Comments on: Talking bed bugs with David Cain, take 2 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2008/12/27/talking-bed-bugs-with-david-cain-take-2/ NYC bed bug policy advocacy | archive Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:54:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: sam bryks http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2008/12/27/talking-bed-bugs-with-david-cain-take-2/#comment-559 sam bryks Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:30:30 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1280#comment-559 By way of a brief update on David Cain's passive monitor. I saw the monitor when I was in Washington ... and after conversation with David, and some reflection, I see value in his monitor though it seems rather expensive to me for what it actually is. David indicated it took a lot of funds and research to come up with the concept and design, but consumers sometimes look at an item and say "wow" would I pay that much for this bit of stuff, and may actually create their own monitors based on the design which is actually very simple and wonderfully thought out. I think these monitors would be great as early warning devices and as follow-up devices that tenants/homeowners can check.... Great idea till someone comes up with a sticky trap that works based on the attraction of a pheromone such as an aggregation pheromone. The commercial units that I Have seen are just horrendously expensive for what they are and for what they can actually accomplish in each unit . Great for pest control firms as a service, but not so great for a limited income tenant or a public housing landlord whose funds are limited. Sam By way of a brief update on David Cain’s passive monitor. I saw the monitor when I was in Washington … and after conversation with David, and some reflection, I see value in his monitor though it seems rather expensive to me for what it actually is. David indicated it took a lot of funds and research to come up with the concept and design, but consumers sometimes look at an item and say “wow” would I pay that much for this bit of stuff, and may actually create their own monitors based on the design which is actually very simple and wonderfully thought out. I think these monitors would be great as early warning devices and as follow-up devices that tenants/homeowners can check…. Great idea till someone comes up with a sticky trap that works based on the attraction of a pheromone such as an aggregation pheromone.
The commercial units that I Have seen are just horrendously expensive for what they are and for what they can actually accomplish in each unit .
Great for pest control firms as a service, but not so great for a limited income tenant or a public housing landlord whose funds are limited.
Sam

]]> By: Roll-over bed bug pics — New York vs Bed Bugs http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2008/12/27/talking-bed-bugs-with-david-cain-take-2/#comment-558 Roll-over bed bug pics — New York vs Bed Bugs Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:58:13 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1280#comment-558 [...] still have received no London survey map image as we were sort of, halfway, barely [...] [...] still have received no London survey map image as we were sort of, halfway, barely [...]

]]> By: L.A. Times Article: Taking One for the Cause « Chicago vs. Bed Bugs http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2008/12/27/talking-bed-bugs-with-david-cain-take-2/#comment-557 L.A. Times Article: Taking One for the Cause « Chicago vs. Bed Bugs Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:00:44 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1280#comment-557 [...] bugs simply by attracting the attention of the public to a website that’s overflowing with expert interviews and professional research and scientific data and document after document about existing public [...] [...] bugs simply by attracting the attention of the public to a website that’s overflowing with expert interviews and professional research and scientific data and document after document about existing public [...]

]]> By: Renee Corea http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2008/12/27/talking-bed-bugs-with-david-cain-take-2/#comment-556 Renee Corea Sun, 04 Jan 2009 08:59:48 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1280#comment-556 That's wonderful, an electrocuting comb. I'm almost done with my questions for you Sam! I hope they're intelligent ones. About the encasements, only because this is an important point, yes I am referring to the top quality entomologist-endorsed encasements. They do tear, unfortunately, especially where placed on the metal supports for the box spring. So people need to be educated about the possibility and what they can do to prevent it (use felt adhesive coverings on sharp surfaces). By the way, David Cain doesn't use encasements in his work. Something to do with the way beds are constructed there and also his preference. For us, however, I'm grateful we have them. That’s wonderful, an electrocuting comb.

I’m almost done with my questions for you Sam! I hope they’re intelligent ones.

About the encasements, only because this is an important point, yes I am referring to the top quality entomologist-endorsed encasements. They do tear, unfortunately, especially where placed on the metal supports for the box spring. So people need to be educated about the possibility and what they can do to prevent it (use felt adhesive coverings on sharp surfaces). By the way, David Cain doesn’t use encasements in his work. Something to do with the way beds are constructed there and also his preference. For us, however, I’m grateful we have them.

