving to provide fresh and innovative programs for Pesticon and is looking for your help to identify the most interesting and exciting speakers, with the theme of the conference “The People in Pest”.  Pest control isn’t just about pests….it’s about its people; 

• The recruitment of….
• The development of….
• The Leadership of…
• The Training of….
• The knowledge of…

Speaker suggestions may include, but are not limited to: 
•    academics
•    business owners
•    technical experts
•    consultants from within and outside the industry
•    subject matter experts in sales, digital marketing, information technology, and human resources
•    other “outside-of-the-box” ideas that no one has seen in the past 

AEPMA welcomes both technical pest and business-related sessions. The information gathered will help identify speakers and make decisions regarding the content of the program. Self-nominations are welcome. 

For any queries, please contact the AEPMA National Office at info@aepma.com.au.  

Education and Training Survey

The pest control industry is constantly evolving, and as professionals dedicated to safeguarding public health and property, your insights are invaluable.

We have put together a  survey to gauge your thoughts and opinions on various aspects of the industry, particularly in relation to training, licensing, and professional development.

Your feedback will play a vital role in shaping the future of pest control in Australia.

The survey can be found here 

Please Report It - Safeguarding Our Industry Together

Unfortunately, there is an increase in consumer complaints involving unlicensed and/or non compliant pest control activities.

The Dept. Of Health, Victoria is currently investigating a number of these complaints. 

If you or your customers have experienced these practices or have concerns about potentially unlicensed  businesses providing paid pest control services then please report this and encourage your customers to do the same.

We need to stamp this behaviour out and protect our Industry. 

To make a report please contact,

Department of Health,
Pesticide Safety Program
Phone Telephone: 1300 767 469 |
pesticidesafety@health.vic.gov.au

AEPMA Western Australia Branch Update – Lindsay Hollingsworth (AEPMA WA Branch Chair)

 Save the Date!

Calling all AEPMA WA members! Mark your calendars for an end-of-year Industry catch-up and x-golf session from 4:00PM on November 22, 2023! 

Join us for a day of networking, AEPMA / Industry updates, and friendly competition as we tee off and unwind together.  Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just starting out, this event promises to be a hole-in-one experience you won't want to miss! 

 So, dust off your clubs, practice your swing, and get ready to connect with fellow WA Pest Managers while enjoying the thrill of x-golf. This is the perfect opportunity to relax, celebrate the year's achievements, and forge new connections within the industry. 

Stay tuned for more details and keep an eye on your inbox for the official invitation. 

Remember, November 22, 2023 - save the date and be prepared for an unforgettable Afternoon of camaraderie, laughter, and a little friendly competition. 

See you on the green! 

_________________

Roof Space Safety

After the recent tragic incident of the third electrical fatality in roof spaces in WA, it's a stark reminder for all of us to be acutely aware of the risks associated with working in such environments.
In compliance with the Work Health and Safety Legislation in WA, it's imperative that every worker takes the necessary precaution of disconnecting the main power supply before venturing into the roof or ceiling space of any residential property.

If you intend to work in the roof space, your initial step should involve deactivating the electricity at the primary switchboard or meter box by toggling the main switch to the "off" position. You may also come across roof space safety stickers placed near ceiling entry points and switchboards, serving as constant reminders for both workers and building owners about the potential dangers involved.
Please remember that where solar photo voltaic (PV) systems are installed, supply cables from the solar cells on the roof to the inverter unit will be live when the solar cells are generating electricity. For this reason, care must be taken when working around these cables.

Care must also be taken when working on roofs or in ceiling spaces to minimise or avoid contact with exposed conductive parts such as guttering, roof sheeting or metal battens as these could be live if there is a fault with the electrical wiring. 

More information can be found here 

AEPMA NSW Branch Update - Patrick Legey (AEPMA NSW Branch Chair)

An AEPMA NSW ACT State Council meeting was held on zoom on the 18 September 2023 at 3.30am. The meeting was well attended with 8 delegates and 5 apologies.

Vice Chairperson Patrick Legey welcomed all in attendance.

It was with sadness that Patrick Legey spoke about the passing of Kylee Enwright (our State Council Chairperson until now) and the need for clarification on the future of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson till the next NSW ACT State Council AGM.

It was moved by Dr Chris Orton to elect Patrick Legey to the position of Chairman till the next AGM and to elect Paul Enwright to the position of Vice-Chairman till the next AGM. Carried unanimously by AEPMA NSW/ACT Council members.

