[Bed Bug Service] Tactical Treatments for Bed Bugs

The increase in bed bug infestations is being followed by an increase in treatment failures. Here are some ways pest management professionals can help prevent this problem.

MANAGE EXPECTATIONS. Many treatments “fail” because the customer expected more from the pest management professional than the pest management professional could deliver. Review your service agreements and sales materials, especially those from product manufacturers, for “over promises.” Inform your customers verbally and in writing that bed bugs are among the most difficult pests to control and more than one visit may be required to deal with their problem.

Tell them that although you will make a good faith effort to use products that will be effective, there is no way to know whether a particular infestation of bed bugs will be resistant (“immune”) to the materials you use, in which case additional treatments with different products may be required.

KNOW THE OLD FROM THE NEW. Even though your treatment eliminated the original infestation, a new population of bed bugs may have been brought into areas that you didn’t treat and/or into areas where the residue from your treatment is no longer effective. To address this problem, collect and label dry samples of bed bug adults, nymphs, eggs, cast skins and egg shells from every account before you make your initial treatment and then take samples of live bugs and live eggs from areas in which you are going to make a retreatment.

An expert often can tell different populations of the same species of bed bugs apart based on the shape and sculpture of their eggs and the size, shape and distribution of the hairs on their bodies. These samples also can be used to determine how many different populations are involved.

If you fail to control bed bugs in the same area after two treatments, you should contact the manufacturers of the products you applied. Many manufacturers are actively monitoring resistance in bed bugs. They may have suggestions or even offer to take and analyze samples of bugs and chemical residues to help find out what is going on.

Sometimes forensic evidence can tell you whether you are dealing with an entrenched bed bug infestation or some recent arrivals. For example, since bed bugs glue their eggs to surfaces, an egg on a surface that was painted after a certain date proves that the egg was laid after the paint was applied. An egg, dead bug or cast skin that has been painted over proves that those particular bugs were present before the paint was applied.

USE THE RIGHT MATERIALS. Use materials and methods that have been developed by qualified experts. Although the National Pest Management Association has not yet issued Approved Reference Procedures for bed bug control in the United States, a comprehensive set of procedures from the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) is available online at www.afpmb.org.

A code of practice for the control of bed bug infestations also is available from the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association at www.bedbug.org.au.

Only use products for bed bugs under FIFRA Section 2e, e after a qualified entomologist employed by the manufacturer has certified in writing that the product will provide acceptable control of bed bugs when used as directed.

INVEST IN TRAINING. Assure that your bed bug sales and bed bug field service employees are trained beyond minimum industry standards. Salespeople should be trained so that they can explain the complexities of bed bug control, answer questions and respond to customer concerns. All staff should receive basic classroom training on at least the items listed in the AFPMB guidelines, and service employees should receive additional on the job training in the field. Topics should include, but not be limited to:

• Biology and behavior of bed bugs,
• Inspection procedures and evidence of bed bug infestation,
• Properties of materials used to control bed bugs,
• Environmental influences such as building construction, furnishings, clutter and residues from previous applications,
• Label directions for mixing, application, cleanup and disposal,
• Guidelines for inspection and preparation prior to treatment,
• Your company’s bed bug treatment check list and how to use it, and
• Applicable regulations, personal safety procedures/equipment and environmental safety and spill procedures.

Training may be provided by your staff/consultants, suppliers/manufacturers, state regulators, associations or other qualified sources. Update your sales and service employees immediately on any significant changes in the products and procedures your company uses. Review the performance of each field service employee at least every two years, note any deficiencies and retrain the employee as needed. Place copies of these documents in each employee’s personnel file.

KEEP LABELS CURRENT. Assure that your service vehicles and customer service files contain only the current labels and MSDS for the products you apply for bed bug control. Replace these labels and MSDS when you receive updated versions from the manufacturer. Then put an example of the now outdated label or MSDS in an archive file in your office. Since approved uses change with time this file may be critical if one of your treatments is challenged several years after it was made.

The author is president of Rotramel Technical Services, Chicago.