]]> By: A New Year, will this be the year? — New York vs Bed Bugs http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2008/12/27/talking-bed-bugs-with-david-cain-take-2/#comment-555 A New Year, will this be the year? — New York vs Bed Bugs Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:00:56 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1280#comment-555 [...] to a Cincinnati survey say they’ve had bed bugs in a single year, and if David Cain can tell us with a straight face that those old 30% infestation rates are not really that far off, how is it [...] [...] to a Cincinnati survey say they’ve had bed bugs in a single year, and if David Cain can tell us with a straight face that those old 30% infestation rates are not really that far off, how is it [...]

]]> By: Sam Bryks http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2008/12/27/talking-bed-bugs-with-david-cain-take-2/#comment-554 Sam Bryks Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:06:51 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1280#comment-554 oops, i again made an error.. the comb is a lice comb..not used for fleas.. electrocutes adults, nymphs and eggs of LICE..... sorry. i seem to have fleas on the brain as i type out this stuff.... i used to teach a course on food plant sanitation and part of it was an overview on IPM so in the entomology section i would explain to students how to identify insects that are common pests who undergo complete metamorphosis, and it went something like ' fleas, flies (butterflies ) and moths, bees, wasps ants (all hymenoptera of course)and beetles... I don't think i missed anything.. the others have incomplete metamorphosis.. with its variations. or no metamorphosis. oops, i again made an error.. the comb is a lice comb..not used for fleas.. electrocutes adults, nymphs and eggs of LICE…..
sorry. i seem to have fleas on the brain as i type out this stuff….
i used to teach a course on food plant sanitation and part of it was an overview on IPM so in the entomology section i would explain to students how to identify insects that are common pests who undergo complete metamorphosis, and it went something like ‘ fleas, flies (butterflies ) and moths, bees, wasps ants (all hymenoptera of course)and beetles… I don’t think i missed anything.. the others have incomplete metamorphosis.. with its variations. or no metamorphosis.

