Laundry Bags for Bed Bugs

February 23, 2010 – 4:30 pm
In this episode Jeff will describe Green Clean dissolvable laundry bags and how they fit into a bed bug prevention or control plan.  Green Clean dissolvable laundry bags are bags that you can place launderable items in that dissolve in a washing machine.  This makes transferring items from a suitcase to a washing machine quick and easy.  By using these, you could even bag your launderable items in the hotel room before you leave and then just take the bags and place them directly in the washing machine when you arrive home.  Other industries that are using them are hotels and universities where they can provide them to people who may have suffered bed bug infestations while staying on their property and they can then place their items in these bags and limit the chance that they introduce bed bugs in an undesirable place (i.e. laundry room, vehicle).
Related Topics:
Demonstration of GreenClean Laundry Bags

Nightwatch Bed Bug Monitor

January 27, 2010 – 11:20 am


In this episode Jeff will talk about the Nightwatch bed bug monitor, how to set the monitor to trap for bugs, ideal situations to set the trap in and what to expect when setting the trap.  The Nightwatch bed bug monitor is an active monitor that release attractants that are intended to attract hungry bed bugs.  Always remember that not all bed bugs in a given infestation are going to be attracted to a monitor and therefore a zero-trap-catch does not necessarily mean that bed bugs are not present.  This monitor is intended to be used to help evaluate if bed bugs are present in a given environment.  Studies have been conducted that did show that this monitor can be effective for detecting low level bed bug infestations.  Some ideal situations for this monitor are in situations where it does not compete with other hosts (ex. humans, although it has been shown to be effective for detecting bugs in the presence of humans) such as:  offices, schools, vacant apartments or homes, pre-move-in inspections, etc…

Related Topics:

Richard Cooper’s Comparison of CDC 3000 and Nightwatch Bed Bug Monitors

Advisory – Dry Ice Bed Bug Trap Update

January 18, 2010 – 2:41 am


In this episode Jeff will recap some of the information discussed in the original episode about the DIY Bed Bug Dry Ice Trap and further discuss some potential hazards associated with some of the information being reported by the media. Since the concept of this trap was released by Rutgers University researcher Dr. Changlu Wang at an entomological conference in December, several media outlets have run stories about a “great DIY bed bug trap that is affordable to make and anybody can use it”. While some of this information is true, a few news stories have began to report this monitor as a control device that can eliminate bed bugs from your home for a very small amount of money. THIS DEVICE IS NOT A CONTROL TOOL AND THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE IT WILL NOT ELIMINATE YOUR BED BUG INFESTATION. The stories that discuss this as a control tool can be very misleading and again, this is to be used as a monitor to help you determine if you have a problem, not to control your problem. Also, there are a few concerns about pest control companies using this monitor which include the hazards associated with dry ice. Please tune it to this episode to make yourself aware of some of the concerns we have about the DIY bed bug dry ice monitor so that if you do decide to set it in your home, you can do so in a knowledgeable fashion.

Related links:

Bed Bug Dry Ice Trap
ABC NY Original Story (NOT A CONTROL TOOL!)