FL GHP/Rodent cheat sheet

Arthropods: body divided into head, thorax, abdomen; 3 pairs of legs; one pair of antennae. Insects versus arachnids (8 legs, 2 body regions, no antennae) is the first split in any field ID.

Complete metamorphosis (egg-larva-pupa-adult): ants, fleas, flies, beetles, moths. Immatures look nothing like adults and often occupy different habitats, so larval control targets differ from adult control.

Incomplete metamorphosis (egg-nymph-adult): cockroaches, termites, bed bugs, crickets. Nymphs resemble adults and share the same habitat and food, so treatment of the harborage affects all stages.

Rodents: house mouse (Mus musculus) ~15-19 cm total, small feet, pointed snout, tail about body length; Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) larger, blunt snout, tail shorter than body; roof rat (Rattus rattus) slender, tail longer than body.

Cockroach ID: German (Blattella germanica) ~13 mm, two dark pronotal stripes, wings reach abdomen tip; American (Periplaneta americana) ~35-40 mm, reddish brown; smokybrown and oriental are darker and prefer damp areas.

Termite versus ant: termites have straight antennae, no pinched waist, wings of equal size; ants have elbowed antennae, pinched waist, forewings larger than hindwings.

Bed bug (Cimex lectularius): flat oval, reddish brown, 4-5 mm adult; first-instar nymphs ~1.5 mm and translucent, so a visual inspection may miss early infestations.

Stored-product pests: Indian meal moth larvae leave silk webbing on the surface of food; grain beetles and flour beetles are small (<4 mm) and attack whole or milled grain; weevils have a snout.

IPM sequence: inspect and identify, set action thresholds, apply prevention and sanitation, use physical/mechanical and biological controls, then use pesticides only as a targeted supplement.

Inspection order for a structure: exterior perimeter and entry points, then interior from the least-infested to the most-infested area to avoid moving pests between zones.

Monitoring tools: sticky traps and glue boards for cockroaches and spiders; pheromone traps for stored-product moths and beetles; snap traps for rodents; flashlight and mirror for voids and behind appliances.

Action threshold is the pest population level at which control is justified; for a German cockroach infestation, any sighting in a kitchen or bathroom usually exceeds the threshold.

Harborage reduction: seal cracks and crevices, caulk utility penetrations, repair screens, remove cardboard and clutter, and fix moisture leaks, because moisture and shelter limit most indoor pests.

Sanitation removes food, water, and shelter: clean grease and crumbs, store food in sealed containers, empty trash, and remove pet food overnight.

Documentation: record inspection findings, pest species, locations, treatment applied, and follow-up dates; monitoring records support the decision to escalate or stop treatment.

Exclusion for rodents: doors with gaps larger than 1/4 inch (6 mm) allow mice to enter; seal gaps around pipes, vents, and foundations, because mice can pass through openings as small as 1/4 inch.

The label is the law: follow the directions for use, including site, target pest, rate, method, and frequency. Use inconsistent with the label is a violation of FIFRA.

Signal words reflect acute toxicity: DANGER (Category I, plus POISON and skull and crossbones if highly toxic by any route), WARNING (Category II), CAUTION (Category III/IV).

Precautionary statements cover hazards to humans and domestic animals, environmental hazards (e.g., “This pesticide is toxic to fish”), and physical or chemical hazards.

PPE statements on the label are the minimum legal requirement; more protective equipment is allowed, less is not.

Restricted-entry interval (REI) is the minimum time after application before workers may enter the treated area without the required PPE; it is stated on the label.

Florida-specific: the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) regulates pesticide use; certified applicators must keep records of restricted-use pesticide applications as required by rule and label.

Re-entry, storage, and disposal: store pesticides in original labeled containers, never in food or drink containers, and follow label disposal instructions and local household hazardous waste rules.

Applying a pesticide to a site or pest not listed on the label is off-label use; mixing two products must follow both labels, and tank-mix compatibility must be checked before application.

Crack-and-crevice application: a narrow tip and low pressure deliver a pin-stream into voids and harborage; avoid surface broadcast where the label specifies crack and crevice.

Bait placement: gel baits go in small dabs (about pea-sized or per label) at cracks, hinges, and corners near harborage; avoid spraying residual insecticide over bait placements because it can repel pests and reduce bait acceptance.

Compressed air sprayers: pressurize per manufacturer instructions, use a strainer to prevent tip clogging, and clean the tank and nozzle after use to avoid cross-contamination.

Granular and dust applications: dusts are for voids and dry areas; in damp areas dusts can clump and lose effectiveness, so read the label for use sites.

Rodenticide placement: place bait stations along walls and runways, secured and out of reach of children and non-target animals; tamper-resistant stations are required where children, pets, or wildlife may access.

Calibration: application rate equals output per unit time divided by walking or swath speed; check nozzle output and swath width before treating a large area.

Drift reduction: lower pressure, larger droplets, correct nozzle height, and attention to wind speed reduce off-target movement; avoid application when wind carries spray toward sensitive sites.

PPE and application: wear the label-specified gloves, respirator, and eye protection; wash hands after handling equipment and launder contaminated clothing separately.

German cockroach control: gel baiting plus crack-and-crevice residual in kitchens and bathrooms, targeting behind appliances, under sinks, and inside cabinet hinges; follow-up in 1-2 weeks to assess bait consumption.

Ant control: follow the trail to the colony, use bait labeled for the species, and avoid broadcast sprays that kill foragers and cause budding or colony splitting.

Bed bug control: inspection of seams, box springs, headboards, and outlets; combine vacuuming, heat or steam, encasement of mattresses and box springs, and labeled residual or contact insecticide.

Flea control: treat the pet (with veterinary products), vacuum thoroughly and dispose of the bag, and treat harborage areas; the pupal stage resists many treatments, so repeated applications may be needed.

Stored-product pests: discard infested food, clean shelves and containers, and use pheromone traps to monitor; pesticides are not applied directly to food or food-contact surfaces unless the label permits.

Wasp and bee control: treat at dusk or early morning when the colony is less active, wear protective equipment, and use a labeled aerosol or dust labeled for the species and site.

Spider and occasional invader control: reduce exterior lighting that attracts insects, seal entry points, and remove webs and harborage; perimeter treatment targets entry points rather than every surface.

Follow-up: schedule re-inspection to verify control, because a single application rarely eliminates an established indoor infestation.

Signs of rodents: droppings, gnaw marks, rub marks, tracks, burrows, and urine odor; droppings of mice are ~3-6 mm and pointed, Norway rat droppings ~18-20 mm and capsule-shaped.

Inspection: check behind appliances, in voids, along walls, in attics and crawlspaces, and around foundations; rodents travel along edges and runways.

Exclusion first: seal openings larger than 1/4 inch for mice, repair doors and screens, and install door sweeps, because structural exclusion prevents reinfestation.

Trapping: place snap traps perpendicular to walls with the trigger near the wall, use enough traps (often 5-10 for mice in a structure), and check traps daily.

Rodenticide use: place in tamper-resistant bait stations secured to the ground or structure, and follow label restrictions on placement, distance from buildings, and non-target wildlife.

Secondary poisoning risk: anticoagulant rodenticides can harm predators and pets that eat poisoned rodents; remove carcasses and follow label directions for disposal.

Sanitation and cleanup: wear gloves and respiratory protection when cleaning droppings; wet the area to reduce dust, then disinfect, because rodent waste can carry pathogens.

Monitoring: track bait consumption and trap catches to confirm population decline; a rise in bait take or new droppings indicates the control program needs adjustment.