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Phone: 817-598-4149 Fax:
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Non-Chemical Bed Bug Management Dini M Miller, Ph.D., Department
of Entomology,
Virginia Tech
Introduction Bed bugs h a v e p r o v e n t o b e a v e r y c h a l l e n g i n g pest. W h i l e m o s t p e o p l e w o u l d like t o have a pest m a n a g e m e n t professional c o m e t o their h o m e a n dspray a magic potion that eliminates bed bugs forever, n o such potion exists. Bed bugs are highly resistant t o a n u m b e r of insecticides, and their eggs are impervious t o m o s t insecticide f o r m u l a t i o n s . Complicating t h e s i t u a t i o n f u r t h e r is t h e h u m a n host. IVIany p e o p l e live i n highly c l u t t e r e d e n v i r o n m e n t s providing b e dbugs w i t h m a n y places t o hide. Boxes, books, stuffed animals, and electronic e q u i p m e n t cannot b etreated w i t h insecticides s o t h e r e a r em a n y safe locations w h e r e b e d bugs f i n d r e f u g e . T h i s is w h y w e c a n n o t rely o n insecticides a l o n e t o c u r e b e d b u g p r o b l e m s . Pest m a n a g e m e n t professionals have recently started using a variety o fnon-chemical tools t o h e l p m a n a g e b e d b u g i n f e s t a t i o n s . B e l o w is a d i s c u s s i o n o n t h e n o n - c h e m i c a l m e t h o d s t h a t c a n b e u s e d a s p a r t o f a n i n t e g r a t e d pest m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m f o r b e d bugs. T h i s p u b l i c a t i o n is not intended t oendorse any o fthe products described below, however, these products a r e specifically m e n t i o n e d because t h e y are unique technologies and k n o w n t ob e effective.
Clutter Removal Highly cluttered h o m e s and b e d r o o m s provide bed bugs w i t h n u m e r o u s places t o hide, and m a k e s treating t h e h o m e w i t h insecticides a l m o s t impossible. T h e r e f o r e , reducing clutter will greatly i m p r o v e y o u r chances o f e l i m i n a t i n g b e d bugs. B e f o r e h a v i n g y o u r h o m e t r e a t e d f o r bed bugs, place piles o f clothes t h a t a r e lying o n t h ef l o o r into sealed bags f o r l a u n d e r i n g . R e m o v e all i t e m s f r o m u n d e r t h e b e d , b u t d o n o t put anything o nt o p o f the b e do r m o v e items into another r o o m (potentially spreading the infestation)*. Go through your closets. Bag and t h r o w a w a y any items t h a t y o u n o longer use. Do not m o v e items f r o m t h e closets into other r o o m s . Stack those items that y o u wish t okeep i nfront o f t h e closet door s ot h a t t h e y can b e inspected*. Items that have n ovalue, such asold newspapers, j u n k mail, magazines and broken electronic
Consumer Health • 303 Palo Pinto St. • P.O. Box 255 • Weatherford, TX 76086
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Consumer Health Department 3 0 3 P a l o P i n t o St. W e a t h e r f o r d , T X 7 6 0 8 6
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equipment, should b ebagged and t h r o w n i nthe trash immediately. Y o u r pest m a n a g e m e n t professional m a y provide y o u w i t h specific instructions o n h o w t o reduce clutter i ny o u r h o m e or a p a r t m e n t . Be prepared t o follow t h o s e instructions t o t h e letter.
Dissolvable Laundry Bags* Y o u r pest m a n a g e m e n t professional m a y provide y o u w i t h dissolvable laundry bags o r y o u c a n p u r c h a s e t h e m y o u r s e l f . D i s s o l v a b l e (GreenClean™) l a u n d r y b a g s a r e l a u n d r y b a g s t h a t d i s s o l v e in t h e w a s h e r . Y o u can pack y o u r c l o t h i n g a n d o t h e r w a s h a b l e b e l o n g i n g s i n t o t h e bags and p u t t h e m directly into t h ew a s h e r w i t h o u t having t o o p e n t h eb a go r dispose o f a p o t e n t i a l l y i n f e s t e d bag in t h e l a u n d r o m a t * .
