Stinging Insects

Greeting + “How To” S.O.P.

  1. Park truck on curb/street in front of customer’s home
  2. Open Pest Pac, click Time In
  3. Grab a pair of booties(don’t put on yet)
  4. Walk up to front door by using the sidewalk(do not walk in yard)
  5. Ring doorbell and step back so customer has room to open the door
  6. Introduce yourself with “Either Good Morning or Good Afternoon, I’m “your name” with Environmental Pest Management”.
  7. Ask customer if you can enter their home, once they say yes place booties on right before you step into the home
  8. Ask customer about their pest issue, let them express their concerns, once they are done say “I can certainly help take care of your pest issues”
  9. Start asking probing questions such as where do you see the activity, how long have you been dealing with the issue, have you had the issue in the past, have you used any of your own products, how many are you seeing, etc.
  10. Once you have enough information with the pest issue you are dealing with, ask if you can start your inspection of the inside of their home. Start with the areas of concern first, move to other areas of the house for preventive measures (basement, kitchen, bathrooms, interior garage, entry points). Once the interior inspection is completed, move to the exterior (remember to remove booties before going outside)

Yellow Jackets

  1. Always make sure to do inspection prior to treatment so we can identify type of stinging insects
  2. For Stinging Insects majority of the time the issue will be outside of the home. In cases where the homeowner complains of stinging insect inside the home we need to do a visual inspection of said areas. Inspect around areas that homeowner has made complaint, also inspect around doorways, & window frames. Technician will also inspect basement around around sill plate & window well. Once interior inspection is successful technician then moves to exterior of home
  3. Walk around the exterior structure to locate activity/nesting site. Most Yellow Jacket nests are located in the ground, or voids of walls
  4. Always make sure to do inspection prior to treatment so we can identify type of stinging insects.
  5. Let customer know all findings of your inspection. Come up with a treatment plan that customer is comfortable with. Give customer a rough time frame of how long it’ll take to get rid of the pest issue. Let customer know you the price of the treatment and that you’ll be collecting payment once the treatment is completed
  6. Ask customer if they have any pets and or children, if so explain both will need to stay away from all chemical for 3 hours or until dry. Also advising that bee activity may get more aggressive following treatment.
  7. Formulate a plan of treatment. Yellow jackets can be controlled by dust insecticide, residual spray and/or aerosol spray labeled for Insect type. EPM preferred method of treatment for Yellow Jackets is removing nest directly, or using dust insecticide around nesting site
  8. Treat nesting site directly. If able to, remove nest. When removing yellow jacket nest it may be necessary to use your bee suite that is provided by EPM office. If nest is not able to be removed, dust area directly. We only use dust inside cracks & crevices. DO NOT place dust on top of surfaces like floors, counters or tenants property. Customer should not be able to have any contact with dust insecticide. If excess dust is on surface following treatment, technician is responsible to clean it up entirely. If needed to provide quick knock down use aerosol spray that is labeled for yellow jackets, spray on yellow jackets & nest directly. If you remove nest make sure it is properly bagged up & fully removed. Not leaving behind any untreated or excess nesting
  9. After treatment is  complete, go over service notes with homeowner. These notes will include type of treatment done in home, such as if you removed nest, or if you had to dust nesting site. Customer will need to report to EPM office if any further activity is noticed after 5-7 days following treatment
  10. Return to truck, complete Pest Pac. Always placing all service notes into pest pac
  11. Press completed service on Pest Pac, head to next stop on schedule

