tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post5749612428937887060..comments2023-04-03T08:08:53.677-05:00Comments on The War on Bedbugs: Tracing the cause of the bedbug epidemicFrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00847310369699411544noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-62365783183360728842010-04-12T04:25:29.245-05:002010-04-12T04:25:29.245-05:00Great blog site. I just discovered it today. Posts...Great blog site. I just discovered it today. Posts are long, but very rich information. I am a IPM specialist who has been involved in pest management for many years. When i started hearing blame put on immigrants or internatinal travel as primary causes, it certainly did not make any sense. Some of the first MAJOR infestations were in homeless shelters followed by rooming houses and low income housing. Certainly international travel can result in travellers picking up bed bugs from less than ideal hotel settings, or hostels and these are major reservoirs from which infestation can spread, but the major cause of the resurgence is change in pesticides it appears along with human habits. Some years ago there was a classic paper as a review of the history of the Colorado Potato Beetle and its control. It took many decades for the beetle to develop resistance ot modern pesticides, but once it had reached a level of hardiness against many products by its physiological evolution through generations (and if one considers decades, for insects this is many hundreds of generations). Recent work reported indicates that field bed bugs compared to those in labs that have not been exposed to insecticides for generations, have much more resistance as well as actual physical differences such as more robust exoskeletons less permeable to insecticides (a surprising but not unexpected result).<br /> control is coming, but it will take a lot of screening of good firms from not so good ones, at least until there is a better insecticide but the way it goes with insecticides in general is unless there is something very specific to insects and not to mammals, then it is more likely the products will not be any better than what we have now except for short intervals, so it really comes down to more competent treatments, use of heat whenever possible and cooperation of all stakeholders.. all put together this is IPM with education and competent programs in place.. Current approaches by many firms are "soak the place". <br /> I will be readinmg all of your blog in time Frank.. what i have read so far is very impressive..<br />SamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-9537205732404949132010-02-28T08:49:10.369-05:002010-02-28T08:49:10.369-05:00I was wondering, as heat and carbon dioxide are th...I was wondering, as heat and carbon dioxide are the main attractants to bed bugs, If global warming and rising CO2 emissions might play any part in the epidemic? It (gw) certainly is a factor in other bug epidemics (such as the mountain pine beetle)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-17844585384140567832009-10-05T13:11:21.125-05:002009-10-05T13:11:21.125-05:00Yes, I like this last comment. Our bldg. acquired...Yes, I like this last comment. Our bldg. acquired bedbugs. I was told spray or no access and eviction. I allowed spraying. My things are still in there wrapped in plastic. I am not there. People are still being bitten after the spraying. I am here online, grasping/looking for my next step. How can I take another place. Its not right to move in on someone else without telling them. I don't know if the 'hitchikers' are all over my stuff anyways. This is tough. Get a van and move in? thoghts, support, anything is helpful. thanks.simple spaceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10129792089904962314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-58274265209475698652008-07-29T11:59:00.000-05:002008-07-29T11:59:00.000-05:00The original post was very well written and most i...The original post was very well written and most interesting. Sorry that the last post had some garbage in it.<BR/> The cause of the epidemic as noted was certainly a convergence of the various factors, but especially the change in usage of pesticides for German Cockroach. While type of product in terms of active ingredients from Organophosphates to more pyrethroid based products is certainly important, the fact that treatment for roaches had largely shifted to bait products (much less toxic) created an environment much friendlier for bed bugs in general. There is no doubt that the fact that pyrethroids are less persistent, and less toxic and less effective overall, is a very key factor in the resurgence, but the way it has exploded around the world also had to do with the fact that there has been an increase in the reservoir populations due to failure of control probably starting with the places with high traffic such as hotels, hostels, shelters. A reservoir of a particular pest is like a place where they abound - and from those reservoirs spread can easily become rampant. This has really been a boon for the pest control industry from cheap prices for roach control to really costly treatments. It takes time to do it right, and there is a need for a lot more care with concern about health effects of pesticides. I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to bring back DDT to be sprayed with the potential and known environmental impacts. The fact of reservoirs of bedbugs out there means that there will need to be more accountability, more enforcement in a lot of areas. Until the reservoirs are dramatically reduced, it is going to get worse before it gets better. The reservoirs now include apartment buildings, and that is now probably the largest reservoir. Lots of work to do..<BR/>It is not about immigrants - no one likes bed bugs, and no group of people tolerate them well. It is about cheap hotels who don't solve the problem, and about poor pest control and about people needing help to prepare for treatment. And it is about education for all....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-55468622906671931262008-05-27T09:35:00.000-05:002008-05-27T09:35:00.000-05:00Hey, I'm in NYC where they have followed me from b...Hey, I'm in NYC where they have followed me from borough to borough. I don't know what to do short of burning everything I own, and becoming a wandering nudist. The exterminators don't kill them, they can live for 8-10 months without feeding, and I can't get the only thing that kills them-DDT-I even went to a developing country to find it but its been banned there too!HELP!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-68845375884150771032008-05-18T08:05:00.000-05:002008-05-18T08:05:00.000-05:00I am a pest controller in Sydney, Australia. Like ...I am a pest controller in Sydney, Australia. Like you in the U.S. we have had a huge increas in the number of bed bugs since the year 2000. I have been using a product manufactured by Bayer. It is called Blattanex. It contained bendiocarb and propoxur. It has been very effective in eradicating bed bugs. Unfortunately, Bayer has ceased manufacturing the product without explanation. I have almost run out of the product, and am now considering my options for future treatments. Unfortunately there are few good alternatives.wokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18292551355732670943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-84479954950467988782008-03-20T21:48:00.000-05:002008-03-20T21:48:00.000-05:00Thank you for your service to humanity. I don't ha...Thank you for your service to humanity. I don't have 'em, but am paranoid I'll get them!