Pest Management Professional, April 2012

The Bed Bug Combat Manual Bed Bug Identification Affirmation Paul Bello Contributor A nyone who has coached a team has learned that sticking to the fundamentals is a good thing One constant fundamental in pest management is correct identification of the target pest This is a basic requirement for the success of any pest management work including bed bugs for a number of important reasons Of course we all know that we need to determine which pest is present Doing so allows us to ensure our control program makes entomological sense and the program methodologies match the pests biology and behavior so that there is a viable chance of eliminating it effectively Prior to conducting bed bug work its important to know if the target pests in question are actually bed bugs Some practical examples of this are As pictured above telltale signs of bed bugs include the presence of fecal stains shed skins eggs bed bug carcasses and live bed bugs easy to understand and worth discussing if were to make sense of it all Just as the control methodologies we implement for fleas are not suited for cockroach control control techniques implemented for bed bugs Cimex lectularius would not be suited for bat bugs Cimex adjunctus While this may seem obvious the behavior and habits of bat bugs differ enough from bed bugs that additional and or different techniques are required Certainly most agree that the correct identification of the pest in question is one of the primary steps in pest and bed bug management However what of affirmation that the pest is present Is it necessary to confirm that bed bugs are in fact present at a customers home A common question often posed by consumers is Do I have bed bugs Its a simple question but finding the answer is not always easy In the past weve heard a number of consumers The Bed Bug Combat Manual can currently be purchased at www pest consultant com and www shop mypmp net describe the presence of bites itchy welts reddened lesions and other skin ailments Many seem convinced that their apparent bites are from bed bugs Perhaps the media has tainted their perspective Of additional concern are stories in which a bed bug treatment was conducted without confirmation of the bed bugs presence Yes bed bugs are crypto biotic creatures that can be difficult to detect and find in low level infestations However logic dictates that if a person is being bitten by bed bugs there are fecal stains nearby Other telltale signs that a viable population is present include shed skins viable eggs hollow hatched eggs non viable eggs bed bug carcasses and live bed bugs Occasionally PMPs find themselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place when an inspection shows no signs that bed bugs are present yet the customer continues to complain of bites We know its important to have compassion and empathy for the person complaining of bites but is it wise to conduct a treatment for a pest whose presence we cannot confirm Would it be better to utilize additional tactics in order to confirm the presence of bed bugs prior to conducting a treatment or implementing control methodologies At days end its better to be sure of a pests presence before conducting a treatment PMP Paul Bello is a pest management consultant and author of The Bed Bug Combat Manual You can get your copy of the book at www pest consultant com mypmp net Pest Management Professional April 2012 55