Prevent bed bugs from spreading with shoes

Shoe treads are perfect cozy spots for bed bugs to hide in and hitchhike. PHOTO: PAULA KALBLI, ROASE PEST SOLUTIONS

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) continue to rank as one of the most important pests for the industry. Despite the regularity with which we encounter and work with bed bugs, it’s important to remember that these pests are successful because they spread by hitchhiking on equipment and belongings associated with humans. Respecting their vagabond nature, and inspecting equipment and clothing used as part of management efforts, can help keep you from spreading bed bugs among accounts.

The significance of taking precautions to avoid inadvertently transporting bed bugs from one place to another was demonstrated to me on a recent visit to the office of Dr. Susan Jones at The Ohio State University Department of Entomology, Columbus, Ohio. Upon welcoming me into her office, Dr. Jones motioned for me to set down my backpack — but before I could do so, she offhandedly remarked, “Let me move my ‘bed bug shoes’ out of the way.”

This reminded me of a story she had shared previously about how whenever she performed bed bug work in infested structures, she always wore an old pair of shoes that had barely any tread left on the bottom. It helped her avoid having bed bugs hitching a ride on the soles of her footwear.

This simple, yet important, effort shouldn’t be lost on pest management professionals. Accidentally infesting The Ohio State entomology labs with bed bugs would be a problem, but how much more of a concern would inadvertently infesting a client’s (or your own) home be? Before you leave an infested account, inspect your equipment, shoes, pant cuffs — anyplace where bed bugs could stow away. If tread-free soles don’t comply with your company’s safety protocols, consider shoe covers in addition to your careful post treatment inspection, to avoid the nightmare of introducing bed bugs to your next client.