Public Health Pest Control Unit 4. Test Your Knowledge

Q. What type of space sprays work best to control flies in small indoor areas?

"Bug-bomb" aerosols.

Q. What pointers should you keep in mind when using miticides to control chicken and house mouse mites?

1. Apply miticides at the same time you begin host control efforts. 2. Apply sprays or dusts indoors to cracks and crevices near or leading to mite sources. 3. Treat nest areas outdoors.

Q. List several ways you can prevent pest birds from entering buildings.

1. Eliminate large crevices. 2. Block openings into vents, cooling towers, and rooftop equipment with hardware cloth. 3. Replace broken windows and screens.

Q. List several ways you can make sure that bees do not threaten people in or around structures.

1. Find and remove nearby bee colonies. 2. Reduce access to desirable nesting sites by discarding barrels, old appliances, abandoned cars, and piles of debris. 3. Remove hollow trees and logs. 4. Fill holes in landscape trees with foam insulation. 5. Repair loose insulation under mobile homes and open vents under homes or attics. 6. Close or fill openings for utilities and plumbing. 7. Screen vents, knotholes, and cracks with wire mesh small enough to prevent bee entry.

Q. What are the characteristics of a good mosquito larvicide?

1. It is specific for mosquitoes. 2. It has only a minimal impact on nontarget organisms. 3. It can penetrate a dense, vegetative canopy.

Q. List two nonchemical methods to control chicken mites.

1. Remove the nests and the bird hosts. 2. Caulk dwellings to keep mites from moving inside.

Q. Name and describe two of the most common and effective forms of mosquito source reduction.

1. Sanitation -- Removing debris (ex. discarded tires) that can act as breeding sites and regularly inspecting other water-filled containers (ex. gutters) to reduce breeding. 2. Habitat alteration -- Altering wet areas (ex. removing surface waters) so they are no longer attractive breeding sites.

Q. List several types of insecticides registered to control fire ants.

1. Slow-acting toxicant baits. 2. Insect growth regulator (IGR) materials. 3. Aerosol, dust, and liquid fumigant mound treatments.

Q. What tactics does the typical IPM program for mosquito control include?

1. Source reduction (ex. sanitation and habitat alteration -- managing wet areas). 2. Biocontrol (ex. larvae-eating fish and biorational pesticides). 3. Chemical control (ex. larvicides and adulticides). Exclusion (ex. screening), as a preventive measure, is also important.

Q. Describe several exclusion materials that can discourage or prevent birds from nesting, roosting, or loafing on buildings.

1. Spikes will help to prevent birds from roosting on ledges. 2. Netting may exclude birds from the eaves of a building or the internal support structure of a large warehouse. 3. Covers or ramps designed for ledges, window air-conditioning units, and roof edges can keep birds from infesting these sites.

Q. Why is it important to use a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter when removing cockroaches?

A HEPA filter is important because cockroaches are a major source of allergens. The proteins in their cast skins and dead bodies can cause both asthmatic and allergenic reactions. A well-designed vacuum with a HEPA filter can greatly reduce or even eliminate the risk that particles from cockroach harborage areas will blow out into the open.

Q. What is a barrier treatment?

A barrier treatment is an application of a pesticide in a strip alongside or around a structure, a portion of a structure, or any object (ex. shrub). A barrier treatment usually leaves residual pesticide on the treated surfaces in order to keep pests from entering into the treated area. In most cases, you will apply barrier treatments as high-volume (low concentration) liquids with hand-held spray equipment.

Q. What combination of pesticides works well to treat indoor and outdoor infestations of fleas?

A mixture of an insecticide approved for adult fleas and an IGR with a fairly long residual activity that will kill flea larvae.

Q. What chemical methods can you use to remove a beehive that has developed within a wall?

Aerosol sprays may be very effective if you spray them through the holes drilled for a coat hanger probe. You may also need to drill many more holes to inject an aerosol spray or dust. Apply insecticide at the entry or exit area of the nest and, if feasible, directly onto the nest (through holes drilled for this purpose). You will usually need to repeat the application several times to kill the bees. Be sure to remove the wax, honey, and dead bees as well.

Q. What is the best time of day to chemically treat yellow jacket, hornet, and wasp nests? Why?

After dark because the insects are in the nest and are the least active.

Q. Why are bats and purple martins NOT effective biocontrol agents for mosquitoes?

Although these animals do eat large numbers of adult mosquitoes, they do not significantly affect mosquito populations.

