News & Notes

Editor’s note: Suppliers and PMPs, if you have a bed bug-related news item or product you’d like to have highlighted in an upcoming issue, please send a press release and a high-resolution photo to jdorsch@gie.net.

BRS Introduces Two Products

The FlexICU from BRS Pest Management Innovations is a new device to give professionals hands-free convenience. The FlexICU was designed and tested to securely hold more than 700 different tactical, hand-held and utility flashlights and other devices such as bait tubes, screwdrivers and inspection tools. The manufacturer says the product is a lightweight, professional-quality device constructed of a durable, chemical-resistant polymer to provide a flexible, secure fit. The easy mount and quick release features of the FlexICU allow the unit to be attached to many common pest management tools and devices including sprayers, dusters, dusting extensions, etc., in seconds.

“(Additionally), the QC DustBrush is a game changer for effectively and accurately applying insecticide dust to mattress seams, furniture and equipment while reducing drift,” said Dr. Jamel Sandidge, owner/inventor. The stainless steel elbow joint allows the head of the QC DustBrush to rotate 360 degrees once attached to a duster, making it possible to reach seams and stitches at any angle.

Sandidge says the FlexICU joins an innovative product line, including the durable BRS DustROD with its unique application tip designed to mimic the shape and size of most common insect pests.

Learn more at www.brspestinnovations.com or www.dustrod.com.

Hilton Names Allergy Technologies Supply Partner

Allergy Technologies has been named a supply partner by Hilton Supply Management, the global supply chain partner for more than 6,000 properties, including Hilton and non-Hilton-branded hotels.

Allergy Technologies is the manufacturer of ActiveGuard Mattress Liners, which is the only EPA-registered, proactive product labeled to prevent bed bug infestations for two years, the company says. In hotel use for years, ActiveGuard-based preventive programs have proven to reduce infestations as much as 90 percent or more, according to Allergy Technologies.

ActiveGuard liners kill bed bugs in/on mattresses and box springs and are effective in both active and preventive bed bug control strategies, the firm says. Maintenance-free and non-disruptive to hotel operating efficiencies, the liners work 24/7 for two years protecting guests and bedding from bed bugs. ActiveGuard comes in four bed sizes and are easily installed by one person, according to the manufacturer.

Extensively evaluated in field studies, ActiveGuard’s ability to save hoteliers hundreds of thousands of dollars in operational expense while preserving brand reputation is well documented, the company reports. “Bed bugs are a pest that notoriously plague properties with high client turnover, which makes proactively addressing the bed bug resurgence even more critical for hotels,” said Joseph Latino, president of Allergy Technologies. “The financial benefits of preventing bed bugs are clear: reducing operational expenses, increasing hotel revenues, preserving the hotel’s reputation, enhancing guest confidence and reducing legal liability.”

To learn more, visit www.allergy technologies.com.

Orkin: Top 50 Bed Bug Cities

For the third year in a row, Baltimore tops Orkin’s Top 50 Bed Bug Cities list, which was released in January. New York moved up two spots, while Atlanta and Philadelphia joined the top 10, replacing San Francisco and Dallas, respectively.

Five cities moved into the top 50 this year, including Lansing, Mich.; Orlando, Fla.; Davenport, Iowa; Ft. Wayne, Ind.; and Youngstown, Ohio. Houston dropped nine positions, while Greenville, S.C., rose seven positions, entering the top 20.

The list is based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from Dec. 1, 2017-Nov. 30, 2018. Both residential and commercial treatments are included.

1. Baltimore
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Chicago
4. Los Angeles
5. Columbus, Ohio
6. New York (+2)
7. Cincinnati (-1)
8. Detroit (-1)
9. Atlanta (+4)
10. Philadelphia (+2)
11. Cleveland-Akron (+3)
12. San Francisco (-3)
13. Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (+2)
14. Indianapolis (-3)
15. Dallas (-5)
16. Norfolk, Va. (+2)
17. Richmond, Va. (-1)
18. Greenville, S.C. (+7)
19. Charlotte, N.C.
20. Grand Rapids, Mich. (+3)
21. Buffalo, N.Y. (-1)
22. Knoxville, Tenn. (-1)
23. Nashville, Tenn. (-1)
24. Champaign, Ill. (+2)
25. Pittsburgh (-1)
26. Houston (-9)
27. Denver (+1)
28. Milwaukee (+1)
29. Miami (+8)
30. St. Louis (+5)
31. Charleston, W. Va.
32. Lansing, Mich. (new)
33. Syracuse, N.Y.
34. Phoenix (-7)
35. Tampa, Fla. (+14)
36. Greensboro, N.C. (+10)
37. Omaha, Neb. (+2)
38. Boston (-6)
39. Seattle (-3)
40. Las Vegas (+5)
41. Orlando, Fla. (new)
42. Davenport, Iowa (new)
43. Hartford, Conn. (-13)
44. Cedar Rapids, Iowa (-4)
45. Dayton, Ohio (-11)
46. Honolulu (-3)
47. Flint, Mich. (-9)
48. Ft. Wayne, Ind. (new)
49. San Diego (-8)
50. Youngstown, Ohio (new)