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Gentrol effectiveness
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LastMeal
newbite
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 34
Posted 2 years ago
Fri Feb 1 2008 22:13:28
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So there have been many discussions about how gentrol is ineffective and could even be counterproductive to the treatment of bedbugs, but does anyone have a link to the actual research paper or article that this information is originating from? there is this http://bedbugger.com/2007/03/26/gentrol-not-just-ineffective-may-make-bed-bugs-worse/ but it's an anonymous entomologists (say that three times fast) reference to 'recent research'. I'd like more concrete references to show to my PCO.
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BUMPING!
Any learned person have an answer?
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Not a learned person but... I have looked for this but have not been able to find it. I suspect it hasn't been published.
I think the researchers are David Moore and Dini Miller at Virginia Tech: http://esa.confex.com/esa/2006/techprogram/paper_26995.htm
I did come across a brief reference which indicated that the hydroprene-treated bedbugs were mated with non-treated bedbugs and laid twice as many eggs which were all viable.
A PCO who commented on Sean's site suggested there were several studies but this is the only one I have found references to.
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IveBeenBugged
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Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 280
Posted 2 years ago
Thu Feb 7 2008 16:03:50
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Well now I'm freaking out this is what they used to spray in conjuction with suspend the last 3 weeks at my place.
Ekk! It would be just my luck it helps them to reproduce more not less.
Yeah I know the jury's still out on it. Any PCO's or bur experts like to comment on it's effectivness out there?
Just kidding on the freaking out part.
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IveBeenBugged
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Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 280
Posted 2 years ago
Thu Feb 7 2008 16:05:22
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That's bug expert not bur expert I momentarily forgot how to type because I was so freaked out (yeah that's it).
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Thanks, 'nomo. As always, your powers of research are seriously impressive.
I'm definitely curious about the deal with Gentrol. IIRC, there are a few accounts here in the forums of people getting increased number of bites after treatment that included Gentrol. One might have nothing to do with the other, but these always catch my attention.
Then again, I can think of at least one person whose apartment was treated with Gentrol + other pesticides, and bedbugs were eradicated from her home.
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Thanks, persona. Yes, I think it's not easy to say. The increased number of bites could be down to just the number of eggs hatching.
I'm sorry that no professionals responded to your question, IBB. Not sure why this is still so commonly used. If people discussed this with their PCOs we might learn whether it's because they are unaware of the studies and are still working with older protocols (indeed many university fact sheets still list Gentrol) or they do know but deem it insufficient to warrant dropping it.
But many people have beat their bedbugs in spite of it, so don't freak out.
We always tell people to consult professionals. But professionals don't have all the answers and, as David reminded us the other day, there are many different protocols.
Still, I remember asking my PCO not to use Gentrol, right before they said they didn't use it anyway. Not sure how that conversation would have gone if we had not been in agreement.
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bugaphobic
junior member
Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 63
Posted 1 year ago
Fri May 9 2008 7:41:37
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The pco I am thinking of going with uses Gentrol......would it be better to look for another pco????
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I was unaware of that research, but my own experience (which ended several years ago) was that IGRs reduced callbacks. That's anecdotal, of course; and it could also just be that the callbacks went down because we got better at treating bedbugs as time went on.
But if the research can be replicated with the same result, obviously I would accept that over my own experiences.
-Scarafaggio
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mangycur
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Joined: Sep '07
Posts: 324
Posted 1 year ago
Sat May 24 2008 15:18:44
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my pco said he had heard of that study that indicated gentrol can make the bugs more prolific, but that he knows gentrol sterilizes juvenile bugs before they reach sexual maturity. He reasoned that a) that was only one study b) it was one study in a lab, not in the "real world" c) gentrol is supposed to sterilize juvenile bugs before the reach sexual maturity, but apparantly doesn't sterilze adults d) so the idea is, the new bugs will encounter the gentrol and become sterile before they can reproduce. The conclusion: so what if there are suddenly more babies in a generation, becuase those babies will be short-lived and won't be able to make more babies. So the sudden surge in their population will still end up in a zero population at some point.
I argued with him that what if some of those babies just happen to avoid the gentrol and end up growing up and reproducing anyway. I told him I'd prefer he not use it. And he said, ok, you're the customer. And he didn't use it.
