Essentially, what you missed was that, recent label changes in common pesticides and insecticides will be affecting the way we perform termite services, and other pest treatments, for your Tucson home.

Your home pest control services will be affected as follows:

- No longer will Gecko Pest Control be able to apply pesticides to large areas of outside structures, such as patios, regardless of whether or not they are covered.

Instead your pest control expert will modify their application of the pest treatment, and will most likely cover the perimeter of the patio or similar structure, rather than apply the pesticide, or spray, directly on top of the structure. We assure you that your patio and home will still remain protected against unwanted pests and insects.

- Gecko Pest Control will only be able to apply a one inch wide spray line around your doors and windows.

New EPA regulations demand the spray be only an inch wide when applied to parts of the foundation that are above 3 ft. in height. Don’t be surprised if you can no longer identify the chemical application as easily. If this concerns you, you are welcome to follow your pest professional during treatment to ensure you are getting a coat of spray where you might have otherwise thought they overlooked.

Your yard or lawn pest control services will also be affected:

To prevent chemical run off, our pest technicians may ask you to manually regulate your sprinkler system, the day of and possibly after, and have it be turned it off.

Also, treatments may be given a “rain check” in the event there is a high possibility of precipitation on the day you’ve been scheduled for service, as we are obligated to take the necessary steps to prevent run off of our products.

Will your pest treatment’s effectiveness be compromised?

Our pest control treatments will be just as effective, but if an issue arises, or the pest service we provide doesn’t seem to give the results you expected, please contact us within 30 days and we’ll be sure to address the situation accordingly.

If you have any questions regarding your pest control treatment, then don’t hesitate to call or write us, and we’ll be happy to help you with your concerns.

Changes to Label Wording –2011-2012

EPA PR Notice 2008-1 – for“non-fogging” pyrethroid products

Overview and Reasons for Label changes:

 In 2011 the EPA began to implement the requirement for new wording and instructions for use on all Product Labels of Synthetic Pyrethroids. These insecticides constitute a large number of the most often-used products in pest management, including such common active ingredients as permethrin, deltamethrin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, and many others. The ruling also affects any products with multiple active ingredients where at least one of them is a synthetic pyrethroid.

The timeline for compliance with this new labeling is confusing, but some product Labels began to show these changes in December 2011 and all others will be expected to comply within the first few months of 2012. It is imperative that end users of pyrethroid products carefully read the Label of the material they purchase from suppliers to be certain of the specific wording on that Label and the new restrictions that may be in place on its use.

The overall intent of these changes is to minimize movement of these active ingredients into sensitive environmental areas, such as waterways or habitats of protected wildlife. Studies initiated in California, testing water in storm drains and nearby creeks, suggested that contamination with levels of pyrethroids sufficient to affect test organisms in those waters was occurring routinely. Synthetic pyrethroids, while very low in toxicity to warm blooded animals, can be very toxic to cold blooded animals (fish, frogs, reptiles) and to invertebrate animals. One aquatic invertebrate used as the test organism is Hyalella azteca, a small fresh water shrimp or amphipod.

Where will the new wording be found?

 Much of the new wording on Pyrethroid Labels will be found in the sections on “Environmental Hazards Statements” and general “Directions for Use”, and they replace current wording with stronger wording to users of the products to avoid any application that would allow that product to move off of the intended site of use. However, there are now new limitations on the use of pyrethroid products outside of structures, and these will be extremely important to the Pest Management Professional.

Environmental Hazards – 

intended to clarify the steps the applicator can take to avoid potential contamination. They will vary depending on the formulation –granules, liquid sprays, dust

♦  For Liquid Concentrates labeled for Outdoor uses:

•  To protect the environment, do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters. Applying this product in calm weather when rain is not predicted for the next 24 hours will help to ensure that wind or rain does not blow or wash pesticide off the treatment area. Rinsing application equipment over the treated area will help avoid run off to water bodies or drainage systems.

