The Pest Detective
28 Feb 1983 --- 1980s Boy Using Magnifying Glass --- Image by © S. Feld/ClassicStock/Corbis
If you wouldn’t lie to a police detective, don’t lie to your pest control professional pest detective! When Pest Control Firms are hired for an inspection, they can detect a lot more then you may imagine . Believe it or not during pest inspections many pest control operators hear lie after lie. For one reason or another tenants and homeowners don’t want to be 100% truthful because they may fear eviction or a more pricey treatment. For the professionals that have been doing it long enough, they can tell you a lot of information about your infestation based off the following:
When an organism is living and breathing it must also use the bathroom. Believe it or not every living organism creates waste. This insect poop in the form of fecal is one of the best indicators to pest inspectors. It allows us to understand where the majority of these pests congregate. When pest fecal is found clumped into one area the pest detective is lead to believe this is where they should concentrate his treatment while still keeping other areas a possibility. Using monitors or glue traps in these areas may also help for reasons for identifying and understanding more about the pest.
The location of the evidence is very important. It may not help the pest detective understand the pest 100% but will help them make some educational guesses about what they may be dealing with. For example if fecal was found on kitchen cabinet hinges the pest detective could expect more that it may be a type of cock roach. If the pest detective finds fecal on the mattress or box spring this would help them look more toward bed bugs. This may sound obvious, but it truly takes years and years of experience to develop an eagle eye for evidence and where to look. The location will always help the inspector understand much more about the pest at hand.
Self Treatment may seem like a good idea but the pest detective will be able to figure this one out also. Most OTC sprays and treatments usually leave a residual around. Pest detectives have an eye for this as well. As treatment professionals, they will understand what you applied and when you applied it. This may also help them understand why the infestation may be more difficult to treat as the client may have disbursed the pests to a different location then they may normally be located. Example: A client found out they had bed bugs so they threw out all their furniture then sprayed every bed room with OTC bed bug spray. The pest detective may notice bed bugs in every bed room hiding in unorthodox places. They may also notice an oily or powdery residual left behind. Do your self a favor and let the professional treat!
The most important part of the pest detectives job is to correctly identify the pest at hand. Every chemical that a professional possesses has specific directions and modes of application. Some chemicals may be applied in doors but only in specific rooms. Other chemicals can only be applied outdoors. The pest at hand calls for a specific chemical and treatment method. Proper identification is so important so the pest professional can apply the correct material in the perfect areas. Mis-identification can cause an array of problems such at misapplication, a waste of time and a waste of a lot of money.
The duration of the infestation is another aspect that the pest detective can investigate . They can estimate the duration by a number of cold hard facts. The amount of fecal, the size of insects found on monitors, and the amount of dead insects found at the location can all tell a story about the infestation. Depending on these factors the treatment will vary. A severe infestation that has been neglected for months will be treated much differently then a new infestation. This type of information is very important for the pest control professional treating the pest problem .
The pest detectives job is very important in identifying and eradicating a pest problem. If any of the above is done incorrectly it could lead to a number of bad outcomes. Misapplication due to a poor pest inspection could make a pest problem worse or even cause harm to the occupants of the home. Please do your research and ask your pest detective questions. If they are patient enough to answer all your questions and even teach you a thing or two about them, then they may be the pest detective for you! Never be afraid or intimidated to inquire about every aspect of treatment, from Inspections-post treatment. Don’t forget your the customer and you always have the right to know whats going on under your nose.
If you live in the New York City area and suspect any pest problem call Northeastern Exterminating -New York’s pest detectives! (718)336-0634
