The General Household Pest Course-IPM Experience will be held on May 10 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas, 17360 Coit Road.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service course will be from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the center’s Integrated Pest Management, IPM, House.
The cost is $75 through May 5. After that date, the cost is $100. To register and for more information, visit https://tx.ag/May10IPM. The course is limited to 25 participants. Lunch, snacks and educational materials will be provided.
“This is a great introduction to entomology, integrated pest management and pesticides,” said Janet Hurley, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management specialist, Dallas. “This class is ideally suited for relatively new employees, IPM coordinators, registered sanitarians and code enforcement officers who need to better understand modern pest control.”
The course will provide an in-depth look at some of the more common insects found in kitchens, pantries and other areas of the home.
One general Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education unit is offered.
Hands-on and classroom learning
The workshop is designed to be hands-on with a traditional classroom-based setup in combination with a field-based portion that includes conducting a proper integrated pest management program.
Hands-on activities will include the use of various sprayers and dusters, bait applications and situational problem-solving. In addition, participants will use microscopes to look at different life stages and species of stored product pests, flies, cockroaches, bed bugs and more.
There will be a session on insecticide classes, which will be part lecture and part hands-on learning. It will cover how to read pesticide labels and understand safety data sheets on the type of product being used.
Instructors will demonstrate practical field skills for inspections and monitoring sites and cover an overview of treatment options dependent on pests present, including practical aspects of placement and timing.
AgriLife Extension experts will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to general household pests.
- Basic biology of common household insects.
- Proper monitoring and implementation of an IPM program.
- Theory and practice of baiting.
- Hands-on demonstrations at the IPM Experience House.
- Problem-solving.
- Safe mixing.
- Pesticide application.
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