Ask the Expert: Bed Bugs

Thomas Powell, Technical Field Representative, MGK 

Q. What can my residential customers do to avoid bringing bed bugs home? 

A. Bed bugs are hitchhikers. They are usually moved from one place to another in luggage, bags, and other containers. With the increase in travel, bed bugs are on the move again. If your customer plans to travel this summer to a tourist destination such as Las Vegas or even Paris for the Olympics, there are some simple tips you can provide to help them avoid bringing an unwanted pest like bed bugs home. 

When your customer is in their hotel room, they should leave all items they’re bringing home away from the bed, nightstands, and upholstered chairs. Another tip is to put their personal items on a table or other furniture with legs with smooth surfaces. Why is that? Because bed bugs have a hard time climbing smooth surfaces. Also, like their parents always told them, your customers shouldn’t leave dirty clothes or shoes lying around the hotel room. There have been studies showing that bed bugs are attracted to worn clothing.   

My final tip is to tell your customers when they arrive home to unpack luggage and other items in the laundry room and make sure all clothing is washed and dried. A good rule is to store suitcases and travel bags in areas other than the bedroom.  

Q. How can I help my commercial customers (hotels and rentals) detect bed bugs early before they get out of hand? 

A. With the increase in global travel, it’s not just your residential customers concerned about the possibility of a bed bug infestation. Commercial customers like hotel managers and owners of rental units are also fearful of these prolific hitchhikers. Though small, bed bugs pose a significant threat to businesses, potentially harming their reputation and financial health. Explain to your commercial customers that finding infestations early is the key to quick control and prevention of a widespread infestation.  

Learning how to properly inspect and recognize the signs of a bed bug infestation is critical. Staff should be trained to recognize the initial signs of bed bugs, such as small rusty spots on bedding or furniture; blood spots on sheets; and live bed bugs, eggs, or shed skins in mattress seams, headboards, and upholstery. Educating the cleaning staff and other employees on how to recognize these signs and report them early will save time and money. 

Q. What is the best way to solve a problem if my customer has bed bugs? 

A. You want to determine the level of infestation first so you can target your application efforts. This is achieved by making a thorough inspection of all areas where prolonged human contact occurs. Use assessment-based pest management to determine your control protocol based on the bed bug population level identified in your inspection. Once the level of infestation is determined, choose a product that fits your needs. Using a product that provides multiple modes of action like CrossFire® Bed Bug Concentrate and CrossFire® Aerosol can aid in your initial treatment.  

CrossFire® concentrate has three active ingredients to kill pyrethroid-resistant bed bug strains at all life stages, including eggs. It’s critical that you use a product that controls bed bug eggs in your initial treatment to quickly control the population.  

Always read and follow the Environmental Protection Agency-approved product label.