Comments on: An interview with bed bug researcher Alvaro Romero

By: kdr pyrethroid resistance widespread in U.S. bed bug populations — New York vs Bed Bugs

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:12:07 +0000

[...] nerve insensitivity. (Again, for an accessible explanation of pesticide resistance, I refer you to our interview with Dr. Alvaro Romero last [...]

By: More tales of CIN-1: PBO and deltamethrin — New York vs Bed Bugs

More tales of CIN-1: PBO and deltamethrin — New York vs Bed Bugs — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:30:00 +0000

[...] we can look back at the explanation of the mechanisms of resistance we got from Alvaro Romero earlier this year: Alvaro Romero: Insects and various other arthropods have the potential to reduce the toxic effect [...]

By: BASF’s bed bug prevention pitch — New York vs Bed Bugs

BASF’s bed bug prevention pitch — New York vs Bed Bugs — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:21:27 +0000

[...] The research cited in the BASF guide is not yet published as far as I can tell. However, we know from previously published research that bed bugs do not avoid chlorfenapyr-treated surfaces. [...]

By: Renee Corea

Renee Corea — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:37:33 +0000

Hi Ugo, thanks for the link, I appreciate it. Yeah, I suppose it’s been long enough to consider such unpublished reports of hydroprene having counterproductive results as we have had with no article to evaluate and perhaps I should no longer give unpublished findings the importance I once did. I personally worried a great deal about that unpublished study, I confess. Further, the picture thankfully does become clearer now that the s-methoprene study (PDF) we heard about is out and very interesting and shows this, what the authors describe as “classical JHA activity,” is promising. And yet, shouldn’t we ideally see an independent study of hydroprene against bed bugs to evaluate the Gentrol manufacturer’s claims after all this, I wonder, just for the sake of completeness.

I still think monthly treatments for bed bugs are unnecessary unless you are only inspecting!

Best…

By: Ugo

Ugo — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:00:22 +0000

Hi Renee,
Since we still need to visit most nyc apartments at least once monthly for mice and roach control, it does not take much more time for us to inspect and treat the bedrooms also. The barrier approach needs to be advocated loudly. Dusting the cracks and crevices of the apartment is an effective barrier for all insects prone to moving around in a building. DeltaDust is ideal for new york apartments since it is very resistant to humidity dilution. As long as the dust is undisturbed it will remain effective for a long time. The key to effective control is the proper application amount with a quality duster. A light application will allow the bedbug to crawl over the dust and pickup a lethal dose. As far as sleeping near pyrethrins, the very best mosquito nets in the world are deltamethrin coated and have up to a 5 year effect with no side effects.

I spoke to Zoecon’s entomologist personally to get his reaction to the one hydropene study about the egg laying increase. It had a serious flaw, here is a pdf with cool bedbug magnifications describing the study: http://www.zoecon.com/pdfs/GentrolBedBug.pdf
Regards,
Ugo

By: Finally, researchers on the efficacy of dusts — New York vs Bed Bugs

Finally, researchers on the efficacy of dusts — New York vs Bed Bugs — Sat, 23 May 2009 02:01:38 +0000

[...] Romero was very kind to answer our questions about his research earlier this [...]

By: Renee Corea

Renee Corea — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:22:05 +0000

Hi Ugo,

Juvenile hormone analogues (and chitin synthesis inhibitors and who knows what other stuff there is out there) are intriguing but the information that is available about how they work against bed bugs is not very clear. We’ve heard for example that hydroprene might have had an undesirable effect in one study, an increase in egg-laying. We’ve heard, on the other hand, that s-methoprene is very promising against bed bugs, and does prevent adult development.

I’m not sure that once-monthly treatment of un-infested bedrooms and living rooms would be the wisest course, but of course I’m not a professional. What would you treat with? If with pesticides, would it be worth it given that it seems that dry pesticide residues are not that effective against bed bugs and therefore you would have people living with those residues where they sleep and live every day and likely not even having an effect on any introduced bed bugs…? If you mean dusts in structural voids, then that seems a logical prophylactic measure to me, but it would not require monthly re-application, would it?

By: Ugo Voso

Ugo Voso — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:52:54 +0000

I am a PmP (pest mgmt professional) operating in the 5 boro’s of NYC, Long Island & New Jersey. I would like to affirm Mr Romero’s observations to what I find here locally. The best attack program is a multi-faceted one. I would like to mention insect growth regulators should also be used. They are a non-pyrethroid and very effective in keeping nymphs from becoming adults thereby limiting re-population by deeply hidden bedbugs that escape initial treatments. We at AA Advanced Action Pest Control use Hepa filtration, synergists, insect growth regulators as well as contact & pyrethroid residuals in dust, spray and microencapsulation to achieve the best results. Keep in mind that thorough preparation and inspection is the key to a successful treatment. Preparation is highly detailed and very similar to a house move.
It is also important to point out that a follow-up treatment after 14 days is vital to treat any possible egg hatchings post initial treatment. Bedbugs eggs are very resistant to insecticides. Landlords, tenants and homeowners should consider adding bedrooms and living rooms to the once monthly pest control treatments that in recent decades have only been done to “kitchens and baths”.
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