Understanding Bed Bug Treatment and Inspection Methods

1. Understanding Bed Bug Treatment and Inspection Methods Jim Fredericks National Pest Management Association

2. Bed Bugs in America • 95% of pest professionals reported treating for bed bugs last year. • 20% report bed bug infestations greater than 10 years ago • 76% of professionals said bed bugs are THE SINGLE MOST DIFFICULT PEST TO CONTROL • All statistics are from surveys by NPMA

3. NPMA Blue Ribbon Task Force

4. Best Management Practices for Bed Bugs • The dialogue began in October 2010 • Multiple webinars, conference calls, discussions and stakeholder meetings • Results! NPMA Bed Bug Best Management Practices adopted in January 2011

6. Best Management Practices: Guiding Principles

7. Consumer Protection • Before beginning service: • Identify active infestation • Communicate fees • Communicate details of service • Communicate realistic expectations • Provide bed bug specific information with agreements • Canine teams require 3rd party certification

8. Integrated Methods • Describes best practices for multiple methods of control • Non-chemical • Steam • Vacuum • Heat • Freeze • Traditional options • Monitoring devices • Active monitors • Passive monitors

9. Community-Wide Approach • Generally discourage disposal of mattresses and furniture • Recommendations for inspection and treatment of surrounding areas and adjacent rooms • Recommendations for training and educating hotel and facility staff about bed bug identification

10. Education • Training requirements for all employees • Additional requirements for technicians or salespeople involved in bed bug work • Recommendations for educating clients • Client preparation communication

11. Professionalism • Encourages professionalism through • Business practice recommendations • Service agreement guidelines • Recordkeeping practices • Training requirements • Inspection practices • Integrated Pest Management approaches

12. Professionalism • Encourages professionalism through • Business practice recommendations • Service agreement guidelines • Recordkeeping practices • Training requirements • Inspection practices • Integrated Pest Management approaches

13. Best Management Practices • Available in English and Spanish…in full, and consumer-friendly, light versions at: www.bedbugbmps.org

14. What Control Methods are Being Used? • Steam • Extreme Freezing • Heat Treatment • Fumigation • Canine Scent Detection • Visual Inspections • Monitoring Devices • Encasements • Vacuums • Traditional Insecticides

15. Canine Scent Detection

16. Canine Scent Detection Cons • Teams must train on a daily basis • Dogs sometimes have bad days and false alerts can occur Pros • Well trained teams can detect bed bugs with up to 98% accuracy • Speed • Can detect low-level infestations Request proof of third party certification for canine teams and visual confirmation of infestation.

17. Visual Inspections

19. Visual Inspections • Cons • Labor intensive • Low level infestations are hard to detect • Often involves moving furniture and possessions Pros • Humans can integrate facts to enhance search parameters • Visual confirmation is proof of infestation

20. Monitoring Devices • ????

21. Monitoring Devices • Cons • The most effective bait is a human host • Detect bed bugs over days or weeks • Low level infestations can be missed • Cost can be a factor Pros • Can be used to monitor when visual inspections are inconclusive • Proactive approach • Can be used to measure post treatment success

22. Mattress & Box Spring Encasements

23. Mattress & Box Spring Encasements • Cons • Not all encasements are created equal • Ripped covers don’t work • Covers can’t be removed for laundering Pros • Makes inspection easier • Seals bugs and eggs inside mattress and box spring • Easy to install

24. Vacuums

25. Vacuums • Cons • Eggs are sometimes hard to dislodge • Labor intensive Pros • Physical removal bed bug evidence • Remove large numbers of bed bugs quickly • Good for sensitive areas

26. Traditional Insecticides

27. Traditional Insecticides • Cons • Labor intensive treatment • Resistant populations have been reported • Sensitivity may be a concern Pros • Multiple formulations available for different treatment sites • Many products available

28. Steam

29. Heat Kills Bed Bugs

30. Steam

31. Steam Treatments • Cons • No residual • Labor intensive • Some surfaces are heat sensitive • Temperatures must exceed 120 F to kill all life stages Pros • No residue • Good for sensitive areas • Destroys all life stages, including eggs • Effective on fabrics and complex substrates • Penetrates fabrics and cracks (1/4 inch in fabric, 2 inches in cracks)

32. Heat Treatments

33. Heat Treatments • Cons • No residual • Specialized equipment required • Some items are heat sensitive • Temperatures must exceed 122 F to kill all life stages • Temperatures must be constantly monitored Pros • No residue • Good for sensitive areas • Destroys all life stages, including eggs • Effective in complex environments

34. Freezing

35. Freezing • Cons • No residual activity • Care must be taken not to blow eggs or bugs off surfaces Pros • “Dry” CO2 snow (-109 F) • Good for sensitive areas • Kills all life stages

36. Fumigation

37. Fumigation • Cons • Highly specialized, not offered by all firms • Extensive preparation • Relatively expensive • No residual Pros • 100% kill of all life stages including eggs • Excellent efficacy in cluttered or complex environments

38. The Bottom Line… • There is no silver bullet • Multiple methods may be employed that can result in a successful treatment • Bed bug management is labor intensive • Always choose a qualified, licensed professional