[Bed Bug Supplement] Bed Bug News and Notes

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

2015 Global Bed Bug Summit to Be Held in January

Fairfax, Va. — The NPMA Global Bed Bug Summit will be held Jan. 7-9, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colo. The summit is an annual event designed to provide information from the legal, technical, business and customer-oriented perspectives to help PCOs eliminate bed bug problems and create an environment of trust with customers. The summit also will include a Night with the Experts, ExpoCentral Trade Show, ExpoCentral Beer Tasting and optional pre-show ski trip.

Visit http://npmapestworld.org/ for information and conference registration.
 

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Mattress Safe Celebrates 10 Years at NPMA PestWorld 2014

Cumming, Ga. — Mattress Safe said “thank you” to its partners for 10 years of success with a cake and giveaway celebration at NPMA PestWorld in Orlando in October. Also at the event, Mattress Safe announced several new product features and enhancements.

The new Concealed Zipper will be available for production in 2015. This new zipper enclosure will give a new sleek look while providing the same quality of protection trusted around the world with the patented “Zipper with the Hook” zipper combination, the firm says.

Mattress Safe displayed the new color options available for mattress and box spring encasements. The new colors are fawn beige, slate gray, dark mocha, black onyx, navy blue and eco green. These color encasements provide the same level of protection but with a stylish look, the firm reports.

Mattress Safe HealthCover CliniSafe encasements guard against harmful exposure of infectious diseases in mattresses that are used in transitional environments. The encasements perform this by supplying a controlled release of an antimicrobial additive. They are fire retardant, tear resistant and durable, and continue to provide stain and waterproof protection.

Mattress Safe has added a new encasement depth to the Sofcover Plus Advantage product line. The new 5- to 9-inch mattress depth is now available as a standard size, continuing to allow for a fewer number of SKUs to be stocked by service providers.

Mattress Safe says it proudly supports the U.S. economy with 90 percent of Mattress Safe’s product selection made in America.

For more information or to view Mattress Safe’s full line of bed bug certified products, visit www.mattresssafe.com or email info@mattresssafe.com.
 

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RxHeat Offers Gas-Fired Portable Heat Treatment Systems

Chesterfield, Mo. — Powerful, compact and energy efficient, RxHeat Systems by Cambridge Engineering provide clean, non-toxic, high-capacity, controlled heating for eliminating bed bug infestations, the firm says. Applications include single-family residential structures and multi-unit apartments and commercial buildings.

Available with output to 1.2Mil BTUs, and up to 6,000 CFM, units feature an enclosed, clean-burning gas or propane flame; SMART temperature control technology allowing “set it and forget it” operation; and the ability to raise structural temperatures quickly with forced air. Designed to meet North American IAQ/emissions standards, RxHeat Systems are specified in LEED and green building projects. RxHeat Systems say its products provide a non-toxic alternative to chemicals by circulating hot, clean and odorless air.

Learn more at www.rxheat.com.
 

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Temp-Air to Hold Thermal Remediation Bed Bug Conference

BURNSVILLE, Minn. — Thermal Remediation from Temp-Air will host its first Biannual Thermal Remediation Bed Bug National Conference March 8-10. The conference will serve not only as an informative, educational conference on the topic of heat treating insects but also will provide a valuable networking opportunity for professionals in the industry as the conference offers roundtable discussions, interactive speaker panel sessions and several cocktail receptions.

The firm says thermal remediation is becoming increasingly popular as a bed bug treatment methodology. “We’re excited to host this meeting and partner with co-sponsors including Mattress Safe and Bayer,” said Thermal Remediation National Sales Manager Chris Strom.

Speakers include:

• Dr. Austin M. Frishman, AMF Pest Management Consulting
• Dr. Stephen Kells, University of Minnesota Department of Entomology
• Dr. Roberto Pereira, University of Florida Department of Entomology
• Dr. Raj Hulasare, Temp-Air Manufacturing
• Joseph Barile, Bayer Environmental Science
• Chris Strom, Temp-Air Manufacturing
• Thomas Campbell, Campbell Law
• Andrea Hancock, Mattress Safe Manufacturing
• Jeff White, Cooper Pest Solutions
• Paul Bello, PJB Pest Management Consulting
   

The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites Outdoor World, just north of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Thermal Remediation says the event will serve as an informative, educational conference on the topic of heat treating insects.

