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Cooper
Pest Solutions, Inc |
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Phillip |
Cooper |
Phone: |
609-799-1300 |
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Service
Categories: |
structural
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commercial
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school
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landscape
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residential
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golf course
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Cooper
Pest Solutions services are developed to reduce exposure to pesticides
while providing effective levels of control against the pests to be
managed. The programs are overseen and developed by Richard Cooper.
Richard develops the programs with IPM principles in mind. There are
a wide range of services that we offer both to the residential and
commercial sectors. They range from comprehensive service programs
to pest specific programs. |
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What is
your definition of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)? |
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Integrated
Pest Management is an approach to pest management that achieves
satisfactory levels of pest control while minimizing the potential
risks associated witht eh use of pesticides. The cornerstones of
an IPM program include:
1. Prevention
of pests through correction of conditions that promote pest activity
or entry (I.e. landscaping, solid waste management, moisture management,
physical repairs, etc.)
2. Education of building occupants regarding IPM concepts and the
role they play in the IPM effort.
3. Ongoing insepctions and monitoring of areas that are conducive
or prone to pest activity.
4. Establishment of Pest Action Thresholds.
5. Pest Activity Response Plan that begins with non-chemical control
measures. In the event that pesticides become necessary, risk is
managed by minimizing toxicity as well as exposure. This is accomplished
by selecting low impact methrods, using low volatility formulations,
and applying the materials using least exposure methods.
6. Ongoing evaluation of monitoring data, pest activity history,
and corrective actions in order to prevent future re-occurrences
of pest problems and maintain a dynamic and evolving IPM program. |
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Is pest
management performed on a specific schedule? |
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IPM
programs have scheduled visits during which time pest activity logs
are checked and inspections of areas that are prone to pest activity
are performed. Monitoring devices are also checked during these visits
and any observations of pest activity or corrective actions that are
necessary are recorded and brought to the attention of the IPM coordinator. |
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How are
pest problems identified? |
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Pests
are either reported in the pest activity log or they are detected
during routine inspections. Once we become aware of a pest problem,
the area where the pest activity is occurring is inspected, and if
pests are present, sight identification will be made and if verification
is necessary, pests will be examined by our Staff Entomologist. Conditions
that contributed to the pest problem will be identified and recommendations
made to eliminate or correct these conditions if practical. If additional
corrective actions are necessary, non-chemical approaches will be
considered unless the Action Thresholds have been reached. If action
thesholds have been reached, the use of low impact materials and methods
will become an option for possible consideration. The area where the
pest activity occurred will be monitored, if practical and the appriate
number of follow-up visits scheduled, based upon the nature of the
pest problem. Monitoring techniques will vary based upon the type
of pest. Some examples include visual monitoring of pest activity
along windows, in light fixtures, above drop ceilings, along baseboards,
etc. to locate dead insects or presence of feces, etc. Other examples
of monitoring include the use of mechanical devices such as insect
or rodent glue boards, pheremone traps, toxic monitoring baits, and
insect light traps, etc. |
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What practices
do you use to prevent and/or control pests? |
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Prevention
is based upon removing conditions that are conducive to pests. Vegetation
that is in contact with the structure is trimmed back, pest entry
points into structures are sealed. Recommendations are also made to
clinets regarding proper routing of moisture away from the structure,
solid waste management, storage practices, sanitation practices, etc.
As mentioned previously, prevention of pests is accomplished by making
environments inhospitable to pest activity. |
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Do you
use biological controls? |
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Bio-remediation
products are used in maintenance of drains primarily for the assistance
in the long-term control of small flies that live and breed in the
organic matter that accumulates in plumbing lines. |
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Boric
acid is commonly used as one of the low impact pesticide choices.
Examples of borate based pesticides include Boric Acid Dust for use
in cracks and crevices, boric acid insect baits, and Timbor for wood-destroying
beetles. |
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Do you
use synthetic chemicals? |
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Synthetic
Chemicals are used as a last resort in our IPM programs. These materials
are typically limited to the synthetic
pyrethrins (for example Suspend SC and Tempo WP). Other examples
of synthetic chemicals that are among the more commonly used include
Termidor (Fipronil)
and Phantom (Chlorfenapyr). |
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What are
the top 10 pesticides you use/sell/recommend? |
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If pesticides are used, how much are used per year of each? |
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1.
Maxforce Gel for Carpenter Ants: 150 cases/year, applied primarily
for exterior crack and crevice, typically 30 grams or less per structure.
2. Maxforce Gel for Ants: 100 cases/yr, primarily exterior crack and
crevice, typically 10 grams or less per structure.
3. Maxforce Gel for Roaches: 90 cases/year, crack and crevice or spot
application, interior.
4. Maxforce Bait Stations for Roaches: 40 cases/yr. Crack and crevice
or spot application, interior.
5. Avert Cockroach Bait: 30 cases/yr; crack and crevice, interior.
6. Perma Dust: 30 cases/yr; crack and crevice, interior.
7. Suspend SC: 40 cases/yr; primarily exterior foundation, typically
1.5 gallons per structure.
8. Termidor SC: 40 cases/yr; exterior foundation, typically less than
1 gallon per structure.
9. Tempo WP: 10 cases/yr; applied along interface between wood and
grass for control of ticks.
10. Contrac Rodent Bait: 50 cases/yr; Tamper resistant bait stations
only. |
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Does your
company perform habitat modification? |
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Currently
habitat modification is limited to trimming back of vegetation. Recommendations
are given to clients for habitat modification. |
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Do you
use any physical or mechanical controls? |
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Use
of caulks and other sealants to exclude pest entry. Other mechanical
controls consist of mechanical devices such as rodent traps, insect
light traps, vacuum cleaners, steam, etc. |
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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 |
Sentricon
Baiting Program or Termaware Program (Exterior liquid treatment with
limited interior spot treatment using Termidor followed by ongoing
monitoring and inspection program). |
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cockroaches |
Baiting
programs along with use of insect growth regulator, vacuuming, and
ongoing monitoring. |
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fleas |
Insect
growth regulator along with single application of contact material
for adults, in some situations flea traps are also used (extensive
client education regarding care of pets and home). |
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carpenter
ants |
Carpenter
ants are controlled in a manner similar to indoor nuisance ant problems.
Carpenter Ants can be resolved by exterior measures using baits and
in some cases a small amount of a liquid residual. Interior use of
pesticides is typically not necessary, but if work is done inside
it is based upon the use of ant baits. |
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ants
(indoor) |
Indoor ant problems are resolved by exterior
measures using baits and in some cases a small amount of a liquid
residual. Interior use of pesticides is typically not necessary, but
if work is done inside it is based upon the use of ant baits. |
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How do
you evaluate effectiveness of your pest management |
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The
ultimate evaluation is if we can bring the population of the pest
below the action threshold. By achieving this on a consisten basis
we will reduce the potential for use of pesticides. A macro Assessment
of our success is the amount of pesticides purchased in compariosn
to the sales we are generating. We are always looking for this percentage
to drop as it is an indicator that we are using less pesticides which
will point to an increase in non-chemical controls being successful.The
final evaluation is conducted by Richard Cooper, who oversees all
of our programs to insure that they meet the standards and criteria
set by the company for reducing exposure to pesticides while insuring
that pest management is fulfilled. |
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Mary
Levenstein, MD, PhD
4570 Province Line Rd.
Princeton, NJ 08540-2212
609-683-0692
Author of ""Everyday Cancer Risks and How to Avoid Them." |
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