This industry covers establishments primarily engaged in disinfection and in termite, insect, rodent, and other pest control, generally in dwellings or other buildings. Establishments primarily engaged in pest control for lawns or agricultural production are classified in various agricultural service industries.
561720 (Janitorial Services)
561710 (Exterminating and Pest Control Services)
The building disinfection and pest control industry is a multibillion dollar industry that overlaps with the building cleaning and maintenance service industry (see SIC 7349: Building Cleaning and Maintenance Services, Not Elsewhere Classified ). For example, Service Master LP, a leader in the building cleaning and maintenance field, owns Terminix, Inc., one of the nation's largest pest control concerns.
Disinfecting and pest control companies are either independently owned enterprises, franchises, or part of a national company. Two of the largest franchise companies in the United States are Terminix, Inc. and Orkin Exterminators.
Current research targets development of new types of pesticides, cleaning products, and other compounds for everyday use that are earth-friendly and non-toxic to humans and other animal life. But while development continues, the first choice among commercial establishments is to use those chemicals that have been formulated for the industry. Most products in use today are still toxic to the pests they are designed to eliminate, but toxicity is relative to exposure. While the level of toxicity of many of these products has been diluted in recent years, they still present a hazard to humans and domestic animals if used improperly. The industry recognizes the need for less toxic materials and such materials are in the development stages.
Types of Non-toxic Pest Control. Several methodologies other than the toxic chemical method of pest control are available. Preventive measures include sanitation and moisture control that aim to maintain unattractive environments for pests to dwell and reproduce. Mechanical means include caulking, screening, and traps. Insecticidal soaps are most effective against insects such as fleas. Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) and pheromones are both hormonal methods for treating pest infestations. IGRs are laboratory-made growth hormones naturally found within insects. Their application prevents the insects from reaching maturity and thus reproducing. Pheromones — scent hormones — are used to bait traps and trick male insects into thinking they have found a female. Thus, that particular male does not achieve his reproductive goals. Repellents include citronella, eucalyptus, wormwood, and other commercially-prepared compounds. They do not kill but rather repel the targeted pest with no ill effects to the pest or the user. Biological controls are probably best known by those in agriculture. It is the intentional use of "good" organisms against "bad" ones. For example, trichogamma wasps can be used to control meal moths. A more common example is the use of cats to catch mice. While environmentally these non-toxic methods may have merit and some degree of effectiveness in certain situations, toxic chemical products are more often used for reasons of efficiency, speed, expense.
At the end of the 1990s, the national leaders in sales among companies with interests in this industry were Service Master of Consumer Services LP, of Memphis, Tennessee, the owner of Terminix, with $910 million in revenue; and Orkin Extermination Company of Atlanta, Georgia, with $555 million in revenue.
In 1999, there were 91,800 employees in this industry, of which 73,300 were in production. Employees worked an average of 37.9 hours per week for a salary of $11.93 per hour. Employment prospects were expected to increase through 2006 due to higher standards of living and increased regulation of pesticides, requiring more intensive, inclusive, and proactive treatments.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment Statistics , January 2000. Available from http://www.bls.gov .
Dun's Census of American Business 1995. Bethlehem, PA: Dun & Bradstreet, 1995.
Encyclopedia of Career and Vocational Guidance. Chicago, IL:J.G. Ferguson Publishing, 1997.
"Pest Controller." Occupational Outlook Quarterly. Washington, DC: Winter 1998.
Ward's Business Directory of U.S. Private and Public Companies. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group, 1999.
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