Author Archives: The Bug Doctor

About The Bug Doctor

Jerry Schappert is a certified pest control operator and Associate Certified Entomologist with over two and a half decades of experience from birds to termites and everything in between. He started as a route technician and worked his way up to commercial/national accounts representative. Always learning in his craft he is familiar with rural pest services and big city control techniques. Jerry has owned and operated a successful pest control company since 1993 in Ocala,Florida. While his knowledge and practical application has benefitted his community Jerry wanted to impart his wisdom on a broader scale to help many more. Pestcemetery.com was born from that idea in 2007 and has been well received. It is the goal of this site to inform you with his keen insights and safely guide you through your pest control treatment needs.

The Two Forbidden Subjects Of Pest Control

Posted on October 25, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

It’s said that in business, there are two subjects that you should NEVER bring up. Politics and religion. Whoever said this was either a very wise person or someone who found themselves with one less client whenever they opened up … Continue reading →

Posted in The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged do you talk about politics in business, how to start a pest control business, pest control training, politics and pest control, should you speak of religion in business | 8 Comments

The Ghost of Pest Control Owners Passed- Part 3

Posted on October 19, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

As you are now standing alone, the dense fog thickens so that nothing is visible except the heavy droplets suspended in the air that surrounds you. Your mind is just as cloudy as you try to make sense of this … Continue reading →

Posted in The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged how to run a pest control business, how to start a pest control business, pest control ghosts, pest control problems, pest control stories, pest control training | 17 Comments

The Ghost Of Pest Control Owners Passed-Part 2

Posted on October 11, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

Standing alone in the CEO’s reserved parking space you suddenly feel like a trespasser on this massive compound even though mere moments ago you were in the belly of the beast and witnessed it’s heartbeat, something very few get to … Continue reading →

Posted in The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged how to run a pest control company, how to start a pest control business, pest control company, pest control owner problems, pest control owners | 8 Comments

The Ghost Of Pest Control Owners Passed- Part 1

Posted on October 8, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

A classic book “A Christmas Carol”, written by Charles Dickens has always been a favorite of mine. (I was Jacob Marley in our 6th grade play) Most people are familiar with it. Most memorable were the scenes of the 3 … Continue reading →

Posted in The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged big business, big pest control companies, how to start your own pest control company, pest control complaints, pest control lawsuits | 10 Comments

ERP Early Recognition Of Pest Problems – A Proven Strategy That May Save Your Account

Posted on October 1, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

Have you ever had a job that you’ve just thrown everything at but you still couldn’t solve the problem? You know the ones- you’re out for the 6th time and the home owner is looking to you for an answer … Continue reading →

Posted in The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged how to run a pest control business, pest control problems, pest control systems, pest control training, recognize early pest problems | Leave a comment

The Dusting Cap Dilemma In Pest Control

Posted on September 24, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

I love it when I see pest techs dusting for pest control. I love it even more when I see a professional tech who’s doing the dusting. Dusting has so many positive aspects; Long term residuals, huge voids can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Tech Tips, Tools of the trade | Tagged how to do pest control, how to dust for pest control, how to dustfor pest control, pest control dusts, pest control training | 4 Comments

What Would You Do If You Had Kept Every Cancelation?

Posted on September 16, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

Cancelations of pest contracts is a fact of life in the bug business. In fact the big companies actually factor in to their business plans and strategies. At last check, (25 years ago when I left the corporate world) 3% … Continue reading →

Posted in The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged cancelled pest control contracts, how to start your own pest control company, how to stop cancelations, pest control training | 9 Comments

Big Roaches Big Trouble In The Bathroom

Posted on September 9, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

Out of all the insects pest professionals take care of a daily basis, big roaches just don’t ever seem to make it on the most difficult list. These lumbering giants don’t have near the reproductive numbers as their smaller cousins. … Continue reading →

Posted in Roaches | Tagged big roaches, how to get rid of roaches, persistent roaches in the bathroom, Roaches, roaches in your toilet, trouble with roaches, where do roaches come from | 10 Comments

Is Your B&G An 800 Pound Gorilla?

Posted on August 31, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

A few years ago I was part of a large group of bug men being led around a a large campus to give a bid for services. There were the big shot sales men from the mega firms, managers of … Continue reading →

Posted in In my opinion, Safety | Tagged 800 pound gorilla in the room, B&G sprayer, hand pump sprayer, how to apply chemical, mr. green jeans, pest spray, pesticide poison | 19 Comments

Controlling Spider Infestations

Posted on August 27, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

Spiders are one of the most beneficial yet feared creatures on earth. Eliminating them from our homes is hard enough for pros and almost impossible for homeowners. Still, positive control can be achieved if you’re willing to put in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiders | Tagged controlling spiders, getting rid of spiders, how to kill spiders, spider spray for home, what kills spiders | 2 Comments

Calculating Your Worth In Pest Control

Posted on August 20, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

pest |pest| noun a destructive insect or other animal that attacks crops, food, livestock, etc. • informal an annoying person or thing; a nuisance. • (the pest) archaic bubonic plague. ORIGIN late 15th cent. (denoting the bubonic plague): from French … Continue reading →

Posted in In my opinion | Tagged pest control, pest definition, the benefit of pest control, the worth of pest control, tree hugging | 3 Comments

Pest Proofing Your Home DIY Style / Anything Helps?

Posted on August 12, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

Some things customers do with chemicals to combat pest infestations just make me scratch my head. I’ve had homeowners dump a 50 gallon drum of used motor oil around their home to thwart termites. If there’s any left over they’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in In my opinion | Tagged diy pest control, how to keep bugs out, IPM, pest control safety, pest control training, pest proofing your home | 4 Comments

The Land Shark & Sleeping Beauty-Two Pest Control Phenomena’s

Posted on August 9, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

There’s a couple phenomena’s in your pest control route that we seldom talk about and that’s probably for a good reason. There’s really nothing you or I can ever do to change em. What’s more, I don’t know if anyone … Continue reading →

Posted in Tales from the route | Tagged how can people sleep through pest control, land shark, pest control fodder, pest control phenomena, pest control training | Leave a comment

What’s The Hardest Part Of A Pest Control Complaint?

Posted on August 6, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

Re-do’s, courtesy calls, extra service visits, call it what you like but in the end it’s just a complaint. Complaint calls are part of the business and if I had the formula to eliminate them all, I’d be a wealthy … Continue reading →

Posted in In my opinion, The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged how to handle pest control vexing, moose in a carport, pest control complaints, pest control service, pest control training, the business of pest control | 4 Comments

The Secret Files Of My Bug Company-Just What Rights Does Your State Inspector Have?

Posted on August 3, 2012 by The Bug Doctor

By law the Florida Department Of Agriculture & Consumer Services (DACS) requires a pest control company to hold onto WDO (wood destroying organism reports) for 7 years after the inspection. So recently I decided to make some room in my … Continue reading →

Posted in In my opinion | Tagged being sued for termite damage, DACS, department of agriculture, investigating pest control complaints, pest control training, state inspectors | 2 Comments