General Pest Control (Indoors)
All persons using pesticides professionally in Connecticut must possess an up-to-date certificate issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
An applicant for a general pest control certificate is expected to possess a working knowledge of the operations performed by a commercial pest control operator and the reasons for performing them. Outlined below are areas in which an applicant should be proficient.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is of primary importance and an applicant should:
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be able to identify all common structural insects found in the region to include:
| Common Structural Insects | Specific Types |
|---|---|
|
Cockroaches |
German American Brown Banded Oriental |
|
Stored Product Pests |
Saw-tooth grain beetle Indian meal moth Drugstore Beetles (including Cigarette Beetles) Confused flour beetle Yellow mealworm Grain weevils Mediterranean flour moth Spider beetles Larder beetles Mites |
|
Fabric Insects |
Clothes Moths Carpet Beetles Black carpet beetle Common carpet beetle Silverfish Firebrats |
|
Ants and other Hymenopterous Pests |
Carpenter Ants Pavement Ants and other common household infesting ants Yellow-jackets Mud Dauber Wasps Bald-faced Hornet Giant European Hornet Polistes Wasp Bees (honey and bumble) |
|
Parasites |
Bedbugs Fleas Lice (body and crab) American Ticks Brown Dog Ticks |
|
Flies |
House Flies Blow Flies Cluster Flies Drain Flies Vinegar (Fruit) Flies |
|
Occasional Invaders |
Box elder bug Dust mites Clover mites Centipedes Millipedes Pillbugs and Sowbugs Earwigs Spiders Booklice (Psocids) |
- know the biology and habits of the species listed;
- recognize evidence of infestation, such as damage, tracks, droppings, cast skins and trails;
- be aware of conditions such as moisture, heat or light which favor infestation; and
- recognize harborages which favor infestation, such as improperly stored materials, loose fitting wood, metal trim, and baseboards.
Treatment
Having determined the needs of a given situation, the applicant should be able to prescribe and apply the proper treatment. This requires a knowledge of:
- whether or not pesticides are to be applied; and
- the pesticides used, their properties, such as effectiveness against certain pests and their toxicity to man and other warm blooded animals. Knowledge of these pesticides should include, but not be limited to:
- the dosage and timing involved;
- how the pesticides are to be mixed;
- the calibration of equipment;
- methods of application and the various types of equipment;
- the proper storage and transportation of the pesticides; and
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state and federal pesticide laws and regulations.
Familiarity with Commonly Used Products:
| Commonly Used Products |
|---|
| Baits |
| 1. Abamectin - (Avert PT), (Advanced Carpenter Ant Bait) |
| 2. Fipronil - (Maxforce Ant Bait), (Maxforce Roach Bait) |
| 3. Hydramethylnon - (Siege gel Insecticide), (Maxforce Ant Killer Bait gel) |
| 4. Imidacloprid - (Pre-Empt Roach Bait gel) |
| Boric Acid - (Borid), (Drax Ant gel), (Advance Liquid Ant Bait) |
| Chlorfenapyr - (Phantom) |
| Dichlorvos - (DDVP) |
| Fipronil - (Maxforce, Termidor) |
| Growth Regulators 1. Hydroprene - (Precor) 2. Methoprene - (Gencor) |
| Imidacloprid - (Premise) |
| Linalool - (Demize) |
| Propet amphos - (Catalyst) |
| Pyrethrins - (Drione), (Tri-Die), (Uld products) |
|
Pyrethroids
1. Bifenthrin - (Talstar)
2. Cyfluthrin - (Tempo) 3. Cypermethrin - (Demon, Cynoff) 4. Deltamethrin - (Suspend SC)
5. Lamda cyhalothrin - (Demand CS)
6. Permethrin 7. Sumithrin |
| Silica Aerogels - (Drione), (Tri-Die) |
Operational Practice
The applicant should know:
- basic safety and handling rules for pesticide use;
- how and when to use common types of protective equipment;
- early signs and symptoms of pesticide poisonings;
- first aid which can be used in the event of pesticide poisonings;
- precautions to be taken to protect workers, the public and the environment; and
- the proper disposal of pesticide containers and surplus pesticides.
Outlined below are responses to some questions which have arisen concerning what activities are permitted with an indoor (general pest) and outdoor (custom ground) certificate.
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Generally, any spraying indoors is permitted through the indoor certificate. However, controlling pests on plants indoors is permitted through the Interior Plantscape certificate.
-
Spraying outdoors with an indoor certificate would be permitted in situations such as:
- for termite or rat control if certificate holder also holds a termite or rodent certificate;
- for control of indoor pests that enter from outside, such as clover mites or earwigs, on the outside foundation of the house and on grass in the immediate vicinity of the foundation; and
- for wasps if the nest is in the immediate vicinity of the house.
-
Spraying outdoors with an indoor certificate would not be permitted for insects that are only casually a pest indoors. For example: a heavy flight of aphids that is bothersome to people on a porch would not allow an indoor certificate holder to spray the plants in the yard from which the aphids came; and wood roaches coming to lights on a porch would not allow an indoor certificate holder to treat the outdoors.
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The holder of a custom ground certificate could spray for clover mites or earwigs on the outside foundation of the house, but not within the house.
Reference Material for General Pest Control
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Required and Additional Study Materials for Pesticide Supervisors
-
“Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations”
Available from: Continuing Education Business Office, Room 110, Stewart Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907. pest@purdue.edu Telephone: 800-830-0269. -
“Pesticide Applicator Training Manual - Structural and Rodent (Category 7)”
Available from: Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Caldwell Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 -
“Handbook of Pest Control” by Arnold Mallis
-
“Urban Entomology” by Walter Ebeling
Available from: Publications, Division of Agricultural Sciences, University of California, 1422 South 10th, Richmond, CA 94804 - “NPCA Field Guide to Structural Pests”
Available from: NPCA Resource Center, 8100 Oak Street, Dunn Loring, VA 22027
Correspondence Course in Structural Pest Control
"Pest Control Technology". Business Office - University Extension Administration, Memorial Center, Room 110, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana 47907
“Professional Pest Control In-Service Training”. Correspondence Courses in Agricultural and Home Economics, Pennsylvania State University, 307 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802
Sample Questions to Study Prior to Taking the Pesticide Exam
| Sample Questions | Answers to select |
|---|---|
| Which of the following insects undergo complete metamorphosis? | __ Fleas __ Cockroaches __ Yellow Jackets __ Bedbugs |
| Which of the following is (are) growth regulators? | __ Sumithrin __ Resmet** __ Gencor __ Precor |
| Pesticides that particularly affect the acetylcholine of nerve junctions are: | __ synthetic pyrethroids __ organophosphates __ chlorinated hydrocarbons __ carbamates |
| Early symptoms of pesticide poisoning may include: | ___headache __ dizziness __ nausea __ restlessness |
| A nest which resembles a papery upside down teardrop belongs to: | __ Yellow jackets __ Honeybees __ Paper wasps __ Bald face hornet |
For more information, contact the Pesticide Management Program at (860) 424-3369, deep.pesticideprogram@ct.gov or write to:
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance
Pesticide Management Program
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
Content Last Updated on June 19, 2019