What we do
UPMTC promotes science and professionalism in urban pest management by developing the industries’ current and future technical directors and trainers. Members get an opportunity to discuss the latest challenges, trends, and interesting observations about urban pest management during our monthly virtual meetings.
Aside from enhancing the skill sets and knowledge base of our members, one of the ways we give back to the industry is by regularly publishing the “IPM Insights” column in PCT Magazine. These articles share cutting edge pest management tips written from a technical perspective. Learn more by visiting our IPM Insights tab on this website.
In addition, we meet semi-annually for immersive field discovery and world-class training from experts who are leading pest management innovation.
See some highlights from our past trips below.
The gallery below shows some images from our Sept. 2024 visit to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Illinois Natural History Survey.
We were generously hosted by the Spurlock Museum, Department of Entomology, and the Illinois Natural History Survey. We also enjoyed vendor support from Pelgar, Cardinal Products, and Insects Limited. Thank you!!
Christa Deacy-Quinn, Senior Collections Mgr. of Spurlock museum, gave a wonderful presentation capped off with copious physical examples of how pests (and pest management) can impact museum specimens.
A tale of two seal skin slippers: One was on display under the watchful gaze of museum curators, while the other was left unattended in storage. Which do you suppose is which?
A little time to privately peruse the displays after the pest presentation.
Ant research update from Dr. Suarez. Casually delivered while boardered with boxes of bones in home depot boxes! Unexpected!
In the Dolezal Bee Research Lab members met some honeybees that were too young to sting--great time to handle them!
Professor Alleyne amazed the group with some examples of Bioinspired design.
Presentations by the Evangelista lab, now these folks are passionate about cockroaches!
While we didn't get to meet May Berenbaum on this trip, we did see her lending library. May is a voracious reader with a broad scope of interests.
Entering the sacred halls...
Tommy McElrath showing off some of the collection in the Natural History Building. He also very generously took UPMTC members out for an evening collecting trip, which was a blast!
Insect collections as far as the eye could see! They may hold upwards of 3 million pinned specimens! (Note: hard to see far when surrounded by 12 ft. tall shelves of drawers.)
The impressive Pat Hottel, who laid the ground work for this exciting trip to happen. Thanks Pat!
The Forbes Natural History Building had delightful sculptures affixed to the building exterior, and even more impressive marvels inside!
Snakes! Get your snakes! Hand-crafted models of Eastern massasaugas on sale at the Natural History Survey.
Heading over to the Medical Entomology labs for a tour.
During the business meeting Bob Gilbert was recognized for his feats of "Adulting." Congrats!
The exciting conclusion to the trip was a tour through Insects Limited beautiful new production facility and lab.
The gallery below shows some images from our May 2023 visit to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.
We were generously hosted by both the Romero Lab and Hansen Lab of NMSU. And had spectacular vendor support from VM products, Syngenta, and Averzion. Thank you!!
Group shot outside of Foster Hall at NMSU after visiting Immo Hansen's lab.
Las Cruces and the surrounding areas provided some splendid scenic views!
The group heard some great research updates from the Romero lab!
Kissing bugs are one of the pest groups of interest at NMSU. Dr. Jane Pierce delivered a thorough and fascinating review.
Visiting the MVP (Molecular Vector Physiology) Lab of Immo Hansen
Jeremy attempts to collect a Western Black Widow from beneath a park bench
Santos noticed some of the infamous cochineal insects on an Opuntia cactus. The red dye carmine is derived from these insects, here's one on the tip of a knife with some of the red hemolymph oozing out.
Dr. Hansen shows Tom Myers some of the mosquitoes
A student from Ireland who was testing botanical components for mosquito repellency.
Erector sets are used for research too! Here the Hansen lab manager shows off a novel setup for testing treated fabrics against questing ticks.
Tony Gonzalez from Slick Barrier/Averzion discussed the role of physical exclusion products in pest managment.
The gallery below shows some images from our 2022 visit to the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, and Rodent Control Board
Thanks to Claudia and her team for being world-class hosts! Learn more at: https://nola.gov/mosquito/
Group shot
Who wants to go on a rodent tour of the French Quarter? Me-me-me!
Shep notices something that will attract rodents
Can you spot the roof rat sebum? Go on, try, it's not hard.
Bob and Mark check out little tiny welcome mats for rats--poorly sealed door thresholds
Claudia Riegel addresses the group
Jen Breaux gives a mosquito update
Business meetings are a time of great excitement!
NOMTRCB has cool ant nest casts!
Timmy Madere teaches the group about how to use dry ice pellets to treat rat burrows
Watching the burrows under the rose bushes being treated with dry ice
There's a discarded tire problem in LA contributing to mosquito populations. Ashley and Shep wanted to see for themselves
Some nice evening insect collecting around a light sheet
Group lunch at Deanies Seafood
Carrie Cottone telling UPMTC about some termite research
New Orleans has gators too--just ask Bob!