Options Abound

Pest control company locations used an arsenal of tools to control bed bugs in 2024.

Topping the list: conventional insecticide treatments, reported 89 percent of PMPs. This was the primary treatment method for 62 percent of locations.

Twenty-eight percent of locations used heat to control bed bugs. It was the primary treatment approach for half (14 percent) of heat users. Biological or biopesticide treatments were used by 27 percent and were the go-to method for 12 percent.

Mattress encasements were used by 62 percent of pest control companies. “We require and install bed bug mattress encasements on every job. It’s priced into the job. It’s not an option,” said Del Lawson, Modern Pest Control.

If clients can afford only one encasement, put it on the box spring, advised Raymond VanderLouw, Helena Agri-Enterprises. “There are a thousand hiding spots in there. And these bugs are cryptic. They don’t like to be bumped or jostled,” he said.

Also popular: monitoring (47 percent), which can help technicians more precisely apply treatment, said VanderLouw, and vacuuming (48 percent).

“I think a vacuum is critical. If you can remove 90 to 95 percent of the bugs while you’re there the first time out, your chances with the remaining 5 percent are way greater,” said VanderLouw. He suggested vacuuming while visually inspecting seams, cracks, crevices, curtains and carpet edges. Conducting a thorough inspection is essential before performing treatment. In multi-family housing, PMPs inspected adjacent units. “If we can get into adjacent units, sometimes we find the real problem,” said Greg Bausch, American City Pest & Termite. In a heavy infestation, bed bugs can travel through cracks and crevices.

Modern Pest Control charges a fee for bed bug inspections. “It eliminates the tire kickers ... who want to get the work done but wants the absolute cheapest price,” said Lawson.

If the customer has the service performed by Modern, the cost of the inspection is deducted from the price.

Before jumping into bed bug control, “educate yourself,” urged Bausch. “It’s not like walking around a house and putting down a barrier for crawling pests.”

Finding the right person to do bed bug work is important. “It takes somebody with a fair bit of empathy. Somebody who is diplomatic in their language and their approach. Somebody who can educate and comfort at the same time,” said VanderLouw.