Abstract |
There is no silver bullet for eliminating bed bugs. They present a challenge to modern pest control that the industry is still struggling to meet. To make up for the lack of chemical power we have for battling this insect, additional people and tools must be involved. Bed bug success stories usually involve people who live and work in a building (including a pest management professional) coming together as a team to battle this pest. Throughout this paper you will see how communication and cooperation among residents, staff, and the pest control service provider are keys to success. This report is designed for health professionals, housing professionals, and pest management professionals seeking to plan for or respond to a bed bug infestation in multi-family housing. It is not a best management practices document and does not comprehensively address the biology, behavior, or health implications of this pest. It is a summary and evaluation of the methods used to control bed bugs based on published research, trade magazine articles, and interviews with practitioners and researchers. This document covers what they have found actually works. The body of the document covers the Pros, Cons, and Recommendations for each management method. References to peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed research are included as footnotes. |