Orkin
Encyclopedia
Orkin is a pest-control company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rollins Inc.
and Chevrolet Colorado
trucks. Outfitted with Orkin’s red diamond logo, each truck has a global positioning system (GPS) to help improve routing efficiency so field specialists can increase their time with customers and decrease driving time.
More than just a nuisance, mosquitoes can transmit potentially harmful diseases like malaria and West Nile Virus
. Orkin’s mosquito service helps reduce conditions that exist around the home and allow mosquitoes to survive and thrive.
Orkin uses several techniques to help identify and control bed bugs, one of which includes bed bug DNA testing. An Orkin specialist swabs areas where bed bugs typically crawl and sends it to a testing lab to determine any presence of bed bugs.
Training Magazine has recognized Orkin’s training program on its Top 125 list several times since 2003. The magazine honors programs based on various categories, including company investment, the depth of the training program and how it ties back to overall business objectives.
's National Museum of Natural History
in Washington, D.C.
This permanent exhibit, made possible through a contribution from Orkin Pest Control, was created to encourage interactive learning and a better understanding about insects from all over the world as well as those found in the average backyard.
The opening of the zoo marked the first time the Smithsonian enlisted a sponsor for a permanent exhibit in any of their museums. The Smithsonian's popular insect zoo, which annually draws more than one million visitors, is the museum's only exhibit where living creatures can be seen in their natural environments. The insect zoo, located on the second floor of the museum, focuses not only on strange and beautiful insects, but also on the relationships insects have with plants, other animals and humans.
The exhibit features over 300 live insects and arthropods, including giant cockroaches
, tarantulas, tailless whip scorpions and walking sticks
. Each of the insects in the zoo live in their own natural habitats, which have been painstakingly reproduced under the direction of entomologists and museum professionals. Included in the habitat displays are mangrove
swamps, a living bee
tree, a desert
diorama
and a tropical rain forest.
In addition, there are plenty of hands-on activities that encourage the OOIZ visitor—adult or child—to get better acquainted with insects and arthropods of all shapes and sizes. Of particular interest in the OOIZ is the "Our House, Their House" display which shows insects living in and around a giant 3-D home. By pushing buttons in front of the house, visitors illuminate the harborage areas for common household insects such as fleas, roaches
, carpenter ants and silverfish
.
The lesson plans are based on the National Science Education Standards and provide resources for assessment such as grading rubrics and quizzes.
. Nothing But Nets provides insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent deaths by malaria in Africa. Orkin’s "Fight The Bite" campaign, which also includes donations, has raised more than $435,000 as of May 20, 2010.
(CDC), on public education initiatives involving pest-related health risks since 2004. The CDC shares their scientific knowledge on pest-related diseases with Orkin employees during bi-annual training sessions. In April and September 2010, Orkin hosted CDC-led training seminars to discuss triatomine bugs (insects that transmit Chagas disease
) and insect resistance to pesticides.
Orkin’s April 2011 training session featured CDC behavioral specialist Dr. Emily Zielinski-Gutierrez, who discussed emerging mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases in the U.S. and provided prevention measures for technicians to share with homeowners. During the October 2011 seminar, an expert shared rabies transmission facts and prevention tips.
The seminars are broadcasted via satellite to Orkin branches throughout the country. Field representatives from Orkin’s 400 locations view the live broadcasts or access them later through a video-on-demand feature.
’s Women of Excellence Award. The international honor recognizes one woman each year who displays outstanding leadership skills and significantly contributes to advancing the pest management industry.
The winners of the NPMA Women of Excellence Award are as follows:
Recent revelations by a former high-level Orkin risk manager may serve to bolster those claims levelled against the company. In 2001, NY Attorney General Spitzer instituted measures to reform Orkin advertising and arbitration for its termite services.
Other noteworthy lawsuits against Orkin in recent years can be found at these links, illustrating problems common around the country. Often these cases have gone beyond mere allegations of fraud, deception and poor service to accusations of injury and even death from chemical misuse.
"Another House Destroyed - Another Family Ruined"
"Health and Home at Risk?"
"Toxic Home Costs Orkin Millions" -
Other interesting case histories are linked here, including examples of the numerous class action suits endured by Orkin over the recent past.
"Orkin Man is Super Con" -
"Class Action Granted in Orkin Case" -
"Orkin to reapply termite treatment to Missouri homes under terms of record consumer settlement with Nixon" -
Rollins Inc.
Rollins, Inc. is the company started as Rollins Broadcasting in 1948. Founded by entrepreneur John W. Rollins and his brother, O. Wayne Rollins. The company, originally financed in large part by John Rollins' auto dealerships, began as Rollins Broadcasting when the brothers purchased a radio...