Q. Describe several sanitation actions that can help to prevent or reduce rodent populations.

Always store and handle food materials and animal feeds properly. Store pet food in metal, rodent-proof containers. Properly store and regularly dispose of garbage and rubbish. You should also keep areas free of clutter. Debris removal and weed control are key. For example, to discourage rats, keep areas around buildings and structures free of weeds and stacked lumber, firewood, and other stored materials.

Q. After eliminating a bee colony from inside a wall, why must you also remove the nest materials?

An unattended nest of beeswax, honey, brood, and pollen will attract other insects and animals. Wax moths will enter to eat the wax. Cockroaches and ants will find the brood and honey. Decaying brood and fermenting honey will cause foul odors. In addition, melting wax and honey can soak into walls, making them impossible to paint or wallpaper. Affected walls will stay moist to the touch for a long time.

Q. Against which species of cockroaches are perimeter sprays are NOT effective? Why?

Asian cockroaches. This species flies rather than crawls into structures and may not contact treated areas.

Q. If you plan to use shooting as a bird control tactic, what time of day and in what location will yield the best results?

At night or first thing in the morning in roosting areas.

Q. If a pet is the source of a flea infestation, when should you treat the pet in relation to treating indoor and outdoor areas?

At the same time.

Q. At what stage in a mosquito larva's life is it best to apply a bacterial toxin larvicide? Why?

Bacterial toxins must be eaten by the larvae. It is best to apply them well before the fourth-instar stage to ensure that they are eaten. This early exposure gives enough contact time to kill the larvae before they can pupate and emerge as adults.

Q. What is the purpose of a bait station? Describe a basic bait station used to bait rodents.

Bait stations shelter rodenticides from weather and protect people, pets, and other animals from accidental poisoning. Bait stations, should have at least two openings, about 2-1/2 inches in diameter for rats or 1 inch in diameter for mice. Be sure each station is large enough to accommodate several rodents at one time.

Q. What should you do before setting a funnel trap to make sure it captures the largest number of sparrows?

Bait the trap for a few days.

Q. Why is chemical control of bee swarms seldom needed?

Because bee swarms rarely stay for long before scout bees find a suitable, nonthreatening site to colonize.

Q. Why it is so important to identify which cockroach species is the problem before you try to control it?

Because different species of cockroaches have different behaviors and prefer different habitats. By knowing which species is the problem, you can better direct your control efforts.

Q. Why are odor repellents generally not effective against birds?

Because few birds can smell.

Q. Why are ULV applications not a common choice to control flies?

Because flies quickly reinfest treated areas. Relief is only temporary.

Q. When applying mosquito larvicides, why is it so critical that you completely cover the target site?

Because if you fail to treat even a small part of the breeding area, a large mosquito brood may emerge. This could lead to the need for immediate broad-scale adulticiding.

Q. If you are called to bat-proof a home in June or July, why might you recommend that the homeowner wait until late fall?

Because in June or July, most bats are rearing young in their colonies. The young cannot fly, so bat-proofing during this period will trap the young bats inside, where they will die. The young bats may also crawl and flutter into living areas. In late fall, however, bats have left for hibernation. You can also delay bat-proofing until late winter and early spring before the bats arrive.

Q. Why are residual insecticides not recommended as fly larvicides?

Because the exact conditions that attract egg laying last only for a short period. This makes continued breeding in the same spot unlikely.

Q. Why can swatting at or killing a yellow jacket that is flying around you increase your chances of being stung?

Because the insect may feel threatened and try to sting you in defense. In addition, if you injure or kill the yellow jacket, it will release an alarm pheromone that can greatly increase the aggressiveness of other members of the colony. Africanized honey bees (AHB) release a similar pheromone.

Q. Why is it often easier to find black widow spiders than brown recluse spiders?

Because the preferred indoor habitats of black widows are somewhat more limited (they are usually outdoors). Both spiders prefer unused parts of the house, but black widows often stay close to corners or other tight spaces. In addition, black widows tend to stay at the web, whereas brown recluse spiders often roam.

Q. Why are tied or penned animals at greater risk of being killed or seriously injured by Africanized honey bees (AHB)?

Because they cannot flee the area defended by the bees. For this reason, they may receive a lethal dose of bee venom.

Q. Why are fly cords often effective against house flies?

Because this species likes to rest on vertical objects.

Q. Why is public education an important part of mosquito control programs?

Because well-informed members of the public are more likely to know how to reduce or prevent exposure to mosquitoes (and thus to mosquito-borne diseases). Public education also helps people to understand the need for and to accept mosquito control programs. Because of education efforts in the past, people today are more aware of the need for mosquito control. In addition, education can increase professionalism among mosquito control workers. By attending continuing education programs, you can learn to reduce overall pesticide use and risk.