For more information, visit http://thermalremediation.com/conference-registration-form.
 

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Target Specialty Products’ Fume School Helps Battle Bed Bugs

Santa Fe Springs, Calif. — Target Specialty Products 18th Annual Fumigation School was held on Nov. 4-5 and was hosted for the first time by Dr. Vernard Lewis and the UC Berkeley Richmond Field Station Lab.

This year’s Fumigation beneficiary was the Greater Richmond Interfaith Project (GRIP), which had been battling bed bugs over the past several years. The Fumigation itself was donated by Your Fumigation office, Elk Grove, Calif.

“It’s not often you get a chance to give back to the community,” said Dr. Vernard Lewis, entomologist, Department of Environmental Sciences, UC Berkeley. “Previous to the fumigation, GRIP battled a troublesome bed bug situation. That previous situation has been eliminated and the facility is moving forward with preventive measures to stay pest free. This project also illustrates how partnerships and teamwork that involve counties, industry, nonprofit(s) and universit(ies) can solve problems. I am proud to have been a team member.”

Target’s Fumigation School is a two-day school designed to help the industry have a better understanding of the fumigation process. It incorporates classroom learning as well as a field trip to see an actual fumigation process.

The GRIP shelter hosts up to 68 residents on the second floor, which hosts mostly single parents with children. The lower floor operates a free meals service, serving 200 meals per day to the people of the city of Richmond and surrounding cities.

The building is 169,000 cubic feet and the Masterfume Fumigant was donated by Drexel Chemical.

The previous 17 years, the school had been held in Southern California and UC Riverside’s lab, but this year was the school’s first venture into Northern California, where it was held at the University of California, Berkeley, Richmond Field Station. All proceeds from the school this year are being donated Lewis’ research programs.

Target is a national wholesale distributor of specialty agricultural chemicals, application equipment and education.

For more information about Target’s Fumigation School contact Sylvia Kenmuir at 800/352-3870 or via email at sylvia.kenmuir@target-specialty.com.
 

 

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Greentech Heat Solutions Brings New Machine To Market

Placentia, Calif. — GreenTech Heat Solutions announces the new “ePro Eradication Heater.” In response to feedback from the field, GreenTech Heat has launched its new 120 volt electric heater and fan combination for the eradication of insects through heat treatments.

Specifically designed for easy handling in the field, the new ePro Eradication Heater meets the same high standard specifications of its predecessor in the same size housing. Using 120 volts with 21,000 BTUs of heat in combination with a 3500 CFM fan, it improves performance and reduces set-up and take-down times. Plus, its stack-ability allows for easier storage and transportation, the firm reports.

The new “ePro Eradication Heater” greatly increases productivity. No more carrying two separate units and making multiple trips to the treatment area. Simply place the ePro Eradication Heater in the treatment area and the powerful heater and fan as one single unit is ready to go, GreenTech says.

The ePro Eradication Heater is available through the GreenTech Heat Solutions website and marketplace at www.greentechheat.com.
 

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U.S. EPA Offers Homeowners Bed Bug Advice

Washington, D.C. — Earlier this year, as a part of EPA’s effort to build a more user-friendly website, the agency expanded and redesigned its online information about bed bugs to make it more accessible and easy for visitors to find the information they need. The agency said it reformatted the content to allow consumers to scan content quickly and learn practical information on how to:

• Identify, find and get rid of bed bugs
• Protect your home
• Protect yourself at school or the office
• Protect yourself while traveling
• Find help with bed bug problems
• Learn about an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management
• Find resources and tools to help states, communities and consumers control bed bugs
   

Visit http://www2.epa.gov/bedbugs to check out EPA’s expanded bed bugs website.
 

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Cirkil Rag in a Bag Protocol Featured In Wired Magazine

Vancouver, BC — AgBiotech company Terramera announced its Rag in a Bag protocol, designed to treat bed bugs in electronics and other clutter, was featured in Wired Magazine. The article reported on work done by Dr. Dini Miller to validate the new protocol in her labs at Virginia Tech.

Gwen Pearson, entomologist and WIRED contributor wrote, “The worst has happened: you’ve got bed bugs. There are good methods (though expensive!) to control bed bugs in and on furniture and luggage, and you can wash clothing and bedding. But what about all your STUFF?” She described the testing done to validate Rag in a Bag to treat bed bugs and reviewed Miller’s findings.