Bed Bug Detection It i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t t o c a t c h a b e d b u g infestation before t h e population b e c o m e s large and difficult t o control. But h o w d oy o u m o n i t o r a h o m e or apartment for bed bugs? You m a y have heard the old stories o fh o w people used t oput t u n a cans full o f w a t e r u n d e r t h e legs o f t h e i r b e d t o p r e v e n t b e d bugs f r o m crawling u p and feeding on t h e m . M o d e r n bed b u g m o n i t o r i n g d e v i c e s l i k e t h e ClimbUp™ I n s e c t Interceptor uses t h a t s a m e idea t o detect bed bugs before a n infestation develops. F o r t h e ClimbUp™ device to work, the bed m u s t be properly prepared. T h e b e d m u s t b e m o v e d a w a y f r o m t h e w a l l s o t h a t i t is n o t t o u c h i n g t h e w a l l o r a n o t h e r p i e c e of furniture. There m u s t b e n odust ruffle o r any other bedding touching the floor during the d a y o r n i g h t . A ClimbUp™ i n t e r c e p t o r i s t h e n p l a c e d u n d e r e a c h b e d l e g (4-6 d e v i c e s t o t a l ) s o t h a t t h e leg sits inside t h e i n n e r w e l l o f t h e device. T h e ClimbUp™ i n t e r c e p t o r i s b a s i c a l l y a d i s h t h a t i s r o u g h o n t h e o u t s i d e a n d c o a t e d w i t h talc on t h e inside. H u n g r y bed bugs c o m i n g t o feed o n t h e host crawl up t h e outside of t h e d e v i c e a n d f a l l i n t o t h e o u t e r w e l l w h e r e t h e y c a n n o t e s c a p e . T h e ClimbUp™ i s a n e x c e l l e n t tool for early detection because bed bugs m o v i n g in f r o m the a p a r t m e n t next door may b e f o u n d i n t h e ClimbUp™ b e f o r e a n y o n e s t a r t s g e t t i n g b i t t e n . T h e ClimbUp™ d e v i c e i s a l s o u s e f u l as a t r a p . T h e devices c a n c a p t u r e h u n d r e d s o f b e d b u g s as t h e y a t t e m p t t o a p p r o a c h t h e h o s t . T h e ClimbUp™ w i l l n o t e l i m i n a t e a n i n f e s t a t i o n , b u t i t c a n c a t c h e n o u g h b e d b u g s t o a c t u a l l y reduce the population size*.
Consumer Health ' 303 Palo Pinto St. • P.O. Box 255 • Weatherford, TX 76086
Consumer Health Department WEATHERFO'RD
303 P a l o P i n t o St. W e a t h e r f o r d , T X 7 6 0 8 6
Phone: 817-598-4149 Fax:
817-598-4007
Vacuuming T h e v a l u e o f v a c u u m i n g is n o t t h a t i t c o n t r o l s b e d bugs, b u t t h a t i t m a k e s inspections s o m u c h easier. In large infestations, b e d b u g h a r b o r a g e s and aggregation sites are n o t o n l y filled w i t h live bed bugs, but also w i t h their debris (dead bed bugs, m o l t e d skins, hatched egg shells, and feces). It is o f t e n difficult t o distinguish w h a t is alive f r o m w h a t is d e a d i n a m e s s y h a r b o r a g e , particularly after t r e a t m e n t . A high p o w e r e d v a c u u m isv e r y useful f o r r e m o v i n g this debris. W h i l e n o v a c u u m is p o w e r f u l e n o u g h t o r e m o v e all o f t h e b e d b u g eggs (eggs are c e m e n t e d into place), t h e r e m o v a l o ft h e bed bug debris m a k e s it m u c h easier t o s e e i f a n y t h i n g is still alive i n t h e s e h a r b o r a g e s a f t e r t h e y have been t r e a t e d . Just m a k e sure t h a t t h e infested v a c u u m bag is t h r o w n a w a y o u t s i d e o f t h e b u i l d i n g .
