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Help for friend [pro feedback on pesticides used needed]
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bedbugcrazydelusional
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Posted 9 months ago
Thu Aug 2 2012 2:19:10
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It's been a little over a year and I'm bb free *Knock on wood* after the move.
But a friend of mine recently moved and unfortunate enough to have gotten bb and right now I'm helping her as much as I can with info. I've learned from my own infestations and of course this site, the do's and don'ts. And what to ask the PCO etc....So she found one on mattress sent me pic, I confirmed it was a bb. She ran a tape on her bed slats and found some bb nymphs and eggs. Notified landlord and PCO came today and confirmed it was a medium level infestation.
1) He sprayed EcoExempt as a flushing agent and then sprayed Steri Fab to kill the bugs. Any thoughts on those pesticide being used ? Are they effective?
2) Also I told her to make sure PCO check neighboring apts to make sure that she didn't get them from the building she just moved into vs. her bringing it in from furniture purchased or hotel stays. I don't think he did check so she notified her neighbors with a note. Any thoughts on that?
3) And told her to make sure PCO comes back in 2 weeks to reinvestigate and spray eventhough he said " I'm pretty sure I got them all". He didn't mention of coming back, just told her to call if she's still having problems. I'm kind of uneasy about him not being more diligent of scheduling a second visit whether she might or might not still have them.
4) Can she use DE (precautiously of course) going forth as a preventative measure or will that counter with PCO treatment? -
your host
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 9 months ago
Sun Aug 5 2012 0:50:15
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A flushing agent and steri-fab... I would love to hear some pros comment on that as a protocol.
I changed your title -- specific ones may do more to attract interest.
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oldtimer
Joined: Nov '11
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Posted 9 months ago
Sun Aug 5 2012 17:32:25
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Dear bbcrazy,
A few comments for your consideration:
> In my experience and observation, nearly all the "natural type" products may provide some contact kill but are suspect on residual efficacy.
> Check the label on the other product and you will find it's about 64% alcohol which means contact kill only.
> As per above, it appears that contact only type products were used at your friend's place and, unless 100% of the bed bugs present were contacted sufficiently to be killed (which I doubt), my guess is that bed bugs will be back soon.
> Basically, only a portion of a bed bug program protocol has been described as being conducted above.
> Notifying neighbors can be a tricky thing, even though I generally would agree with doing so, as the risks include how such neighbors may react.
> BTW, perhaps we're not surprised that the PCO has not inspected the neighboring units as just a partial treatment at best has been done thus far.
> "I'm pretty sure I got 'em all." Really, that's what you're going with, really?
> Yes, this situation definitely needs thorough folllow up and it sounds as if your friend is going to need to take on some inspection work on their own.
> Based upon the information provided above, there is no residual value or remaining efficacy from the initial treatment. As such, the application of any insecticides will not adversely affect or "counter" the program.
Question: How did your friend get bed bugs?
Hope this helps ! paul b.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,707online
Posted 9 months ago
Sun Aug 5 2012 18:39:41
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Just to add (thanks, Paul, for the professional perspective): if your friend was somewhere where the city will inspect rentals and issue violations, then doing so MIGHT lead to better treatment.
For example, here in NYC, you would call 311 and an inspector would come out and would need to see visual evidence (my understanding is some inspectors have a dog, not all). If a violation is filed, the landlords are not told who to hire or how they must treat, but they are told to have adjacent/attached units inspected, and then treated if needed. And this alone might improve things. There would also be a record of the violation and someone could follow up.
Boston, to give another example, will also inspect and file a violation, and gives even stricter guidelines to landlords with violations about which additional units must be inspected and treated.
If she's in NYC, I know a lot of folks don't want to antagonize the landlord by calling 311. Alternatively, she could also just ask the landlord for follow-up treatments, but given the type, we know they may be ineffective. It becomes harder to prove you have an undertreated problem if you get to a stage where the problem is less obvious.
Hiring her own PCO is an option but if attached units are affected, this is unlikely to solve the problem.
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bedbugcrazydelusional
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Joined: Jun '11
Posts: 43offline
Posted 9 months ago
Sun Aug 5 2012 21:52:15
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Dear PBello and Nobugsonme
Thanks for the info I will pass it along to her.
She's not quite sure where she could've gotten the bbs. Could be one of her hotel stays, she travels a lot for work. Could be they were there upon them moving in, they just moved to that apt. Could've came from the bed they ordered cause their bites started to show up shortly after they got their bed delivered.
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