Extreme Green Pest Control - Abell's Extreme Green Program

Written by Dr Yori Sasaerila, Chief Entomologist, Abell Pest Control

Abell Pest Control responds to increasing public demand for sustainable and environmentally responsible practices by launching its new program, Extreme Green Pest Management. Growing public desire to minimize the use of pesticide is well documented. According to a survey conducted in Ontario, 75% of survey respondents believe that pesticides should be used only as a last resort. A more recent survey by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) in October 2007 reports that 76% of adult respondents prefer to use a green product to control pest problems in their home, and 82% prefer to use products that are environmentally safe. Abell Extreme Green Pest Management program is designed to answer these demands. Abell’s Extreme Green Program is an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) process – an environmentally responsible approach to managing pest problems – applied at its highest level (Table 1). Over the past decades, IPM has always been the philosophy of Abell Pest Control operation. For example, in our IPM program, to solve a pest problem at your home, our Pest Management Professionals (PMPs) are trained to focus their service on:

1. Inspection: to identify pest food source and breeding sites;
2. Elimination: removal of pest food source and breeding sites;
3. Prevention: e.g. to seal pest entry points;
4. Monitoring Program: to ensure that the pest problem has been solved and to function as an early detection system of any new infestation; and
5. Pesticide: to be applied only if necessary, and as the last resort to solve your pest problems.

In the Extreme Green Program, Abell elevates its IPM process to a new level by giving a preference toward natural pesticide as opposed to synthetic pesticide when pesticide is deemed necessary. For example, when dealing with a Pavement ant issue, based on our regular IPM program, our PMP may choose to apply a synthetic pyrethroid to solve this problem.This pesticide option, depending on the circumstances, may change to boric acid or diatomaceous earth in an Extreme Green Program (Table 1).

In addition, Abell PMPs are also trained to encourage and educate their clientele to actively participate in managing their pest issue; a factor that is imperative for the success of an Extreme Green Pest Management program (Table 1). Abell pest control is also working to adopt green policy in its offices and administrative operations such as:

1. Paperless operation through electronic systems;
2. Paper and cardboard recycling programs in all Abell offices;
3. Installation of programmable thermostat;
4. Adopting the policy of reduce pesticide waste or left over materials;
5. Continuous training to its PMPs on efficient driving behaviour, such as avoiding vehicle idling time;
6. Developing efficient service routes to prevent unnecessary driving distance;
7. Promotes the use of re-useable shopping bags for Abell employees and its clienteles.

Abell pest control is determined to protect both its clients as well as its environment. This is done by applying environmentally responsible approaches to solving pest problems and by managing environmentally friendly office practices.

1 Bashur, S.V, The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 2004.
2 Kramer R. 2004. Integrated Pest Management. In: Handbook of Pest Control, 9th
edition. GIE Media Inc., pp. 1311-1339.

Ant Brood Tacos

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter or peanut oil
1/2 pound ant larvae and pupae
3 serrano chilies, raw, finely chopped
1 tomato, finely chopped
Pepper and cumin to taste
Oregano to taste
1 handful cilantro, chopped
Taco shells, to serve

Heat butter or oil in a frying pan and fry the larvae or pupae. Add the chopped onions, chilies and tomato and season with salt. Sprinkle with ground pepper, cumin and oregano to taste. Serve in tacos and garnish with cilantro.