Pest Management

Bed Bug Workshop

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) have returned over the past several decades as a pest wherever people sleep, gather, or spend time. These cryptic, nocturnal, blood-sucking insects move from infested to uninfested sites by attaching to personal property such as backpacks, furniture, and beds, and they can go long stretches without a blood meal. That combination makes early detection and thorough treatment critical. This workshop covers the biology of the bed bug, inspection and detection (the art and science of finding live bed bugs), the pros and cons of available control techniques including current insecticide resistance, and the importance of post-treatment monitoring. Services should aim to eliminate the infestation, and this workshop is built around that standard.

Credits: GA — 5 HPC · AL — 10 HPB, HPC, IIHC · SC — 2 Core, 2.5 Cat 7a · TN — 4 C07, C10, C12
2027 Schedule: February 4

Commercial IPM Workshop

Commercial pest management covers public and private buildings that are not places of primary residence: restaurants, food storage warehouses, food processing plants, nursing homes, hospitals, and schools. Pests in these accounts range from ants, small and large flies, and cockroaches to rodents and dozens of stored-product pests. In Georgia, non-WDO work in commercial accounts is regulated by the Household Pest Control (HPC) rules and the label guidelines of the products used. This workshop addresses the biology and management of the key pest groups in commercial accounts and the Georgia regulations that govern them.

Credits: GA — 5 HPC · AL — 10 HPB, HPC, IIHC · SC — 1 Core, 3 Cat 7a · TN — 5 C07, C08, C10, C12
2027 Schedule: February 18

Home IPM Workshop

Pest management is problem-solving: collecting information, analyzing the data, and developing a strategy to resolve (or prevent) a pest problem. Decisions about pest management should always be knowledge-based, and because the quality of those decisions is only as good as the information they’re built on, inspection is the foundation of any IPM program. This workshop teaches participants how to generate and interpret the information needed for effective IPM programs in the home environment, and focuses on the critical-thinking skills that separate technicians from true IPM professionals.

Credits: GA — 5 HPC · AL — 10 HPB, HPC, IIHC · SC — 8 Core · TN — 6 C07, C10, C12
2026 schedule: Thursday, August 6, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. · $82.00 per person · limited to the first 40 · register by noon Tuesday, August 4

School IPM Workshop

Pest management in school environments has received substantial attention across the U.S., and in some states pest management professionals must document proficiency specifically in managing pests in schools, in addition to meeting the state’s general pest-control requirements. In Georgia, the management of pests in schools is regulated by the Rules and Regulations of the Georgia Structural Pest Control Act of 1953. This workshop helps pest management professionals interpret those rules and design their school pest management services accordingly, while still delivering effective control in buildings where children and staff spend long stretches of the day.

Credits: GA — 5 HPC · AL — 10 HPB, HPC, IIHC · SC — 1 Core, 4 Cat 7a · TN — 6 C03, C07, C10, C12
2026 schedule: Thursday, August 20, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. · $82.00 per person · limited to the first 40 · register by noon Tuesday, August 18

Termite Control Workshop

The Termite Control Workshop is a two-day program addressing the critical and changing needs of the termite control industry in Georgia and the Southeast. It combines classroom lectures and discussion, on-site demonstrations, and interactive field activities. Topics include:

• Termite biology and termite inspection
• Construction methods and types
• Rules and regulations governing termite control in Georgia
• Formosan termites in Georgia
• Application equipment, calibration, and demonstrations
• Safety, siphoning, chemical spills, and environmental concerns
• Void and sub-slab treatment demonstrations, including foaming

Credits: GA — 11 WDO · AL — 10 WDC, WDB · SC — 8.5 Cat 7a · TN — 9 C07, C10, C12
2026 schedule: Two identical two-day sessions: September 10–11 and September 24–25; Day 1 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Day 2 9:00 a.m.–noon · $135.00 per person · limited to the first 50 per session · register by noon Tuesday, September 8 (Session 1) or September 22 (Session 2) · participants must attend both days

Registration & Schedule

Registration is handled through Eventbrite and opens separately for the spring and fall schedules each year. Cost per person includes the workshop, instructional materials, lunch, and refreshments. Payment is accepted only by credit or debit card. No checks.

Each workshop’s 2026 date, cost, and registration deadline are listed with its description above. Register for one or more through Eventbrite:

Refund policy. Cancel at least seven (7) days before the first day of the workshop for a full refund less Eventbrite fees. Cancellations made fewer than 7 days before the workshop (including after the class start date) receive a refund less a $25.00 administrative fee and Eventbrite fees.

Questions about workshops or registration: Dr. Dan Suiter, 770-233-6114.

What attendees say

“Should be mandatory for all WDO techs and potential techs.”

“This has been an overwhelming class. Very helpful, well worth coming.”

