HOUSEHOLD AND STRUCTURAL INSECTS Evaluation of an Insecticide Dust Band Treatment Method for Controlling Bed Bugs

Current bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., control usually involves insecticide applications that pose a high risk of insecticide exposure to residents and applicators. To minimize these risks and the amount of insecticides used, we designed and evaluated a dust band treatment technique. The laboratory assay showed that 1% cyßuthrin dust treated bands are highly effective in killing bed bugs. We further evaluated this technique in bed bug infested apartments. The “dust band” treatment consisted of installing a 3.8-cm-wide fabric band on furniture legs and brushing Tempo dust (1% cyßuthrin) (Bayer Environmental Science, Research Triangle Park, NC) onto the bands. In addition, interceptors were installed under furniture legs. Alpine (0.5% dinotefuran) aerosol spray was applied directly to livebedbugs foundon furnitureduringbiweekly inspections. This treatmentwas compared with two other treatments: “integrated pest management” (IPM) and “control.” The IPM treatment includeddust bandsplus the following: applyinghot steam to infested furniture and surrounding areas, installing mattress encasements, applying 1% cyßuthrin dust around room perimeters, and installing interceptors under furniture legs. Alpine aerosol was applied to live bed bugs found during biweekly inspections. In the control group, the apartments received cursory treatment with insecticide sprays by the existing pest control contractor hired by the property management ofÞce. Bed bug numbers before and after treatments were determined based on biweekly interceptor counts or a combination of interceptor counts and visual inspections. From 0 to 12 wk, mean bed bug counts of the dust band, IPM, and the control treatment decreased by 95, 92, and 85%, respectively. Both dust band and IPM resulted in higher bed bug reduction than the control. There was no signiÞcant difference in the Þnal counts between dust band and IPM treatments. An additional Þeld experiment showed installing 1% cyßuthrin dust band and interceptors in lightly infested apartments prevented bed bug population rebound. Results indicate applying insecticide dust bands to furniture legs is an effective bed bug control technique.