Q. Why might a restaurant avoid using a "zapper" to reduce fly numbers around an outdoor eating area?

Because zappers cause insects to explode and fragment. Insect body parts may contaminate food, objects, and areas near the zappers.

Q. How can equipment operators reduce the chance of being stung by bees when they operate their machines?

Before beginning their work, they should inspect the worksite for bee, yellow jacket, hornet, or wasp colonies. If they find a colony, they should remove it before operating their equipment. If their machine has an enclosed cab, they can close the cab quickly if an attack begins.

Q. When is the best time of day to perform ULV applications in order to protect nontarget insects? Why?

Between dusk and shortly after dawn. At this time, most beneficial insects are at rest.

Q. Define biocontrol.

Biocontrol is the use of living organisms (ex. parasites and predators) to control pests (ex. mosquitoes).

Q. What are biorational pesticides, and how do they work?

Biorational pesticides consist of dead bacteria with spores that contain toxins specific for mosquito and fly species. You apply these chemicals to the streams where black flies breed. When the fly larvae filter feed, they capture particles that contain the bacterial spores. When they ingest these particles, toxins release from the dead bacteria into the larval gut. This kills the larvae.

Q. What type of flies can be effectively controlled with CO2 traps?

Biting midges.

Q. Which species of blood-feeding flies are the most common targets of control actions?

Black flies, stable flies, and tabanids.

Q. Which species of fly is highly susceptible to biorational pesticides?

Black flies.

Q. What are some nonchemical ways to prevent ant infestations?

Caulking of cracks and crevices and tight-fitting door enclosures will discourage ants from entering buildings. Regular mowing may help destroy harvester ant nests.

Q. Describe how clearings in vegetation help to reduce tick infestations.

Clearings help to get rid of tick hosts. For example, by removing trees and shrubs around homes, you can make it easier for predators (ex. hawks and owls) to spot small tick hosts such as rodents. In addition, reduced cover raises the ground temperature and lowers the humidity. This causes the ticks to dry up and die. It also eliminates suitable habitat for the larval and nymphal hosts. These include small rodents such as the white-footed mouse and the meadow vole.

Q. When trapping rodents with trigger traps, where should you place the traps for the best results?

Close to walls, behind objects in dark corners, and in other areas of known rat and mouse activity. Place traps so that rats and mice will pass directly over the trigger as they follow their natural course of travel (usually close to a wall). Set traps on ledges or on top of pallets of stored materials, if rodents are active in these places. Cover all escape routes with traps. Use enough traps to make the campaign short and decisive. Because mice seldom venture far from their shelter and food supply, place trigger traps 3 to 10 feet apart in areas where mouse activity is noted, and within 20 feet of each other for rats.

Q. Which types of mosquito larvicides can you apply at any stage in a larva's life?

Conventional insecticides, chitin synthesis inhibitors, nonpetroleum oils, and monomolecular films.

Q. List several ways you can apply pesticides to control ticks.

Depending on the tick species, you can: 1. Spray low-growing plants thoroughly. 2. Apply granules in heavier vegetation. 3. Dust rodent runs and burrows. 4. Set up self-treatment stations to control ticks on deer.

Q. In what situations should you avoid treating bed bug-infested bedding? What should you do instead?

Do not treat the bedding (mattresses and frames) of infants or sick people. Instead, replace the bedding with uninfested items.

Q. After treating mattresses or upholstered items for bed bugs, what steps should you take to reduce human exposure to the pesticide?

Do not use treated furniture or bedding until it is thoroughly dry. Better still, do not use it for 72 hours after treating it with an insecticide. Follow the label directions exactly. Before allowing children on treated furniture, vacuum it thoroughly to remove loose and excessive amounts of chemical. Do not use residual pesticides to treat bedding or furniture.

Q. If you discover a hole in your attic or basement where rodents are entering a home, what materials would work well to seal that hole?

Durable materials, such as: • Heavy mesh hardware cloth. • Metal flashing. • Aluminum (22 gauge or thicker). • Brick. You can also pack steel wool, lath screen, and copper mesh tightly into holes to close openings or protect other areas from gnawing. Be sure to caulk over steel wool and copper mesh to seal them.

Q. What is the best way to prevent tick bites?

Educate people on what they can do when they work or play in tick habitats.

