Bed bug trap on its way, finally
By Winston O. Buggy on Jul 30, 2008 in Biosensory, IPM, NightWatch, bed bug trap, bedbug trap, catch a bed bug, integrated pest management, kairomone, pest control, traps
While most claims of an effective bed bug trap have to date been much ado about nothing, a new product which seems to be the real deal is only a month or two away.
The trap I am talking about is the NightWatch by Biosensory, Inc.
In the past, this innovative company has produced an effective mosquito product and some other units which use inhibitors or attractants or both. This new unit attracts bed bugs via CO2 heat and a 7-part kairomone lure. The results have been studied for over a year by independent housing authorities and respected individuals and now the trap is scheduled for distribution early October.
The price for a unit which covers a 16×16 room will be around $400 [editor's note: we're not sure of the price at this time]. Overnight, the trapped bed bugs will be contained in a pit which you empty each morning. This trap sounds like a great step forward but remember they themselves state that the unit is for detection, monitoring and as part of an Integrated Pest Management program. In addition the manufacturers state, “If the premises have not been treated with additional EPA-registered insecticide(s) and/or steam heat, this protocol should be considered.”
Having been involved in trying to develop a prototype trap not associated with this one, as well as having dealt with bed bugs from an educational and control standpoint, I think this will be a great tool in the war against bedbugs. Sleep tight.
Editor’s note: Thanks, Winston!
Winston O. Buggy is the pseudonym of a bed bug professional. Read more about the science behind NightWatch here.
Update 10/5/2008:
Editor’s note: Sean of the Bed Bug Resource points us to a Canadian distributor offering pre-orders. (I don’t know anything about the store, personally.) For $100 CA or $95 US down (out of the total cost $400 CA / $380 US), they say your Nightwatch trap will ship when released (11/15 is the expected date). They will be sold to anyone, apparently. The protocol on the Nightwatch website does appear to be something laypeople could do.
Note: They haven’t been released yet so we can’t really say much about them (but I do know someone with bed bugs, if Nightwatch wants to send me one to review (hint, hint!)
The data looks promising, but read all the info. on the Biosensory site, and caveat emptor.
content rss
nobugsonme | Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
This seems like very good news, Winston.
I know we Bedbuggers are all hoping for something on a much smaller (and less expensive scale) that individuals could buy and use themselves — for example, in the early stages of an infestation, when detection is difficult. This isn’t that kind of product.
Nevertheless, this has the potential to help in many ways. Hotels, obviously, might use it to detect infestations (we can only hope). And shelters and other institutions.
PCOs, landlords, and management companies might deploy one in a unit being treated.
Hmmm, I really wish we could hire an independent testing body to run one overnight in a unit and verify there are no bed bugs before you move in to a new home.
parakeets | Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
I appreciate this post, and the link was fascinating. In trials, they say this machine captured 1000 bedbugs in one night! Obviously an incredibly infested complex, but what a boon to people who can’t catch ONE bedbug and can’t get approved for treatment because there is no “proof” they have bedbugs. Now here’s something that can capture a live sample for sufferers.
This machine expensive but I wonder how expensive it would be compared, say, to repeatedly hiring a bedbug dog as a detection device? If it costs a couple of hundred dollars for a dog visit, and that’s one time, this machine might be cost effective (though I’d love to see someone do studies comparing its effectiveness with dogs for detection). I tend to vote for dogs because they could also tell you where the bedbugs had their harborages. But this machine could be used over and over, and you could move it from room to room. It might reassure those who live in fear of bedbugs returning and have no way of monitoring the bedbug population. What price would we pay for a bit of peace of mind?
Actually, I really want one. I’d rather have this than 100 gallons of gas, for sure. Is it safe for a layperson to buy and use? How expensive is it to refill with the CO2 and the other attractants?
I wish the local rental center could carry them (though I’d be afraid I’d GET bedbugs from the darn thing if it had been used in an infested house). I’d love to rent it for one night.
NotsoLucky | Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
I’m with parakeets. I want one now, I dont want to have to wait till Sept. Anything that can help with our detection issues is worth all of that and more for us. I’ve lost far more than $400 worth of sleep trying to get to the root of our bites.
James Buggles | Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
The company is clearly marketing this device to the lodging industry. I think they might be in for a surprise when individuals start contacting them. In the long run, we need more technologies to which pests cannot become resistant — at least not quickly.
