Family-owned Florida Pest Control & Chemical Co. was founded in 1949 and has over a decade of experience practicing Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is an effective pest management approach that pairs common sense strategies (such as sealing cracks and crevices that allow pests entrance to buildings) with advanced knowledge of pest biology to combat infestations.

As Florida Pest Control technicians well know, proper inspection and identification of the target pest are key elements of a successful IPM approach. "In many cases," confirmed Daniel Dye, training coordinator for Florida Pest, "a proper inspection will help you to find the source and eliminate it, solving the problem."

The point was driven home during a particularly mysterious silverfish infestation in an otherwise spotless home. The recurring problem was only resolved when Dye accompanied the technician on a careful walkthrough of the entire house. The thorough inspection uncovered the remains of an opossum in the attic directly above the site of silverfish activity.

"We nudged the hairy hide with an inspection tool and out poured a dozen or more silverfish," Dye said. "The technician was amazed at what he had just witnessed. At that point he realized the most important part of the service is the inspection." It was a lesson learned.

In pursuing Green Shield Certification, the company has reaffirmed its commitment to least toxic pest management, protecting both customers and the environment from unnecessary pesticide use and exposure. Their IPM policies stress inspection and removal of pest- friendly conditions such as water, entry points and harborage. Pesticides are used only as a last resort.

According to Dr. Thomas Green, president of the IPM Institute, "IPM practitioners are skilled diagnosticians. Florida Pest Control's Premium Green Service follows protocols approved by our program that determine why a problem is occurring to encourage the resolution of problems at their root."

The Florida Pest Management Association (FPMA) has also recognized Florida Pest Control & Chemical Co.'s achievements. In 2000, company founder Dempsey Sapp Sr. was honored with the FPMA's first-ever Pioneer Award. The company's current president and CEO, D.R. Sapp Jr., is also a recipient of the prestigious award. In addition, Sapp Jr. and Sr. and six other employees are past presidents of the FPMA.

Green Shield Certified is operated by the IPM Institute of North America, Inc., an independent, non-profit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin. Modeled after the Institute's award-winning IPM STAR program for schools, Green Shield Certified is available to pest control companies and services, as well as facilities other than schools.

For more information contact Bill Teixeira
Email: b.tex@flapest.com
Phone: (352) 376-2661