Condolence Motion for Kylee Enwright

 Proposed by Chris Orton Carried unanimously by AEPMA NSW/ACT Council members.

That AEPMA NSW/ACT members are greatly saddened at the passing of Kylee Enwright and we offer our condolences to Paul and the whole Enwright family for her loss. 

Kylee was a great friend and colleague to all of us. At short notice, she took on the reins of leadership of the State Council and made a big contribution to its future advancement as wellas providing leadership and support to women in Australian Pest Management. 

R.I.P. Kylee – We recognise, honour and will remember your contributions to Australian Urban Pest Management.

After accepting the minutes of the previous meeting, we moved onto other matters of business  which included the 2023 AEPMA conference, Review of the Codes of Best Practice (which included Termite Management in existing buildings which will be soon in its seven meeting and pre- construction), training to the Codes, the luck of qualifications for Pre- Purchase Timber Pest Inspectors. Gary Stephenson discussed the submission he sent to Better Regulations Division.

Continue Reading 

Bell Labs - Contrac Soft Bait

We owe Australian pest managers an apology. You asked for a rodenticide that would work in any condition.  Hot and dry, cold, wet, humid and everything in between. You wanted something that would not melt in the heat, go mouldy in the damp, or turn brittle in the cold. You needed a bait that’s palatable in all environments and attractive to both rats and mice in all situations.

And we made it, we just didn’t do a good enough job of telling you about it

Bell Labs launched Contrac Soft Bait to the Australian market in late-2019.  We had an array of marketing programs scheduled for 2020, but we all remember what happened in 2020, which made 
it very challenging to give this exciting new product the exposure that it deserved.

Once things returned to some level of normality, our attention was on our brand-new acute rodenticide Fastrac Blox, and then shortly after the launch of our range of innovative iQ Products.

So, let’s circle back and remind you about Contrac Soft Bait, which is the most extensively tested bait that Bell Labs has ever developed.  This extensive lab and field testing, across a range of climates and in a variety of different environments has given us the utmost confidence that Contrac Soft Bait will give you the results you’re looking for in any situation you can throw at it.

With the declaration of El Nino by the Bureau Of Meterology and predictions of hot, dry weather for a large part of Australia in the coming months, it is imperative you have a rodenticide bait that can withstand the extremes of the Australian climate.

But your chosen rodent bait doesn’t just need to be durable, it also needs to be attractive to rodents! Contrac Soft Bait, like all Bell Labs baits, contains many food ingredients but with the addition of a unique blend of saturated and unsaturated fats, to appeal to rodents in all situations.

A precise manufacturing process is used to ensure maximum contact between the bait and the sachet paper, increasing bait acceptance in the field. 

Finally, as well as being durable and attractive, it must be effective!  Contrac Soft Bait contains the proven and trusted second generation anticoagulant bromadiolone, which delivers a lethal dose to rodents in just a single feed.

Don’t just take our word for it! Give Contrac Soft Bait a try and see the benefits of our extensive testing for yourself! 

Just don’t be mad at us for not telling you about it earlier! 

Embracing Innovation: The Sundew VESPEX European Wasp Accredited Specialist Course Goes Fully Automated

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, the Sundew VESPEX European Wasp Accredited Specialist Course has embraced innovation by transitioning to a fully automated online format. This shift marks a significant leap forward in the world of pest management training, making it more accessible and convenient for pest management professionals in the field.

Traditionally, individuals seeking accreditation as VESPEX Accredited Specialists were required to book one-on-one Zoom training sessions with an instructor. While this approach certainly had its merits, the move towards automation brings a host of advantages that cannot be ignored.

First and foremost, accessibility is greatly enhanced. Professionals across Australia, regardless of geographical limitations, can now access this specialised training at their convenience. 

Furthermore, the automated online course allows for a more structured and consistent learning experience. The curriculum can be meticulously designed and updated to reflect the latest European wasp research and treatment best practices, ensuring that all participants receive the most up-to-date information.

The environmental benefits of transitioning to an online format are also noteworthy. Many industry courses and accreditation require travel on the part of the trainers, and the trainees.  Reduced travel requirements mean a smaller carbon footprint, aligning with Sundew Solutions sustainability goals. Additionally, the course materials can be accessed electronically, reducing the need for physical resources.

The Sundew VESPEX European Wasp Accredited Specialist course's move towards full automation is a commendable step forward. By enhancing accessibility, improving content consistency, and contributing to a greener planet, this innovation sets a precedent for modernising education in the professional pest management industry.  It is a testament to the adaptability and forward-thinking mindset of Sundew Solutions who is committed to tackling pest management challenges efficiently and responsibly.  

