[Bed Bug Supplement] News & 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.

Allergy Technologies Appoints New West Coast Sales Specialist

www.allergytechnologies.com
Allergy Technologies, makers of ActiveGuard Mattress Liners, announced Tom Nishimura has joined the firm as its West Coast sales specialist. Nishimura will be working to further develop the firm’s portfolio of users on the West Coast of the United States. Nishimura (“Nish”) comes with a wealth of experience within the pest control industry, having spent 29 years at BASF, most recently in market development, holding the title of global technical training manager.

“I am excited to start a new challenge within Allergy Technologies and look forward to working with this talented team,” Nishimura said. “Bed bugs are a pest that has intrigued me over the years. Active-Guard has a unique fit in perfecting both active remediation and preventive strategies and I really look forward to working in the field alongside pest professionals to watch this product perform.”

Nishimura joins the remainder of the Allergy Technologies sales team comprised of Eve Pappas, Northeast sales specialist; Don Wilson, Mid-Atlantic sales specialist; and Mike Toce, Midwest sales specialist.

RxHeat Offers Portable Heat Treatment Systems

www.rxheat.com
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, 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 safe “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 provide an alternative to chemicals by circulating hot, clean and and odorless air, the company says.

Study Measures EcoRaider Efficacy in Apartments

http://ecoraiderpmp.com/
The USDA IR-4 Public Health Pesticides Program recently published the results of one of its funded projects, a field study conducted by the Department of Entomology at Rutgers University in 2013. According to the group, results of the study revealed that EcoRaider, a 25b exempted bio-insecticide, shows similar control on bed bugs to that of a competitive product.

Visit http://bit.ly/1MADsyw to read the report.

UK Research: Bed Bugs ‘Bite’ the Wallet of Hotel Owners

New research from the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has revealed findings about the financial impact bed bugs can have on the travel and hospitality industry. University of Kentucky entomologist Michael Potter teamed with Agricultural Economics Professor Wuyang Hu and Ph.D. student Jerrod Penn in the Department of Agricultural Economics to conduct this research. Very little was known about the economic impact of bed bugs prior to the study.

“The goal of the research was to understand consumer preferences when choosing a hotel for business or leisure travel, and how the risk of bed bugs influences their decision,” said Penn, the lead author of the study, which was funded through a grant from Protect-A-Bed.

The survey was conducted in May via online market research firm Qualtrics. Respondents included almost 2,100 people representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia — 1,298 who travel mainly for leisure and 790 who do so largely for business.

The researchers put some hard numbers to the economic impact of online reports of bed bugs in hotels, as well as the value of protective services. Results show that on average, a single report of bed bugs in recent traveler reviews lowers the value of a hotel room by $38 and $23 per room per night for business and leisure travelers, respectively. “The higher loss of hotel room values for business travelers is not surprising given that they tend to stay in pricier rooms,” said Hu.

In absolute terms, compared to other hotel aspects, the monetary value for travelers’ concern about bed bugs makes it one of the more important considerations when selecting or grading a hotel. A second mention of bed bugs in recent traveler reviews further decreases the value of a hotel room, but proportionately to a lesser extent than the first alleged report.

When presented with various problematic issues encountered in hotel rooms, finding signs of bed bugs had the largest proportion of respondents choosing to switch hotels. Reactions to other concerns (smoke odor, unclean bathroom, dirty sheets, etc.) mostly involved reporting the concern to the front desk and requesting another room.

Editor’s note: The December issue of PCT will feature further information on this research.

Arizona Hosts BedBug University Road Show

http://bedbugcentral.com/professionals/bed-bug-boot-camp

BedBug Central announced the recent completion of a BedBug University Boot Camp in Scottsdale, Ariz., where BedBug Central partnered with the Arizona Pest Professional Organization (AZPPO) to offer a two-day bed bug education program open to AZPPO members and non-members. The program resulted in the approval of nine new bedbugFree members.

BedBug University serves as the educational arm for BedBug Central. BedBug University offers learning opportunities, including BedBug University Boot Camps, an intensive four-day course that covers bed bug biology and behavior, treatment protocols and explores the unique legal challenges and business opportunities of bed bugs.

And BedBug University Road Shows, which travel to different parts of the United States to offer a two-day, intensive educational program on all aspects of dealing with bed bugs and how to treat bugs using a no-prep treatment methodology. Taught by Jeffrey White and other BedBug Central qualified instructors, the program focuses on the knowledge needed to create, run and manage a successful bed bug program and includes much of the four-day program in an accelerated format.

“The BedBug University Road Show was a terrific training opportunity for our members who were new to bed bug treatments and provided excellent additional information for those of us who have been treating bed bugs for years,” said AZPPO President Tim Goeringer. “I highly recommend the program for any company or state association seeking to improve their professionalism.”

The nine new bedbugFree members include: Conquistador Pest & Termite, Tucson, Ariz.; Pest Experts, Phoenix, Ariz.; Blue Sky Pest Control, Gilbert, Ariz.; Anglers Pest & Termite Control, Yantis, Texas; Sun West Termite & Pest Management, Queen City, Ariz.; Connolly Pest Management, Queen City, Ariz.; Hunt’s Pest Control, Lehi, Utah; Advantage Pest Management, Denver, Colo.; and Best Pest Control, Evansville, Ind.

The next in-house four-day Boot Camp course will take place in Lawrenceville, N.J., on Dec. 1-4, 2015. Exclusive to BedBug University is the five-month No Bugs, No Bites Service Plan and the elimination of unnecessary client preparation called No Prep. Participants of the upcoming BedBug University Boot Camp will enjoy an interactive program while earning valuable CEU credits, the firm says.

To register or learn more about the program, visit http://bedbugcentral.com/professionals/bed-bug-boot-camp.