“Awesome class, awesome instructors!”

Visit the Training Facility

All workshops are held at the Student Learning Center on the UGA Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223. The campus is about one hour south of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and one hour north of Macon.

• Driving directions
• Overnight accommodations near UGA Griffin Campus

The Georgia Department of Agriculture treats GTBOP webinars identically to face-to-face training. There is no limit on the number of CEU hours Georgia’s certified operators and registered employees can earn online. Live webinars for the structural pest control industry air on a Wednesday every month, while the green industry webinars for commercial and private applicators is every odd month on a Thursday. Please see the table below for dates. For the green industry each 2-hour live webinar is then cut into two 1-hour, CEU-approved archive recordings, available on demand through county Extension offices. Revenue generated by GTBOP supports a program that funds green-infrastructure projects in Georgia counties.

Veterans and active military attend GTBOP webcasts free. Email proof of veteran status (DD-214 or equivalent) to gtbop@uga.edu or call 770-228-7214 to be added to the military invitation list.

Visit GTBOP · Find Your County Extension Office

For UGA Extension Agents

The green industry GTBOP serries is designed so Georgia county Extension offices can generate revenue while delivering training to their local pest management and green-industry clients. Offices keep 100% of the revenue they collect. There are four options:

1. Host a live GTBOP webinar. The county office serves as the host site: any location with reliable internet, a computer, and a projector will do. Invite your local clients, collect whatever fee you choose at the door, use the GTBOP sign-in sheet, and scan/email it to gtbop@uga.edu after the event. (~2 hours.)
2. Show an archived GTBOP webinar. Private and commercial applicators often stop by the county office needing category credits. Archives are on-demand at gtbop.com/archives/. Select a topic, print the Archive Sign-In Sheet, collect any fee, and email the sign-in sheet to GTBOP for processing. (~1 hour per archive.)
3. Combine a webinar with planned county training. Piggy-back additional county content onto a live webinar or archive viewing. The webinar/archive CEUs come pre-approved; any additional content you add goes through the normal regulatory submission on your end. (2+ hours.)
4. Promote passively. Simply share GTBOP information with your county audience. When someone from your county registers through Eventbrite, half of the registration fee comes back to your office automatically. No logistics, no sign-in sheets.

Standard fee reference: The Center charges $5 per credit hour; counties may set their own fee, potentially adjusted for materials or extras provided during viewings. For more information, call The Center at 770-233-6107.

The Homeowner Insect and Weed Diagnostics Laboratory supports Georgia’s county Extension offices by identifying samples submitted on behalf of homeowners and by providing control recommendations based on the identification. Agents can submit samples two ways:

• By photograph. Email a clear photo to lames@uga.edu. Fastest turnaround, and usually sufficient for common pests.
• By mail. Send a physical specimen using the Homeowner Sample Submission Form (PDF). Specimen-preparation guidelines are in the Georgia Pest Management Handbook (Commercial Edition).

Turnaround depends on the degree of identification required and the condition of the sample. Priority goes to cases where the specimen is suspected of causing damage or is a public health concern. If a more specialized ID is needed, the sample is forwarded to a specialist, which extends turnaround.

Send mailed samples to:

Homeowner Insect and Weed Diagnostics Laboratory
Department of Entomology
UGA Griffin Campus
210 Cowart Building
1109 Experiment Street
Griffin, GA 30223
Phone: 770-228-7220 · Email: lames@uga.edu

For the most common household pests, the primary identification reference is Bulletin 1412, Insect and Arthropod Pests of Southeastern Neighborhoods: a guide to more than 110 common pest insects found in and around the home.

Bedbugs

Bedbugs have become an increasing concern across the Southeast, and the UGA training center provides workshops where pest control professionals learn to inspect and treat bedbug infestations. Treatment strategies include steam, vacuuming, and targeted insecticide application, with an emphasis on minimizing chemical use in sleeping areas. The training center’s simulated bedroom provides a realistic environment for hands-on inspection and treatment demonstration.

Kitchen and Pantry Pests

Stored-product pests, including beetles, moths, and cockroaches, are among the most common household pest issues in the Southeast. Items stored for extended periods in pantries are particularly vulnerable to infestation. The training center’s residential and commercial kitchen environments provide realistic settings for learning to identify pest entry points, food sources, and treatment approaches in areas where food is prepared and stored.

Drugstore and Cigarette Beetles

Drugstore and cigarette beetles are small stored-product pests that commonly infest items of animal and plant origin in the home, including dried foods, dog treats, and potpourri. Homeowners often first notice these beetles around lights but may not know the source. The UGA Structural Pest Management program publishes Bulletin 1412, a guide to more than 110 common pest insects found in and around the home. It is a standard reference for homeowners and county Extension agents alike.