Steam B e d B u g s a r e e a s y t o kill u s i n g h e a t . T h e i r t h e r m a l d e a t h p o i n t is r e p o r t e d t o b e 1 1 4 115°F. P u t t i n g i n f e s t e d c l o t h i n g i n a h o t d r y e r i s a n e x c e l l e n t w a y o f k i l l i n g b e d b u g s a n d t h e i r eggs. H e a t c a n b e u s e d t o kill b e d b u g s a n d t h e i r eggs i n f u r n i t u r e a n d c a r p e t i n g . T h e m o s t c o m m o n m e t h o d o f killing bed bugs w i t h h e a t is b y using a s t e a m e r . M a n y pest m a n a g e m e n t c o m p a n i e s a r e u s i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l s t e a m c l e a n e r s t o kill b e d b u g s i n i n f e s t e d a p a r t m e n t s . T h e s t e a m e r s a r e u s e d t o kill b e d b u g s o n m a t t r e s s e s , c o u c h e s , a n d o t h e r l o c a t i o n s w h e r e insecticide applications are undesirable. S t e a m i n g bed bugs is a s l o w process t h a t t a k e s patience. T h e technician m u s t m o v e s l o w l y e n o u g h s o t h a t t h e h e a t c o n c e n t r a t i o n is m a i n t a i n e d o v e r e v e r y inch o f surface. T h e s t e a m e r head m u s t also b e large t o avoid t h e s t e a m c o m i n g o u t a tsuch velocity t h a t it blows b e d b u g s a n d t h e i r eggs a c r o s s t h e r o o m . S t e a m c l e a n i n g is a n e f f e c t i v e w a y o f r e d u c i n g a n infestation quickly. H o w e v e r , s t e a m alone will n o t eliminate an infestation.
Pressurized Carbon Dioxide S n o w S o m e o f t h e larger pest m a n a g e m e n t companies have been using a n e w
technology
w h e r e b e d b u g s a r e f r o z e n t o d e a t h b y b e i n g e x p o s e d t o p r e s s u r i z e d C O 2 s n o w a t -108°F. T h e t e c h n o l o g y g o e s b y t h e t r a d e n a m e Cryonite®. T h e s n o w m i x t u r e i s b l o w n o u t o f a p r e s s u r i z e d cylinder t h r o u g h a nozzle t h a t f o r m s vapors t o p e n e t r a t e baseboards, bedding, box springs, t h e f u r n i t u r e , and o t h e r cracks and crevices w h e r e b e d bugs aggregate.
T h e pressurized
snow
f r e e z e s t h e c e l l s o f t h e b e d b u g s k i l l i n g t h e m i n s t a n t l y . S i m i l a r t o s t e a m c l e a n i n g , t h e Cryonite® process requires patience and will not eliminate a bed bug infestation if used alone. c o n t r o l m e t h o d s w i l l still h a v e t o b e u s e d .
Consumer Health • 303 Palo Pinto St. • P.O. Box 255 • Weatherford, TX 76086
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Diatomaceous Earth D i a t o m a c e o u s e a r t h (DE) is a desiccant dust m a d e o f t h e silica-based skeletons o f m i c r o o r g a n i s m s called d i a t o m s . T h i s d u s t kills b e d b u g s b y s t i c k i n g t o t h e o u t s i d e o f t h e i r bodies and absorbing t h e w a x layer that keeps t h e m f r o m losing their body moisture. T h e bed bugs desiccate and die w i t h i n a couple o f days. DE isv e r y s a f e t o use a n d has a b r o a d label a l l o w i n g t h e p r o d u c t t o b e a p p l i e d i n m a n y locations w h e r e insecticidal dusts c a n n o t (bed f r a m e s , carpeting, pet bedding, etc.). H o w e v e r , b e a w a r e t h a t t h e r e is m o r e t h a n o n e t y p e o fd i a t o m a c e o u s e a r t h . T h e r e is t h e 1 0 0 p e r c e n t d i a t o m a c e o u s e a r t h t h a t is a n insecticide labeled f o r crawling insect pests and t h e r e is a 1 0 0 p e r c e n t DE t h a t is used a sa n a n i m a l f o o d additive (also w o r k s w e l l f o r killing bed bugs). T h e r e are also insecticide f o r m u l a t i o n s o fDE t h a t contains pyrethrins. T h e s e products will have m o r e restrictive labels regarding w h e r e t h e p r o d u c t can b eused. T h e f o r t h t y p e o f DE is used f o r s w i m m i n g pool filters. T h e s w i m m i n g pool f o r m o fDE has been heat t r e a t e d so t h a t t h e d i a t o m s k e l e t o n s are n o l o n g e r t h e s a m e shape. S w i m m i n g pool DE is a serious i n h a l a t i o n hazard a n d should never b e put into s o m e o n e ' s h o m e . Be sure that ify o u are purchasing DE yourself, y o u avoid those products used for s w i m m i n g pool filters.
