The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius, Hemiptera; Cimicidae) infests homes and service industries, and the number of infestations has greatly increased over the past 20 years. At present, no cost-effective control methods are available, and eradication programs are expensive and laborious. We investigated the control potential of desiccant dust in combination with CO2 as a bed bug activity stimulant. An initial experiment with two desiccant dusts was followed by arena studies with varying doses, available hiding places and the presence or absence of host signals. Finally, we conducted a field experiment with Syloid 244FP with or without CO2 gas. Syloid was superior compared to diatomaceous earth, and effective at the concentration of 1.0 g/m2 in the field experiment. The number of harborages and partial application of desiccant dust decreased mortality in the laboratory. Bed bug activation by CO2 appeared of minor importance in the arena studies, but was crucial for the eradication in the student dormitories. In fact, all 5 bed bug-infested dormitories with a combined treatment of desiccant dust and CO2 were freed of bed bugs, whereas eradication was not successful in any of the 6 dormitories with only desiccant dust treatment. The different results in the laboratory and field experiment were most likely caused by the longer activation and higher dose of CO2 used in the field experiment than the laboratory experiment. Our study showed that application of desiccant dust in combination with release of CO2 gas to mimic human presence is a promising option for bed bug control.

During an ongoing virome metagenomics project we identified hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a pool of recently blood-fed common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) nymphs sampled from domestic residences in Europe. Additional PCR and genomic analysis revealed that the virus was a member of HCV genotype 3A, one of the most prevalent genotypes in Europe. Although the role of the common bed bug in the transmission of human hepatitis viruses remains unclear, our study suggests that it merits additional investigation.

The prevalence of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) is increasing worldwide. Due to this increase, low-income housing owners and managers need an efficient method for controlling the pests without excessive resource use. The quality of pest control efforts is crucial for efficient eradication. Infestations often need to be approached using a variety of strategies through an integrated pest management (IPM) framework. Efficient eradication is often thought to be the responsibility of the pest control contractor alone. However, the purchase and supply management theory suggests that optimal solutions actually involve sound buyer–supplier relations to support the strategic aim of pest eradication. This study illustrates the positive outcomes of elevating pest management competence on the buyer’s part. Further, this study outlines a large-scale purchase situation that quantifies bed bug control efforts, in addition to their outcomes. In total, 11,000 apartment units were observed in Oslo, Norway, over a period of six years. The release and implementation of a procurement officer together with a state-of-the-art pest management framework agreement quickly reversed the consistent escalation of bed bug infestations in the observed units. Observations revealed that the study yielded the most success in eradicating bed bugs by increasing both the number of visits to the infested apartment and the overall duration of control efforts. The improved control was achieved at a reduced cost per infested apartment unit, which allowed for the implementation of bed bug preventive measures and building-wide inspections. The observations made in this study have been discussed in the context of the impact of bed bugs in low-income communities, relative to the factors of pest burden, demography, socioeconomics, and the welfare system in Norway.