Bed BugsManual and Heat Treatment Options
Dale Hodgson, BCERegional Technical ManagerROSE PEST SOLUTIONS
Smarter, Safer, Faster, BETTER !
Central Ohio Bed Bug Task ForceOctober 16, 2015
Manual Treatments•What is working•What we are finding out
Heat Treatments•How they work•What we’ve learned along the way
Next Steps•Should we be looking at both as a combination
Objectives
Bed Bugs vs Bat Bugs vs…….. Chimney Swift Bugs
Before Doing Anything……Make Sure You Know Exactly What You’re Dealing With
Construction Clutter Furniture
Once Identified……Determining Which Method is Best…one, the other or a combo ?
Determined by treatment method chosen• Rule of thumb is prep for the most effective
treatment
Heat is a little different than manual• Heat is a little less intensive but not much….
Preparation
• Clear floor of clutter• Strip beds (box springs will be leaned against wall; ticking
will be removed)• Wash bedding and replace after treatment• Empty drawers, night stands, desks, etc.• Check items for bed bugs, place in plastic bags or containers if
infested and discard• Do the laundry…all the laundry• Move furniture away from walls• Window treatments are inspected…if infested should be
steam cleaned• Check pet areas; launder bedding• Remove “personal items”…if you leave them we WILL find
them
Manual Treatment Prep
Heat Treatment ChecklistPressurized cans and containers:
Fire extinguishers, shaving cream, aerosol cans (hairspray, bug spray, deodorant, non-stick cooking spray), etc.
Flammable materials:Propane, Sterno®, cigarette lighters, lighter fluid, mineral spirits,
paint thinner, etc.
Items that melt:Candles, wax, crayons, candy, chocolate, etc.
Sealed jugs of liquid that may burst or splitAntifreeze, bleach, ammonia
Live plants, aquarium fish, and pets of any kind.
Heat Treatment ChecklistDelicate instruments and equipment
Guitars, violins, and other delicate musical instruments as well as oil paintings and other heat sensitive art objects. Pianos do not need to be removed; they may need to be tuned after the treatment.
Medical equipment and materials:Oxygen bottles and generators, medications (liquid, gel-caps, prescriptions), etc.Power chairs may have to remain in the treated space if bed bug activity is discovered on the chair. Sealed batteries/power packs must be removed
Miscellaneous items:Fresh fruit, heat sensitive cosmetics, ammunition
Heat Treatment ChecklistThe heat will penetrate most household materials and spaces, but we want to ensure there are no cool spots for bed bugs to hide. Household goods and personal items should not be stacked, piled, or stored in plastic bags during the heat treatment. Densely packed plastic bags do not allow proper heat penetration or inspection during the treatment and could adversely affect the results of the treatment. Instead of plastic bags we recommend mesh type laundry bags which are readily available at most retailers.
All fabric items (linens, blankets, clothes, etc.) should be loosely stacked or in drawers. If drawers are tightly packed, they should be emptied, at least partially, so heated air can circulate around them.
Loose clothing removed from drawers can be stored in open-weave clothes baskets or mesh laundry bags. DO NOT put clothes into plastic bags.
Heat Treatment ChecklistClothes in closets should hang loosely. If tightly packed, clothes should be taken out and hung on portable racks to facilitate air circulation.
We use fans to distribute the heated air. Loose papers should be secured in some way (paper clips, binders) to keep them from blowing around.
Move delicate, fragile and personal items to a safe place in order to prevent accidental damage.
Water beds must be drained; air beds (such as Select Comfort) must be partially deflated.