]]> By: Sam Bryks http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2008/12/27/talking-bed-bugs-with-david-cain-take-2/#comment-553 Sam Bryks Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:57:31 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1280#comment-553 Renee.... good point about the enclosures... the ones that tend to tear are the cheap polyvinyl ones. The ones made of polyester and cotton are quite tough,, and not at all "easy" to tear, and i have looked at some made of polyspun polyvinyl (I can't remember the exact name) and these are also quite tough.. My main concern about the enclosures is affordabiity. But there are some fairly reasonably priced enclosures out there. People should shop carefully because there is a whole marketing shark mentality selling these with feature on top of feature.. waterproof and this and that... Some of these are the same folks who tried to create a market from panic about dust mites. While dust mites are important from the perspective of allergies, common sense really suggests that ordinary good housekeeping practices ensure that these are not in numbers in the average home. The marketers were promoting "mite resistant" encasements and pillow cases .. as if the usual practices of vacuuming and changing sheets were not enough!!!!! There are quality issues of course, but when i see an enclosures selling for more than $100 for one for a standard bed, i see a huge profit margin in that selling price. I advise that homeowners shop carefully and check material makeup and thread count (250) and quality of zippers. A bit of duct tape at the closing end of the zipper works fine too.... For those who can afford the best, they will pay for all the fancy features. Regarding picking off lice by hand, there is a lady in Toronto who also does the same thing, but she uses an Israeli designed lice comb that electrocutes both adult and eggs of fleas. Works beautifully i am told. The comb is not that expensive either.. i believe around $50 and if someone is very sensitive to even mild insecticides it is well worth the investment. Now that is "easy" nitpicking... The range of research under way on bed bugs is amazing. This is a very hot issue now and i see new things when i have the luxury of time to search and have missed a few things due to busyness.....a nd business too.. Renee, going back to IPM again, and i like to also call it INTELLIGENT PEST MANAGEMENT... a very good way to described it..... IPM is intelligent pest management besides having the aspect of integrated .. i.e. using a combination of approaches based on knowledge and information --- there are distinctions here.. the work of researchers helps us understand what to do right and what NOT to do. Years ago there was an issue of whether extensie sealing of apartments was a cost-effective method of helping roach control, and there was also a suggestion that "dusting" of walls at construction had some benefit to prevent roach spread. Research showed that sealing was not actually cost effective in roach control as the availability of moisture and of food were more significant factors, though sealing in specific situations and at specific times could be useful ... e.g. sealing at kitchen sinks and in the kitchen cupboards at specific locations and sealing as appropriate when vacant units are being prepared for new tenants. Sealing for bed bugs also has its specific benefits depending on the structure.. so that sealing of baseboards may be useful in some structures but not very useful in others (if partition walls are concrete or block then sealing is not needed widely except at wall penetrations).. This is all about cost-effectiveness to get maximum benefit from investment especially when funds are limited. These issues go through analysis and variations ..... until best practices emerge from a combination of careful field research and the experience of pest management professionals. And as you noted, from the feedback of clients... But i am confident that the research now underway will provide tremendous benefits in a relatively short time. By way of example, some years ago i attended a conference and a few speakers spoke of their careful research on pharoah ant control.. i took what they said and applied it to the field and we got fabulous results when others had failed by using the knowledge provided by researchers. One of our clients supers had basically laughed at us as he had seen a lot of work come to nothing and after our success, he became a "believer" in our integrity and in the way we approached problem solving. He always calls us now when he has a difficult pest control issue. And that too is IPM of course. understand the pest biology, learn from researchers, apply the knowledge to practical field settings. That is classical IPM. Sam Renee…. good point about the enclosures… the ones that tend to tear are the cheap polyvinyl ones. The ones made of polyester and cotton are quite tough,, and not at all “easy” to tear, and i have looked at some made of polyspun polyvinyl (I can’t remember the exact name) and these are also quite tough.. My main concern about the enclosures is affordabiity. But there are some fairly reasonably priced enclosures out there. People should shop carefully because there is a whole marketing shark mentality selling these with feature on top of feature.. waterproof and this and that… Some of these are the same folks who tried to create a market from panic about dust mites. While dust mites are important from the perspective of allergies, common sense really suggests that ordinary good housekeeping practices ensure that these are not in numbers in the average home. The marketers were promoting “mite resistant” encasements and pillow cases .. as if the usual practices of vacuuming and changing sheets were not enough!!!!! There are quality issues of course, but when i see an enclosures selling for more than $100 for one for a standard bed, i see a huge profit margin in that selling price. I advise that homeowners shop carefully and check material makeup and thread count (250) and quality of zippers. A bit of duct tape at the closing end of the zipper works fine too…. For those who can afford the best, they will pay for all the fancy features.

Regarding picking off lice by hand, there is a lady in Toronto who also does the same thing, but she uses an Israeli designed lice comb that electrocutes both adult and eggs of fleas. Works beautifully i am told. The comb is not that expensive either.. i believe around $50 and if someone is very sensitive to even mild insecticides it is well worth the investment. Now that is “easy” nitpicking…
The range of research under way on bed bugs is amazing. This is a very hot issue now and i see new things when i have the luxury of time to search and have missed a few things due to busyness…..a nd business too..
Renee, going back to IPM again, and i like to also call it INTELLIGENT PEST MANAGEMENT… a very good way to described it….. IPM is intelligent pest management besides having the aspect of integrated .. i.e. using a combination of approaches based on knowledge and information — there are distinctions here..
the work of researchers helps us understand what to do right and what NOT to do. Years ago there was an issue of whether extensie sealing of apartments was a cost-effective method of helping roach control, and there was also a suggestion that “dusting” of walls at construction had some benefit to prevent roach spread. Research showed that sealing was not actually cost effective in roach control as the availability of moisture and of food were more significant factors, though sealing in specific situations and at specific times could be useful … e.g. sealing at kitchen sinks and in the kitchen cupboards at specific locations and sealing as appropriate when vacant units are being prepared for new tenants. Sealing for bed bugs also has its specific benefits depending on the structure.. so that sealing of baseboards may be useful in some structures but not very useful in others (if partition walls are concrete or block then sealing is not needed widely except at wall penetrations).. This is all about cost-effectiveness to get maximum benefit from investment especially when funds are limited.
These issues go through analysis and variations ….. until best practices emerge from a combination of careful field research and the experience of pest management professionals. And as you noted, from the feedback of clients…
But i am confident that the research now underway will provide tremendous benefits in a relatively short time. By way of example, some years ago i attended a conference and a few speakers spoke of their careful research on pharoah ant control.. i took what they said and applied it to the field and we got fabulous results when others had failed by using the knowledge provided by researchers. One of our clients supers had basically laughed at us as he had seen a lot of work come to nothing and after our success, he became a “believer” in our integrity and in the way we approached problem solving. He always calls us now when he has a difficult pest control issue. And that too is IPM of course. understand the pest biology, learn from researchers, apply the knowledge to practical field settings. That is classical IPM.
Sam

