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 !