Why Mapping & Documentation Matter

Documentation serves as the primary communications document with the customer and provides a baseline for tracking changes over time. Kept up to date, it helps reveal patterns of pest activity unique to a structure and guides more targeted effort at a few select areas. See the inspection-first approach and the overall SPM framework.

What to Document from Inspection

Pests & life stages found.
Distribution & density (where activity is and how intense).
Age, origin, and method of entry (on-site sources or transported inside).
Conditions conducive to infestation (moisture, harborages, storage/maintenance). See Conducive Conditions.
Critical infestation control points (highest-risk sites requiring focused effort).
Non-chemical tactics to be used (clean/remove, fix/seal, perimeter changes). See Fix & Seal and Perimeter Modifications.
Chemical tactics (if needed) with selection criteria set in advance. See Pesticide-Use Policy.

Use written and/or photographic documentation to increase clarity and follow-through, especially when requesting customer action. See Customer Coaching.

Mapping on Floor Plans & Diagrams

Plot pest activity and contributing conditions on a floor plan or diagram to visualize:

Likely origin of the infestation.
Distribution and densities across spaces.
Potential movement avenues through the structure.

Diagrams function as an operational map for the SPM specialist and as a communication tool for the customer. They also help identify and prioritize critical infestation control points. See Inspection.

The Written SPM Plan

Using documented findings and diagrams, create a written plan appropriate to the size and complexity of the site. A plan may include:

Program objectives (avoid annoyance, damage, disease risk, or regulatory violations).
Environment sensitivity (e.g., healthcare, schools, food facilities as applicable).
Current pests & distribution (species, life stages, mapped areas, density notes).
Origins & entry modes (on-site vs. transported).
Conditions conducive & sustaining practices (what, where, who).
Critical control points with prioritization.
Non-chemical actions (clean/remove; fix/seal; perimeter adjustments; customer tasks).
Chemical actions (if needed) with target sites, formulations, application method, and site constraints. See Pesticide-Use Policy.
Implementation description (how and when actions will be carried out).
Customer responsibilities for sanitation and maintenance.

Photos, Notes & Pattern Recognition

Regularly updated notes and photos help demonstrate progress, support coaching, and reveal recurring pattern hotspots. Over time, this enables tighter targeting so effort concentrates on a few key areas rather than broad, routine applications. See Targeted Pesticide Use.

Documentation in Sensitive or Audited Sites

In environments where additional records are expected (e.g., food or pharma facilities), mapping and documentation help meet expectations alongside any required monitoring (such as ILTs for indoor flies or traps for stored-product pests). See SPM for Regulated Facilities and Monitoring vs. Inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is documentation so emphasized?

It’s the primary communication tool with the customer, establishes a baseline, and—kept current—reveals patterns that let you target a few select areas more effectively.

How does mapping help resolve infestations?

Mapping shows origin, distribution, density, and movement pathways, and it highlights critical control points where focused effort yields the most impact.

What belongs in the written SPM plan?

Objectives, site sensitivity, pests and distribution, origins/entry, conditions conducive and sustaining practices, critical control points, non-chemical and chemical tactics, implementation details, and customer responsibilities.

Do you use photos?

Yes—written and photographic documentation increases clarity, supports customer engagement, and helps track changes over time.

How does this tie into regulated facilities?

Documentation complements required records and any facility-specific monitoring, helping prevent violations and align the program with expectations.

Mapping, Documentation & the SPM Plan