“The results of Miller’s tests were spectacular; 100 percent mortality for eggs, nymphs, and adults after seven days in bags containing shoes, purses, electronics, toys and paperback books. The only exception to that perfect control record was hardcover books. Bindings of books apparently provided a good enough hiding space that only 70 percent of bed bug adults were killed after one week. That’s still pretty good, and additional tests are being done to see if leaving hardcover books in the bag for an additional week can finish off the stragglers,” wrote Pearson.

“Having bed bugs is a painful experience, having to throw away thousands of dollars of your possessions is like adding insult to injury,” said Karn Manhas, CEO of Terramera. “It is rewarding to have developed CIRKIL allowing people to effectively treat bed bugs hiding in their possessions and saving people with bed bugs, the added financial pain of throwing out and replacing infested items.”

Terramera’s patent-pending technology allows CIRKIL to kill bed bugs in infested items like electronics, shoes, purses, toys and other items. For more information visit www.terramera.com.
 

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Cornell Makes Bed Bug Info Made Easy

Geneva, N.Y. — The bed-bug diagnosis isn’t one householders or building managers want to hear. But resources from the New York State IPM Program make it just that much easier to explain to your clients what to do — or not.

And since a picture is worth a thousand words, these resources do it in a new, pictorial format that transcends language and literacy barriers (see images at right). From diagnosis to treatment, these illustrations cover it step-by-step with the fewest possible words.

Pest control operators with printouts on their clipboard — or bookmarks on their tablet, laptop, or smart phone — will find it that much easier to literally “walk the talk” with their clients. Find these “Bed Bugs One Step at a Time” guides at www.nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/buildings/default.asp.

To learn more, contact Matt Frye at mjf267@cornell.edu or call 914/285-4633.
 

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BedBug Central Introduces Volcano Bed Bug Monitor & Activ Bed Bug Lure Under the Brand SenSci

Lawrenceville, N.J. — BedBug Central recently unveiled the first two products under its new brand, SenSci. SenSci, standing for Sensible Science, will research, develop and launch effective, easy to use and reasonably priced products with the pest professional in mind, the firm says. The latest tools in the SenSci line of innovative bed bug detection products include:

• SenSci Volcano, a discreet bed bug monitor, will allow pest professionals to monitor for bed bugs in any room or setting. SenSci Volcano’s attractive and thoughtful design prevents household dust formation thus reducing the escape of bed bugs, SenSci reports. The product fits easily behind beds, in corners and even in public settings. These features will make the product an exciting new addition to any progressive pest professional’s tool box and will serve as a cornerstone of a recurring revenue business model, the firm says.
• SenSci Activ, a bed bug lure developed by Rutgers University, will assist in attracting up to twice as many bed bugs in a monitor. The product attracts bed bugs by mimicking chemicals on the surface of the skin to attract bed bugs and can be used with most monitors.
   

When used together, SenSci ActivVolcano creates a highly effective and easy-to-use bed bug monitor that effortlessly blends into the environment, BedBug Central reports.

Learn more or locate a distributor where they can purchase these new products by visiting bedbugcentral.com/sensci.
 

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Cleanbrands Takes Fight Against Bed Bugs to the Mat

New York — CleanBrands, a leader in mattress, box spring and pillow protection, announced that rising New England MMA star Lewis Corapi joined Team CleanBrands to help fight bed bugs across America.

Standing 5’9” and 170 pounds, Corapi, with a record of 6-1-0 and expected to be featured on AXS TV, a Mark Cuban sports TV network, is the first MMA fighter to agree to protect and defend against bed bugs. He is being featured in the company’s CleanRest advertising, social media, educational campaigns and marketing materials at specially selected trade shows.

The firm says Corapi competes against the world’s toughest fighters and now he has begun a new battle against a fearless, blood-sucking opponent that attacks its victims in the middle of night, showing no mercy and always coming back for more.

Team CleanBrands recently introduced the new Zip-N-Click zipper enclosure system and the green MicronOne shield, a technology that has defined the new standard of clean in sleep protection products, according to CleanBrands. The MicronOne shield means maximum protection against micro-toxins, and comes with the best warrantees in the business, the firm says.

More information is available www.cleanbrands.com and by e-mail at info@cleanbrands.com. Learn more about Corapi at www.mixedmartialarts.com/f/10C56998E67084FA/Lewis-Corapi/.