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

Understanding Bed Bug Treatment and Inspection

MethodsJim Fredericks

National Pest Management Association

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

NPMA Blue Ribbon Task Force

INDUSTRY

ACADEMICS

REGULATORS

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

Best Management Practices: Guiding Principles

Integrated Methods

Community-Wide Approach

Consumer Protection

Professionalism

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

Integrated Methods

Describes best practices for multiple methods of control • Non-chemical • Steam• Vacuum • Heat• Freeze

• Traditional options• Monitoring devices • Active monitors• Passive monitors

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

Education

Training requirements for all employees

Additional requirements for technicians or salespeople involved in bed bug work

Recommendations for educating clients

Client preparation communication

Professionalism

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

approaches

Professionalism

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

approaches

Best Management Practices

Available in English and Spanish…in full, and consumer-friendly, light

versions at:

www.bedbugbmps.org

What Control Methods are Being Used?

Canine Scent Detection

Visual Inspections

Monitoring Devices

Encasements

Vacuums

Traditional Insecticides

Steam

Extreme Freezing

Heat Treatment

Fumigation

Canine Scent Detection

Canine Scent Detection

Pros

Well trained teams can detect bed bugs with up to 98% accuracy

Speed

Can detect low-level infestations

Cons

Teams must train on a daily basis

Dogs sometimes have bad days and false alerts can occur

Request proof of third party certification for canine teams and visual confirmation of infestation.

Visual Inspections

Visual Inspections

Pros

Humans can integrate facts to enhance search parameters

Visual confirmation is proof of infestation

Cons

Labor intensive

Low level infestations are hard to detect

Often involves moving furniture and possessions

Monitoring Devices

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Monitoring Devices

Pros

Can be used to monitor when visual inspections are inconclusive

Proactive approach

Can be used to measure post treatment success

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

Mattress & Box Spring Encasements

Mattress & Box Spring Encasements

Pros

Makes inspection easier

Seals bugs and eggs inside mattress and box spring

Easy to install

Cons

Not all encasements are created equal

Ripped covers don’t work

Covers can’t be removed for laundering

Vacuums

Vacuums

Pros

Physical removal bed bug evidence

Remove large numbers of bed bugs quickly

Good for sensitive areas

Cons

Eggs are sometimes hard to dislodge

Labor intensive

Traditional Insecticides

Traditional Insecticides

Pros

Multiple formulations available for different treatment sites

Many products available

Cons

Labor intensive treatment

Resistant populations have been reported

Sensitivity may be a concern

Steam

Heat Kills Bed Bugs

Steam

Steam Treatments

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)

Cons

No residual

Labor intensive

Some surfaces are heat sensitive

Temperatures must exceed 120 F to kill all life stages

Heat Treatments

Heat Treatments

Pros

No residue

Good for sensitive areas

Destroys all life stages, including eggs

Effective in complex environments

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

Freezing

Freezing

Pros

“Dry” CO2 snow (-109 F)

Good for sensitive areas

Kills all life stages

Cons

No residual activity

Care must be taken not to blow eggs or bugs off surfaces

Fumigation

Fumigation

Pros

100% kill of all life stages including eggs

Excellent efficacy in cluttered or complex environments

Cons

Highly specialized, not offered by all firms

Extensive preparation

Relatively expensive

No residual

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