Efficacy and Value in Outdoor Pest Management

At the time of writing, we are working through the COVID-19 Pandemic. Market observations indicate that while the commercial segment of pest management service is under stress, the residential segment has held strong. It’s clear that the public views their homes as their sanctuaries, and that they want their sanctuaries safe and pest-free.

Even as life slowly returns to normal, the value that residential properties (especially outdoor living spaces) bring to providing fresh air and room to burn off that ‘work from home’ energy (think of the kids!) is important. In these spaces, homeowners may be more sensitive to pest activity.

Recent media reports have pushed ticks into the public health spot light. Ticks are documented vectors of multiple pathogenic bacteria, protozoans and viruses. Serious diseases vectored by ticks include Lyme disease, Powassan virus and human babesiosis. Pest Management Professionals (PMPs) can look at tick management services not only as a growth opportunity, but as a contribution to public well-being.

In addition to ticks, the presence of ants, spiders, scorpions and ground wasps can threaten the extent to which people can enjoy their outdoor spaces. Contact granular insecticide formulations can provide effective long residual control where sprays are not allowed or inconvenient to apply.

Envu DeltaGard^® G meets PMPs’ requirements for delivering control of these outdoor pests by providing excellent penetration and coverage in thick mulch or thatch, placing more active ingredient where it is needed. DeltaGard G is a low dose, low-dust formulation with virtually no odor after application and has the added benefit of being a light brown color to blend in with most landscapes. Instead of dragging heavy spray hoses around the yard or stopping to refill backpack sprayers, the formulation is easy-to-apply with hand or drop-spreaders, saving both time and money.

When it comes to treating ticks, DeltaGard G is the perfect formulation. To treat, apply the product (always read and follow all label directions) into the ‘tick zone’. The granules penetrate low foliage and deposit in the leaf litter, where ticks live and move from to find their hosts. Rain and/or irrigation will begin the release of the deltamethrin active ingredient from the solid granule. In addition, DeltaGard G can be used to control ants, crickets and springtails. Label directions also allow for spot treatments of ant mounds (including imported fire ants), ground-nesting digger wasps and interior plantscapes (check local regulations for certification requirements). DeltaGard G may also be applied as a perimeter treatment to supplement between-spray treatments or to replace sprays during low activity periods like winters in milder regions.

DeltaGard G with deltamethrin provides effective residual control. In a field trial performed in New Jersey, a single application of DeltaGard G provided 97%-100% control of I. scapularis (Black-legged Tick) for 12 weeks post treatment (Schulze, et al, j. Econ Ent 98(3): 976-981, (2005)).

Contact your authorized Envu Distributor or your local Envu Area Sales Manager for more information.