News & Notes

New Bed Bug Book Now Available

“Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs” (1st Edition), a new comprehensive scholarly treatment of bed bugs, is now available.

This book updates and expands existing bed bug literature with an emphasis on the worldwide resurgence of both the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., and tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus (F.).

“Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs” offers new information on basic and applied science, as well as advice for using practical management strategies. The book also presents cutting-edge information regarding the impacts that bed bugs have had on public health and their financial costs to society. These include the negative effects that bed bugs continue to have on the medical, legal, housing and hotel industries around the world.

“Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs” offers chapters that cover the history of bed bugs; their global resurgence; their basic biology; how to control bed bugs and manage them in specific situations; legal aspects; the future of these pests; and more.

Other highlights include:

• 46 unique chapters, more than 450 pages
• Contributions from 60 highly experienced experts from around the world (including some of the biggest names in the field — Michael Potter, Dini Miller, Rick Cooper, Changlu Wang, Stephen Kells, Alvaro Romero, Chow-Yang Lee, Mike Siva-Jothy and more)
• Insights on the resurgence from multiple continents across the globe
• Discussion on the differences between Cimex hemipterus and Cimex lectularius.

“Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs” is an essential reference for stakeholders who are or could be impacted by bed bugs, or are engaged in managing bed bugs. The book will be highly beneficial to those in an academic profession, who undertake research on bed bugs and related insects, or are involved in public education, the editors said.

Editors include:

• Stephen L. Doggett, Department of Medical Entomology, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
• Dini M. Miller, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
• Chow-Yang Lee, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia

Learn more at www.abmmbb.com.

BedBug Central Survey: Activity in Central U.S. Rises in November

According to BedBug Central, Lawrenceville, N.J., bed bug activity skyrocketed in the central U.S. this past November, shocking many bed bug experts. BedBug Central’s Bed Bug Activity Survey results revealed that the western portion of the country avoided the expected slump as the weather cooled. 

Usually, as temperatures drop so does bed bug activity, and this trend held true all along the East Coast and as far west as Louisiana and Wisconsin. However, a swath in the center of the country starting in Minnesota and North Dakota and moving due south through Texas reported a shocking statistic — 87.1 percent of companies saw an increase in bed bug numbers, BedBug Central reported. While the percentages were less dramatic moving towards the West Coast, companies still bucked the expected trend and saw activity increase instead of decrease. 

Dr. Richard Cooper, technical director at Cooper Pest Solutions, said it is difficult to predict bed bug activity, but he still felt the spike depicted in the survey results was noteworthy. 

“It surprises me that it’s so dramatic,” he said. “It suggests there’s something different going on in the heart of country that’s driving this, but I don’t know what that might be.” 

Carl Braun of Quality Pest Control in Omaha, Neb., also questions what exactly is behind the jump in numbers that he has seen in recent months. Braun wondered if he was seeing higher numbers because of a true jump in activity or if it was at least partially due to Quality Pest gaining an excellent reputation when it comes to its bed bug work, he said. 

Braun noted that the company did have a particularly large influx of bed bug business during the month of November, which led to an even sharper rise in Quality Pest’s overall bed bug numbers.

Mark Hassman of Hassman Termite in Salina, Kan., also saw bed bug activity spike in November. “Things have been kind of different this year,” he said. “There have been a couple of months where there’s an increase, but there were a lot in November.” 

Though he couldn’t say for sure what caused the jump, he did theorize that the milder weather in November might have contributed. 

“We’ve found that it’s difficult to predict trends month-to-month,” said Jeff White, technical director at BedBug Central. “We don’t see a lot of consistency in activity other than seasonal trends.”

However, White hopes that gathering more data will reveal patterns and give companies across the country a snapshot of national and regional bed bug trends. 

The number of November respondents was less than typical, with 185. The survey results, which BedBug Central says are becoming an industry benchmark, will have greater validity as the number of participants increase. It is completely free and all respondents receive a detailed report on the nation as a whole and each of the five geographic markets. To participate in future BedBug Central Bed Bug Activity Surveys, visit www.bedbugcentral.com/bedbug-survey.

Heat Assault 500X is A Bed Bug Heat treatment Solution for PMPs

The Heat Assault 500X is a heat insect eradication system that has been designed to be so simple and safe to operate that no special training is required, the manufacturer says, adding that this green technology will eliminate insect infestations at all stages of life in only a few hours. Heat Assault draws heat transfer fluid (HTF) out of its reservoir, heats it up in two oil-fired coil heaters and returns it to the reservoir. The heated HTF is then pumped out of the reservoir through the hoses to unit heaters in the insect eradication area. Fans in the unit heaters remove the heat from the HTF and blow it into the insect eradication area. The HTF then returns to the Heat Assault for reheating. Only clean, dry heat is left in the insect eradication area. Remote temperature probes are used to track progress and ensure that the insect eradication is a success. Heat Assault takes less than an hour to set up and is quiet, the manufacturer says, adding that it is designed for operation in residential settings. Learn more at www.heat-assault.com.

New and Improved ClimbUp Insect Interceptor Available

The new and improved ClimbUp Insect Interceptor is tougher, thicker and slicker, the manufacturer reports. It is now made of virgin no-break polypropylene plastic with a bottom that is twice as thick and is polished to a mirror finish. The device allows furniture to slide easily for re-inspection and is “slick enough to keep the bed bugs in the capture wells without talc,” says Susan McNight, the company’s owner.

The device forms a barrier between the floor and bed when placed under bed legs. It traps bed bugs approaching the bed as they climb up the exterior surface and fall into the outer pitfall ring. Bed bugs climbing down from the bed are trapped in the center well. The pests are visible against the white surface of the trap. Captured bed bugs are easily removed with a swipe of a cotton ball. Learn more at www.insect-interceptor.com.

The Nose Knows

Turbo the Bed Bug Beagle, a bed bug detection dog at M2 Bed Bugs, marks the exact spot where bed bugs are hiding. This photo was taken in Athens, Ohio, and no visible evidence was seen on the cot, the company’s Mike Posey said. “Another company (told the customer) it wasn’t bed bugs because of no evidence. Turbo alerted to the spot and we found the one bug that was biting the homeowner. It’s why we use bed bug detection dogs.” Learn more about the company at www.m2bedbugs.com.