Doug Summers MS | Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
Glad to see that a monitoring trap is finally going to become available on the market.
I would love to know more about the conditions under which it was tested. The information that is on the companies website is rather incomplete.
Catching nearly 850 bed bugs in one night as shown on the graph would require an enormous infestation.
I would love to participate in research comparing my Bed Bug Dog against the trap in rooms that have a light infestation.
I believe that an effective trap will be a good follow-up tactic to confirm unverified K9 alerts in light infestation situations.
I seriously doubt that monitoring traps will replace K9 inspections anytime soon.
K9s will continue to provide the best real time detection (2-3 minutes a room) & instant location information for treatment, while the traps will more useful for continuous long term monitoring and clearance confirmation.
The website states that the bait will need to be replaced every seven days & the CO2 supply will last for 14 days @ 8 hours a night.
The cost to acquire & maintain a trap for each room will still be much higher than quarterly K9 inspections for a large hotel.
bedbugvictimperthaustralia | Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
$400 is nothing for peace of mind, just to know an infestation is really gone.
tp123 | Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
if you click site map and click night watch you can get more info. I says it can not only monitor but help to eradicate. I would think if the lure is stronger then you they go there.
nobugsonme | Jul 31, 2008 | Reply
Hi everyone,
Yes– Parakeets’ voice will likely be echoed by many. The product may not be marketed to individuals, but many who’ve passed through our forums will likely consider buying it — if they have a long-term infestation, their infestation is being mismanaged, or if they have to keep bringing a k9 in (as ‘Keets points out) and the cost adds up.
Most people with bed bugs probably would not consider such a large investment, but if it is effective, it may be cheaper than some of the options people have.
Doug makes a good point about the data — I’d like to see more detailed information. The Nightwatch website says 1,000 bed bugs were caught in one room in one night. But how many bed bugs were present?!?
The best thing about this is the opportunity it offers to those who can’t get their problem diagnosed properly. I’d like to know how effective it is in small infestations.
If someone is getting bites–say one every other night or so, and so has a few bed bugs present, how many nights will it take to nab a culprit?
If the answer to that question is that in a week, one of those few bed bugs will be nabbed, then I will be very pleased.
Finally — rentals are an excellent idea! An entrepreneur who offered such a service would likely have many customers. (I assume that even if bed bugs are in the unit from a previous renter, they can’t escape…)
bedbugvictimperthaustralia | Jul 31, 2008 | Reply
I sent them an email asking for notification when they first become available in Australia. I want one for peace of mind.
tp123 | Jul 31, 2008 | Reply
If these bugs are looking for the closet food source with the strongest attraction, and you have your bed in bed bug shape, shouldn’t they all head for this machine? Therefore you feel safe. In the meantime you can concentrate on the ones hiding
Winston O. Buggy | Jul 31, 2008 | Reply
Point of Information, I was in error in regard to the price of the unit which has yet to be set
but unfortunately will be pricey.
paulaw0919 | Jul 31, 2008 | Reply
This devise will also obviously catch other biting insects that are attracted to heat and CO2. I’m sure entomologists will be happy to receive samples of actual bugs in bags then lint from paranoid people. There will be many previous bed bug suffers that thought they had bed bugs still, find that they have other insects that are biting them instead.(midges etc)
It will also be surprising to see how many people actually have an infestation that they never knew was there. This device will be great to ensure you don’t get re infested from a visiting relative. After one goes through an infestation, it would be nice to be able to use this at those who were at or stayed at your home before you knew you had bed bugs to ensure that same person won’t be bringing them back to your home on the next visit.
I know that this particular devise isn’t aimed toward the homeowner but with the huge take this product is going to bring, there will be something out soon after I would think.
Doug, I do agree with you on the K9 detection point as well. Larger buildings such as hotels, nursing homes etc.. will still be interested in K9 detection. I think this new monitor will be used by larger building owners as well as the homeowner though. People who live in a condo or single family home may use a devise as such to ensure all is clear after an infestation. I would think in the hotel industry, they would also use this devise, and then use a K9 to pinpoint an infestation in order to make treatment faster, easier, and less costly? Possibly bring a whole new perspective to IPM. Just a thought.
Personally, going through a bad infestation last year, having not traveled in over 5-6yrs..most likely getting the bugs from someone personal bringing them into the home unknowingly…this devise is very exciting news. It brings courage to have “family get togethers” in the home once again w/o the fear of your home getting fully infested before knowing bed bugs were introduced. So many people on so many scales, get to have their life back and feel safe.
