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will placing covered pans of hot coals in cabinet kill bugs?
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khatmal
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Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 2
Posted 5 months ago
Sun Oct 4 2009 16:03:53
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We have small children (one of whom is crawling) and the only options the pest control services we've consulted in our area can offer are either 'spraying local chemicals in kerosene oil' or 'spraying WHO-approved odorless chemicals.' I should mention we live in South Asia. They say we need to stay out of the house for 6 hours and then clean up the dead bugs and live happily ever after. They don't want to do a survey and quoted me blanket rates on the phone. I would like to avoid chemicals as much as possible because of the children. I think some DIY is in order: I can dismantle the bed, bag it and place it in sunlight (it's 40 degrees nowadays). I am ready to start the whole bagging/laundry/steamer lifestyle. But:
1) How do I tackle a built-in shelf/cabinet unit that is a particularly active hotspot? Would it make any sense to seal up exit routes and place covered pans of hot coal in each cabinet for 2 hours? Or should I just use a OTC spray and seal it up for some months?
2) Can I use an OTC bug spray for crawling insects in the room after removing the bed? At least it would be clearly labelled. Have problems trusting the pest control companies we've spoken to.
I know the coal thing sounds extreme. But the cabinet is the source of the bugs - that's where I first saw them when we moved in some months ago. If it were my house I'd just have the whole thing removed and burned, but that's not an option...
Pls help, am getting desperate because sightings have become increasingly frequent and I feel everyday I waste looking for a mythical IPM professional I'm setting myself up for a bigger infestation.
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depressedandconfused
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Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 32
Posted 5 months ago
Sun Oct 4 2009 16:35:04
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A few ideas --
1) caulk all cracks where the cabinet meets the wall & caulk all cracks in general
2) dust DE in all cracks before sealing
3) paint or polyurethane any unfinished wood
4) what about steaming and/or heating the cabinet in another way? steamer? hairdryer? I can't imagine that a pan of coals would radiate heat throughout an entire cabinet, unless the cabinet is very small.
5) keep spraying alcohol all over and around the cabinet -- alcohol is a contact killer and evaporates quickly so should be relatively safe compared to other pesticides
Are there any PCOs down there that could just heat treat the entire home? That would be the safest and most effective option.
Also, since your baby is crawling, if the cabinet is out of reach, what about having a PCO just treat the cabinet to reduce your problems? All of the sealing suggestions should also be done to prevent re-infestation of the cabinet.
I'm just a lay person. A PCO on this site might have better suggestions. Good luck.
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depressedandconfused
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Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 32
Posted 5 months ago
Sun Oct 4 2009 16:55:58
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If you use DE be super careful and read more about it on this board.
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khatmal
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 2
Posted 5 months ago
Mon Oct 5 2009 11:49:44
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Thank you for the practical suggestions. Unfortunately no heat treatment is available in the country, if not the region. That would have been my first choice too. But today I finally got hold of a PCO who insisted on doing a survey himself. He couldn't find signs of infestation anywhere (!) but based on my description of the bugs suggested doing a gas treatment - phosphine. Apparently it's been used to treat stored grains and fruit for many years. He says this will kill all bugs in the house (and even penetrate the cabinet fully) and not leave a toxic residue. We have to evacuate the house for a minimum of 30 hours. This is the most appealing option before me...and I won't have to move any furniture, toys, books etc... If I feel squeamish about using gas, he said they'll treat just the cabinet after sealing it up.
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DO NOT USE pans of burning coals... They produce large quantities of carbon monoxide and will not provide the desired results. Bagging your mattress & placing it in the sun isn't likely to work either
There is also an issue of starting a fire. A steam generator is a much better choice.
Go to the links page & download Stephen Doggett's Code of Practice
http://medent.usyd.edu.au/bedbug/bedbug_cop.htmAsk your PCO to follow the protocols that are recommended in the manual.
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