Q. Name and describe three basic tactics used to PREVENT public health pests from becoming a problem.

Effective techniques include sanitation, habitat alteration, and exclusion. Sanitation and habitat alteration strive to create an environment that is uninviting and unfavorable for pests. Exclusion tries to block pests from entering specific areas. Together, these tactics can help you prevent a pest problem or reduce the chance that it will develop into a large infestation.

Q. What is the best way to prevent problems with snakes?

Eliminate snake hiding places. Clean up brush piles, woodpiles, rock piles, and other debris. Keep shrubs away from building foundations and cut high grass. Get rid of their source of food (ex. mice and rats).

Q. What is the best way to get rid of most bats?

Exclude them from structures.

Q. True or False: You can use the same general method to manage any species of mite.

False. The treatment method depends on the species that is causing the problem.

Q. True or False: You can control the itch (scabies) mite with a miticide.

False. Use pesticide ointments prescribed by a doctor.

Q. When treating underground nests of yellow jackets, hornets, and wasps, what can you do to prevent the insects from escaping before they are exposed to the pesticide?

First, find all of the entrances and exits. Then, place a metal or hard plastic container upside down over all of the entrance holes. Be sure the ground is smooth and soft around the nest entrances. Place weights on the containers to hold them snugly against the ground.

Q. Describe several ways you can exclude bed bugs from living areas.

First, you should exclude their nonhuman hosts (ex. birds and rodents) from living quarters. Keep woodpiles, shrubs, and weeds away from the foundation of dwellings. Get rid of garbage. Caulk and screen routes of entry. Store mattresses in protected areas, unfolded to prevent rodent nesting. Allow light to enter crawl spaces, cabinets, and other enclosed sites to discourage rodents from using these areas as harborages. You can also exclude bed bugs directly by caulking or removing all cracks and spaces behind baseboards and other areas of an infested house.

Q. How long should you leave traps in place before moving them to another location?

Five days. Intensive trapping for several weeks works best.

Q. How do insect growth regulators (IGRs) control ants? How quickly do they work?

IGR materials stop all egg production by the queen or selectively inhibit production of worker eggs. These chemicals provide control within five to 10 weeks.

Q. Define and describe integrated pest management (IPM).

IPM is an ecological approach to pest control. It is based on the habitat and life cycle of the pest. It combines all of the most appropriate pest control strategies into a unified, site-specific plan. IPM plans may include both nonchemical and chemical management methods. IPM is dedicated to managing causes rather than simply treating symptoms. IPM balances the level of control needed with any associated risks. The goal of an IPM program is to reduce pest numbers to an acceptable level in a way that is practical, cost-effective, and safe for people and the environment.

Q. How does impoundment management reduce mosquito numbers?

Impoundment management uses dikes to impound salt marshes. The dikes serve to contain water pumped onto the marsh surface from a nearby estuary. This eliminates egg-laying sites for the salt-marsh mosquito on the impounded marsh because it deepens the water. Mosquitoes generally do not breed in deep waters. Thus, mosquito numbers drop.

Q. Where should you place cockroach traps?

In areas that cockroaches frequent. These may include near trash cans, behind known or suspected harborages, near water sources, or similar sites. Trapping is most useful as a survey tool.

Q. Ideally, where should you place pigeon traps?

In general, you will want to set traps where the pigeons often roost or feed. Be sure to place the traps in inconspicuous sites where people are not likely to vandalize them (a major risk in trapping programs).

Q. What is the best way to exclude filth-breeding and blood-feeding flies from indoor areas?

Install window and door screens.

Q. How can prebaiting help you to protect nontarget species?

It allows you to observe what species of birds feed at your site before you place the toxic bait. If several nontarget animals begin feeding at the site, you have two options. One: if the prebait site is one of many, you can continue to bait the isolated site with untreated bait. This will keep the nontargets away from the other sites where you can use toxic bait. Two: if you are only prebaiting at one or a few sites, you may need to abandon the site where the nontargets appeared.

Q. What sanitation efforts will help to keep indoor areas clear of phorids, filter flies, fruit flies, and fungus gnats?

Keeping areas clear of food and waste and repairing and cleaning pipes and drains. It is also important to reduce moisture levels in potted plants and other breeding sites.

Q. When applied from the ground or by airplane, which type of pesticide is usually more effective and target specific: larvicides or adulticides?

Larvicides.

Q. When baiting mice, what type of bait can help to prevent the mice from moving the bait to an area that could endanger nontarget animals?

Meal baits.

Q. Which is more aggressive, a swarm of bees or a feral bee colony?

Neither is aggressive unless you provoke it.

Q. Do ultrasonic sound devices effectively scare and/or harass birds?

No.

