Buried in this New Haven Independent story about the most recent Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station bed bug forum is this:
[CAES Emeritus Scientist Dr. John F.] Anderson, [CAES Scientist Dr. Gale E.] Ridge and colleagues are now studying a fungus which seems to have an appetite for bed bugs. More research is necessary, but a fungal foe could pose a major advance, they said.
This is either hopeful and exciting or scraping the bottom of the bed bug control barrel.
Let’s be optimistic and call this good thinking. I hope it works, but how would it work?
Here’s a simple overview of fungi for crop pests.
And yes, that’s the second CAES forum this year. Awesome.
Finally, I’m positive that you, unlike me, will not immediately think fungicide. See, I make these mistakes so that you don’t have to. Looking out.
N.B. Some things about bed bugs in press articles are not exactly as described, but you know that already. There’s also by the way an interesting comment to the article.
These pages may be of related interest:
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There are a great many research projects that seem really exciting and interesting, but translating lab work into a reality is far more difficult than many realize. Researchers have been working with fungi for years to control structural pests. The problem always turns out to be the same problem; how to maintain fungus viability in different environments and a delivery system. There is one cockroach bait that is made from a soil fungus, but it never really did the job and was hard to work with. These things have not worked in the past and I am inclined to believe that fungus treatments for bedbugs will meet same fate.
Rich Kozlovich, Exterminator
agree with Rich, plus, i don’t trust that fungi cannot turn around and bite us on the butt. I would not use a fungi in my home or expose my family, no matter how ” safe ” some researcher says it is.
I didn’t even realize there were even halfway viable fungi solutions for structural pests already. I am curious but understand and I guess share jc’s concern though that is perhaps why you’d need the fungi pesticide to get rid of your bed bugs and then a fungicide, haha, to get rid of your fungi…. asthmatics need not apply.
I so want this, anything, to work though. Something.
I have been invaded with what the exterminator called a “fungas gnat”
He said it would be gone in a few days after getting rid of the source (overwatered plants) which I did…It’s been two weeks and the gnats are still here and nobody seems to know what to do!
I’m sorry, Jan, I don’t know anything about fungus gnats. If checking back with the pest management guy is not an option, you can consult an extension office in your state (google your state and extension). If you live in New York, you can find a local extension office on this page.
Good luck.
Jan,
Gnats have become a much more pronounced problem in recent years as pest control has changed radically. As products came off the market and baits became more effective we have altered what we use and what we do…..primarily in commercial account, but in homes also.
Fungus gnats cover a large range of small flies that infest homes. If the gnat in question is a dark winged fungus gnat then the problem is the overwatering of house plants. However, there may be other species in your home and they all require wet decaying organic material in order to perpetuate themselves. Once that is cleaned up there is nothing left for the maggots to feed on.
You may wish to check floor drains along with sink drains and toilets, as there can be a buildup of gelatinous material they are laying their eggs in. You didn’t say what areas they are most prevalent in or how bad the infestation is. That is also important to know. Fungus gnat work requires you to be somewhat of a detective. You must find and clean up the wet decaying organic material they are breeding in to eliminate the problem.
Thank you, Rich!
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