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.

I Wish I Had All My Cancelations Back

Posted on May 29, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

Have you ever had the thought? – “man, if only I never had a cancelation- just think how big my route would be.” Most companies keep a canceled file. I worked for one where 5 or 6 ceiling high cabinets … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing a pest control company, The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged growing your pest control business, how do I keep a customer from canceling, how to retain pest control customers, how to stop pest contract cancelations, why do people cancel pest control | 4 Comments

3 Moral Dilemmas For The Termite Control Operator – What Would You Do?

Posted on May 20, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

There are moral and ethical challenges in just about anything you can think of. Some are as simple as black and white, right and wrong and there is no gray area at all. It’s pretty easy to decide what actions … Continue reading →

Posted in In my opinion | Tagged are termite booster shots acceptable, can termites be in the attic, do termite companies have to spray every year, what are reasons to treat for termites, what would you do in termite control | 4 Comments

If You Had Three Wishes In Your Pest Control Business- What Would They Be?

Posted on May 16, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

Last inspection of the day and it couldn’t end quicker for Jim. Don’t get me wrong-Jim’s thankful for the business. He’s been on a roll as of late and it looks like his 7 years of hard work is finally … Continue reading →

Posted in The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged how to grow a pest control business, how to start a pest control business, pest control training, what pifalls are in pest control, what wishes you want for your pest control business | 2 Comments

How To Hide Termite Damage If You Absolutely Have To (painted termites)

Posted on May 14, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

Over the years I’ve uncovered a lot of hidden termite damage in my WDO (wood destroying organism) inspections for home buyers and banks. Some has been very obvious and the checkbook is already on the kitchen counter, open and just … Continue reading →

Posted in Termites | Tagged finding termite damage, hidden termite damage, hiding termite evidence, how to find termite damage, termite inspections | 2 Comments

You Might Be A Pest Control Redneck Part Deux

Posted on April 22, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

There are a few definitions for a Redneck; World English Dictionary redneck (ˈrɛdˌnɛk) — n 1.(in the southwestern US) a poor uneducated White farm worker 2.a person or institution that is extremely reactionary — adj 3.reactionary and bigoted: redneck laws … Continue reading →

Posted in In my opinion | Tagged home made pest control equipment, pest control jokes, pest control redneck | 1 Comment

Long Live The Florida Pesticide Applicator

Posted on April 18, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

Pesticides came about after the first world war. Some brainy petrochemical money maker said, ‘Hey, that mustard gas worked great on people, maybe we could dilute it down and spray it on our crops to deal with pests.’ Woody Harrelson … Continue reading →

Posted in In my opinion | Tagged cancer and pest control, diseases with pest control, is my baby safe if I get my house sprayed, is pest control a safe job, pest control applicators and health, science of cancer and pest control, will I die if I get pest control | 6 Comments

Are single operator companies worth PCT’s & PMP’s & the Guru’s time. (an open letter)

Posted on April 8, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

One bug a boo of mine is that none of the ‘how to grow’ books, magazine articles or guru’s at speaking conferences really ever reach out to help the small company–the single operator. Now they say they do and their … Continue reading →

Posted in In my opinion, The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged help for single operators, how to start a pest control business, pct magazine, pest control help books, pmp magazine | 3 Comments

Did You Choose Pest Control or did Pest Control Choose You?

Posted on March 19, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

There’s something about a person who’s “career” is in pest control. Specifically a tech. I’m often asked how I became a bug guy or hear stories of others and not one has ever been ‘born’ into it or knew from … Continue reading →

Posted in In my opinion, The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged bug man, do you have to go to college to spray bugs, how to be a bug man, how to start a pest control company, pest control | Leave a comment

The Transfer Effect That Has Nothing To Do With Termidor

Posted on March 6, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

Do you remember when Termidor first came out? What an awesome product — but back then I hardly ran into anyone who knew exactly how it worked, what it did to the bug. Sure it killed em but in what … Continue reading →

Posted in In my opinion, The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged contracts in pest control, handling customers, pest control in writing, termidor transfer effect, the transfer effect, what pests are covered in pest control contracts | 4 Comments

Old Termite Techs Never Die-They Just Get Replaced By A Pipe Dream

Posted on February 15, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

I had no idea about the Florida heat when I moved here back in 1990. Relentless and oppressing isn’t even the strongest way I could describe it. To add to my misery, my new company that was so happy to … Continue reading →

Posted in Termites, The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged hitting plumbing pipes with drill, how to drill for termites, how to treat for termites, termite treatment training, Termite work | 4 Comments

The Trail That Was Blazed By A Good Ol Country Boy

Posted on February 12, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

I used to dream of the day when I’d have a full route. All my problems would be solved if I could just fill up that daily sheet with names and addresses. So I worked and scratched and clawed trying … Continue reading →

Posted in The Business Of Pest Control | Tagged how to start a pest control business, how to succeed in pest control, pest control business training, running a bug business | 6 Comments

Astonishing Termite Evidence & Odd Places I’ve Found It

Posted on February 8, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

Part of the reason I love my job is that there is that even after 30 years, there’s always something new to see. I’ve seen homes where every square inch was infested with roaches, come face to face with angry … Continue reading →

Posted in Termites | Tagged odd places termites are found, pictures of termite damage, termite pics | Leave a comment

Termite Teachable Moment- How Termites Sneak Into Your Home

Posted on January 28, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

Termites are blind and shun light. Just just how do they find their way into our home if they can’t see? Well despite this apparent handicap, termites are very adept at finding food. They use “clues” that they find in … Continue reading →

Posted in Termites | Tagged are termites blind, how do termites sneak into your home, how to get rid of termites, termite, termite teaching | Leave a comment

Unspoken Problems With Your Tubes In The Wall

Posted on January 18, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

Tubes in the wall pest control systems seem like the perfect answer to many drawbacks of traditional pest control service. On paper- it seems like a ‘win win’ for both consumer and provider alike. No one needs to be home, … Continue reading →

Posted in Tech Tips, Tools of the trade | Tagged do tubes in the wall break, pest control tubes, pest in the walls, tubes in the wall | 7 Comments

Another Termite Teachable Moment ‘Where To Drill In The Tile’

Posted on January 10, 2014 by The Bug Doctor

Hey there termite techs! Ever get to a termite job, unpack and plug in your big drill only then to see that you’ll be drilling through a tiled floor? To make matters worse the sales weasel, eh,emm, I mean sales … Continue reading →

Posted in Tech Tips, Termites | Tagged drilling tile, how not to crack tile doing termite, how to do termite work, termite job drilling tile, termites under the slab | 4 Comments