Q. Do ultrasonic sound devices repel bats?

No.

Q. As a pesticide applicator, should you recommend specific medications for the control of lice?

No. Instead, you should explain the life cycle of lice and how these insects are transmitted. Recommend that people discuss treatment options with their doctor or other health professionals.

Q. Can vacuuming carpets completely destroy flea larvae? Why or why not?

No. The spiny larvae wrap themselves tightly around carpet fibers.

Q. What are chemosterilants?

Often called "birth control pills," these chemicals control pigeons by preventing ovulation in the female and sperm production in the male. These effects can last for six months in the female and three months in the male. When applied as directed on the label, chemosterilants will not kill birds. Instead, populations will slowly decline over the years from the natural mortality in an aging pigeon population.

Q. Describe several ways you can remove a snake that gets into a house or other building.

One method is to place damp burlap sacks on the floor and cover them with dry sacks. Check the sacks every few hours to see if the snake has crawled underneath. Once the snake is within the pile of sacks, you can lift the snake and bags with a shovel and take them outside. Another option is to use rat glue boards. These glue boards will capture all but the largest snakes. Tie down or attach the glue boards to a plywood base. Then, place the glue boards along wall and floor junctions. Once the snake has been caught, you can kill or release it. To loosen a snake from a glue board, pour vegetable oil over the snake and glue. Lastly, you can use expanded trigger rat traps to catch and kill smaller snakes. Set the traps in pairs along wall and floor junctions. Keep children and pets away from the traps.

Q. Using pigeons as an example, describe the basic prebaiting process for birds.

One method is to place untreated whole corn in many small piles (1/4 pound each, 20 feet apart). Place these piles on flat rooftops, on ledges, and in similar sites in the treatment area. An appropriate treatment would be 20 piles of bait on a flat 5,000-square-foot roof. Another method is to scatter the bait in a natural manner. Flocks of birds will feed better on bait that is scattered and accessible to more birds.The goal is to get at least 40% of the birds to accept the untreated bait. Expect the effort to take from three days to three weeks. When possible, remove all of the untreated bait before switching over to treated bait.

Q. Describe two nonchemical traps you can use to capture foraging yellow jackets.

One trap uses a dead fish to draw in the insects. The fish hangs from a tripod above a tub filled with water that contains a wetting agent such as soap. The odor of the fish draws the foragers to the trap. When the yellow jacket enters the trap, it will often cut away a piece of fish that is too heavy to carry. This causes the insect to fall into the water, where the wetting agent will prevent its escape.Another trap consists of a flowerpot 6 to 8 inches high with holes in the bottom. A screen wire cone with a 1/2-inch diameter hole at the tip is inverted over the holes in the bottom of the pot. A bait tray with meat hangs from a tight-fitting screen cover from the top of the pot. Foragers enter through the holes in the bottom and pass through the 1/2-inch hole in the cone to get to the meat. Once inside, the insects cannot find their way back out. There are also commercial traps available.

Q. What reduces the effectiveness of sticky repellents? How can you remedy these problems?

Over time, sticky repellents lose their effectiveness, especially in dusty areas. When this happens, you will need to make a second application. Sticky repellents will also be ineffective if you treat only some of the roosting or loafing sites in a problem area. Whenever possible, the birds will move a short distance to an untreated surface. For this reason, it is important to treat all roosting and loafing surfaces in a given area.

Q. Describe sanitation actions that people can take in picnic areas to reduce numbers of yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, and other types of stinging insects.

People should place food garbage and empty beverage containers in trash cans with tight-fitting lids. Trash cans should be emptied regularly.

Q. Why must you reapply perimeter sprays on a regular basis to control cockroaches?

Perimeter sprays are vulnerable to rain, sun, and other weather factors. Therefore, you must apply them on a regular basis to be sure the chemical barrier is still effective.

Q. Against which type(s) of pest bird is nest and/or egg destruction effective?

Pigeons.

Q. What is prebaiting? Why is it important?

Placing nontoxic bait (food) in a trap or bait station. Once the target pest becomes used to feeding from the trap or bait station, the nontoxic bait is replaced with toxic bait. Prebaiting ensures that the target pest eats enough of the toxic bait and does not become bait shy.

Q. What is the main cause of excessive fly breeding at animal farms? Explain.

Poor water management. Poorly constructed effluent ditches and leaking watering systems cause much of the wetting of manure. Wet manure invites breeding flies.

