Assessment of insecticide use practices in licensed pest control operators in North Carolina

The frequency and types of insecticides and application methods used by licensed pesticide operators were analyzed in this pilot study as a starting point to help understand insecticide applications in North Carolina (NC). The primary objective was to conduct a baseline assessment of methods and target pests for insecticide applications made by different types of licensed applicators in NC. A survey of licensed NC pesticide operators was conducted on topics such as pest control services/insecticides, target pests, continuing education, and personal protective equipment.

A total of 105 responses were recorded from different license types. The most frequent respondent license type was 032 (County/City Public Pesticide Operator; Ground). Within this license type, Category L (Ornamental/Turf) (N = 47, 48%) and Category B (Public Health) (N = 24, 25%) were the two most reported. The most frequent target pests included ants, mosquitoes, and aphids. Integrated pest management methods such as surveillance/trapping of target pests, using insecticide resistance (IR) information to guide operational changes, and product rotations were reported. Some responses (N = 31, 34%) reported using the same insecticides every year and many did not monitor IR. The most common class of insecticide reported was pyrethroids (N = 65, 68%). Resistance monitoring varied and included usage of callback rates, visual monitoring of habitats, bottle bioassays, and following university research. More than half expressed interest in learning more about IR.

This assessment of target pests, insecticides, and application methods by licensed operators in NC can serve as a baseline for further studies on implications for resistance management. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.