Performing a Bid – Wasps/Yellowjackets

Review paperwork, both on your phone and on your service route log at the beginning of your day
and before you travel to the bid location. Pay attention to COW notifications, client concerns, or any other special remarks.

1. Park with the flow of traffic on the street. Do not block driveways when possible.
2. Review the Order Instructions and Location Instructions. Review your route log for hand-written notes.
3. Confirm the street address to make sure you are at the correct building(s).
4. Time into this account via mobile or on the paperwork.
5. Bring your paperwork and inspection gear to the door. Do not cross over grass or landscape on your way if avoidable.
6. Ring the doorbell or knock; step back to give personal space.
7. Greet them, introduce yourself, and identify that you are with Good Earth Pest Company.
8. Have the client show you where they are having their wasp or hornet problems.
9. Always approach the suspected area with caution. Wear your bee suit when necessary.
10. Try to locate the nest.
11. Inspect the areas to determine what kind of pest you are dealing with. You will always want to confirm the id of the wasp to be sure that you aren’t dealing with a beneficial insect or pollinator. You don’t want to treat honeybees and bumblebees because they are important pollinators. Solitary wasps like mud daubers and grass-carrying wasps, and golden diggers can be intimidating and a nuisance because of their nest-making habits but are generally harmless and are also pollinators.
12. If the customer's issue is a non-pest species of wasp explain to them that they are beneficial and that they will do no real damage. Explain that they can just knock down the nest next season after the new wasps hatch and disperse.
13. If the issue is stinging wasps like yellow jackets, bald face hornets, ariel yellow jackets, or European paper wasps, you will want to create a map detailing their locations and what type of wasp they are.
14. If the client's issue is a large number of paper wasp nests in the eves of the structure it is sometimes best to bid treatment on the building as a whole. This would include preventative treatment of the eves and nests as well as the removal of the nests you can reach with your web mop.
15. With yellowjackets and hornets, there is usually just one or a small handful. These can be bid for on a scale of difficulty of treatment with a discount for multiples (see Pricing and warranty guide).
16. Sometimes the Client will call because there is a certain area or tree or bush that has a large amount of wasp activity around it but on inspection, there isn’t any nest. These insects are foraging. Most often the plant or tree is infested with aphids that are drinking the sap of the tree and excreting a sugary liquid called “honeydew” as waste. This will attract insects of all kinds. In these instances, we would refer them to a company that does agricultural and ornamental applications.
17. Sometimes you will have trouble getting a positive pest ID or can’t come up with a solution to a pest issue. There are many resources available to you including reference books back at the office, identification keys, as well as the NPMA field guide on your phone. Also, always remember that you can call field management or a seasoned technician for guidance as well. Gather as much information as you can and we can always email a bid to the client after you have done adequate research.
18. Using your knowledge of the account construct a bid for service. Depending on the severity of their problem, quarterly service may be the better value for them. Always include it as an option on your bid along with the 1X option and explain its benefits. For the current pricing guide, you can consult Pricing and warranty guide PDF in the documents section of the Bamboo HR app.
19. Reconvene with the client and present them the bid. Thoroughly explain the service and what it covers, how much it costs, and the warranty. Detail your findings and tell them what they need to do to prepare for the service and reduce pest pressure in general. Always set realistic expectations with the client. We don’t want to make any promises we can’t deliver on.
20. If the client decides to sign on right away, collect the proper signatures and leave them the pink copy of the service agreement. If the weather permits and there isn’t any crucial prep to be done, you can perform the service on the spot (See PS.198 Initial or 1X service - Wasps and Yellowjackets).
21. If the client doesn’t want to start right away, leave them the pink and yellow copies of the service agreement so they can return the yellow copy when they decide to sign on.
22. Return to your vehicle when done. Secure all equipment and make sure it is safe to travel.
23. Enter all required information on the material applied into PestPac Mobile. Also, enter notes on the service provided today as well as any client concerns, observations you made, or necessary environmental changes (see PS.102 Entering material information and notes into PestPac Mobile). You are the first tech to be servicing at this account, be sure that you update the location instructions with any pertinent information that other techs should know. Remember: Clients have access to your notes so they should always be professional and appropriate.
24. If it was a particularly pleasant interaction be sure to send a review invite via the Podium app (see PS.150 Sending a review invite using Podium Mobile).
25. Check off the account on your service route log.