Comparison of Three Bed Bug Management Strategies in a Low-Income Apartment Building

Abstract

Bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) infestations are currently controlled by a variety of non-chemical and chemical methods. There have been few studies on the comparative effectiveness of these control techniques. We evaluated three bed bug management strategies in an apartment building: (1) non-chemical methods only (n = 9); (2) insecticides only (n = 6); and (3) integrated pest management including both non-chemical methods and insecticides (n = 9). The apartments were one-bedroom units occupied by seniors or people with disabilities. Bed bug numbers in each apartment were determined by visual inspection and/or installing intercepting devices under bed and sofa legs. The median (min, max) bed bug counts in the non-chemical methods only, insecticides only, and integrated pest management (IPM) treatment were: 4 (1, 57), 19 (1, 250), and 14 (1, 219), respectively prior to the treatments. The apartments were retreated if found necessary during biweekly to monthly inspections. After 10 weeks, bed bugs were found to be eliminated from 67, 33, and 44% of the apartments in the three treatment groups, respectively. The final (after 10 weeks) median (min, max) bed bug counts in the non-chemical methods only, insecticides only, and IPM treatment were: 0 (0, 134), 11.5 (0, 58), and 1 (0, 38), respectively. There were no significant differences in the speed of bed bug count reduction or the final bed bug counts. Lack of resident cooperation partially contributed to the failure in eliminating bed bugs from some of the apartments. Results of this study suggest that non-chemical methods can effectively eliminate bed bugs in lightly infested apartments.

Pest Management Strategies for Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) in Multiunit Housing: A Literature Review on Field Studies

“…However, adoption of only nonchemical bed bug programs is often impractical for low-income housing, as these methods provide no residual efficacy and can be expensive. Wang et al (2012) were all compared. In this study, the nonchemical program reduced bed bug counts to similar levels observed with the IPM and insecticideonly programs.…”

Evidence of Tolerance to Silica-Based Desiccant Dusts in a Pyrethroid-Resistant Strain of Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

“…Several studies have also been undertaken examining, in a mostly indirect manner, the efficaciousness of desiccant dusts as part of treatments for C. lectularius control in low economic or social housing [27,29,30]. When either Tempo Dust or Mother Earth D were included as part of an “Insecticides Only” or “IPM” program for the treatment of a low-income housing building in Indianapolis, IN, reductions of 33% and 44% respectively were seen after 10 weeks [30].…”

“…When either Tempo Dust or Mother Earth D were included as part of an “Insecticides Only” or “IPM” program for the treatment of a low-income housing building in Indianapolis, IN, reductions of 33% and 44% respectively were seen after 10 weeks [30]. Both dusts were applied to many areas (such as cracks and seams around sofas and sleeping areas), although no indication was recorded by the authors as to the rationale for selecting Tempo or Mother Earth D for use, thus making direct inferences about the performance of each treatment regime and dust against each other difficult.…”

“…This is typically in an effort to both control the infestation but also to eliminate harborage options and the potential spread of the infestation [3], as it is well known that bed bugs can migrate from one unit or apartment to the adjacent dwellings in multi-occupancy buildings [24,25]. However, in recent times, dusts have also been proposed for, and used, around the interior of properties (such as around the perimeter of bedrooms and lounge rooms, on bed frames and sofas, or as a fabric-treated “dust band” on furniture legs) as a low-cost, long-term residual treatment option applicable particularly in properties housing the financially or socially disadvantaged [27,29,30,31]. Such a modified application of dusts for bed bug control has the potential to achieve high levels of population reduction (typically in the vicinity of 95%–98%), but rarely complete elimination [29,30,31].…”

Bed Bug Detection: Current Technologies and Future Directions

“…Several comprehensive web-based references directly address bed bug infestations in these environments, 43,44 and management strategies for these environments are beginning to emerge. 45 The control of bed bugs in different The goal of this review is to discuss current detection techniques for bed bugs, including new information about canine inspection, and examine new opportunities for detection technologies.…”