Bed bugs are proving to be one of the most challenging bugs pest management professionals (PMPs) have ever faced. The resiliency of this insect is nothing short of amazing. In addition to being capable of withstanding weeks of freezing temperatures and the ability to survive many months without a blood meal, we are now finding that we might also have to deal with some significant pesticide resistance concerns.

With the odds in favor of the bed bug, the pest management community has been eager to welcome tools and techniques that help level the playing field. The use of mattress and box-spring encasements is proving to be one of those great breakthroughs that will bring nothing but benefits to both PMPs and consumers.

It's difficult to eliminate 100 percent of bed bugs populations from mattresses or box springs that have become infested. Regardless of whether vacuum cleaners, steam units or pesticides are used, bugs and eggs can be located in areas where they remain protected from such control efforts. This is particularly true within the complex environment of a box spring.

Complicating matters is the fact that bed bugs readily disperse away from beds, infesting other environments within dwellings to include other furniture, personal items and even beneath floor boards, baseboard moldings and wall voids. The end result is that discarding the bedding is rarely a solution — replacement bedding is more than likely to become re-infested by bugs that are still present at accounts.

THE CASE FOR ENCASEMENTS

The use of encasements overcomes the challenges associated with mattresses and box springs and provides numerous benefits that can lead to reduced labor, more efficient control, peace of mind and cost savings to the client. Other features include:

• Protects new bedding: Some people cannot even begin to imagine sleeping on bedding they know was infested with bed bugs, even if they are aware that every attempt has been made to free the mattresses and box springs of the bloodthirsty insects. Just the thought that some bugs or eggs may still be present is enough to send them over the edge.

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Thus while it may not be necessary to discard bedding that has been infested, in many cases the bedding is removed anyway. By properly encasing the new mattresses and box springs, re-infestation of the new bedding can be prevented.

As bugs that are still in the dwelling migrate to sleeping areas in the days and weeks to come, they are unable to get inside of the mattresses or box springs, but instead are restricted to the exterior of the encasements — where they can be readily observed and eliminated.

Some encasements have folds or seams that provide areas for bed bugs to hide or lay eggs, making inspections of the encasements difficult and time consuming. This defeats the purpose of limiting bed bug activity to openly exposed surfaces, where they can be easily detected and treated.

Encasements also can help people who have not yet experienced a bed bug infestation but are looking to prevent their mattresses and box springs from becoming infested in the event that bed bugs are somehow introduced into their homes.

• Salvages existing bedding: Many people are not in a financial position to discard infested bedding, nor is it necessary to do so. Rather than discarding infested bedding, mattresses and box springs can be covered with encasements that will not allow any remaining bugs to feed through the material or escape its confines. Trapped inside the encasements, these bugs eventually will starve and die (even if it takes many months). It's good advice to try and eliminate as many bugs from mattresses and box springs as is practical prior to encasing them. Vacuums can be used to effectively remove bugs prior to installing encasements.

Not all zippers are "escape proof." The small brown spot inside of the black zipper is a first-instar nymph escaping the confines of the encasement through the teeth of a zipper that is not adequate to be considered an escape-proof product.

• Increases efficiency, cost savings and efficacy: Mattresses and especially box springs are time consuming to inspect. They increase the labor involved when trying to eliminate bed bugs and their eggs. Until bed bugs have been completely eliminated from infested dwellings, bugs will continue to re-infest the sleeping areas, which serve as their primary harborages. However, once mattresses and box springs have been enclosed in appropriate encasements, they are no longer a complex obstacle. Instead, any bugs that migrate to the bed from the surrounding environment are restricted to the exterior of the encasements, where they are easily detected and treated.

The fact that the bugs can't reach the more complex environment of the mattresses and box springs results in decreased labor during follow-up visits/inspections. This not only creates increased efficiencies during follow-up visits, but also can decrease the time it takes to eliminate a bed bug infestation because the bugs can't use the complexity of the box springs and mattresses to avoid elimination.

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• Eliminates chemical use and exposure in association with bedding: Although pesticides exist that are labeled for the treatment of mattresses, many PMPs have adopted the position not to treat mattresses with pesticides. Others believe it is necessary to use pesticides to deal with this complex environment and freely treat these areas.

Once encased, however, the challenges presented by mattesses and box springs are no longer a factor. Bugs that migrate to the beds are restricted to the exterior of the encasements, where they are completely vulnerable to non-chemical control measures.

The most vulnerable point where bed bugs can easily escape encasements is the area where the zipper pull comes to a rest (end stop). Depending upon the design, if the zipper backs off just a few teeth from the end, bugs can readily escape.

• Prevent bites: It is important that the encasements not only are escape-proof, but also are bite-proof — bed bugs trapped inside the encasements cannot pierce the fabrics with their mouthparts. By having encasements with bite-proof designs, the bites associated with the bugs trapped within the encasements are eliminated.
• Protects against allergens: Encasements for bed bugs can be purchased that also are designed for allergen protection, such as for dust mites.

Protect-A-Bed mattress and box-spring encasements have no folds or pockets in which bugs can hide. Bed bug movement is completely restricted to exposed surfaces, where they are readily detected during inspections.

• Extends the life of the bedding: Encasements for bed bugs can be purchased that are waterproof yet still breathe, protecting the mattresses and box springs from stains as well as wear and tear.

PROPER DESIGN IS KEY

Encasements for mattresses and box springs are widely available in the consumer market, but have they been developed for the purpose of bed bug management? While in theory it seems like any encasement should be effective, it turns out that not all materials are bite-proof; not all zippers are escape proof; and the end of the zipper is a point of vulnerability for escape.

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In addition, many encasements have folds associated with the zippers, creating ideal environments for bed bugs to hide and making inspections difficult. Other encasements are made of materials such as vinyl or plastic that are uncomfortable or crinkly.

But because bed bugs are becoming commonplace in many parts of the country, encasements are being developed to meet the specific challenges of bed bug management. (See "Cooper Recommends" sidebar on page 72.)

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THE FUTURE

With so many challenges and obstacles associated with bed bug management efforts, the use of encasements are helpful in taking the complexity of mattresses and box springs out of the equation. This allows PMPs to invest their time in other aspects of their bed bug management efforts, such as addressing bed bugs that are associated with upholstered furniture and other areas of infested structures.

Encasements' Benefits

As new encasements are introduced to the market, it will be important to consider whether they are backed by independent research and whether they achieve the goal of bed bug protection.

You can reach Cooper, technical director of Cooper Pest Solutions in Lawrenceville, N.J., at 800-949-2667, or e-mail richard.cooper@cooperpest.com.