Q. Describe how some cockroach baits provide both primary and secondary kill of cockroaches.

Primary kill, also called "direct kill," occurs when a cockroach dies due to eating poison bait directly. However, because many baits are slow acting, the cockroaches that die from direct kill do so after they return to their harborage areas. Often, they will pass some of the bait in their feces before they die. The fecal material and the dead cockroaches contain some of the insecticidal bait. Secondary kill occurs when other roaches consume the bait-laden feces and cockroach bodies.

Q. How can you usually prevent repeat exposures with urticating (stinging) caterpillars?

Public education and awareness.

Q. What is the difference between rotational impoundment management (RIM) and open marsh water management (OMWM)?

RIM attempts to control mosquitoes by minimally flooding diked marshes during the summer months. The excess water disrupts the breeding cycle of any mosquitoes that are present. OMWM uses shallow ditches to connect mosquito-producing locations on the marsh surface to deep-water habitats (ex. tidal creeks, ponding areas, and deep ditches). These ditches help to control mosquito broods in two ways: 1. They enable fish to swim from deep areas to shallow, mosquito-breeding areas where they can feed on mosquito larvae. 2. They can drain the shallow, mosquito-breeding areas before the adult mosquitoes emerge.

Q. How do anticoagulant baits kill rodents?

Repeated ingestion causes the animals' blood to lose its ability to clot. Animals die due to internal bleeding that begins about three to five days after they first eat the bait.

Q. When should you use an adulticide to control mosquitoes?

Reserve adulticides for managing mosquitoes that reach the adult stage in spite of efforts to intervene in the larval stage. You may also need to use adulticides when no larval control tactics were used.

Q. What are the disadvantages of using noise or electrical devices to control rodents?

Rodents quickly get used to regularly repeated sounds. In addition, ultrasonic sounds have very limited use in rodent control because they are directional, they do not penetrate behind objects, and they lose their intensity with distance. In fact, there is little evidence that sound of any type will drive established mice or rats from buildings.

Q. List four nonchemical methods that can help to monitor and control cockroach infestations.

Sanitation, exclusion, trapping, and physical removal.

Q. What is the most effective nonchemical control method for many species of filth-breeding flies?

Sanitation.

Q. For control on humans, in what form do most head, body, and crab lice pesticides come?

Shampoos.

Q. Do most flea-control shampoos, aerosols, dips, dusts, and sprays provide short- or long-term control of fleas on pets?

Short-term control.

Q. In what situations would you use a single-dose rodenticide vs. a slow-acting (multiple-dose) rodenticide?

Single-dose rodenticides work best where rodents are abundant or where it is hard to get the animal to accept a bait for several days in a row because of competing food items.

Q. What nonchemical ways can you use to remove a beehive that has developed within a wall?

Sometimes, you can remove feral colonies by hand, or you can suck them up with special types of vacuums. Soapy water does not work on feral colonies because honeycomb prevents good coverage. Usually, beekeepers or others with bee-handling experience perform these tasks.

Q. How can source-reduction efforts affect the amount of pesticide you apply to control mosquitoes?

Source reduction often lessens or even gets rid of the need for chemical control of mosquito larvae. In addition, these efforts may reduce the need for adulticides in nearby areas.

Q. Traps are LEAST effective against which type of pest bird discussed in this manual?

Starlings.

Q. How should you store commercial products in order to reduce rodent damage?

Store them on pallets at least 8 inches off the ground. Keep the pallets 18 inches from adjacent walls, and separate them by an aisle that is at least 12 inches wide. Do not stack pallets more than 6 feet across.

Q. What technique can you use to locate a beehive within a wall?

Tap the wall and listen for a solid sound (the nest) vs. a hollow sound. Listen also for buzzing when tapping. When you think you have located the nest, drill a hole (1/16 inch) large enough for a coat hanger wire. Straighten out a coat hanger and stick it in the hole. If a nest is present, there should be honey or wax on the hanger when you withdraw it. You may need to drill and inspect more than one hole to find a nest. Work close to the top of the wall with holes and coat hanger because bees always hang the honeycomb down from an overhead support. You can use the drill/wire hanger technique in brick or wooden walls as well.

Q. How much toxic bait should you put out in relation to the amount of prebait you used?

The amount of treated bait you set out should be about half the amount of prebait you used each day. For example, if you put out 8 pounds of prebait daily for a flock of about 100 birds, then you should set out 4 pounds of the treated blend of bait.

Q. What is a drawback of using glue boards to catch rodents?

The animals do not die instantly.

