Washington Pesticide Applicator 15 Credit Bundle - Structural Pest Control
This course bundle is designed for the structural pest control Washington State Pesticide Applicator. The course bundle contains 15 of the 40 required recertification credits of training approved by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Only 15 recertification credits may be completed in one calendar year. Please click on course details for a list of specific courses.
BUNDLE CONTENTS
- General Structural Pest Control – 3 credits
- Structure Infesting Pest Management – 3 credits
- Structure Invading Pest Management – 3 credits
- Rodents and Other Vertebrate Pest Management – 2 credits
- IPM for Termite Prevention – 1 credit
- Cage Trapping Techniques – 3 credits
General Structural Pest Management
Course Description
As certified or licensed professionals we have legal responsibilities that we must fulfill in every job that we do. Not only do have to control pests, but we also have to do the paperwork and legwork that documents our applications. These are very important steps in the process of pest control, and following through is a must for any successful business.
As certified or licensed applicators it is so important that you can trust everyone on your team to be knowledgeable about their duties, and responsible for protecting your customers, the environment and your business. A solid basic training program for all technicians will help you work safer and more efficiently.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify and calibrate different types of application equipment
- Identify different common structural pests
- Describe how to implement integrated pest management in structural situations
- Outline the special considerations needed for specialized facilities
- Outline the key pests and pest hot spots for specialized facilities
Structure Infesting Pest Management
Course Description
Having a clear understanding of the hierarchy of insect classification is important. It helps us better understand the background of our pest decide the best course of action in controlling the pest. This course will cover some of the structure infesting pests commonly encountered by structural pesticide applicators and technicians.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Describe the different stages of insect growth, development and metamorphosis
- Distinguish the different types of cockroaches and discuss effective management options
- Distinguish ants and termites and discuss effective management options for ants
- Distinguish the different types of stored product and fabric pests and discuss effective management options
- Describe the difference between silverfish and firebrats
- Describe the different types of fleas and discuss effective management options for each
Structure Invading Pest Management
Course Description
As a pest control technician, it’s important to be familiar with the pests in the region as well as where they reproduce. Some pests like honeybees and spiders will generally live and reproduce outside but will also invade a structure if it finds a suitable living area. In some cases, it is difficult to determine if the designated living space is inside or outside. This course covers the identification and management of pests that generally live outside but will invade a structure if the conditions are favorable.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify common flying pests, describe their life cycle, and describe proper pest management procedures
- Identify common spiders, describe the habitat and life cycles, and describe proper management procedures
- Differentiate and identify common types of ticks, lice, and mites
- Identify which types of ticks, lice, and mites carry disease
- Identify miscellaneous structural invaders and describe proper management procedures
Rodents and Other Vertebrate Pest Management
Course Description
An animal with a backbone or spinal column is called a vertebrate. A few vertebrates, such as rats and mice, are common pests in urban and industrial areas. Others are not pests in their normal habitats but may occasionally become pests when they conflict with humans. Public concern for the welfare of animals and the risk to people, pets, and other non-targets from poisons used to kill vertebrates have made rules governing vertebrate pest control particularly strict. Laws and regulations at the state and local levels may be much more restrictive than federal regulations. Be sure you understand all the regulations that apply in your geographic area before attempting to control vertebrate pests.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Describe the lifecycle, inspection process, and health concerns commonly associated with vertebrate pests
- Distinguish the different types of lethal and non-lethal options for managing vertebrate pests
- Describe the various types of traps and baits used to control vertebrate pests
IPM for Termite Prevention
Course Description
Termites are one of the most destructive pests in the United States. They are responsible for more than 2 million dollars in damage each year. In many states, building codes require the use of liquid termiticide when constructing new structures. But there are several common-sense IPM practices that can be implemented to make a structure less inviting to termites from the start. This course will provide a review of IPM principles, termite biology, and several solid IPM practices to make any structure less attractive to termites.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Explain the principles of Integrated Pest Management and how they apply to termite prevention.
- Describe the life cycle of a termite and be familiar with termite behavior.
- Recommend several IPM practices that can reduce the risk of a structure being invaded by termites.
Cage Trapping Techniques
Course Description
Cage and box traps play an important role in the management of vertebrate pests in urban and suburban environments. These devices capture animals by imprisoning them in a wire cage or box with solid walls. Their simple construction and perceived humaneness lead many to mistakenly believe that these devices require little training to master. This course will review the differences between cage and box traps and how to use those differences to achieve control goals. Likewise, students will learn the three main trapping sets, effective baits, safe and humane use of the traps, and how to reduce non-target captures. After this class, you will never see cage/box trapping in the same way again.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify the parts of cage and box traps.
- Explain the advantages and disadvantages of different features in cage/box traps and how retail traps differ from commercial traps.
- Know foundational ways to use cage/box traps to improve capture efficacy and improve humaneness.
- Understand the importance of disease safety for both the wildlife control operator and the client.