CPCA President, Emilio Polce, testified March 4, 2016 on SB 231, Connecticut's neonicotinoid restriction bill. The bill categorizes neonicotinoids as a restricted use pesticide (RUP) and bans their use during the "blooming season" from March to November. Emilio eloquently asserted his arguments to Senator Kennedy and the Joint Committee on the Environment, letting them know restricting neonicotinoids doesn't protect pollinators, it jeopardizes people. Neonicotinoids are an imperative tool for protecting the public.
Read Emilio's testimony before the committee here.
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The Zika Virus continues to be a primary issue of concern on Capitol Hill. In the first week of March, NPMA teamed up with industry allies including the Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE), the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA), to deliver Congressional briefings about Zika to the Senate and House Agriculture Committees.
Zika Virus is one of the three important issues being discussed during NPMA Legislative Day, March 13-15 on Capitol Hill. To view the position papers and talking points, click here.
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Download NPMA's New Field Guide App Today!
NPMA's new Field Guide App will give you access to hundreds of pest photos, biology, behavior and control methods right on your tablet or phone for just $4.99.
With the Field Guide App, technicians can use a phone or tablet to email a staff entomologist at NPMA directly with pest identification questions or send a fast email to clients that includes photos of pests. A notes section within the App makes adding protocols, notes and standard operating procedures used for clients simple and efficient. Users can even add their own photos for use as future reference or sales tools.
The Field Guide App can be downloaded by anyone with a need for identifying pests and researching pest problems. Download the Field Guide App today from stores at Google Play or Apple App.
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Genomic Insights into the Deer Tick Vector of Lyme Disease
Researchers have sequenced the genome of the tick that transmits Lyme disease, Ixodes scapularis. Known as the blacklegged tick or the deer tick, I. scapularis also vectors the pathogens that cause human babesiosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, tick-borne relapsing fever and Powassan encephalitis. Sequencing the genome of I. scapularis allows scientists to better understand how ticks transmits disease, and may shed light on how to interfere with that process.
Additionally, the genome provides valuable insight into tick biology such as host-seeking and feeding behavior. Identifying the genes and proteins that are associated with these behaviors could unlock methods of interrupting a tick's ability to feed. Lastly, the tick genome reveals a considerable number of proteins in the tick's saliva that are linked with detoxification and digestion of blood. These detoxification enzymes are also important in the tick's ability to detoxify insecticides. Further investigation into these enzymes could offer clues into developing more effective chemicals to control ticks.
The full paper, Genomic insights in to the Ixodes scapularis tick vector of Lyme disease, can be found here.
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April Is Pest Management Month
The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), NPMA's consumer and media outreach arm, created National Pest Management Month (April), Termite Awareness Week (March 13-19), Bed Bug Awareness Week (June 5-11), and Rodent Awareness Week (Oct. 23-29) to enable the public to learn more about the work industry professionals do to protect health, food, and property from the dangers and diseases of pests - and learn more about the insects and rodents themselves. This year these occasions will once again be recognized by Chase's Calendar of Events, the world's foremost authority on observances and celebrations.
With all these wheels in motion bringing attention to the industry, how will you capitalize on the added business focus? Unfortunately, for many busy offices, the important task of connecting to these marketing-oriented events is often overshadowed by urgent priorities that surface. If your company hasn't yet identified how to jump on the marketing bandwagon provided by these events, click here for some ideas to jumpstart your brainstorming.
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QualityPro: 
Model Employment
Applications
In the past few months, more states have "banned the box." Companies in certain cities and states may no longer ask about criminal convictions on employment applications. In an ongoing effort to keep certified companies on the cutting edge of professionalism in pest management, QualityPro has updated its employment application guidelines at www.qualityprotools.org.
"The regulations around asking criminal convictions questions are constantly changing right now. My recommendation is for all companies to use the QualityPro model application that does not ask criminal conviction questions. Criminal history will come out through the pre-employment background check and can be dealt with fairly at that stage in the hiring process," says Sandy Seay, PhD. As an NPMA member benefit, you can contact Sandy Seay to discuss this and any other employment concerns.
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Have You Updated Your Member Profile?
The NPMA website, www.npmapestworld.org, has gotten a facelift. You will find it easier than ever to access your benefits online using your member login. Here are the top five things you can do as of today...we'll be adding a lot more features over the next few months!- You can update your own member profile
- You can tell us what you want to hear about
- You can print your membership certificate (but only if you are the primary contact for your company)
- You can add new staff to your membership listing (but only if you are the primary contact for your company)
- You can update your company information (but only if you are the primary contact for your company)
You should have received an email in the last few weeks which included your login information. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact NPMA at 800.678.6722 or [email protected].
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CPCA
10460 North Street
Fairfax, VA 22030
(800) 678-6722
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