♦  For Granular formulations labeled for Outdoor uses:

• To protect the environment, do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters. Applying this product in calm weather when rain is not predicted for the next 24 hours will help to ensure that wind or rain does not blow or wash pesticide off the treatment area. Sweeping any product that lands on a driveway, sidewalk, or street, back onto the treated area of the lawn or garden will help to prevent run off to water bodies or drainage systems.

♦  For Dust products labeled for Garden or Ornamental uses:

• To protect the environment, do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters. Applying this product in calm weather when rain is not predicted for the next 24 hours will help to ensure that wind or rain does not blow or wash pesticide off the treatment area.

♦  For Liquid Ready-to-Use products other than Aerosols:

• To protect the environment, do not allow pesticide to enter or run off into storm drains, drainage ditches, gutters or surface waters. Applying this product in calm weather when rain is not predicted for the next 24 hours will help to ensure that wind or rain does not blow or wash pesticide off the treatment area.

 “Directions for Use –Application Restrictions” – new wording to be added:

♦  For Granular formulations labeled for Outdoor uses:

• Apply this product directly to the lawn or garden area. Water treated area as directed on this label. Do not water to the point of run-off.
• Do not make applications during rain.

♦  For Liquid, Dust, and Ready-to-Use formulations labeled for Outdoor uses:

• Do not water the treated area to the point of run-off.
• Do not make applications during rain

♦  For Outdoor Liquid applications for Residential outdoor surface and space sprays other than for outdoor fogging devices:

• All outdoor applications must be limited to spot or crack-and-crevice treatments only, except for the following permitted uses:

             •  Treatment to soil or vegetation around structures;

             •  Applications to lawns, turf, and other vegetation;

             •  Applications to building foundations, up to a maximum height of 3 feet.

• Other than applications to building foundations, all outdoor applications to impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, patios, porches and structural surfaces (such as windows, doors, and eaves) are limited to spot and crack-and-crevice applications, only.

♦  For all products that do not contain directions for use in drains or sewers:

• Application is prohibited directly into sewers or drains, or to any area like a gutter where drainage to sewers, storm drains, water bodies, or aquatic habitat can occur. Do not allow the product to enter any drain during or after application.

♦  For all products that do contain directions for use in drains or sewers:

• Do not apply directly to sewers or drains, or to any area like a gutter where drainage to sewers, storm drains, water bodies, or aquatic habitat can occur, except as directed by this label.”

 Important interpretations of the new wording for SPRAY applications:

•  Regarding the limitation of Crack and Crevice or Spot treatment only to exterior surfaces of structures:

              •  A one-inch wide band around doors and windows is considered to be a “spot” or a“crack and crevice” treatment.

• Covered patios outside may not have overall applications, as there is no assurance they will not be washed or subjected to heavy rain and runoff.
• Applications may still be made to building foundations to a maximum height of 3 feet, as well as to soil and vegetation around the structure. 

 Termite Pre-treatments:

• The treatment site must be covered prior to a rain event in order to prevent run-off of the pesticide into non-target areas.
• The applicator must either cover the soil him/herself or provide written notification of the above requirement to the contractor on site and to the person commissioning the application (if different than the contractor). If notice is provided to the contractor or the person commissioning the application, then they are responsible under FIFRA to ensure that:  1) if the concrete slab cannot be poured over the treated soil within 24 hours of application the treated soil is covered with a waterproof covering (such as polyethylene sheeting), and:  2) the treated soil is covered if precipitation is predicted to occur before the concrete slab is scheduled to be poured.
• Do not treat soil that is water-saturated or frozen.
• Do not treat when raining.
• Do not allow treatment to run off from the target area.
• Do not apply within 10 feet of storm drains. Do not apply within 25 feet of aquatic habitats (such as, but not limited to, lakes, reservoirs, rivers, permanent streams, marshes or ponds, estuaries, and commercial fish farm ponds).
• Do not make on-grade applications when sustained wind speeds are above 10 mph (at application site) at nozzle end height.

 Impact on the Pest Management Industry:

♦  For structural general pest uses PMP’s will no longer be permitted to apply broad applications to exterior surfaces of structures, such as might be done for management of cluster flies, ladybirdbeetles, stink bugs, or boxelder bugs.

