(NAPSA)—Many consumers may be unaware of the importance of pest management or have some mistaken ideas about exactly how pest control professionals work. Here are some of the myths surrounding the industry and the facts te correct them: Myth: All exterminators just spray chemicals. Faet: The trend in pest man- agement is moving toward Inte- grated Pest Management, an approach that involves removing what pests need to live—such as food sources, water and shelters. While spraying is sometimes necessary to treat an infestation, professionals have other options including gels and baits that allow precision placement. Myth: Pest control isn’t important. PH take my chances. Fact: Pests can pose serious threats to public health and property. Termites alone cause $2 bil- lion in darnages annually. Pests can transmit as many as 15 major diseases. According to research from Johns Hopkins Uni versity and other leading research institutions, cockroach ‘and mice allergens can trigger asthma, afflicting 24 million “Americans. Left untreated, the orcblem usually gets worse. For example, a single pair of cockroaches can produce up to two million offspring in one year. Myth: Pesticides are more dangerous than pests. Fact: Professional pest control products are thoroughly tested and when used in accordance with Environmental Protection Agencyapproved label instructions, pose little threat to humansor pets. Myth: Pve heard of pest control companies that didn’t fix the prob- Pest contre! can be accom- plished in a way that poses little threat to humans or pets. lem, and gave hormeowners the run-around. Fact: Virtually all pest control companies offer callbacks in their service contracts. Most professionais will do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer. Myth: I can just call any pest management company. Fact: Look for three qualities in a pest control professional: * A qualified and licensed pest management company that is a member of national, state or local pest management associations. A company with a goodrepu- tation that friends and neighnbors may have used successfully. * People whose judgment you trust. They should arrive at your home dressed in uniform and preroughly evaluate the pest problembefore treatingit. The National Pest Manage- ment Association (NPMA) provides a national online consumer referral service for homeowners who need a pest control professional on the NPMA Web site at www.pestworld ore/homeowners. For further information, visit www. pestworld. org.
