The Service Technician’s Inspection and Identification Manual
Chapter 1
This presentation covers the material
in Chapter 1of the Training Manual,
pages 5 -6
If I called your company, would you send someone out
who would identify the bug for sure, before spraying,
to ensure success?
The guy from the last company just shrugged his
shoulders, said “I dunno,” then sprayed anyway –
it didn’t kill the bugs, so I got my money back.
But I didn’t want my money back.
I wanted to get rid of the bugs!
Inspections can locate
pest harborages and
improve control
Customers expect
technicians to
inspect beforeand
monitor aftertreatment
Inspections require
knowing whereto
look and whatto
look for
These skills improve
with success and
experience
A hand lens is enough to identify
household and structural pests
The internet often has
incorrect pictures of
pests
Biological information
on the internet may be
inaccurate or out-of-
date
Use the scientific
name of insects
when searching
the internet
…this will provide
accurate information
Solenopsisinvicta
Red imported fire ant
Sticky traps provide
information on pest
location and species
This information is
useful in a control
program
Insects captured
on sticky traps can
provide “early
warning” of
infestations
Caterpillarand pupa
stages of a moth
Maggotand pupa
stages of a house fly
Nymphand adult
stages of a cockroach
Nymphs
Female bed bug
Nymphs
Many of the illustrations
in the manual were
drawn by Gene Wood
(1932-2013), a professor
of urban entomology
at the University of
Maryland
Articles from Pest
Control Technology
(PCT) that provide
additional information
are listed at the end of
each chapter.
Chapters in the other
two manuals that
provide additional
information are listed
at the end of each
presentation.
The Service Technician’s Inspection and Identification Manual
Chapter 1