Dr. Jamel Sandidge, BCE, Research Entomologist, Rockwell Laboratories
It is well established by university research that bed bugs have developed multiple resistance mechanisms to certain chemical treatments. Some populations of bed bugs also have shown rapidly developing cross-resistance to other classes of pesticides. It is the responsibility of PMPs to help reduce the development of increasing pesticide resistance by rotating products often and by implementing mechanical and non-chemical control methods into their programs.
Heat treatment, cryogenic (cold) treatment, desiccants (such as silica gel) and fungal spores are increasingly being used for knockdown and long-term residual control. However, there are no “silver bullets,” and each treatment should be thorough and complete.
Using a combination of physical/mechanical, biological and/or chemical treatments can greatly increase your chances of success. So next time you receive that dreaded callback, review your records to determine which products you previously used. Use a different product for the follow-up service — preferably one with an entirely different mode of action, because simply rotating one product within the same class of chemistry for another will not likely improve results.
Leave A Comment