Owner & Lead Exterminator · FDACS Licensed Since 1997

Dale Martin.

Founder of DeBugem Pest Control. FDACS-licensed pest control operator (License #JF8626). 29 years of in-county practice across Palm Beach County. Owner-operator who still answers the phone.

5.0 on Google FDACS #JF8626 · Active 34+ years in PBC pest control · 29 years FDACS-licensed · DeBugem since 1998
FDACS Licensed Since Feb 1997 3 License Categories Held Family-Owned Since 1998 Termidor Certified Provider
By the numbers

What 29 years of in-county practice looks like.

License #

JF8626

FDACS pest control operator license, originally issued February 7, 1997. Renewed August 1, 2025; valid through June 1, 2026. Verifiable on the Florida Department of Agriculture website.

Categories

Three

Licensed in General Household Pest & Rodent Control, Lawn & Ornamental, and Termite & Wood-Destroying Organism control. Most operators hold one or two — three is a deliberate choice.

Founded

1998

Founded DeBugem Pest Control in Lake Worth, Florida. Operating continuously for 34+ years from the same Palm Beach County base. Legal entity: Martin American Enterprise Corp (FL P08000085964).

Service area

Palm Beach County

Treats residential and commercial properties from Boca Raton to Tequesta. Same trucks, same routes, week after week. ~40-mile radius from the Lake Worth Beach office.

Background

How Dale ended up running pest control in PBC.

Dale earned his Florida pest control operator's license — JF8626 — on February 7, 1997. He spent his first year working under the license at another Palm Beach County firm, learning the trade end-to-end: residential routes, overnight commercial service, termite WDO inspections for real estate transactions, and lawn & ornamental treatment.

In 1998 he founded DeBugem Pest Control under the legal entity Martin American Enterprise Corp. The model has stayed the same for 34+ years: small, family-run, owner-operator, no answering service, no national-chain sales pitch, no upsell pressure. The trucks haven't changed, the service area hasn't changed, and Dale's personal cell still answers when you call the main line during business hours.

In 2026 DeBugem is still owner-operated. Dale leads the team alongside technician James, who's been with DeBugem for years. Two trucks, two techs — small on purpose. Dale personally inspects bigger termite jobs, commercial pre-openings, and HOA contract bids when his schedule allows. That hasn't changed since 1998 and won't.

Credentials

Verified license, verifiable categories.

Every license, certification, and category Dale carries is publicly verifiable through the relevant agency. Click any source to verify directly.

Primary license

FDACS #JF8626 — Active

Issued: February 7, 1997
Last renewed: August 1, 2025
Valid through: June 1, 2026
Status: Active, in good standing

Verify on FDACS ↗
License categories

Three FDACS-recognized categories

1. General Household Pest and Rodent Control
2. Lawn and Ornamental Pest Control
3. Termite and Other Wood-Destroying Organism Control

Most pest control operators hold one or two of these. Holding all three is what enables DeBugem to handle termites, residential pest, AND lawn fertilization under one license without subcontracting.

Business registration

Martin American Enterprise Corp

FL Department of State document number: P08000085964
Active Florida Profit Corporation. DeBugem Pest Control operates as a fictitious name (DBA) under this entity.

Verify on Florida Sunbiz ↗
Manufacturer certifications

Termidor Certified Provider

BASF Termidor Certified Professional — required certification for proper Termidor SC application and written re-treatment warranty paperwork on every DeBugem termite job. Recertification renewed annually.

If termites come back during the warranty period, we come back. Real paperwork, on every job.

The team

Dale leads a small two-tech crew.

DeBugem is owner-operated. Dale Martin runs the business and the truck. He's joined by James — DeBugem's second technician, who's been with the company for years. Two trucks, two techs, one shop. When you book DeBugem, you'll meet Dale or James — never a stranger, never a sales rep.

What Dale handles personally

Owner-touched work, every job.

DeBugem is a two-tech shop — Dale and James. Some jobs Dale handles personally. Here's the work Dale tries to take himself when scheduling allows.

Owner-conducted inspections

  • Every termite WDO inspection > $500 estimated treatment
  • Every commercial pre-opening kitchen walkthrough
  • Every HOA contract bid > 50 units
  • All Boca Raton, Palm Beach, and Manalapan estate properties
  • Real estate WDO closings (FL-1A reports)

How a Dale-conducted inspection runs

  • 60–90 minute walkthrough on first visit. No rush, no cookie-cutter checklist.
  • TermTrak scanner radar scan of every accessible wood member — finds termites through plasterboard, foam, marble, tile.
  • Soil moisture and trail check around the entire foundation perimeter.
  • Photos of every finding sent to the homeowner same day before any quote is built.
  • Written, itemized quote within 24 hours. Flat pricing. No "additional materials" line items.
  • If anything is unclear, Dale comes back free. We've never billed for a follow-up walkthrough.
Written by Dale

Sourced posts on local pest topics.

Every blog post on the DeBugem site is written or reviewed by Dale and references published research from UF/IFAS, FDACS, FWC, or Palm Beach County Mosquito Control. No marketing fluff.

Termites · 8 min read

Termite Swarm Season in Florida

Three termite species swarm in South Florida — at three different times. UF/IFAS-published timing chart, what a swarm means for your house, and the 3-step response.

Read post →

See all posts on the DeBugem blog →

Get in touch

Three ways to reach Dale directly.

Owner-direct

(561) 926-1800

Direct line for contract questions, escalations, or just talking to the owner.

Call now →
Email Dale directly

dale@debugem.com

Goes straight to Dale's inbox — best for owner-direct conversations, HOA RFP follow-up, contract questions, anything where you want the owner to see it personally.

Email Dale →
LinkedIn

Dale on LinkedIn

Professional history, industry connections, Florida pest control trade discussions.

View profile ↗

Want Dale to look at your property?

Free inspection. Same-day across PBC. Personal service from Dale or James.