The Orkin Uniform
The most recognized Orkin uniform consists of a white collared shirt with the Orkin logo and red epaulets and pressed khaki (or gray) pants. The uniform varies depending on an employee’s job function for safety purposes. Commercial technicians have an additional pocket to store a handheld device used to record service data for on-the-job use.Advertising
Orkin’s advertising focuses on what the more than 100-year old pest control company can do for homeowners. The company’s Big Bug advertising campaign features giant pests that attempt to enter homes through deceptive practices; however, the Orkin Man arrives to thwart their plot and offers homeowners his knowledge and expertise to help control pest invaders. The advertising campaign’s commercials include:- “Blind Date” - A woman awaiting the man of her dreams discovers that the guy she’s corresponded with online is a termite wanting to go home with her.
- “Vacation” - A family discovers two rodents jamming on guitars in the living room when they return home from their getaway.
- “Delivery” – While a man prepares his morning coffee, an ant rings his doorbell and tries to deliver a couch.
- “Hot Tub” – A couple enjoying quiet time in a hot tub is interrupted by a cockroach that wants to join them.
- “Pizza Delivery” – A woman answers the door and finds a cockroach attempting to deliver pizza that she never ordered.
- “Broken Down” – A couple getting ready for work receives a visit from a termite asking to use their phone because the termite’s car broke down.
The Orkin Truck
Orkin’s fleet consists principally of white Ford RangerFord Ranger
The Ford Ranger is a pickup truck produced by the Ford Motor Company. The "Ranger" name had previously been used for a premium styling package on the F-Series full-sized pickup trucks since 1965. The name was moved to this line of North American compact trucks for the 1983 model year.In North...
and Chevrolet Colorado
Chevrolet Colorado
The Chevrolet Colorado and its counterpart, the GMC Canyon, are mid-size pickup trucks by American carmaker General Motors. It was introduced in 2004 to replace the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma compact pickups.-First generation :...
trucks. Outfitted with Orkin’s red diamond logo, each truck has a global positioning system (GPS) to help improve routing efficiency so field specialists can increase their time with customers and decrease driving time.
Termites
Wood-destroying insects like termites cause billions of dollars in property damage every year in the U.S. Termite activity can be hard to identify because these pests eat wood from the inside out. It can take years before a homeowner sees damage to the home. Orkin provides termite inspections and customizes treatment options based on the home and the customer’s needs.Mosquitoes
As temperatures warm up in the spring and summer, pests like mosquitoes become more active, causing people to be cautious while enjoying outdoor activities.More than just a nuisance, mosquitoes can transmit potentially harmful diseases like malaria and West Nile Virus
West Nile virus
West Nile virus is a virus of the family Flaviviridae. Part of the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of viruses, it is found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but is known to infect humans, horses, dogs, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, domestic...
. Orkin’s mosquito service helps reduce conditions that exist around the home and allow mosquitoes to survive and thrive.
Bed Bugs
Bed bug activity is on the rise due to increased international travel and resistance to pesticides. These pests are flat, brown and similar in shape to an apple seed and have been found in hotels, offices, malls and other public places where they can feed on humans.Orkin uses several techniques to help identify and control bed bugs, one of which includes bed bug DNA testing. An Orkin specialist swabs areas where bed bugs typically crawl and sends it to a testing lab to determine any presence of bed bugs.
Training Center
Rollins University is a strategic training program that increases its employees’ pest management knowledge and provides Orkin specialists with the skills to better serve their customers. Located in Atlanta, the 28000 square feet (2,601.3 m²) facility provides a state-of-the-art setting to engage employees through interactive distance learning and hands-on and web-based training programs. The facility includes simulated customer environments, including a house and mock grocery store.Training Magazine has recognized Orkin’s training program on its Top 125 list several times since 2003. The magazine honors programs based on various categories, including company investment, the depth of the training program and how it ties back to overall business objectives.
O. Orkin Insect Zoo
On September 9, 1993, the O. Orkin Insect Zoo (OOIZ) opened at the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
This permanent exhibit, made possible through a contribution from Orkin Pest Control, was created to encourage interactive learning and a better understanding about insects from all over the world as well as those found in the average backyard.
The opening of the zoo marked the first time the Smithsonian enlisted a sponsor for a permanent exhibit in any of their museums. The Smithsonian's popular insect zoo, which annually draws more than one million visitors, is the museum's only exhibit where living creatures can be seen in their natural environments. The insect zoo, located on the second floor of the museum, focuses not only on strange and beautiful insects, but also on the relationships insects have with plants, other animals and humans.
The exhibit features over 300 live insects and arthropods, including giant cockroaches
Cockroaches
A cockroach is an insect of the order Blattaria. "Cockroach" may also refer to:*Cockroach , a 2001 album by Danger Danger*Cockroach , a 2008 novel by Rawi Hage...
, tarantulas, tailless whip scorpions and walking sticks
Phasmatodea
The Phasmatodea are an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects , walking sticks or stick-bugs , phasmids, ghost insects and leaf insects...
. Each of the insects in the zoo live in their own natural habitats, which have been painstakingly reproduced under the direction of entomologists and museum professionals. Included in the habitat displays are mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
swamps, a living bee
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
tree, a desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
diorama
Diorama
The word diorama can either refer to a nineteenth century mobile theatre device, or, in modern usage, a three-dimensional full-size or miniature model, sometimes enclosed in a glass showcase for a museum...
and a tropical rain forest.