So there is no sure answer. We all just have to decide what we want to believe.
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fightorflight
senior member
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 694
Posted 1 year ago
Sun May 25 2008 1:11:59
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Mangycur, thank you. This was interesting input to an important discussion.
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thebedbugresource
old timer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 244
Posted 1 year ago
Sun May 25 2008 8:43:50
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We know VERY little about the effects of Gentrol long term.
Gentrol does NOT prevent adult bed bugs from mating, nor is it intended to. It is meant to prevent nymphs from moulting and thus ever getting to the adult (reproductive stage).
Robin Todd did an experiment with Gentrol (hydropene) and found; "Hydroprene did not prevent molting to the adult stage; it did not prevent viable egg production; however, adult mortality was between 66 percent and 100 percent."
Many companied will tank mix Gentrol with some other product and apply them in tandem. This will not make the treatment less effective, and in some cases may have the desired result of preventing moulting.
No company should be using strictly Gentrol without the use of a supplemental product.
Sincerely,
Sean Rollo
Entomologist / Pest Professional
www.thebedbugresource.com -
mangycur
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Joined: Sep '07
Posts: 324
Posted 1 year ago
Sun May 25 2008 9:06:49
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Thank you, Sean. My PCO was using a steaming and alcohol treatment, and planned to spray gentrol in cracks and crevices afterwards.
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monroe
newbite
Joined: Feb '08
Posts: 23
Posted 1 year ago
Sun May 25 2008 10:10:25
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As problematic an insect that bed bugs are to study, relatively speaking, very little has been done and with a chemical such as Gentrol, the process is a long one because you are not just trying to kill them, you are interfering with the life cycle. That said, in my opinion, it will be a while, if ever, before ANYONE will have the DEFINITIVE answer for the question of insect growth regulators. With the other insects on the Gentrol label, the professional attitude is usually, it can only help and because of the transmigrating properties of the active and long residual, it's a worthwhile additive to the residuals used. If used for roaches, the effects can be (and are) seen but with the other pests on the label, visible proof is absent except maybe in laboratories. So too with bed bugs.
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BugBoy911
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Joined: Jan '09
Posts: 200
Posted 1 year ago
Tue Jan 27 2009 16:40:30
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Gentrol for BedBugs is a no no... Whats the Technician gona do, spray the mattress with gentrol and suspend!? Have fun sleeping on that, you'll be smelling gentrol all day. Gentrol is an oilbased pesticide although effective for roach's, your taking a chance when using it on bedbugs. I personally only use Gentrol in ULV machines while doing heavy fogging in commerical kithens. I add about an ounce of it to a gallon or 1/2 gallon of 5% pyrethrin concentrate. I find this effective, but more effective is the most amazing product ever GEL. Gel is so amazing for roach's that %90 of the time you don't need to spray period. BedBugs is a different story and gentrol just sticks and I wouldn't use it in anybody's home.
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Tormented
newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 4
Posted 5 months ago
Tue Aug 25 2009 15:18:25
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Hello all,
I'm a new member to the forum. BugBoy911 you said "Gentrol for BedBugs is a no no... Whats the Technician gona do, spray the mattress with gentrol and suspend!?"
Unfortunately, that's exactly what my PCO did. They started coming to my home in May, and after 4 treatments, with me calling them back every time, my contract expired last week. I have never stopped being bitten! They are supposed to be a reputable company with B.B. Dogs and featured on Animal Planet (that may give away who they are) they were nice and did return when called but that was it. I've never seen an adult Bed Bug in my home. I inspected the mattress & box and encased in vinyl covering, I've hunted high and low...nothing! I emptied dressers and closets as instructed. Bagged everything. They recently told me I should be Steri Fabbing every 3 days, that's getting expensive. Then I started reading about Gentrol. Which they did use, I saw the bottles...Gentrol, Suspend SC and Phantom. They originally told me we had a slight infestation, and after that it seemed like a population explosion happened. All I've ever seen is mite sized ones. I tried isolating my bed which they never told me to. And I'm still being bitten, they are not in the metal frame which I spray with SteriFab every week, no headboard. Did the Gentrol send their numbers off the charts? What do I do now? I gave them a large chunk of change and at this point I'm thinking they only mad matters worse. Can anyone shed some light?
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