Comments on: kdr pyrethroid resistance widespread in U.S. bed bug populations http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2010/01/21/kdr-pyrethroid-resistance-widespread-in-u-s-bed-bug-populations/ NYC bed bug policy advocacy | Archive Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:54:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Latest research on bed bug kdr pyrethroid resistance in U.S. http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2010/01/21/kdr-pyrethroid-resistance-widespread-in-u-s-bed-bug-populations/comment-page-1/#comment-36563 Latest research on bed bug kdr pyrethroid resistance in U.S. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:46:02 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=4506#comment-36563 [...] direct you to the latest post on New York vs. Bed Bugs, where Renee Corea gives the lowdown on the latest research from the University of Kentucky on [...] [...] direct you to the latest post on New York vs. Bed Bugs, where Renee Corea gives the lowdown on the latest research from the University of Kentucky on [...]

]]> By: Sam Bryks http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2010/01/21/kdr-pyrethroid-resistance-widespread-in-u-s-bed-bug-populations/comment-page-1/#comment-33057 Sam Bryks Mon, 25 Jan 2010 03:33:13 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=4506#comment-33057 I think we all agree that we need more efficacious products than the synthetic pyrethroids. If it were a fact that most bed bugs sprayed directly with the current products did not die, then i would agree with you that they are no better than WATER, never mind soap, but even against the difficulty of resistrance companies in Canada are achieving control - albeit not easily - when they use all the tools or at least most of them including dust and vacuuming and as appropriate steam treatment. Otherwise, we might as well just stop using the spray products and focus on vacuuming, steam and dust. If indeed, the products still kill by direct contact, then the focus should be on better treatment techniques - more crack and crevice than fan spraying which is still more prevalent for most firms. I still come back to a comment by Cornwell, long time Technical Director of Rentokil in Europe the author of a two volume monograph on roaches in the late 60's who basically said that it is critical to look at treatment technique before ascribing failure of control to resistance as the main cause. I have dealt with failure in quality of treatment for 30 years, and it remains a major problem in the industry though it is not usually spoken of openly except perhaps in the encouragement of good practices by NPMA and the trade magazines and associations. Control may be improved with new products other than pyrethrins, but good treatment practices remain a critical element in my view. I think we all agree that we need more efficacious products than the synthetic pyrethroids. If it were a fact that most bed bugs sprayed directly with the current products did not die, then i would agree with you that they are no better than WATER, never mind soap, but even against the difficulty of resistrance companies in Canada are achieving control – albeit not easily – when they use all the tools or at least most of them including dust and vacuuming and as appropriate steam treatment. Otherwise, we might as well just stop using the spray products and focus on vacuuming, steam and dust. If indeed, the products still kill by direct contact, then the focus should be on better treatment techniques – more crack and crevice than fan spraying which is still more prevalent for most firms.
I still come back to a comment by Cornwell, long time Technical Director of Rentokil in Europe the author of a two volume monograph on roaches in the late 60′s who basically said that it is critical to look at treatment technique before ascribing failure of control to resistance as the main cause.
I have dealt with failure in quality of treatment for 30 years, and it remains a major problem in the industry though it is not usually spoken of openly except perhaps in the encouragement of good practices by NPMA and the trade magazines and associations. Control may be improved with new products other than pyrethrins, but good treatment practices remain a critical element in my view.

]]> By: Renee Corea http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2010/01/21/kdr-pyrethroid-resistance-widespread-in-u-s-bed-bug-populations/comment-page-1/#comment-33055 Renee Corea Mon, 25 Jan 2010 03:04:44 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=4506#comment-33055 Sam, the fact the pyrethroids mostly work on contact make them no better than soap to borrow the phrase of a medical officer in the 30s. This is far from a saving grace. At least there is no evidence that bed bugs avoid resting on soap. This is a horrible situation. I'm glad bed bugs were prominent in your conference. I think the idea of the scorched-earth prep list needs to be reevaluated, but I agree that ultimately the detailed inspections that would make more targeted and reasonable prep possible now only occur in high-end services. Sam, the fact the pyrethroids mostly work on contact make them no better than soap to borrow the phrase of a medical officer in the 30s. This is far from a saving grace. At least there is no evidence that bed bugs avoid resting on soap. This is a horrible situation.

I’m glad bed bugs were prominent in your conference. I think the idea of the scorched-earth prep list needs to be reevaluated, but I agree that ultimately the detailed inspections that would make more targeted and reasonable prep possible now only occur in high-end services.

