Bed Bug Detectors That Work

Since the University of Nebraska was in the news today about covering up a bedbug problem it made me think about a better way to figure out if Bed Bugs are in a vacant apartment home.

It would be great to figure out if they are present before a resident actuall moves in. instead of after the fact.I have experience dealing with them and have seen many different types of detectors from adhesives, dry ice, bowls of water, portable CO2 units, pheromones, and even a few "home made" ways.

Has anyone used and had firsthand success with any particular type of detector or method of detection other than a dog trained to find them?

I'd love to hear your success stories too.

There are ozone generators that you can get, put on the high setting and leave them in for a couple of days in an inclosed room and it eradicates those little buggers! Like anything not all ozone machines are equal, so do your research and do not let some fast talking sales person give you a line.

On occasions when we have had an occupied apartment with bedbugs, we have had a professional exterminator treat the apartment. Then when the apartment becomes vacant, we have had the apartment checked again by a professional. Their report is put in the file for the apartment. On the move-in checklist, we have added a line that states that no bedbugs are in the apartment at move-in and it is signed by management and the resident.

For vacant apartments with no known issues, the maintenance staff thoroughly inspects the apartment for signs of bedbugs before and after the make ready and calls a professional, if needed. Some of our properties have experimented with the dry ice method, but in my opinion, the best course of action is to have a professional inspect and treat when there is a concern. This greatly reduces the chance of missing signs of bedbugs and prevents issues from rising (biting!) up later.

Rob,
Thanks for posting! Are you or do you know of anyone using any type of detection other than an exterminator? As in a machine, bait traps, or anything else. I am curious to know if there is anyone using a detector other than a dog or an exetrminator that is effective in finding bedbugs when suspected or if it is part of the make-ready process. Any help, suggestions or leads will be appreciated.

We have used a pest control service that has a trained dog who goes through the apartment. I think the dog in addition to using a heat/steam treatment is the best way to allievate bed bugs!

I have heard of other properties using dry ice on an inverted dog bowl. The bed bugs are attracted to the CO2 and fall into the cavity of the upside down bowl and can't get back out. It seems to work as a general check - but I also recommend a physical check with your eyes and a good flashlight. Hope that helps.

We have been using Night Watch machines. They cost around $450 each, and you'll need CO2 canisters and scent pads to go with them. You put them into vacant or occupied apartments, and they put off carbon dioxide and human scent to attract the bed bugs. We put them in apartments where people are complaining about being bitten and there's no visible evidence of bed bugs, in apartments where people have just moved out before our contractors go in, in apartments immediately before someone moves in, and in apartments that have been treated to confirm the infestation is gone.

It's very difficult to detect bed bugs with the naked eye unless the infestation is severe. The machines are very easy to use, but if you have a lot of units, you want to be sure to keep a few machines on hand in the event that one stops working. The downside is that they're not as good at detection in an occupied unit (the bugs would rather feed on a human being than go to the Night Watch).

I was told by a pharmasist that he had bed bugs and did research and found that they can lay dormant for up to 8 months. Just a note.

Because bedbugs can be dormant for months; I recommend a 100% inspection twice per year for any pest control issue, paying particular attention to bedbugs if there has been a problem in the past. Accompany this with a preventive treatment of all units, and if infestations are found, treat them aggressively.

I worked in University housing and our inspections were free - with students routine inspections were necessary. There was only a cost if the test returned positive for bed bugs or defecation or eggs and treatment was needed. During the "bed bug" issues from Spring Break earlier in the year we were testing a dozen dorms a day. Can you get the inspections included in in the pest control contract? You would only need to do them at move outs I am assuming. Other than that I am only had experience with them through the professionals. Good luck!

Renae:

When I arrived at my last property, a property wide bedbug treatment was already in progress with a national brand company (who will remain nameless for this purpose). This property also contracted this company for regular pest control and the contract was for a specific period of 12 months with an early termination penalty. This treatment for the 66 units cost well over $65k before it was completed. It also cost me some residents; but that is another story.

About 6 months after my original hire, the owner terminated the company that hired me and brought in another company. I was connected to another exterminator that other properties with the new company were using with no problems. I started using him as a 'plan b' exterminator and used him to treat new infestations of bedbugs (he was a local guy, no name brands) he also charged less than the brand company was for bedbug treatments. Unfortunately, the property was still under contract with the national company, so I used them for the routine treatments until the contract expired.

While working on the budget for the new year, I negotiated with the local guy a package deal that included a baseline inspection of all units for any problems (at $15/unit); and we did this over the course of 3 days. This new deal included a 100% semiannual treatment for any problems, as well as preventive treatments of units as they were vacated (this treatment was included as part of the turn process). Any bedbug infestations discovered while under the contract were treated at additional cost; but we could have 20 new infestations in a year and still spend less than what the national company was charging for the regular treatment. Making this change saved a great deal of money (>$5000 annually) in pest control costs over what they would have been with the brand company that did NOT do the semiannual treatments.

It is all in how you negotiate with your exterminator.

Just the thought that they can be dormant for so long is disturbing. Ugh.

Johnny,
Thanks for sharing the story it is full of insight.

Brandi,
Did the nightwatch machines ever successfully find or detect bedbugs?

Yes, we've found the Night Watch machines to be the most effective method of detecting bed bugs early. We test all of our vacant units before we allow any contractors to enter the apartment, our occupied units that have been treated for bed bugs, and units where residents are complaining of an infestation and it isn't a visible infestation. The machines are really helpful if you have a well trained staff member who's also able to give a quick visual inspection as the machine is being placed/picked up.