]]> By: Renee Corea http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2008/12/27/talking-bed-bugs-with-david-cain-take-2/#comment-552 Renee Corea Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:59:07 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1280#comment-552 Oh, and, I should say that of course we agree with you on the mattresses, encasements should be used in lieu of disposal. However, it has to be said, that encasements <em>tear</em>, even the expensive top quality ones, and this is certainly a problem I'm not sure what we can do about. (These and other essential things researchers and PMPs can learn by listening to the people who actually live with bedbugs. We have wisdom. There has to be in the field research that can capitalize on it.) About removing fleas by hand, wow. But you know in NYC there is this thriving business in Brooklyn, I think, nobugs mentioned to me, all they do is remove lice from children by hand. Oh, and, I should say that of course we agree with you on the mattresses, encasements should be used in lieu of disposal. However, it has to be said, that encasements tear, even the expensive top quality ones, and this is certainly a problem I’m not sure what we can do about. (These and other essential things researchers and PMPs can learn by listening to the people who actually live with bedbugs. We have wisdom. There has to be in the field research that can capitalize on it.)

About removing fleas by hand, wow. But you know in NYC there is this thriving business in Brooklyn, I think, nobugs mentioned to me, all they do is remove lice from children by hand.

]]> By: Renee Corea http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2008/12/27/talking-bed-bugs-with-david-cain-take-2/#comment-551 Renee Corea Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:51:17 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1280#comment-551 I have to say, I am so intrigued by Dr. Kells' research. The other thing to look forward to is the DNA and population dispersal research at North Carolina State Univ (Dr Warren Booth et al). I love to read this stuff, whatever I can get access to at the army's online library. But I'm too weak-kneed for some of it. Ezekiel Rivnay in the 30s? Ha ha, that stuff is way too intense for me. I am going through Johnson's 1941 paper now and want to write a post about his hut at some point. I have to say, I am so intrigued by Dr. Kells’ research. The other thing to look forward to is the DNA and population dispersal research at North Carolina State Univ (Dr Warren Booth et al).

I love to read this stuff, whatever I can get access to at the army’s online library. But I’m too weak-kneed for some of it. Ezekiel Rivnay in the 30s? Ha ha, that stuff is way too intense for me. I am going through Johnson’s 1941 paper now and want to write a post about his hut at some point.

]]> By: sam bryks http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2008/12/27/talking-bed-bugs-with-david-cain-take-2/#comment-550 sam bryks Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:50:54 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1280#comment-550 oops another unintended error... last major publication on BED BUGS, not fleas.. i guess I was on a flea roll!!!! the dog and 8 puppies and old cat were MINE!!!.... We treated the dog with a modern product, but i removed all the fleas from the puppies and the cat by HAND... took a while, but it worked... in hindsight, we were lucky ... no recurrence.. oops another unintended error…
last major publication on BED BUGS, not fleas..
i guess I was on a flea roll!!!!
the dog and 8 puppies and old cat were MINE!!!….
We treated the dog with a modern product, but i removed all the fleas from the puppies and the cat by HAND…
took a while, but it worked…
in hindsight, we were lucky … no recurrence..

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