]]> By: sam bryks http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2010/01/21/kdr-pyrethroid-resistance-widespread-in-u-s-bed-bug-populations/comment-page-1/#comment-32855 sam bryks Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:55:08 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=4506#comment-32855 Renee,, as usual you do the scoop as a superb communicator and get the information out before most of us would even know it exists. Great stuff!!! Well done!!! It is interesting to get this elegant confirmation of what researchers have been saying for many years.. the fact that it is tough to kill bed bugs with current products. We have even fewer products available in Canada, although our Regulatory Agency, PMRA has assigned staff to facilitate a Committee of people from across the country to address this and we hope some of the products currently available in U.S. will be available in Canada.. Reading the post, Renee, what struck me as key is Dr. Potter's insightful comment about the fact that the pyrethrins (including synthetics) do work as direct contact insecticides though he does qualify this in terms of other products and actions that facilitate control. We had the SPMAO annual conference last week and Jeffrey White of Bed Bug Central was a featured speaker. His insights into the difficulties of control and the necessity of detail of treatment were very familiar. He also gave a different perspective on preparation requirements - that is in some cases, the extent of preparation may not be necessary, but this takes a high end inspection/treatment process that is really not affordable in the non profit housing sector. Although some might consider that failure of control is an even bigger cost, those experienced in this area would advise not to hold your breath till those kinds of services are standard in non profit housing. My thought comes back to a sensible approach that emphasizes detail of treatment so that the fast "tricks" are not tolerated. There was some disagreement about whether some form of treatment should be implemented when units are not fully prepared with some including some members of SPMAO taking the position that if the unit is not prepared, then don't treat, wheras others including myself, take the approach that when a tech is at the door, you can always do SOMETHING useful to start the treatment process even if it is not spraying.. i.e. vacuum them up!!! and spend some time explaining to tenant how important prep is and giving some advice in their specific case so that next week when you come back, the tenant has done something knowing you will be there, and that you took effort to help in the short term as well as explaining why prep is so important.. Resistance, yes.. but can control be achieved.. I do think so... if you do it carefully and use all the tools available. or at least vacuuming as part of the process. If one can remove a few hundred bed bugs even in a situation in which spraying cannot be done, well, imagine the impact on reducing increase in numbers. and that's less to kill by spraying. Jeffrey also presented great info on reseach on monitors rating the leg protectors as the most cost effective monitor when compared to all others, and it works pretty well.. The climb ups are a very elegant design, but home made versions will likely work just about as well with a wee bit of ingenuity and at a fraction of the cost. Renee,, as usual you do the scoop as a superb communicator and get the information out before most of us would even know it exists. Great stuff!!! Well done!!!
It is interesting to get this elegant confirmation of what researchers have been saying for many years.. the fact that it is tough to kill bed bugs with current products.
We have even fewer products available in Canada, although our Regulatory Agency, PMRA has assigned staff to facilitate a Committee of people from across the country to address this and we hope some of the products currently available in U.S. will be available in Canada..
Reading the post, Renee, what struck me as key is Dr. Potter’s insightful comment about the fact that the pyrethrins (including synthetics) do work as direct contact insecticides though he does qualify this in terms of other products and actions that facilitate control.
We had the SPMAO annual conference last week and Jeffrey White of Bed Bug Central was a featured speaker. His insights into the difficulties of control and the necessity of detail of treatment were very familiar. He also gave a different perspective on preparation requirements – that is in some cases, the extent of preparation may not be necessary, but this takes a high end inspection/treatment process that is really not affordable in the non profit housing sector. Although some might consider that failure of control is an even bigger cost, those experienced in this area would advise not to hold your breath till those kinds of services are standard in non profit housing.
My thought comes back to a sensible approach that emphasizes detail of treatment so that the fast “tricks” are not tolerated. There was some disagreement about whether some form of treatment should be implemented when units are not fully prepared with some including some members of SPMAO taking the position that if the unit is not prepared, then don’t treat, wheras others including myself, take the approach that when a tech is at the door, you can always do SOMETHING useful to start the treatment process even if it is not spraying.. i.e. vacuum them up!!! and spend some time explaining to tenant how important prep is and giving some advice in their specific case so that next week when you come back, the tenant has done something knowing you will be there, and that you took effort to help in the short term as well as explaining why prep is so important..
Resistance, yes.. but can control be achieved.. I do think so… if you do it carefully and use all the tools available. or at least vacuuming as part of the process. If one can remove a few hundred bed bugs even in a situation in which spraying cannot be done, well, imagine the impact on reducing increase in numbers. and that’s less to kill by spraying.
Jeffrey also presented great info on reseach on monitors rating the leg protectors as the most cost effective monitor when compared to all others, and it works pretty well..
The climb ups are a very elegant design, but home made versions will likely work just about as well with a wee bit of ingenuity and at a fraction of the cost.

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