Mattress Encasements Mattress encasements a r e n o w a standard part o f a quality b e d b u g m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m . A m a t t r e s s e n c a s e m e n t is m o r e t h a n a bed cover. T h e e n c a s e m e n t is i n t e n d e d t o seal y o u r m a t t r e s s s ot h a t n o bed bugs can infest y o u r mattress, and any bed bugs currently i n f e s t i n g y o u r m a t t r e s s can n e v e r bite t h r o u g h o r escape f r o m t h e e n c a s e m e n t . It is e x t r e m e l y i m p o r t a n t that t h e mattress e n c a s e m e n t b eplaced o nboth t h e mattress and t h e boxsprings. If y o u c a n n o t a f f o r d t o encase b o t h , m a k e s u r e t h a t t h e boxsprings is p u t i n t o t h e e n c a s e m e n t . T h e b o x s p r i n g s is a f a v o r i t e b e d b u g h a r b o r a g e , a n d i t is v e r y difficult t o t r e a t . E n c a s i n g t h e boxsprings m a k e s bed bug t r e a t m e n t m u c h easier and m o r e effective. It i s a l s o i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e m a t t r e s s e n c a s e m e n t s y o u p u r c h a s e h a v e a z i p p e r t h a t w i l l c l o s e c o m p l e t e l y . M a n y p e o p l e n e g l e c t t o zip t h e c o v e r all t h e w a y u p a n d t h i s is t h e n u m b e r o n e escape r o u t e used b y b e d bugs. M a t t r e s s e n c a s e m e n t s t h a t have a zipper protector ( P r o t e c t - A Bed o r M a t t r e s s Safe) w i l l p r e v e n t b e d b u g escape e v e n i f t h e zipper is n o t e n t i r e l y closed. Also, t h e teeth o f the zipper m u s t b e tight enough t o keep newly hatched b e d bugs f r o m escaping t h r o u g h t h e teeth. N o t all mattress covers are effective a t keeping bed bugs inside s o m a k e sure t h a t t h e product y o u purchase describes o n t h e label h o w it has been t r e a t e d for containing bed bugs.
Heating Systems S o m e o f t h e m o s t effective n e w technologies f o r b e d b u gcontrol
have been t h e
d e v e l o p m e n t o f h e a t i n g s y s t e m s t h a t a r e c a p a b l e o f s u p e r h e a t i n g i n f e s t e d r o o m s t o kill all t h e bed bugs. T h e r e are currently t w o heating systems being used for bed bug elimination.
These
a r e t h e ThermaPureHeat® a n d t h e T e m p - A i r H e a t R e m e d i a t i o n System®. T h e p r i n c i p a l s
behind
these t w o m e t h o d s are essentially the same.