Wasp Inspection

  1. Always make sure to do inspection prior to treatment so we can identify type of stinging insects
  2. For Stinging Insects majority of the time the issue will be outside of the home. In cases where the homeowner complains of stinging insect inside the home we need to do a visual inspection of said areas. Inspect around areas that homeowner has made complaint, also inspect around doorways, & window frames. Technician will also inspect basement around around sill plate & window well. Once interior inspection is successful technician then moves to exterior of home
  3. Walk around the exterior structure to locate activity/nesting site. Paper wasp nests are typically around window frames, & door frames. Mud Dauber nests are typically on the siding of building, around door frames & around window frames
  4. Let customer know all findings of your inspection. Come up with a treatment plan that customer is comfortable with. Give customer a rough time frame of how long it’ll take to get rid of the pest issue. Let customer know you the price of the treatment and that you’ll be collecting payment once the treatment is completed
  5. Ask customer if they have any pets and or children, if so explain both will need to stay away from all chemical for 3 hours or until dry. Also advising that bee activity may get more aggressive following treatment
  6. Formulate a plan of treatment. Wasps can be controlled by dust insecticide, residual spray and/or aerosol spray labeled for wasp type. EPM preferred method of treatment for Wasp activity is removing nest directly, or using aerosol spray around nesting site.
  7. Treat nesting site directly. If able to, remove nest. When removing Paper wasp nest/Mud Dauber nest it may be necessary to use your bee suite that is provided by EPM office. For Paper wasp nest spray directly with aerosol spray & scrape down paper nest. Make sure to clean up all dead wasp & paper nest material. For mud Dauber nest just simply scrape down, clean up all nest material, wasp activity & any larvae that may fall from nest. If nest is not able to be removed, aerosol spray area directly. We only use dust inside cracks & crevices. DO NOT place dust on top of surfaces like floors, counters or tenants property. Customer should not be able to have any contact with dust insecticide.
  8. If you remove nest make sure it is properly bagged up & fully removed. Not leaving behind any untreated or excess nesting.
  9. After treatment is  complete, go over service notes with homeowner. These notes will include type of treatment done in home, such as if you removed nest, or if you had to dust nesting site. Customer will need to report to EPM office if any further activity is noticed after 5-7 days following treatment
  10. Return to truck, complete Pest Pac. Always placing all service notes into pest pac
  11. Press completed service on Pest Pac, head to next stop on schedule

Carpenter Bee

  1. For Carpenter Bee’s majority of the time the issue will be outside of the home. In cases where the customer complains of stinging insect inside the unit we need to do a visual inspection. Inspect around areas that tenant has made complaint, also inspect around doorways, & window frames. Technician will also inspect basement around around sill plate & window well. Bumble Bee’s can be mistaken for Carpenter Bee’s. Bumble Bee’s can nest in the ground , making their way into homes & nesting behind insulation. Once interior inspection is successful technician then moves to exterior of home
  2. Walk around the exterior structure to locate activity/nesting site. Carpenter Bee nests are located in the holes they drill around exposed wood of home. This will be but not limited to window frames, soffits, door frames, above garage door, etc.
  3. Let customer know all findings of your inspection. Come up with a treatment plan that customer is comfortable with. Give customer a rough time frame of how long it’ll take to get rid of the pest issue. Let customer know you the price of the treatment and that you’ll be collecting payment once the treatment is completed
  4. Ask customer if they have any pets and or children, if so explain both will need to stay away from all chemical for 3 hours or until dry. Also advising that bee activity may get more aggressive following treatment.
  5. Formulate a plan of treatment. Carpenter Bee’s can be controlled by dust insecticide, residual spray and/or aerosol spray labeled for carpenter bees. EPM preferred method of treatment for Carpenter Bee’s is dusting nesting holes directly, or using aerosol spray such as “Tri-Die” inside nesting holes. Always treat inside holes directly
  6. Treat nesting site directly. When dusting Carpenter Bee nest it may be necessary to use your bee suite that is provided by EPM office. Always dust inside holes directly. DO NOT place dust on top of surfaces like floors, counters or customers property. Customer should not be able to have any contact with dust insecticide. Excess dust from holes needs to be cleaned up. If any Carpenter Bee’s fall from nest while treating, they need to be cleaned up
  7. After dust treatment is complete, technician will then move to exterior power spray of home if ordered by office. If no exterior spray was ordered then technician will then go over service notes, this will include type of treatment done, such as areas dusted. Customer will need to report any further activity noticed after 5-7 days following treatment
  8. Return to truck, complete Pest Pac. Always placing all service notes into pest pac
  9. Press completed service on Pest Pac, head to next stop on schedule

Carpenter Bee Exterior Perimeter Power Spray S.O.P.