Q. How can you get rid of body lice on clothing?

The best way to prevent body lice is to wash clothes regularly or wear them only intermittently. Washing clothes in detergent and hot water works because it kills lice and lice eggs. Dry them in a dryer set on "high."

Q. If an apartment is infested with both rats and fleas associated with the rats, which pest should you control first? Why?

The fleas. This is because if you kill the rats first, the fleas will only seek new hosts. This may complicate your operation and perhaps expose alternate hosts -- including humans -- to disease organisms.

Q. What physical feature can protect black widow spiders and brown recluse spiders from exposure to residual pesticides?

The hairs at the tip of their legs. Both spiders tread lightly on their hairs, and, thus, the amount of pesticide that actually contacts their bodies is minimal.

Q. Whenever possible, what life stages should your mosquito control efforts target first?

The immature life stages: eggs, larvae, and pupae.

Q. How do chitin synthesis inhibitors work to control mosquito larvae?

These inhibitors disrupt the molting process. Therefore, mosquitoes cannot mature.

Q. What is the advantage of traps that capture pest animals alive?

They allow you to release nontarget species unharmed.

Q. How can homeowners chemically reduce biting flies in their own backyards?

They can apply residual insecticides to window screens, shrubs, and other resting sites. To control tabanids, homeowners can hang insecticide-treated black spheres 12 to 18 inches in diameter from branches and other suitable supports.

Q. How do sticky repellents repel roosting birds from buildings?

They make birds uncomfortable as they try to land on treated surfaces. After a few attempts, the birds will usually stop trying.

Q. Describe several ways rodents can enter buildings.

They run along or climb electrical wires and cables that lead to buildings. They climb trees and almost any rough vertical surfaces such as wood, brick, concrete, and weatherized sheet metal. They crawl horizontally along pipes or conduits. Rodents also gnaw through a wide range of materials such as lead, aluminum sheeting, wood, rubber, vinyl, and concrete blocks, all to make their way into a building. In addition, rodents can enter buildings through holes that are very small. For example, rats can squeeze through openings larger than 1/2 inch square. Mice need only quarter-inch holes. Conversely, rodents often enter buildings through doors that stay open for long periods.

Q. Besides using lice-control shampoos, what should families do to make sure they are not reinfested with head lice?

They should wash all bedding, hairbrushes, knit caps, and other items in frequent contact with hair. It is also a good idea to vacuum and clean all rugs and carpets.

Q. How do poison bait stations/traps kill flies?

They use an attractant to draw flies to the station. Once there, the flies will feed on a pesticide. The flies may die in or at the site of the station or trap, or they may fly to some other place before they die.

Q. What are surface treatments? Why are they not common in the United States?

This method uses residual insecticides to kill mosquitoes that later rest on the treated surfaces. Residual treatments are not routinely used in the United States for mosquito control because most residual pesticides in this country (like DDT) have been phased out.

Q. How should animal farms store manure in order to reduce fly populations? Why is this effective?

To reduce fly numbers, farms should store collected manure in cone-shaped piles. These piles reduce the surface area on which flies can breed. Cone-shaped piles also make enough heat during fermentation that the interior of the pile is not suitable for the flies. In addition, the outer surfaces of the piles dry quickly and tend to narrow the zone in which the larvae can develop. As the manure piles age, they pose an even smaller risk for fly breeding, even when wet. This is because house flies and other species prefer fresh manure.

Q. How should you treat mattresses and upholstered items that are infested with bed bugs?

To treat mattresses, apply a light mist of liquid insecticide to seams, tufts, and folds but not to the entire mattress. Treat upholstered items in a similar fashion. Lightly spray or dust only the edges and seams of cushions, furniture joints, and the inside (hidden) framework. Avoid treating armrests and areas of the furniture that you sit on. Be sure to ventilate the room while spraying and during drying.

Q. In which commercial category might you need to be certified to use fumigant pesticides in Virginia?

To use certain fumigants to control pests in Virginia, you may need to be certified in commercial category 1C, Fumigation of Soils and Agricultural Products, or in commercial category 7C, Fumigation (Non-Agricultural). Contact the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) for more information on which category is required for your situation.

Q. What are tracking powders, and how do they work?

Tracking powders are rodenticides formulated as dusts. The powder adheres to the rodents' feed and fur and is consumed during grooming. These powders can kill rats even when the animals have become bait or trap shy. Apply tracking powders inside wall voids, around rub marks, along pipe runs, and in dry burrows (if the label permits). Do not use the powders in suspended ceilings, around air ventilators, or near food preparation areas.

