Q A
It seems like every time I turn around there is a new “miracle cure” for bed bugs. Do these products really work?
Unfortunately, contrary to many of the claims that you may see (especially on consumer marketed bed bug control
products) there is no “silver bullet” for controlling or preventing bed bugs. Many products available to both consumers and professionals will knock down or kill bed bugs when they are sprayed directly onto the insect. Consumer claims like, “kills all bed bugs in less than a minute” are typically referring to contact kill products, and might better describe their results as “kills all bed bugs that are directly sprayed with the product”. Here are a couple of things to be aware of when
selecting a bed bug control product. 1. Make sure the product you are using is reg- istered in the state where you are applying it. Some products with active ingredients on the EPA’s 25(b) list are exempt from registration with the EPA, however many state lead agen- cies still require that these products go through the registration process at the state level. Check with you state lead agency to find out if a prod- uct can legally be used in your state.
2. Ask the manufacturer for efficacy data for their product. Before bringing a product o market, reputable manufacturers spend a lot of time and money testing the product to make sure it performs effectively. Often, these tests are per- formed by universities or independent laborato- ries that specialize in testing insecticides before they come to market.
3. Talk to other pest management firms to find out what’s working for them. As we know, word of mouth recommendations are worth their weight in gold. Networking with other compa- nies at industry meetings is one of the best ways to find out what works, and what doesn’t.
Consumer claims like, “kills all bed bugs in less than a minute” are typically referring to contact kill products, and might better describe their results as “kills all bed bugs that are directly sprayed with the product.”
Q A
Our company just invested in a bed bug detection dog. How do I get our canine certified?
Scent detection canine certification testing can be performed by an organized body or an individual evaluator. When choosing
who will perform the certification testing and pro- vide the credential for your canine team, there are many factors to consider, not the least of which are the qualifications of the evaluators and the testing protocols and procedures employed. Check to make sure that the evaluator meets the qualifications set forth in the NPMA Best Management Practices for Bed Bugs (BMPs) and the certification test meets the minimum standards outlined in the BMPs.
www.npmapestworld.org
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 PESTWORLD 31
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