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Frank |
Meek |
Phone: |
404-888-2898 |
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National Technical
Manager |
Fax: |
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2170 Piedmont
Rd |
Website: |
www.orkin.com |
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Service
Categories: |
structural |
commercial |
school |
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landscape
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residential |
golf course |
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Atlanta-based
Orkin Commercial Services is one of the largest commercial pest control
providers in North America, serving more than 250,000 commercial customers
in the United States, Canada and Mexico under the Orkin® and Orkin-PCO®
trademarks. |
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What is
your definition of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)? |
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IPM
is an approach to pest control that stresses the use of all available
methods to eliminate and prevent pests in a given environment. Techniques
may be biological (growth regulators or parasites), mechanical (traps
or exclusion), or even cultural (focusing on better sanitation to
prevent pest-conducive conditions). In IPM programs, pesticides are
used only when necessary to achieve acceptable levels of control with
the least possible harm to humans, non-target organisms and the environment. |
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Is pest
management performed on a specific schedule? |
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Pest
management is offered to our customers on a schedule that fits
their needs. Service may be daily, weekly, every week, monthly
or another customized schedule. At each service visit the customer
is given the opportunity to discuss their concerns with the
technician. The structure is inspected and serviced as needed
to address any pest issues present or that may become present
due to seasonal changes or trends developed by the location. |
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How are pest problems
identified? |
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The inspection at each service is designed
not only to look for pest-conducive conditions but also to identify
present pests. The population is monitored with the use of traps containing
attractants such as food or pheromones. The number and type of pests
found in traps are then used to determine the best treatment strategy. |
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What practices
do you use to prevent and/or control pests? |
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All technicians are taught the principles
of IPM. Exclusion and trapping are among the first courses of action.
We work with the customer to identify areas of sanitation and maintenance
concerns. Lastly, when needed, the judicious use of target-specific
pesticides may be used. |
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Do you
use biological controls? |
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Orkin uses predators and parasitoids if
it is determined to be the best course of treatment for a given situation.
An example would be using wasps that feed on flies and fly larvae
to treat a fly problem. When the flies are gone, the wasps are eliminated
naturally as they starve. Orkin has used this and other biological
methods effectively in the past. |
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Borates are a part of the product selection
available to the technician. Borates are used in several forms, including
insect baits and liquid or dust residuals. |
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Do you
use synthetic chemicals? |
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What are
the top 10 pesticides you use/sell/recommend? |
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Orkin does not endorse any specific product.
We use the pesticides that are studied and tested by our in-house
technical department to perform the best while providing the least
amount of impact on the environment. |
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If pesticides are used, how much are used per year of each? |
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We really don't have a feasible way to
track exactly how much material is applied in a year for 1.6 million
accounts, but we can say with confidence that all applications are
done in accordance with labeling and local regulations. |
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Does your
company perform habitat modification? |
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Yes. Orkin identifies the conditions that
are conducive to pest activity and then works with the customer to
remove or change them. Exclusion is one example of habitat modification. |
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Do you
use any physical or mechanical controls? |
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Yes. Orkin uses
exclusion and traps. |
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What type
of fertilizers do you use/sell/recommend? |
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What do
you usually use/sell/recommend for addressing: |
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termites |
Depending
on the pest in question and the customer’s needs, Orkin first
recommends a variety of exclusion and sanitation measures to make
the structure unattractive to pests. If necessary, baits or more conventional
pesticide applications may be applied with care. As mentioned above,
Orkin does not endorse any specific product for use against the specific
pests listed below. We use the pesticides that are studied and tested
by our in house technical department to perform the best while providing
the least amount of impact on the environment. There is no company-wide
standard to use a specific active ingredient for each of the following
pests. Rather, the active ingredients used to control various pests
can vary, within the scope of each ingredient's labeling. |
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How do
you evaluate effectiveness of your pest management |
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Orkin evaluates its effectiveness through
the ongoing pest monitoring and documentation inherent in its IPM
programs. All Orkin services are backed by the best guarantees in
the industry. |
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Golden
Cheese Company of California – Dr. Brent Dobson, Director of
Quality Assurance and Product Development, (909) 493-4704
Emory University
– Tom Pruett, Facilities Manager, (404) 727-4779 |
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