Advantages• Treatment happens quickly once prep is done• Can be done with/without “conventional” pesticides• DE’s (Mother Earth D), Silica Aerogel (Cimexa)• Vacumming, steam, Cryonite• Lower cost
Disadvantages• Extensive prep on client’s part• Residents must vacate• Odors may be present shortly afterwards
Manual Treatments
What is working• Available products seem to be working• Some are slow; others are VERY slow• Combination products (Temprid, Transport) seem to work well
• Still have to match the product with the substrate (old school still holds true)• Example would be use a microcap or suspension on porous materials
• Dusts have been overlooked but shouldn’t be• Extremely valuable tool for voids and “oddball” gaps in furniture
What we are finding out• Bed bug behavior is different• Tend to not rest on surfaces treated with deltamethrin but will rest upon
other pyrethroids• Thoroughness of preparation and treatment is a priority• Can be thought of as an “old school” cockroach treatment
Manual Treatments
Advantages• Most items remain• Can be done with/without “conventional” pesticides• DE’s (Mother Earth D), Silica Aerogel (Cimexa)• Vacumming, steam, Cryonite• Results achieved quickly (except for those “dead bugs
walkin’”)• Eliminates all stages from egg-adult• A little less intensive prep on client’s part• Residents return home the same day
Disadvantages• Residents must vacate for 6-8 hours• Higher cost
Heat Treatments
How it works• 80- 85 degrees F is optimum for bed bug development• Once temps reach 112-115 heat becomes lethal after 90 min.
exposure• 118 for 20 minutes is lethal
• Doesn’t mean that bed bugs aren’t in Vegas…they are!
What we’ve learned along the way• Construction matters!• Deep protected double voids can provide a safe haven• Air circulation matters• Convective air currents make heating more efficient• Materials treated matter• Some materials (porcelain, ceramics are very insulating)
Heat Treatment
Advantages• Less prep than manual; more than a heat treat• Can be done with/without “conventional” pesticides• DE’s (Mother Earth D), Silica Aerogel (Cimexa)• Vacumming, steam, Cryonite• Results achieved quickly (except for those “dead bugs
walkin’”)• Eliminates all stages from egg-adult• A little less intensive prep on client’s part• Residents should be able to return home the same day
Disadvantages• Residents must vacate for 6-8 hours• Higher cost because of heat equipment involved
Combo Treatments
The Order of Business…• Which is done first; heat or application?• Depends on what is going to be used• Dusts in wall voids may help intercept movement during heating• Cannot be applied once circulation fans are in use
• Liquid residuals for crack and crevice work• Can be done either before or after; thermal breakdown was
formally a concern but has largely been dismissed by the manufacturers
• Vacumming, steam, Cryonite• Can be done before or after; not a good idea during
Combo Treatments
Manual Treatment
Manual Treatment
Manual Treatment
Manual Treatment
Other Things Going On
Other Things Going On
Pre-Setup Inspection
Pre-Setup
Pre-Setup InspectionCigarette burns on mattress
Bedroom Carpeting BurnedCovered by throw rug
Pre-Inspection“BB” pistols found; note CO2 canister
Pre-InspectionAerosols
Pre-InspectionItems for Removal
Pre-InspectionPantry
Pre-Setup InspectionCloset; telescope in corner (removed)
Pre-Setup InspectionCloset
Pre-Setup Inspection
Pre- Setup Inspection
Where To Look
Not always where one would think……photos courtesy of J Saltzman
Pre-Setup Inspection
Pre-Setup InspectionArmchair bed bug activity
Pre-Setup InspectionBasement
Pre- Setup InspectionBasement
Pre- Setup InspectionSealing Window Seams
Heat Sensor Installation
Heat Sensor Placement
Heat Sensor Placement
Recording Sensor Placement
Heat Sensor Location Map
Setup of Monitoring Station
Monitoring Station Readout Screen in Use
Heater Units in Place
High Velocity Floor Fans Placed ThroughoutNot turned on until temps reach 120 F
High Velocity Floor Fans Placed ThroughoutNot turned on until temps reach 120 F
Prepped and Under Way
Prepped and Under Way
Temperature Readings taken During Heating
Temperature Readings taken During Heating
Temperature Readings taken During Heating
Moving Materials During Heat Phase
Moving Materials During Heat Phase
Bed Bug Activity During HeatingCloset-bed bugs moving toward ceiling
Bed Bug Activity During HeatingBed Bug moving across mattress
Bed Bug Activity During HeatingBed Bugs falling to floor and dying
Bed Bug Activity During HeatingBed Bugs along floor behind couch
Bed Bug Activity During HeatingBed Bugs dying on top of AC unit at window
Cool-Down PeriodHeaters shut down; fans placed in windows and towards door
Do……
Do……
Do……
Fumigation
Professionally Speaking
Thanks !