Great early detection tool, finally here. It’s only going to get better from here I think. May take more time than we would like, but soon, getting rid of bed bugs may be as easy as ridding a head lice infestation, if not easier, do to early detection. (YAY!!)
Patricia Wood | Aug 1, 2008 | Reply
I, too, had a bb infestation of my apartment and had to move – went to extraordinary measures when I did so. Now, a few months later, I feel like I am crawling with bugs – sometimes feel something cold sliding over my skin and sometimes something “wispy” brushing against me, especially my legs. This happens at work and at home. I have gotten single, non-itchy, visible “bites” at home and short-term itchiness where I’ve received a sharp “bite” at work or at home (but no sign of anything). I also wake up with bruising at home even though I haven’t bumped into anything and the bruising isn’t sore. I can’t see any bugs on my skin when I feel the crawling – could this possibly be newly-hatched nymphs too small to even see but I can feel them? I also feel like they’re in my hair and ears. I haven’t found any sign of bb’s at home or work – no blood, eggs, bugs, feces, casings – and I only ever found two in my old apartment, although I was being bitten/”bitten” every night, sometimes by adults, sometimes by nymphs(?) I only ever got small red bites, not large welts.
I’ve been told by the pest company that it’s probably just my imagination and they won’t do anything but a general spraying unless I find “evidence”.
Is anyone else experiencing that cold feeling and bruising and should I be able to see newly-hatched nymphs if they are crawling on my skin?
“Going Buggy”
nobugsonme | Aug 1, 2008 | Reply
Patricia,
Please repost your query in the forums as it is off-topic here.
Go here: http://bedbugger.com/forum
bite this! | Sep 11, 2008 | Reply
When is this thing gonna be on the market already? I tried to email them and it wouldn’t go through……arrrgggghhh!!!!
nobugsonme | Sep 11, 2008 | Reply
bite this (I feel rude saying your name!):
Our source said October.
Someone else said November.
Someone said they would not be selling them to consumers, just to pest control professionals. Not sure if that will hold true.
bite this! | Sep 19, 2008 | Reply
I can’t take this anymore! My landlord has already had a pest control guy come twice. All our beds are isolated, I can’t even stand in the same spot to shave for two long without my feet getting raped. This thing was my holy grail!!! I guess I’ll have to go to home depot and make one myself with the hotshots and glue board. I don’t know what else to do. I refuse to move on account of these things! (they would probably follow us or be at the new location with my luck anyway)…….Thanks for the informative website and advice!
nobugsonme | Sep 19, 2008 | Reply
bite this!
Has your landlord’s PCO been treating adjacent units?
nobugsonme | Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
Biosensory will be taking pre-orders for the Nightwatch in early October, for shipment in mid- to late November.
paulaw0919 | Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
this is good news.
thebedbugresource | Sep 25, 2008 | Reply
I can assure everyone that Entologic is reputable.
I will post more info on the pre-order and shipping dates as they become available.
I will likely have some pricing info from them soon as well.
nobugsonme | Sep 29, 2008 | Reply
Dueling bed bug traps?
Apparently, entomologist Philipp Kirsch and the team at APTIV, Inc. are preparing to launch their own bed bug monitor at Pestworld next month.
laorulez | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
Any more news on this? I may be interested in getting it, even if it costs a few hundred… I think I may have bed bugs, but if I do, it is only 1.5 weeks into the infestation, as that is how long since I got back from vacation in New England…
nobugsonme | Oct 5, 2008 | Reply
laorulez,
Read the update in the post (just added). You can now put down a deposit and expect one to ship when released (which is expected to be 11/15).
Of course, I hope your problem is gone before then– many infestations can be cleared up within 6 weeks.
lil_bit | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
there is another possible marketing niche beyond just people who currently have (large) bedbug infestations. a group to consider: people who have PREVIOUSLY had a bedbug infestation, and never want one again. i would consider buying one for just such a use. living in a university town that has a rising bedbug problem, i have anxiety over ever getting them again. especially when i walk down the street and see heat treatment units set up outside of people’s homes/apartments only a few blocks away!
the one factor that would deter someone in this once-but-never-again marketing niche would be the price. someone in the midst of an infestation, out of desperation, lack of sleep and anxiety, might be willing to spend approximately 400 dollars. a person who does not currently have an infestation would be much less likely to do so.
i would like to see data on how the trap works in a low level infestation (say, five bugs). could it prevent an infestation from ever starting with the introduction and removal of just a few bugs (say, from a visiting friend’s purse)? i would also like to see data on how long the product lasts. how many months/years before the lure become uneffective, or loses considerable effectiveness?
nobugsonme | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
lil-Bit,
I believe the lures last a week, and the box comes with four. You have to buy more after this. Similarly, the CO2 tank must be provided by user and replaced in time.