  1. Begin by pulling enough hose out to reach around the entire structure.
  2. Make note not to damage any path lighting or stored items in the yard when pulling the hose around the house
  3. Next, put on your PPE, start the engine, and turn the nozzle of the spray gun to a pin stream setting.  Pin stream spray all soffits, eaves, fascia boards, overhangs or exposed wood that has NOT yet been infested with carpenter bees
  4. Wood that has been infested with carpenter bees, technician needs to treat those holes directly
  5. Make sure not to treat around any open doors or windows.  You may also request the homeowner shut these before beginning.
  6. **Do your best not to get overspray on windows**
  7. The last step is to clean and pack up. Start by reeling in the hose.  Next, Make sure you haven’t left any chemical or tools lying around.  Check to ensure all gates are shut.  And lastly check in with the homeowner for any final remarks.

Hornets

  1. For Hornets majority of the time the issue will be outside of the home. In cases where the customer complains of stinging insect inside the home we need to do a visual inspection. Inspect around areas that customer has made complaint, also inspect around doorways, & window frames. Technician will also inspect basement around around sill plate & window well. Once interior inspection is successful technician then moves to exterior of home
  2. Walk around the exterior structure to locate activity/nesting site. Bald-faced hornet has ivory-white markings on its face, the thorax, legs & abdomen. Nests are usually located in bushes, shrubbery, in hollow trees, on siding of building, and sometimes found under the eaves of buildings. The nests are grey in color and resemble a football/basketball shape.
  3. Let customer know all findings of your inspection. Come up with a treatment plan that customer is comfortable with. Give customer a rough time frame of how long it’ll take to get rid of the pest issue. Let customer know you the price of the treatment and that you’ll be collecting payment once the treatment is completed
  4. Ask customer if they have any pets and or children, if so explain both will need to stay away from all chemical for 3 hours or until dry. Also advising that bee activity may get more aggressive following treatment.
  5. Formulate a plan of treatment. Hornets can be controlled by dust insecticide, residual spray and/or aerosol spray labeled for Hornets. EPM preferred method of treatment for Hornets is knocking down/removing nest, & using aerosol spray labeled for Hornets directly in nest opening.
  6. Treat nesting site directly. When treating Hornet nest it may be necessary to use your bee suite that is provided by EPM office. Always spray or dust directly into nest opening hole on bottom of nest. DO NOT spray exterior of hornet nest, as this will not help get rid of Hornets, only make them more aggressive. DO NOT place dust on top of surfaces like floors, counters or customers property. Customer should not be able to have any contact with dust insecticide. If using dust into opening hole of hornet nest, make sure to clean up any excess dust that has fallen down. Also clean up any dead Hornets or nesting material that is removed during service
  7. If you remove nest make sure it is properly bagged up & fully removed. Not leaving behind any untreated or excess nesting
  8. After treatment is  complete, go over service notes with homeowner. These notes will include type of treatment done in home, such as if you removed nest, or if you had to dust nesting site. Customer will need to report to EPM office if any further activity is noticed after 5-7 days following treatment
  9. Return to truck, complete Pest Pac. Always placing all service notes into pest pac
  10. Press completed service on Pest Pac, head to next stop on schedule

Honey Bee

  1. For Stinging Insects majority of the time the issue will be outside of the home. In cases where the customer complains of stinging insect inside the unit we need to do a visual inspection. Inspect around areas that customer has made complaint, also inspect around doorways, & window frames. Technician needs to also inspect basement around around sill plate & window well. Once interior inspection is successful technician then moves to exterior of home
  2. Walk around the exterior structure to locate activity/nesting site. Most Honey bees nest in hollow trees, voids in walls, & sometimes hanging from trees.
  3. Let customer know all findings of your inspection. If inspection is positive for Honey bees, we DO NOT kill Honey bees
  4. Let customer know we can provide them with a list of Bee Keepers that can come remove swarm
  5. Return to truck, complete Pest Pac. Always placing all service notes into pest pac
  6. Press completed service on Pest Pac, head to next stop on schedule