I have known that Dr. Terry Whitworth was a big deal in the local pest control community for a long time.  His company was our biggest competitor for years, and simultaneously offered a measuring stick for us to gauge ourselves against as I labored to build our business and our brand at Rambo Total Pest Control.  What I did not realize until very recently is that Terry is so much more than a successful pest control business owner.  He has taxonomically identified and named a significant number of previously unidentified insects, including one he named after our mutual friend Corey Chantry of All Seasons Pest Control fame!  There are a lot of competing pest control companies in Pierce County, but the camaraderie and leadership exhibited by those two icons should give us all something to strive for.  

 

In a recent WSPMA auction benefitting the Dr Laurel Hansen endowed scholarship fund at WSU, Terry generously offered to share his experience, knowledge, and perspective for two members of our team in his home laboratory.  I call it a "secret lair" because that's what it is!  The collection of specimens in the basement of his unassuming home is nothing short of incredible, and definitely museum-worthy.  I brought two of our biggest insect enthusiasts, Kaylee and Jeremy, and Terry took them under his wing right away.  The auction item was for two people to work with him, but I weaseled my way in as a "fly on the wall" to observe.  Of course that wasn't going to work for him, so he arranged for me to also have my own microscope and specimens to work with.  What a treat!  He taught us how to properly pin insects for preservation and the importance of having a good reference collection for employees and clients alike.  Being an expert in your field sets you apart, and Terry knows all about that.  

 

We learned not only about the insect side of the business, but also much about his philosophy around customer service, employee appreciation, industry involvement, and his passion for education.  Terry has spent thousands and thousands of hours working on his studies, including developing a key to allow for identification of fly species based on their puparia, a concept I had never considered before, but one that makes so much sense when you understand fly biology.  Sometimes the pupal casings are all that are left to observe, so if identification is going to happen a puparia key is the only way to do that.  As a world-renowned blow fly expert, Dr. Whitworth works with entomologists around the world, and regularly hosts people from various countries for a week or longer as he helps train their discerning eye and understanding of fly identification and biology.  He also works with other experts around the world providing peer review for their research papers.  The community of entomologists working to benefit humanity in all corners of our planet is impressive.  

 

It was a treat and an honor to be able to share some time with an entomology superhero!  Dr. Terry Whitworth has made his mark and contributed in meaningful ways for the science of entomology, the professional pest control industry, decades of employees at his company, many individuals in the industry like myself, and now Kaylee and Jeremy have benefitted from his vast knowledge and experience too.  We are very fortunate to have a collective of like-minded people who make up the Washington State Pest Management Association, willing to share their wisdom for the betterment of the industry as a whole.  As Tim Baker always says, "A rising tide lifts all boats."  That sentiment was on full display in Dr. Whitworth's secret lair the other day!

 

Luke Rambo

Rambo Total Pest Control

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