Drywood termites are wood-eating pests that can damage buildings or other wooden structures through their constant feeding activity. They are less dependent on moisture than subterranean termites, which allows them to live above ground in studs, rafters, and window and door frames without any contac

The southern fire ant and red imported fire ant both inhabit lawns and can bite and sting people and pets. In California, we have both species,, and they can coexist in proximity. Both species are reddish in color and show worker size variation, meaning that workers range from small to large within

Chitin‐synthesis inhibitors are a group of Insect Growth Regulators such as hexaflumuron, noviflumuron, and novaluron, that are used in subterranean termite bait stations. When ingested by foragers, they are shared with the members of the colony and slowly cause death by disrupting proper molting in

Crickets are wonderful creatures that remind us of beautiful meadows at night. Hearing them chirping is a great experience outdoors. However, things become very different when they move inside. Nobody likes to hear crickets chirping nonstop for hours in their kitchen. There are different types of cr

In structural pest control, we deal with various pests that exhibit different behaviors. Some pests that crawl, such as cockroaches and bed bugs, tend to hide in sheltered locations, either temporarily or permanently. While the terminology used to distinguish different hiding places can be helpful,

The dark rover ant , Brachymyrmex patagonicus, is a small invasive ant species that has become increasingly common in parts of California. First detected in the state in 2010 , it is now found across Southern California and parts of the lower Central Valley . This is a relatively small ant, with wor

Red Imported Fire Ant baits are among the most effective tools for controlling these invasive and aggressive pests. Designed to target entire colonies, baits combine a slow-acting toxicant with an attractant that worker ants collect and share with the rest of the colony, including the queen. This en

Red Imported Fire Ants are invasive insects known for their painful stings and the significant damage they can cause to human health as well as pets, wildlife, and even agriculture. Managing these invasive ants is primarily done using liquid insecticides and granular baits. Here we will discuss each

Not all bed bugs are alike. In addition to the common bed bug and the tropical bed bug , there are other species that may inhabit or frequent human dwellings, including bat bugs and swallow bugs. Bat bugs closely resemble bed bugs in appearance but are specifically adapted to feed on bats. There are

The Formosan subterranean termite , Coptotermes formosanus, is a very destructive pest found in Taiwan, Hawaii , and Southern U.S. states. It was first reported in California in 1992 in La Mesa, San Diego County. Like many other FST eradication efforts worldwide, FST eradication was not successful i

You can get licensed to perform pest control under various licenses in California. These licenses are issued by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation , the California Structural Pest Control Board , or the California Department of Public Health . The exact license you need depends on the

By: Siavash Taravati, Ph.D. Published: 29 Sep 2019 California Structural Pest Control act states that: “It is unlawful for any individual to engage or offer to engage in the business or practice of structural pest control, as defined in Section 8505, unless he or she is licensed under this chapter”

By: Siavash Taravati, Ph.D. First published: 26 Sep 2019 Are you planning to become licensed in structural pest control or help your technician in getting licensed? California Structural Pest Control Board governs licensing of individuals and businesses involved in structural pest control. In this a

By: Siavash Taravati, Ph.D. There are three species of lice that exclusively feed on humans: 1) Head louse 2) Body louse 3) crab/pubic louse. Head louse and body louse are thought be conspecifics but crab/pubic louse is a different species in a separate genus and family. All these species occur in s

Published: 10 June 2019 This is one of the grey areas of pest control laws in California. Both the Structural Pest Control Board licensees and Qualified Applicator License holders are legally allowed to do perimeter spraying for business to control ants and other pests immediately around structures.

Published: 2 July 2019 By: Siavash Taravati & Jung Kim Collaborator: Jung Kim Red Imported Fire Ant is an invasive species from South America which arrived in California sometime between 1997 and 1998. RIFA bites and stings people and pets and its control may require professional help from licensed

First published: 5 April 2019Read about various California individual pest control licenses Drywood termites belong to the family Kalotermitidae while subterranean termites belong to Rhinotermitidae or Termitidae. Many times, Pest Management Professionals find piles of dead, winged termites inside o

Disclaimer: This document may be outdated. Readers should get the most updated regulatory information from federal, state, county, and city resources. Remember, laws change all the time!Pesticide label is the law! You probably have heard this over and over. Although all of us have to always follow p

Whole-structure fumigation or simply "fumigation" is a process in which structures are covered with tarpaulins and a lethal gas, sulfuryl fluoride , is released beneath to kill drywood termites as well as other structural pests such as bed bugs, cockroaches, etc. Fumigation is a controversial topic