<BR/>It occurs to me that although it cannot be established that immigrants/travelers have brought the bugs, there may be a higher percentage of people moving around that accept or are not in a blind panic to irradicate them. Plus, those same people may be, as some people are, immune to the bug's effects. <BR/>It also comes to mind, how long can the wee beastie go without a bite to eat? Can they go dormant in cardboard packaging? Can rats, monkeys, cats that get aboard shipping containers host bedbugs? Imports have risen sharply...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-74325438682879027412007-04-22T16:19:00.000-05:002007-04-22T16:19:00.000-05:00Thank you for all your help!Thank you for all your help!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-376716897479466262007-04-21T22:33:00.000-05:002007-04-21T22:33:00.000-05:00Anonymous said... Thank you Frank! What kind of ca...<I>Anonymous said... <BR/>Thank you Frank! What kind of caulk did you use? </I><BR/><BR/>I use latex caulk or siliconized latex caulk most of the time. They are easy to apply and clean up, and work better on wood surfaces. You might want to consider using silicone caulk in the kitchen, since it withstands extreme temperatures better than latex caulk does. Besides a caulking gun, a caulking applicator is also very helpful. For bigger gaps, I used Pollyfilla, masking tape, and sometimes a combination of masking tape and plastic/aluminum sheets. There are also other options such as foam insulation, but I have no experience with them. Whether you use pesticide, steam, or caulking, the key to success is thoroughness. <BR/><BR/>FrankFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00847310369699411544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-56380706361041967782007-04-21T19:34:00.000-05:002007-04-21T19:34:00.000-05:00Thank you Frank! What kind of caulk did you use?Thank you Frank! What kind of caulk did you use?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-19027207558989130972007-04-20T14:23:00.000-05:002007-04-20T14:23:00.000-05:00Anonymous said... Hi Frank,Thank you for this info...<I>Anonymous said... <BR/>Hi Frank,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for this info. How did you get rid of the bugs? I am in Toronto too. Went to the doctor today because I had a bad reaction to the bites. She couldn't help much... <BR/></I><BR/><BR/>The first thing I did was protecting the bed, and I think the pest control industry is also starting to realize the importance of it now. Then I caulked thoroughly both my place and my parents'. I haven't been bitten ever since, but I still moved out eventually. I am quite confident that I am in the clear now, so are my parents. <BR/><BR/>I don't expect that everyone would resort to caulking or steam, but keep in mind that, given the low effectiveness of the pesticides currently available, pesticides alone may not solve your problem. A combination of different control measures is probably the best option. <BR/><BR/>FrankFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00847310369699411544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-72020887543005989212007-04-18T17:41:00.000-05:002007-04-18T17:41:00.000-05:00Hi Frank,Thank you for this info. How did you get ...Hi Frank,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for this info. How did you get rid of the bugs? I am in Toronto too. Went to the doctor today because I had a bad reaction to the bites. She couldn't help much...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-81950452168600448902007-04-04T06:48:00.000-05:002007-04-04T06:48:00.000-05:00I do agree that there is no doubt that some bedbug...I do agree that there is no doubt that some bedbugs have been brought into this country from overseas, and that like malaria, bedbugs were largely eliminated in many, but not all, countries. But this does not explain the sudden explosion in bedbug populations. From these data, I just don't see a strong connection between immigration/international travel and this bedbug epidemic. <BR/><BR/>It is also certain that bedbugs were largely eliminated by DDT in this country. But the question is, DDT was banned as of Jan 1, 1973, why is this bedbug epidemic suddenly happening today, more than 30 years after the DDT ban?<BR/><BR/>FrankFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00847310369699411544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-17361436983672762932007-04-03T17:43:00.000-05:002007-04-03T17:43:00.000-05:00Frank..I have to take more time to read this but I...Frank..I have to take more time to read this but I think Americans are less tolerant of bugs than in other countries. When DDT was introduced America jumped on the bandwagon. Bed bugs were a prevalent problem prior to DDT. But after DDT came on the scene they were highly controlled in the US. Developing countries did not have the same "charge" on bed bugs like Americans. I saw bed bugs in Istanbul in 1971. I have a friend who grew up in Guatamala. She is 35, and she told me that bed bugs were in peoples homes there when she was growing up. I also spoke to someone whose parents ( who are my age) said that bed bugs were a fact of life in Guyana. America is experencing an explosion of undocumented people coming across the borders, thus there is no control. When my grandparents came from overseas they had to go thru health examines . This is just the cold hard facts that the human demographics of America are changing. I think you are correct....It is impossible to pinpoint but there are some things that cannot be denied. Also, did you know that all airplanes-prior to the DDT ban- that came from foreign countries had their cabins sprayed with a DDT aerosol before takeoff and landing. The flight attendant would go up and down the cabin and spray the DDT...I have an original can...and it gives the instructions on it..and it makes reference to Alien bugs....This speaks to the change in "pesticide habits".... had I brought any bed bugs home with me when I hitchhiked around Europe and Turkey, my parents would have called in the pest control person who would have sprayed with DDT..and that would have solved the problem...This was not an option for many people in different countries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35619182.post-82004649048168113842007-03-19T20:33:00.000-05:002007-03-19T20:33:00.000-05:00Thank you for this Frank! It is extraordinary wor...Thank you for this Frank! It is extraordinary work and I will be reading it closely. The theory that holds immigrants responsible is particularly painful to me and I'm glad to see someone taking a closer look. Thank you!<BR/>-Hopelessnomo'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com