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Bed Bug Monitors: Optimal Use and Best Practices of Active Monitors

            Bed bug monitors can be classified as either “active” or “passive.”  A passive monitor targets the behavioral patterns of bed bugs and relies on getting in their pathway or providing a need such as a cozy place to hide.  It is often coupled with glue or a mechanism they cannot escape, or a platform they leave evidence of their presence on.  The term monitor and trap are often used interchangeably. While traps will indeed catch bed bugs, they are not designed to manage infestations alone.  Rather, they are designed primarily to confirm the presence of bed bugs.

Active monitors which include the Bedbug Beacon and the BB Alert Active use an additional lure or “bait” such as heat, carbon dioxide, or chemicals all of which attract bed bugs to the device where they are usually trapped in glue or within some enclosure. The Bedbug Beacon relies on carbon dioxide (CO2) whereas the BB Alert Active uses heat. Research has demonstrated that current chemical lures attract more bed bugs than control, but not at a statistically significant level. There remains debate about whether heat or carbon dioxide is more effective, but researchers do know that heat is highly attractive up to about 110 degrees Fahrenheit after which it becomes a repellant.  Carbon dioxide is innocuous and mimics human expiration and also works well. Monitors help people to save time and money by confirming the presence of bed bugs before consulting with a professional or having one make multiple visits.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “monitors are without a doubt a valuable addition to the options available for bed bug control. Monitors using carbon dioxide, heat, and a chemical lure have great potential.”  The only peer reviewed study by (Wang et al., 2009), demonstrated that monitors were more effective than visual inspection at detecting bed bug infestations and helping to estimate the number of bed bugs. 

            The optimal use of active bed bug monitors is in a vacant room so that the bed bugs are not distracted by humans which are the core motivators of most bed bug behavior. The presence of humans in a room being monitored will introduce at least two variables.  One, the bed bugs will be more interested in the human when they are at rest than the monitor, and two, they hide from active humans. This can lead to inaccurate results.  If for any reason the room cannot be left unoccupied, than both active and passive monitors should be used in combination. This practice is still however less effective than using an active monitor in an unoccupied room. 

One of the best times to use active bed bug monitors is “after treatment” as an ongoing effort to monitor for their presence.  Optimally, active monitors will be placed in a vacant room for at least ten days or more post treatment to ensure success.  Many experts recommend they be used for a minimum of two weeks post treatment, as eggs usually survive pesticide use and bed bugs are excellent hiders due to their size and shape.  Bed bug monitors can detect if indeed eggs hatch after treatment and pesticide residues are insufficient to eliminate yet another infestation. 

Bed Bugs: Why Protection & Prevention?

That’s almost like saying, “why brush your teeth?”

Brushing one’s teeth is a small investment in time and money that will help most people from ever having serious gum disease, tooth loss, and ultimately very expensive dental procedures.  That’s the purpose protection and prevention against bed bugs’ serves; to ultimately avoid financial, material, and psychological loss. 

While there is much debate about which treatments work the best to manage bed bugs, both the EPA and the CDC recommend Integrated Pest Management.  The idea behind Integrated Pest Management is that a multidisciplinary approach be taken with the goal being a successful outcome. 

A multidisciplinary approach might include early detection (prevention), which can be achieved in a very economical way by using bed bug monitors.  It further includes protection by significantly reducing the likelihood of both spreading and picking up bedbugs when traveling by using travel encasements and or the PackTite heater.   These measures are akin to brushing your teeth and avoiding more costly and perhaps more risky procedures. The right mattress encasement is a hybrid solution in that they prevent material loss and protect against bed bugs by making one of their favorite homes unlivable.  As you might already see, protection & prevention are interchangeable and collectively the mantra represents "a common sense proactive approach to avoiding problems in a responsible manner."  While it is actually the closest thing to a quick fix, it promises not to come back and haunt you later.

Some say that if you find a few bed bugs, it’s very possible to use a monitor or trap in conjunction with steam cleaning.  Indeed steam will kill bed bugs and their eggs if used meticulously.  An effective trap will attract and kill bugs as well as serve as a monitor to their continued presence.  We generally recommend not taking a DIY approach for very long by the way... and also using both active and passive monitors simultaneously as they work very differently.

If you have a full-blown infestation however, go to the EPA’s website and find a reputable Pest Management company.  Expect one of two options; Chemical pesticides that will likely cost $1,500-$5,000 for the average residence according to ABC NEWS, or heat which cost’s $2,000-$6,000 by the same source. 

Weigh your options, do your homework, but don’t wait too long.  If you do, you might find yourself in a very serious dilemma.  One New York family reportedly spent $70,000 to eradicate bed bugs from their home, and don’t expect homeowners insurance to cover the cost.   

Finally, cost aside there are known hazards to using chemical pesticides and likely many more unknowns as we have repeatedly found out time and time again throughout history. Who knew DDT would find the American Bald Eagle, our national symbol nearly extinct. While heat may be safer and even more effective, it’s not exactly convenient. Furthermore, it’s rare a single visit from the exterminator will end an infestation.

Until next time remember three things...to protect & prevent against bedbugs, to brush your teeth, and also to become a fan of our facebook page! 

May you rest peacefully and bed bug free...

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Welcome to the USBedBugs.com Blog! Coming Soon you will find a wealth of information on bed bug prevention and protection and a great place to exchange information. We will publish resources to help in your battle against bed bugs, while we welcome your posts, questions and comments.