P r o p a n e generated h e a t o relectric heaters are
Consumer Health • 303 Palo Pinto St. * P.O. Box 255 • Weatherford, TX 76086
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Consumer Health Department 3 0 3 P a l o P i n t o St. W e a t h e r f o r d , T X 7 6 0 8 6
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u s e d t o r a i s e t h e t e m p e r a t u r e i n s i d e t h e r o o m t o 135°F ( t h i s t e m p e r a t u r e w i l l n o t d a m a g e e l e c t r o n i c e q u i p m e n t ) . T h e h e a t is b l o w n i n t o t h e r o o m f o r s e v e r a l h o u r s . T h e t e m p e r a t u r e s i n cracks, crevices, a n d hard-to-reach places are m o n i t o r e d r e m o t e l y f r o m n u m e r o u s sensors p l a c e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e r o o m . O n c e t h e b e d b u g t h e r m a l d e a t h p o i n t is r e a c h e d a t all o f t h e s e n s o r s (114-115°F), t h e h e a t i n g p r o c e s s i n c o n t i n u e d f o r 6 0 m i n u t e s ( o r m o r e ) t o k i l l a l l o f t h e bed bugs a n d t h e i r eggs. T h e a d v a n t a g e s o f t h e s e h e a t s y s t e m s are t h a t t h e resident does n o t have t o r e m o v e o r bag their belongings, a n d m o s t infestations c a n b e cured i n a single t r e a t m e n t . T h e d i s a d v a n t a g e o f h e a t t r e a t m e n t ist h a t t h e t e c h n o l o g y is still s o n e w t h a t i t is difficult t o find a pest m a n a g e m e n t c o m p a n y t h a t has purchased t h e s y s t e m . T h e process is also t i m e c o n s u m i n g (taking 6-8 hours f r o m setup t o take d o w n ) , and t h e r e f o r e expensive. H e a t t r e a t m e n t is o n e o ft h e f e w m e t h o d s t h a t can b e used a l o n e f o r bed bug control. H o w e v e r , s o m e buildings (usually older r e m o d e l e d buildings) m a y have construction features that create heat sinks. I n cases w h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n issues a r e a c o n c e r n , it is w i s e t o s u p p l e m e n t t h e heat t r e a t m e n t w i t h a conventional insecticide application i ncold spots w h e r e bed bugs might find refuge. T h e T e m p - A i r H e a t R e m e d i a t i o n System® u s e s e l e c t r i c h e a t e r s t o g e n e r a t e t h e
heat
n e e d e d t o t r e a t a r o o m o ra p a r t m e n t (typically a 4 - h e a t e r s y s t e m will t r e a t 9 0 0 - 1 1 0 0 sq. ft.). T h e h e a t e r s a r e p l a c e d in t h e i n f e s t e d r o o m a n d p o w e r e d b y a g e n e r a t o r l o c a t e d o u t s i d e . High v e l o c i t y f a n s a r e u s e d t o b l o w t h e h e a t e d air i n t o all c o r n e r s o f t h e r o o m . T h e t e m p e r a t u r e o f t h e r o o m w i l l i n c r e a s e t o b e t w e e n 120-135°F. T h e s e n s o r s a r e m o n i t o r e d u n t i l e a c h h a s r e a c h e d 115°F. T h i s t e m p e r a t u r e i s a d e q u a t e f o r k i l l i n g b e d b u g s b u t n o t h i g h e n o u g h t o d a m a g e belongings inside t h e h o m e . T h e ThermaPureHeat® s y s t e m u s e s a l a r g e p r o p a n e f u e l e d h e a t e r t o g e n e r a t e t h e h e a t n e e d e d t o t r e a t a n i n f e s t e d a p a r t m e n t u n i t . T h e p r o p a n e h e a t e r is l o c a t e d o u t s i d e t h e b u i l d i n g a n d t h e h e a t is f u n n e l e d into t h e a p a r t m e n t t h r o u g h insulated d u c t w o r k . T h e ducts are e x t e n d e d into v a r i o u s areas o f t h e h o m e creating positive pressure as t h e p r o p a n e h e a t is c o n t i n u o u s l y b l a s t e d i n t o t h e u n i t . T h e t e m p e r a t u r e o f t h e r o o m w i l l i n c r e a s e t o 135°F, h e a t i n g b e d b u g s h a r b o r a g e s t o t h e t h e r m a l d e a t h p o i n t , b u t n o t d a m a g i n g i t e m s in t h e a p a r t m e n t .
Summary Insecticides alone can rarely eliminate a bed bug infestation. Long-term control requires that non-chemical m e t h o d s b eused i n c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h insecticides aspart o fan integrated bed bug management program. * C o o p e r Pest Solutions, Lawrenceville, N e w Jersey
Consumer Health * 303 Palo Pinto St. • P.O. Box 255 ' Weatherford, TX 76086
