In this episode, Siavash Taravati, an IPM advisor in Southern California, shares his expertise on managing structural pests, including termites, ants, and cockroaches. He discusses the challenges of pest management, the value of integrated pest management (IPM), and the unique behaviors of pests such as the dark rover ant. Siavash also highlights his research on detecting termites with microwave technology and explores potential regulatory changes that could impact fumigation practices. The conversation underscores the complexity of pest control and why flexible, informed approaches are essential for effectively managing different pest species.

Resources and Links

Visit Dr. Taravati’s blog, Urban IPM So Cal, for details on the research projects and publications mentioned in this episode.

Learn more about detecting drywood termites using microwave technology in PCT or Journal of Economic Entomology (JEE).

Read about sampling red imported fire ants by volume in Entomology Today or JEE.

Arthro-Pod