Best Management Practices for Bed Bugs
The resurgence of bed bugs has created significant concern in the pest management industry and in society overall. Controlling, let alone eradicating, this pest is extremely difficult. To ensure industry professionals have the best possible guidance on controlling bed bugs effectively, responsibly and safely, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has created Best Management Practices for Bed Bugs (BMPs) guidelines developed by industry professionals, regulators, academics, and entomologists. In addition to helping industry professionals, the guidelines are useful to consumers so that they can understand what they should expect in working with trained pest management professionals for problems associated with bed bugs. Rest assured, bed bugs can be treated but proper management will involve an effective partnership between a pest professional and customer.
You can’t escape the news
Bed bugs are becoming more of a problem around the nation and in some places there are reports that they are showing up in schools. Recently, ABC News reported that a New York City school was improperly treated for bed bugs. It cost the school $100,000 for the treatment, and now, it will cost upward of an additional $250,000 for the clean-up. The teachers are worried that materials lost will not be replaced for the rest of the year.
We are seeing reports of bed bugs in schools. In order to avoid problems resulting from improper applications, it is critical that we are knowledgeable on how to handle bed bug infestations.
The following article is by Mike Potter, University of Kentucky:Bed Bugs: A general overview of biology, behavior and control tips, including an emphasis of customer cooperation.
At the most recent Association for Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO) meeting, it was announced that the Virginia Dept. of Agriculture received US EPA funds to develop a series of fact sheets. Dr. Dini Miller of VPI was tasked with producing the fact sheets which are nationally applicable and very well written with some of the most up to date information on bed bugs available.Bed Bug Prevention Methods. This fact sheet may be helpful to school staff and students as they prepare to travel. Non-chemical Bed Bug Management.Bed Bug Treatment Using Insecticides. These fact sheets do an excellent job discussing the pros and cons of various treatments.
The New York Department of Education actually has a kit to help school administrators deal with this issue. Remember your IPM steps, Inspect, Identify, Take Action (this may have to go back home) and Evaluate. The forms include the brief steps needed to prepare a school prior to treatment, sample letter to parents should bed bugs be found in the classroom, data submission form to help in diagnosing bed bug infestations, and a general information sheet in English and Spanish on bed bugs. These forms may be helpful to schools as a model.
For homes where the bed bugs often come from this document is useful. It was produced by the National Center for Healthy Housing.
Recently, Michigan and other states have seen an increased number of bed bug infestations plaguing residents. As bed bugs infest more and more homes, they may find their way into schools. When this happens, the school needs to take proactive action to prevent infestation and stop them from spreading in the school setting. Their flow chart on page 4is very helpful.
The National School IPM Information Source has some additional tips for dealing with bed bugs in schools.
