Evaluation of Alternative Control Methods for Eliminating Insecticide-Resistant Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius L.)

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L, has been a persistent pest of humans. Conventional pyrethroid-formulation insecticides are known to be ineffective for controlling modern bed bug populations. This study evaluates alternative treatment methods such as whole-home heat, a biological control agent (Beauveria bassiana), and the fumigant sulfuryl fluoride for control of insecticide-resistant bed bugs. Three heat systems with different energy sources (propane, electric, and glycol) were evaluated to determine attributes contributing to heat treatment efficacy. The glycol system produced the most mortality of the three systems, killing all nymphs, eggs, and most adults. Heat treatment duration and achieving lethal temperatures in complex environments were found to be the most important factors for treatment efficacy. These factors were directly correlated with technician diligence, specifically regarding monitoring surface temperatures and repositioning equipment. A formulation of B. bassiana was evaluated in the laboratory to determine its ability to infect bed bugs under varying conditions of temperature (15°C, 21°C, and 32°C) and humidity (30%, 50%, and 70%). It was found that humidity conditions (30%-50%) at ≈21°C produced the greatest bed bug mortality and the shortest bed bug median survival time. The fumigant sulfuryl fluoride was evaluated for its ability to eliminate bed bugs from motor vehicles and cargo trailers filled to 85% capacity. This study was the first to document that sulfuryl fluoride fumigation at the 1.9X dosage factor can kill all pyrethroid-resistant bed bug life stages (including eggs) in motor vehicles as well as in chambers filled with personal items.