Worth A Thousand Words!

By Brad Harbison

BJ Holloway, owner of Karma Pest Solutions, Rapid City, S.D., won PCT’s 20^th annual Best Pest Photo Contest. Holloway captured first place in this year’s competition with his photo of a praying mantis atop an orange traffic cone.

Holloway said he “just happened to come across” the praying mantis when he was servicing a rodent bait station behind a restaurant. That the insect was on a cone with his truck (logo showing) in the background “made it look like the photographer had set up a photo shoot” said one of PCT’s judges.

Another of the judges noted, “the photo was framed nicely with the insect atop the cone and the somewhat blurred truck logo.”

Holloway said he encounters a fair amount of praying mantises in his service area (Rapid City, S.D., and surrounding areas) and he tries not to harm them as they are beneficial insects.

Like most PMPs, Holloway is not a professional photographer, but he keeps his phone handy and has been able to capture some creative and interesting photos, many of which he posts on Facebook.

Holloway has owned Karma Pest Solutions the last five years. Prior to that he ran a commercial pest control route and worked for Lowe’s. Holloway said Karma Pest Solutions has a mix of commercial and residential business and he also does “a good bit” of wildlife control.

“The best part of the job is that you get to be a hero,” he said. “I love being able to help a customer who is calling in a panic over bats in the house, or a snake in the basement, or just has a phobia of bugs.”

Holloway wins $500 from PCT. Check out the following pages, which feature the top 10 finalist photos.