Running one every night of your life might be quite expensive, but (assuming it does work well) running one one week every month (at first) and then every few months or so (for monitoring) might be an option, especially for those in multi-unit buildings.
I think there would be few bed bug survivors who wouldn’t want one, just to use periodically for peace of mind.
I agree with you that data on smaller infestations would be really useful. The Purdue data on the Nightwatch page on “science” does give some indication, showing how many bed bugs were caught each night. Presumably it would continue attracting bed bugs even if there were few.
I read the table as follows:
Day / Bugs caught
1 850
2 169
3 275
4 17
5 ?
6 ?
7 ?
8 48
9 0
10 2
11 0
12 0
13 0
14 4
15 6
Interestingly, the protocol says to “Repeat until trap count is zero for at least three consecutive days.” And yet day 11-13 were 0 count, and day 14 brought more bed bugs. So perhaps you need to go on for much longer. I’d like to see ongoing data for this test.
thebedbugresource | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
Hello All,
Nobugs, thanks for updating the info in the regular post. There are units still available at The Bed Bug Shop (at last count 48).
These traps will only work on bed bugs that require a meal. If a bed bug has recently fed it is unlikely to be lured out by the unit.
The Nightwatch protocol is slightly flawed (as you have pointed out). The unit does not work on eggs. This means that the unit must run for at least 2-3 weeks solid to have an effect on the population. Remember eggs take 10-14 days to hatch.
It is also important to note that this is not meant as a control device. It is a monitor. With that in mind it could be run every 3-5 days for one night to see if there is any new captures. If there is, you may wish to run it for a longer period until the capture rate drops to zero and then repeat the process.
I think the real benefit to this unit is that it can act as bait rather than you. You could have your room treated and then sleep elsewhere. Any bugs in the room ought to be lured across the pesticide and then to the trap.
Sean
Entomologist/Pest Professional
http://www.thebedbugresource.com
thebedbugresource | Oct 11, 2008 | Reply
I have spoken with the supplier (Biosensory) and apparently they are on track for a mid November launch. However, they have stated that they will have a limited run based on pre-orders from pest control companies and distributors.
If my reading between the lines is accurate I would suggest that there will be very few units available to the general public; That these will be utilized mainly by pest control companies & technicians (and not be for sale) for the initial launch.
The Bed Bug Shop (www.bedbugshop) is taking pre-orders (as Nobugs posted in the update). Their site shows 40 pre-orders left.
To my knowledge this is the only place doing this. If the general public is looking to own one of these units at launch this would be the way to go.
Sean
Entomologist/Pest Professional
http://www.thebedbugresource.com
thebedbugresource | Oct 11, 2008 | Reply
I am sorry, I noticed in my post above I forgot the extension for The Bed Bug Shop. It is http://www.bedbugshop.ca
Sean.
thebedbugresource | Oct 12, 2008 | Reply
Nobugs has asked me to clarify a few things for the readership here at Bedbugger regarding The Bed Bug Shop.
The Bed Bug Shop is not my shop; however, I do personally know the owner. The shop is a new venture designed to be a one stop shop for bed bug related merchandise. It was sparked by the availability of the Nightwatch unit to its owner. While it is still in its early stages there are plans to carry a much wider range of bed bug related products in the very near future.
I made my posts here (above) because I know many of you are looking to get one of these units and this is the only place that I know of where the general public can secure a unit.
I can vouch for the fact that the shop is legitimate and trustworthy.
I cannot answer questions on behalf of the store but you can email them to info@bedbugshop.ca
Sincerely,
Sean
Entomologist/Pest Professional
http://www.thebedbugresource.com
nobugsonme | Oct 14, 2008 | Reply
Thanks, Sean, for clarifying that.
Belle72 | Oct 25, 2008 | Reply
Sean, do you know if these units would work in a room with fans running, I mean with the CO2 tank? We run a ceiling fan and smaller fan also. THank you for any info.