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THIS IS ANOTHER “WHAT COULD GO WRONG?”
The Taexx system is a built-in, "tubes-in-the-wall" pest control network installed during new home construction. Perforated tubes inside exterior wall voids connect to an outdoor port box, letting technicians inject liquid insecticide from outside without entering your home. How It Works New Construction Only: Installed after electrical wiring but before insulation. Cannot be retrofitted into existing walls easily. Exterior Access: Technicians hook application equipment to an
Nick Desmond
3 days ago1 min read
GARAGE DOOR SWEEP
Flex Flit is an exclusion solution designed for commercial and residential applications to strengthen protection against rodents at garage doors. Xcluder announced the launch of Xcluder Flex Fit, a new solution designed to simplify installation and strengthen protection against rodents at garage doors. Engineered for commercial and residential applications, Xcluder said Flex Fit delivers faster installation and sustained exclusion performance without compromising building s
Nick Desmond
6 days ago1 min read
Now I can’t use “rodent nose” as a disparaging term anymore. Rats!
Picture a mouse sniffing a crumb while foraging, or a person inhaling to judge whether a cantaloupe is ripe. Mice, like humans, can take a single deliberate sniff to explore their environment. Rodents and humans share the same underlying smell-processing rhythms. Although mouse sniffs are shorter, both species process odors at a similar tempo, suggesting the system is evolutionarily conserved. What are the implications for humans? Because sniffing changes are linked to autism
Nick Desmond
Sep 171 min read
carbon quantum dots from organic waste as a pest repellant
· Scientists developed carbon quantum dots from biomass waste that repel adult sweet potato whiteflies. · The dots were made from wood, plant, and food waste for sustainable quantum dot applications. Quantum dots are tiny artificial nanoparticles, usually 1 to 9 nanometers wide. Quantum confinement gives them distinct electronic and light-emitting properties based on their composition, size, and shape. Repellents offer an alternative by discouraging pests rath
Nick Desmond
Sep 141 min read
RODENT BIO-SPOTTING
Bio-spotting is the practice of placing rodent control equipment in locations where rodents repeatedly return. These areas typically provide some type of survival advantage, including protection from predators, food and warmth, travel corridors, pheromone communication routes and concealed movement pathways. With bio-spotting, technicians must think less about where equipment “should” go (according to spacing charts and/or customers’ perceptions of thorough coverage), and mor
Nick Desmond
Sep 101 min read
Bourbon Virus and Tick Protection
Long Island resident Michael Larkin found two lone star ticks on his leg after landscaping. He became ill days later, and it was confirmed in April that he had contracted Bourbon virus. Bourbon virus remains rare, but the expanding range of lone star ticks—the likely primary transmitter—could increase exposure to the virus and other tick-related concerns, including alpha-gal syndrome. According to the CDC, Bourbon virus was first identified in 2014 in Kansas and is thought to
Nick Desmond
Sep 71 min read
RODENT FLOURESCENT TRACKING POWDER
Rodent fluorescent tracking powder is a non-toxic diagnostic tool used by pest professionals to trace the exact travel paths, runways, and entry points of mice and rats. When a rodent walks through the applied dust, the powder clings to its fur and paws, leaving a luminous trail that is easily visible under an ultraviolet (UV) blacklight. How It Works Application: A very light dusting of the fluorescent powder is applied in areas where rodent activity is suspected—such as alo
Nick Desmond
Sep 31 min read
“OPEN/CLOSED DOORS” ANALOGY FOR PESTICIDES
Pesticides fit specific receptors in insects. The "open and closed doors" analogy shows how they disrupt vital functions in pests. Fortunately mammals have receptors that are different than insects. As an example, the active ingredient in flea dust is safe for the dog. How the "Open/Closed Doors" Concept Works In healthy insects, receptors and ion channels open and close to carry signals for movement, heartbeat, and other vital functions. The pesticide jams the door open
Nick Desmond
Aug 271 min read
DRONES IN PEST CONTROL
Flamethrower drone to mitigate a yellow jacket nest? Well, no, as far as states and the Feds are concerned. But here’s the next best thing. To treat stinging insects more safely, pest control operators use precision-spraying drones with articulating arms or pressurized nozzles. These systems allow operators to treat elevated wasp and hornet nests from a distance, reducing reliance on ladders and heavy protective gear. Pest control operators (PCOs) may use drones for liqu
Nick Desmond
Aug 241 min read
LASER PEST CONTROL
Laser deterrents are rapidly becoming a standard tool in modern pest management. They offer an automated, chemical-free solution for both farms and buildings. How They Work Visual Threat: Birds perceive the moving laser beam as a physical object or approaching predator. No Habituation: Constant changes in beam speed, angle, and path prevent birds from getting used to it. Automation: Systems operate 24/7 using pre-programmed patterns to sweep vulnerable areas automatically. Ke
Nick Desmond
Aug 201 min read
WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
Google wants to release 32 million mosquitoes in the US In the "Debug" program, male mosquitoes are infused with a natural bacteria and released into the wild. Google wants to release more than 30 million mosquitoes in the United States. But don't worry, there is such a thing as a good mosquito, and Google has an army of them. The tech giant wants to “stop bad bugs with good bugs” with its cleverly named “Debug” program. It's asking the U.S. government for permission to relea
Nick Desmond
Aug 171 min read
GENE EDITING
CRISPR-based gene editing (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) transforms pest management by disrupting target genes to induce sterility or eliminate female offspring, bypassing chemical pesticides. This biotechnology alters specific DNA sequences to engineer self-limiting pest populations that naturally decline over time, reducing the environmental footprint of global agriculture. How CRISPR Pest Control Works Targeted Mutagenesis: Researchers deploy
Nick Desmond
Aug 131 min read
AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS
Autonomous robots equipped with thermal cameras represent the next generation of commercial pest management and building inspection. By leveraging heat signatures and automated navigation, these machines eliminate the guesswork of tracking hidden threats. Core Capabilities Sub-Wall Mapping: Thermal sensors detect heat signatures from rodent nests or insect clusters inside drywall. Autonomous Navigation: Lidars and depth cameras guide robots through complex, changing commercia
Nick Desmond
Aug 101 min read
ARMCHAIR PEST CONTROL
Currently and in the past, pest control operators have positioned glue boards strategically to monitor for pests. Glue boards are great monitors for some pests but not all. Soon, fully digital AI monitors will be discreetly gracing your property. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are constantly evolving. Devices equipped with 4G/5G connectivity now use optical recognition, heat, and sound to identify specific pest species, alerting technicians before an infestation even takes
Nick Desmond
Aug 61 min read
CLOTHES AND PANTRY MOTH TRAPS
BugMD’s Clothes & Pantry Moth Traps detect and capture clothes and pantry moths using pheromone-infused adhesive boards, without harsh chemicals, sprays, or mothball ingredients.The discreet white traps fit in closets, wardrobes, drawers, cabinets, pantries, and food storage areas to help protect fabrics, grains, cereals, pet food, and other vulnerable items.Pre-baited and active for weeks, each trap provides low-maintenance monitoring and combines closet and pantry protectio
Nick Desmond
Aug 31 min read
Trojan Horse Microbes: Future of Biological Pesticides?
Researchers from AIST, UEC, and Akita Prefectural University discovered a new insect pathogen that mimics bug symbionts to invade their gut symbiotic organ and kill the host. Many pests depend on internal symbiotic microorganisms for vital functions, including nutrients missing from their diets. The pathogen enters from soil, uses the same “wrapping motility” as symbionts to reach the symbiotic organ, then proliferates, breaches the organ, spreads into the hemolymph, causes s
Nick Desmond
Jul 301 min read
STINK BUGS
The approach to managing stink bug infestations has evolved significantly, shifting away from standard interior chemical sprays—which are largely ineffective once the bugs enter a structure—toward advanced biological controls and targeted perimeter treatments. Modern Monitoring and Trap Technology Rather than relying solely on visual inspection, tracking pest density has become highly digitized and precise: Dual-Component Pheromone Lures: Recent field studies demonstrate that
Nick Desmond
Jul 272 min read
HANTAVIRUS PREVENTION AWARENESS
Large cities have long struggled with rodent activity due to density, infrastructure, and aging buildings. Beyond contamination and property damage, rodents can spread serious diseases, including Hantavirus. Homeowners, business owners and property managers should understand the risks of infestations and the importance of professional pest control in preventing outbreaks and maintaining safe environments. Hantavirus spreads mainly through exposure to rodent urine, droppings,
Nick Desmond
Jul 232 min read
GENE SILENCING
Research from Victoria University shows using gene silencing as a biopesticide can effectively control Varroa destructor in bees. Rather than killing insects directly, the new technology interferes with their ability to reproduce, effectively leaving them sterile. It is so highly targeted that it could be the “holy grail” of pest control, because it reduces pest numbers while minimally impacting bees, humans and the wider environment. Research into gene silencing has gone o
Nick Desmond
Jul 201 min read
Mutating mice becoming a growing problem
A study suggests mice are rapidly evolving resistance to common rodenticides. Researchers tested rodent samples from New York City, Washington, D.C., New Jersey and the Philadelphia region and found many mice carry mutations that help them survive poison. They show a much higher mutation frequency than we thought before. The study found about 70% of sampled mouse populations had mutations tied to rodenticide resistance. The findings come as sanitation, inspections and extermi
Nick Desmond
Jul 161 min read
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