Products

Bayer

Bayer says its Digital Pest Management is a new services platform that unites decades of Bayer professional pest management expertise with the power of the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

“Recognizing the accelerated pace of change, increasing regulatory challenges and evolving needs of our customers, we are collaborating with Microsoft to help power our services platform, which we’re confident will help elevate and expand the strategic role of pest management professionals,” said Chris Pienaar, head of Bayer Digital Pest Management. “Through this platform, we’re able to offer our customers an unparalleled combination of pest management industry experience and technological infrastructure that delivers both a smarter way of doing business and a new competitive advantage.”

Bayer says the services platform will empower PMPs with solutions that leverage the Internet of Things and connected technologies to automate workflows, translate data into actionable insights, provide greater transparency and create space for new growth opportunities.

The first solution marketed under the Bayer Digital Pest Management umbrella is the Rodent Monitoring System, which addresses the needs of sensitive businesses such as food processing, where rodent control is mission critical and there is a significant need to mitigate risk and reduce complexity of compliance with new regulations. The Bayer Rodent Monitoring System helps free PMPs from manual, repetitive tasks, enabling a more proactive focus on holistic preventative pest management and food safety.

The Bayer Rodent Monitoring System uses sensors that allow each trap in a facility to be monitored 24/7. Rodent captures trigger an immediate notification to the pest management company and/or facility management via e-mail or text message. Real-time graphic floorplans show the status of all monitor locations. And up-to-the-minute reporting and trending from the system helps pest management companies review the effectiveness of trap placement schemes and optimize them to improve effectiveness of the rodent control program.

The Bayer Rodent Monitoring System can be adapted to existing multi-catch and snap traps and does not utilize wifi or facility IT infrastructure. Microsoft’s Azure cloud services securely manage the Bayer Digital Pest Management portal and provide artificial intelligence and machine learning, which enables predictive analytics. The Bayer Rodent Monitoring System is a subscription service that includes the monitoring equipment, sensors, client and customer set up, software updates, apps, portal access, reporting, training, and installation assistance.

Rockwell Labs

Rockwell Labs is now shipping a new larger 32-fluid-ounce bottle size of LambdaStar UltraCap 9.7 percent. The firm says PMPs will achieve both fast knockdown and extended residual protection with LambdaStar UltraCap 9.7 percent, a microencapsulated formulation with the potency of a 9.7 percent lambda-cyhalothrin. It is labeled for use indoors, including food areas, and for use outdoors including structural, turf and ornamental, as well as livestock housing sites. The label also features a “caution” signal word. The product also comes in a 16-fluid-ounce measure bottle.

In2Care

Univar and In2Care recently launch the In2Care Mosquito Trap in the U.S. market. In2Care says the trap is a “green” control tool for Aedes mosquitoes, which can transmit Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

The In2Care Mosquito Trap takes advantage of the mosquito life cycle and breeding habits. Aedes mosquitoes prefer dark, container-like breeding sites and typically lay eggs in not just one, but in multiple sites. The trap uses an organic odor lure to attract mosquitoes. It has a floater with bioactive-coated gauze that targets the mosquito via a one-two punch, In2Care says.

The first active ingredient is Pyriproxyfen (PPF), a WHO-recommended mosquito larvicide that is effective in the water of the station and kills the pre-adult stage of the mosquito, the company says. PPF can be spread to other breeding sites. The egg-laying mosquito becomes contaminated with PPF particles, which adhere to her skin. Because of her behavior, she flies from one water source to another, spreading a small amount of PPF to breeding sites, which prevents the development of larvae into biting adults.

The second active is a fungus, safe for mammals and humans but toxic to mosquitoes. The fungus spores infect the mosquito upon contact and kill it within a few days. The fungus grows slowly enough within the mosquito to allow the female to continue to spread the PPF to several breeding sites in the area. Even before the mosquito is killed, the fungus infection makes it difficult for the insect to be able to fly and blood-feed and to transmit disease.

The In2Care Mosquito Trap recently has been approved by EPA for use by pest management professionals as well as mosquito abatement districts.

Wheel-Check

Wheel-Check is a loose wheel-nut indicator. Once wheel nuts are properly torqued to your company’s specifications, Wheel-Checks can then be placed on the wheel nuts in a uniformed pattern. Once a wheel-nut has loosened, the Wheel-Check will become out of sequence. It will be visible when the driver does their walk around-check. By practicing preventive maintenance procedures and regular inspections, unexpected and expensive brake or bearing problems can be avoided, the manufacturer says.

Wheel-Checks are also heat sensitive. If there is a binding brake or seized bearing, the heat is transferred through the stud and nut. Once the temperature exceeds 120°C (248° F), the Wheel-Check will start to blister around the circumference and eventually start to distort. A wheel bearing failure can have grave consequences if it occurs while driving at highway speeds and the vehicle loses a wheel.

ServicePro

ServicePro recently debuted some of its newest developments, including its newest addition — Route Optimization.

Route Optimization allows pest control companies to create the best, most efficient and economic routes for their technicians, the firm says. It allows its users to organize their daily schedules with drag and drop, or to choose one of the various ways to optimize a workweek. In the Route Optimization module, preferred routes and date ranges can be selected, taking into account technician shifts, lunch hours, work days, holidays, etc. This will allow businesses to build better customer relations, obtain reports on company practices, and save time and money.

Pest control companies can improve business operations and go paperless with ServicePro’s Mobile App. Addtionally, ServicePro’s ServSensor can help improve commercial account rodent monitoring and wildlife monitoring with less visits and high-quality trend reporting and analysis, the firm says.

EcoSafe Labs

EcoSafe Labs is a Dallas, Texas-based manufacturer of all-natural pest control and odor control products. All of the firm’s pest control products are FIFRA 25(b) exempt.

EcoSafe Labs says its best-selling product is Ultra ZR1 Odor Neutralizer. Ultra ZR1 is a powerful odor eliminator that can be sprayed, fogged, mopped or wiped onto surfaces to eliminate odors at the source. Ultra ZR1 has even been known to alleviate skunk odors, the company says. It is available in 32-ounce, 1-gallon refill or 2-ounce travel size.

The company also offers Mosquito X Ultra, which is an ultra-concentrated garlic-based mosquito control product. Combined with the quick knockdown of thyme, this garlic solution is a smart choice for mosquito control and the eco-conscience environment, EcoSafe Labs reports. One 8-ounce bottle will make up to 80 gallons of finished product and will treat up to 4 acres.