Would you like to learn more about becoming a VESPEX Accredited Specialist? 

Contact Rowan Gregson, Technical Solutions Advisor Sundew Solutions at rowan@sundewsolutions.com.au or call 0422403556.

New from Ensystex - A Natural Insecticide for Greener Pest Management

ECOTHOR ACTIVE NATURE® ENTRAP Natural Insecticide is the latest product to be brought to the market by the innovations team at Ensystex. ENTRAP uniquely provides professional pest managers the opportunity to offer clients a totally poison-free pest management solution. The active constituent in ENTRAP, methyl-cellulose, is naturally derived from sustainably grown pine trees and all inert components are approved for use in the production of food for human consumption. 

More and more often, we hear consumers demanding low-toxic, natural pest solutions and ENTRAP enables professionals to deliver on this premise. ENTRAP employs a purely physical mode of action to trap, immobilise, and kill a wide range of insects and arachnids. It works like a sprayable sticky spider’s web to encase and rapidly immobilise the insects. 

ENTRAP is sprayed directly on to the target pest, where the unique polymer structure of the cellulose encases the insect and restricts its ability to move. This rapid immobilisation leads to the death of the insect. Since ENTRAP is poison-free with a purely physical mode of action, it will also just as quickly kill those insects that are resistant to traditional pesticides. And ENTRAP has no residual performance, so it quickly disappears from the environment.

You can see ENTRAP in action at this link or for more information, visit:

https://www.ensystex.com.au/products/ecothor-active-nature®-entrap-natural-insecticide.

Commercial Pest Control is a significant segment of the market, often requiring some different products and techniques compared to residential pest management and consists of restaurants, bakeries, nursing homes, hospitals, warehouses, factories, office buildings and the list goes on.

A good workplace is a “pest free” and clean environment, so, rats, mice, cockroaches, ants and other creepy crawlies are definitely unwanted guests!

Unfortunately, pest related issues in any business can result in very real costs to your reputation, your client base and your bottom line.

An Integrated Pest Management System (IPM), coupled with good hygiene is one way of protecting your business from pest infestations. IPM practices include monitoring, prevention of access and common-sense environmental sensitivity when controlling for pests.

The issue with commercial establishments, especially restaurants is that they generally start early and close late.  This makes it increasingly harder to apply Integrated Pest Management and maintain cleanliness and hygiene.

The Team at Berwick Pest Control gave us a great example of this where “a local restaurant had become increasingly popular in the area and was fully booked for lunches and dinner, 7 days a week. Staff would go to work in the late mornings and clean up the previous night’s dirty dishes, as they were too busy and too tired to clean up late at night before going home. The next day they would start the process all over again. German cockroaches were coming out at night and enjoying a feeding frenzy on the food scraps, leftovers and dirty dishes. The cockroach population was also growing in numbers.”

Things had to change and quickly to say the least, so the Berwick Pest Control Team put their heads together and came up with a plan. They introduced an Integrated Pest Management system coupled with a hygiene report to the restaurant owner, highlighting areas that required attention. First thing to change was the habit of leaving dirty dishes and food scraps out in the open after closing time. The kitchen had to be cleaned after each sitting, i.e., lunch and dinner.

Secondly, the Berwick Pest Team were sent in and went about sealing all cracks and crevices and possible entry points where the cockroaches were gaining easy access. 

“Once the main food source had been removed and a new level of hygiene had been introduced, things became much more manageable. We started to gain further control by applying a surface spray of Envu’s Temprid® 75 Residual Insecticide on the kitchen floor area and Maxforce® Gold Cockroach Gel in the areas that the cockroaches were most likely to harbor. Due to the domino effect of Maxforce Gold and the knock-down and residual of Temprid75, our Technicians at Berwick Pest Control were able to reduce the infestation significantly to a more manageable number, whereby they are now back to a monthly maintenance “call cycle” with this customer”, said Jo the office manager.

Temprid 75 Residual Insecticide will provide the perfect surface spray for when cockroaches and other crawling insects come out at night. This insecticide combines two powerful and effective residual insecticides, Beta-cyfluthrin and Imidacloprid to deliver greater control.

Envu’s Maxforce Gold Cockroach Gel is from the First Generation of gels with a tailor-made bait matrix specifically to cater for a balanced range of cockroach dietary preferences. Maxforce Gold is recommended for clean-out jobs.

Envu has a full range of products designed to assist you with your day-to-day pest control requirements. For more information contact your Envu Territory Business Development Manager today or see the full Envu range and product pages here.