♦  For turf and ornamental uses there will need to be specific attention to weather conditions, sprinkler schedules, and other factors that may encourage runoff that carries the pyrethroid material.

♦  Attention must be given to soil conditions – frozen or saturated soils – where runoff would be likely to occur.

♦  Extra attention must be given to applications adjacent to sidewalks or drain openings to keep all spray or granules off of these surfaces.

List of Pyrethroid active ingredients:

• Allethrin
• Bifenthrin
• Cyfluthrin
• Cypermethrin
• Deltamethrin
• Esfenvalerate / Fenvalerate
• Etofenprox
• Fenpropathrin
• Fluvalinate / Tau-fluvalinate
• Gamma cyhalothrin
• Lambda cyhalothrin
• Permethrin
• Phenothrin
• Phenpopathrin
• Prallethrin / ETOC
• Resmethrin
• Sumithrin
• Tefluthrin
• Tetramethrin
• Trallomethrin

©2012.  Univar USA Inc.  Information provided is derived from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice2008-1.  It is not meant to constitute legal advice.  Please contact your state regulatory officials or the EPA for additional information.   Univar makes no representations and warranties as to the information provided.  Always read and follow label directions.

Well, not the worst, but are they really worth wasting all your extraneous hate on, and is it really imperative that one keeps their house spider-free?

No, and no. In fact, good luck getting rid of ALL the spiders. If you can do that, give us your number and we’ll make sure to give you a call next time we need pest control.

Okay, okay, so if you can’t exterminate them all, then…

What can the average avid spider hater do?

Seal cracks?

Go for it. If you’re home isn’t in it’s old age you just may be able to seal off every entrance that the little critters make their way through before they find your bed sheets; otherwise, trust us – they’ll find their way in if there is one.

Insecticides?

Again, go for it, but good luck. Most insecticides are reliant on the creature actually applying the poison to themselves by running their body over it, which in the case of the spiders is slim to none, that is – unless you hit them with it as you’re spraying. This is because spiders keep “on their toes”, so to speak, at all times. Oh, and also – spiders aren’t insects.

You may say, “Yeah, but I have my house sprayed periodically and I rarely see a spider.” Oh, but of course! You’ve killed off the majority of their food supply is why.

Scream?

Though relieving, this tactic unfortunately has zero effect on the size of your home’s spider population.

What’s the answer to the pest problem then?

We just told you: kill off their food supply.

As stated earlier – you won’t win the war completely, but if you manage to put a significant dent in their main source of food (mostly household insects) then you can be sure to see less creepy crawlies skittering around at night.

Spiders do have a thing for their own kind too though, so don’t think that eliminating their plate of pests will halt their feeding completely. The strongest and smartest ones will survive, and you can be sure of that.

What you can do though, is: grab the best vacuum you have, make sure the bag is empty, attach the hard surface extension, and go nuts on every nook and cranny in the house. This not only sucks up a lot of what they feed on, but also their un-borns (still writhing in their egg sacs – ew), themselves, and as a bonus – a bunch of unwanted dust.

Other tips include: sparingly using outdoor and indoor lights that you notice are attracting bugs, regularly trimming plants in and around the house, and installing door sweeps.

If all else fails…

We suggest you give us a call and let us put our pesticides to work. Unlike insecticides these chemicals are made up of larger particles that more easily catch onto pests passing through.

So, if you’re in Tucson and dealing with a sudden influx of eight-legged freaks, try out these tips and be sure to contact us if nothing seems to be helping the pest problem.

Well the first monsoon rains are here in the old pueblo and the termite reproductives have grown their wings and are starting their late afternoon flights (swarms).  Dont worry though, they are not equipped to start damaging your home.  Their whole purpose is to start a new colony.  Almost all of them do not survive to start a new colony. You can tell the difference between ant swarmers and termite swarmers easily. Termites have two body segments and drop their wings off soon after landing.  Ants have three body segments and do not drop their wings.  Time for your free annual termite check up!  Watch this video of termites under the influence.