In addition, there are plenty of hands-on activities that encourage the OOIZ visitor—adult or child—to get better acquainted with insects and arthropods of all shapes and sizes. Of particular interest in the OOIZ is the "Our House, Their House" display which shows insects living in and around a giant 3-D home. By pushing buttons in front of the house, visitors illuminate the harborage areas for common household insects such as fleas, roaches
Cockroaches
A cockroach is an insect of the order Blattaria. "Cockroach" may also refer to:*Cockroach , a 2001 album by Danger Danger*Cockroach , a 2008 novel by Rawi Hage...
, carpenter ants and silverfish
Silverfish
Lepisma saccharina, frequently called silverfish, fishmoths, carpet sharks or paramites, are small, wingless insects in the order Thysanura...
.
Junior Pest Investigators
Orkin’s Junior Pest Investigators’ program offers free science lesson plans for teachers. These lessons, for students in grades K-6, focus on common pest identification and environmentally friendly ways to help control pests.The lesson plans are based on the National Science Education Standards and provide resources for assessment such as grading rubrics and quizzes.
Nothing But Nets
In 2008, Orkin created the “Fight The Bite” campaign to help raise money for the purchase and distribution of bed nets in Africa, where 90 percent of malaria-related deaths occur among children. With the purchase of every mosquito service, Orkin donates one mosquito net to Nothing But Nets a campaign started by the United Nations FoundationUnited Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation started up in 1998 with a $1 billion grant from Ted Turner in order to support the United Nations in executing its programs worldwide. The creation of the Foundation was intended to encourage other donors to also support the UN in its activities...
. Nothing But Nets provides insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent deaths by malaria in Africa. Orkin’s "Fight The Bite" campaign, which also includes donations, has raised more than $435,000 as of May 20, 2010.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Orkin has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
(CDC), on public education initiatives involving pest-related health risks since 2004. The CDC shares their scientific knowledge on pest-related diseases with Orkin employees during bi-annual training sessions. In April and September 2010, Orkin hosted CDC-led training seminars to discuss triatomine bugs (insects that transmit Chagas disease
Chagas disease
Chagas disease is a tropical parasitic disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. T. cruzi is commonly transmitted to humans and other mammals by an insect vector, the blood-sucking insects of the subfamily Triatominae most commonly species belonging to the Triatoma, Rhodnius,...
) and insect resistance to pesticides.
Orkin’s April 2011 training session featured CDC behavioral specialist Dr. Emily Zielinski-Gutierrez, who discussed emerging mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases in the U.S. and provided prevention measures for technicians to share with homeowners. During the October 2011 seminar, an expert shared rabies transmission facts and prevention tips.
The seminars are broadcasted via satellite to Orkin branches throughout the country. Field representatives from Orkin’s 400 locations view the live broadcasts or access them later through a video-on-demand feature.
National Pest Management Association
Orkin serves as the presenting sponsor of the National Pest Management AssociationNational Pest Management Association
The National Pest Management Association , a non-profit organization with more than 5,000 members, was established in 1933 to support the professional pest control industry. The headquarters are Fairfax, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC....
’s Women of Excellence Award. The international honor recognizes one woman each year who displays outstanding leadership skills and significantly contributes to advancing the pest management industry.
The winners of the NPMA Women of Excellence Award are as follows:
- 2009- Emily Thomas Kendrick, president and chief operating officer of Arrow Exterminators.
- 2010- Karie Keown, former director of strategic accounts operations for Rentokil North American Pest Control.
- 2011- Jennifer Leggett, president of Lindsey Pest Services
Investigations and Lawsuits
Orkin has been the subject of many lawsuits around the country over recent years for alleged faulty service and slipshod practices. Notably, Orkin was investigated in Florida for racketeering in 2004 for its termite contracting practices, with one source citing over 15,000 consumer complaints in the state in a four-year period. This investigation comes on top of multiple lawsuits around that state alleging fraud and poor performance, and similarly around the nation.Recent revelations by a former high-level Orkin risk manager may serve to bolster those claims levelled against the company. In 2001, NY Attorney General Spitzer instituted measures to reform Orkin advertising and arbitration for its termite services.
Other noteworthy lawsuits against Orkin in recent years can be found at these links, illustrating problems common around the country. Often these cases have gone beyond mere allegations of fraud, deception and poor service to accusations of injury and even death from chemical misuse.
"Another House Destroyed - Another Family Ruined"
"Health and Home at Risk?"
"Toxic Home Costs Orkin Millions" -
Other interesting case histories are linked here, including examples of the numerous class action suits endured by Orkin over the recent past.
"Orkin Man is Super Con" -
"Class Action Granted in Orkin Case" -
"Orkin to reapply termite treatment to Missouri homes under terms of record consumer settlement with Nixon" -