Targeting the Root of the Problem for Lasting Results

As all good pest controllers know, the key to pest control is getting to the root of the problem and killing off the colony, not just the insects. That’s why BASF has pioneered a range of chemistries for general pest control. Unlike synthetic pyrethroids, BASF pest products are designed to attack the problem – the colony – rather than simply killing insects. 

‘The insecticide solutions of BASF over a number of years have set the benchmark in the industry for product quality and performance,’ notes BASF Technical and Development Manager Mark Wilson. As a result, BASF insecticides have become trusted household names. 

The BASF range of highly effective non-repellent brands include the Termidor® range (covering insecticide and termiticide), the Seclira® range (insecticides, fly bait and cockroach bait) and Goliath® Gel (cockroach bait). 
‘BASF non-repellent insecticide provides the professional pest manager with a powerful range of formulations that can control pest populations as a long-term solution using the Genuine Transfer EffectTM of this technology,’ explains Wilson.   

This Genuine Transfer Effect™ ensures that the insecticide is undetectable. Upon contact, the unique non-repellent technology of the product takes effect, and insects return to their nest to pass on the insecticide to other individuals in the colony. Ants, cockroaches and other social insects that come into contact will remain unaffected and unaware long enough to pass a lethal dose of the insecticide on to other insects in the colony and start a chain reaction.

This leads to a high level of success – with colony mortality and long-lasting total population control. In contrast, synthetic pyrethroids don’t have this transfer effect capacity. 

The added benefit of the BASF pest technology is that pest managers can be more targeted with their insecticide treatments, by only applying insecticides where needed, rather than a total blanket coverage approach. This saves both time and cost by allowing you to use less product while still getting the job done effectively. 

Get to the root of the problem, with BASF pest control products. For more information on BASF pest technology, visit pest-control.basf.com.au

NEW SOFT POUCH FOR SENTRICON AG TERMITE BAIT

The Sentricon AG (Above Ground) Termite Bait refill pack now comes with a soft black plastic cover which enables the bag of bait to be used without the hard plastic casing.  The black cover enables the bag of bait to be mounted on narrow or awkward surfaces, tight locations, limited access areas, in and around corners, over moulding and trims etc.

See below revised label instructions:

For use with plastic cover: Place the cut side of the pouch against the termite workings, securing it with tape, staples, non-volatile adhesives, latex-based caulk, or other appropriate materials.  Ensure securing agents do not make contact with the bait matrix. Place the flexible black cover over the pouch so that it is completely covered, blocking out light. The black cover should be attached in a way that is easily removed in order to check for feeding, for example with tape or staples.

People not being able to afford exterminators is part of the rise of bed bugs in Paris

In 10 years, Alexandre Woog has never seen anything like it.

The Paris-based pest exterminator is getting more calls than ever.

He says inquiries were up 10-fold in September, when compared with data from 2022.

"It's so crazy that we have to engage new employees and we [our books] are full," he said.

"It's a really crazy situation."

Videos and pictures of bed bugs in the French capital have swamped social media.

While autumn is typically the worst time for infestations, anecdotal evidence suggests there's something different about this year.

Continue Reading 

Credit ABC News 

Global Pest Control Market Anticipated to Reach $24.40 Billion by 2023, Driven by Increasing Demand for Pest Management Services

The global pest control market is set for significant growth, with an anticipated valuation of US$24.40 billion by 2023, showcasing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.09% during the forecast period. Pest control, a vital process in eradicating and preventing pests from causing health concerns and property damage, is witnessing increased demand worldwide.

Continue Reading

Scientists have named and described a new “giant” fossil spider species that lived between 11 and 16 million years ago in what is now modern-day Australia.

The spider was discovered at the McGraths Flat in New South Wales, a popular fossil site known for its iron-rich rock called “goethite”.

The creature has been called Megamonodontium mccluskyi and is described in a new study in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. It is the first-ever spider fossil found of the Barychelidae family – similar to the living genus Monodontium (a brush-footed trapdoor spider), but five times larger and measuring about 50mm from toe to toe.

Continue Reading

Credit - The Independent 

SAVE THE DATE!!

• Pesticon 2024 - 14th - 16th August  
• PestWorld -  17th - 20th October 2023 

AEPMA welcomes any contributions or suggestions for articles that you feel are relevant to the industry. Simply forward to info@aepma.com.au.

Or do you have something to say about an article you’ve read in the Newsletter? Why not leave your feedback on our Facebook page.