Q. What are the advantages of trapping rodents as a method of control?

Trapping does not rely on hazardous rodenticides. It provides visible proof of success. In addition, trapping allows you to dispose of carcasses. This avoids odor problems from decomposing carcasses that could occur when poisons are used inside buildings.

Q. True or False: Basic insect repellents will protect you against biting flies as well as mosquitoes.

True.

Q. How can you protect nontarget insects when using larvicides to control flies?

Use larvicides only when other control tactics do not work or are not possible. Then, limit the use of larvicides to cases when you can treat breeding areas that contain only the nuisance species. Fortunately, most nuisance flies have certain preferred breeding sites. By treating only these select sites, you can avoid harming both parasites and predators of flies. For example, fly parasites usually attack flies at the pupal stage. Thus, they will not normally be present when you apply a larvicide. In addition, spot treatments do not significantly harm predators of flies since these organisms do not gather in large numbers at fly-breeding sites.

Q. If you cannot avoid chigger-infested areas, how can you minimize chigger bites?

Use repellents on pant legs and shoes. Be sure to tuck your trousers into your boots. When possible, keep vegetation cut low. If necessary, treat infested areas with residual miticides.

Q. What is the most cost-effective way to destroy pigeon nests?

Using high-pressure hosing from firefighting equipment or other water lines. This destroys the nest, kills ectoparasites, cleans droppings and feathers from the nest site, and harasses the roosting birds.

Q. Describe several benefits of ultra-low-volume (ULV) application vs. larger droplet application of mosquito adulticides.

Using tiny ULV droplets can increase efficiency while decreasing the risk to the environment and to public health. This is because the small droplets drift far beyond the point of release and settle in a widely dispersed manner on the ground. By the time these droplets land, their toxicity is often weakened by hydrolysis (reaction with water molecules in the air). However, the small amount of chemical that does remain in each droplet is still lethal to any mosquito that the droplet touches. In addition, tiny ULV droplets are not likely to contact objects larger than mosquitoes. This is because the physical characteristics and size of larger objects cause the droplets to drift around them rather than deposit on them. The very small flying mosquitoes, however, do not ward off the small droplets in this way. Also, use of the fine ULV droplets means that there are millions more droplets to control mosquitoes than there would be if you used larger droplets.

Q. What effect does vacuuming have on flea pupae/cocoons?

Vacuum-cleaner vibrations will cause adult fleas in cocoons to emerge immediately. They will then be sucked into the vacuum.

Q. In addition to windows and doors, what other areas must you screen and/or seal in order to keep cluster flies out of homes and other buildings?

Ventilators, louvers, clapboard siding, and other points of entry.

Q. Which agency should you contact if you find an infestation of red imported fire ants?

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Office of Plant and Pest Services. RIFA are currently under a VDACS eradication program.

Q. In what situations might you want to get rid of a bee swarm?

When you want to prevent AHBs from colonizing certain sites such as in or near a dwelling.

Q. In what situations would a space spray help to control adult mosquitoes?

When you want to treat an enclosed space such as a house, tent, trailer, or warehouse.

Q. Which color of security light attracts more flies: white or yellow?

White.

Q. How do frightening baits work to control pest birds?

Within 15 minutes of eating a toxic dose, birds become intoxicated and begin to react violently. Most die within a few hours. The rest of the flock is frightened away from the site. Only 5% to 15% of the flock need to be affected to scare away the rest of the flock.

Q. If young puppies or kittens are the source of a flea infestation, how can you protect them from the potentially toxic effects of flea control products?

You can apply products formulated as drops (not sprays or dusts) to the mother of the kittens or puppies. You can also treat the infested areas after you move the young animals to clean bedding.

Q. What sanitation and exclusion actions can help you prevent problems with centipedes indoors?

You can reduce the chance that centipedes will enter a poorly constructed home by caulking the spaces between walls and concrete floor slabs. It is also helpful to remove rocks, woodpiles, and other trash in order to get rid of centipede harborage sites.

Q. If you discover a paper wasp nest in the eaves under a picnic shelter, what nonchemical method can you use to remove it?

You can saturate the nest with a pressurized stream of water. Return a few hours later and remove the nest to discourage others from nesting there.

Q. A home with a dog that spends time both indoors and outdoors develops a flea infestation. To control the fleas, what three places must you treat with pesticides? What would happen if you treated only one or two of these sites/items?

You must treat: • Inside the infested structure. • Outside at sites of flea concentrations. • The infested animal. Treating only one or two of these sites/items usually leads to a reinfestation. This is because surviving fleas will eventually find the host animal. The host animal will then distribute the fleas to the other areas.