As promised here is a summary of the recent southeastern Michigan bed bug workshop from December 14, 2009.
Bed Bug Workshop Sponsors
The workshop was sponsored by Michigan Association of Housing Officials, City of Detroit’s Buildings and Safety Engineering Department and the Michigan Bed Bug Working Group.
Speakers included:
Karla Henderson – City of Detroit, Buildings and Safety Engineering
Erik Foster – Michigan Department of Community Health
Andy Murdock – Michigan Pest Management Association
Brian Rowe – Michigan Department of Agriculture
Gary Offenbacker – Property Managers Association of Michigan
Howard Asch – Michigan Association of Housing Officials
Kim James and Steve Leggat – City of Detroit, Buildings and Safety Engineering
The main take away message in my view was pro-active cooperation between all affected parties.
The speakers could not have been better chosen each one was an expert in his or her field.
Bed Bug Topics Covered:
Do bed bugs cause disease?
Where do bed bugs come from?
How do homes become infested with bed bugs?
How can you tell if your residence is infested with bed bugs?
What should you do if you find bed bugs?
What are your rights and obligations concerning bed bugs?
What you shouldn’t do if you have bed bugs?
How can you have bed bug specimens examined?
What should you know abut bed bug insecticides?
What might you do when returning from a bed bug infested residence?
How to inspect for bed bugs?
How to hire a bed bug pest control company?
Known as the Caribbean, brown, hairy or raspberry crazy ant. This new problem has been identified in Florida, Texas and Mississippi.The exact name and classification of this ant is still not known. Standard treatment do not work because of the huge numbers of ants. It has been estimated a single nest underground may be as large as a small house. If you see hundreds of small ants scurrying in erotic directions… It’s time to call a professional.
The Hawaiian Islands of Maui and Kauai are infested with an extremely invasive ant species known as the “Tiny Fire Ant“. The Tiny Fire Ant lives in areas similar to the red fire ant, but can also live in trees. This makes control a nightmare. I hope this sub tropical species does not migrate to the continental US, we already have enough trouble with our native species.
Ants have a green thumb? According to an article in Scientific Magazine, ant farmers, like their human counterparts, depend on nitrogen fixing bacteria to make their gardens grow. It’s amazing how many human methods are already being used by animals!
As many of you know, the bed bugs have been making a big comeback. The Michigan Pest Control Association (MPCA) has been working with the Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Michigan Bed Bug Work Group to put together a training program for public officials, general public, housing authorities and others. The program is designed to be an informational training on bed bugs including their biology, how to inspect for them and some of the current treatments available for their control.
The first of these meetings is being held in Detroit on December 14th 2009. There are plans in the works to consider doing 2 other training sessions in Grand Rapids and Lansing areas. I have been invited as a participant in this event and will keep everyone informed on the details once I have further information.
Bed Bugs are on the rise in schools. An exact number of infestations can’t be determined, but the bed bug problems have gotten worse and infestations are becoming more common.
Last week in New York, P.S. 163 (an Upper West Side school) had bed bugs again!! There have been repeated outbreaks during the latest school year. A growing number of schools across the country are dealing unsuccessfully with the bed bug problem. The bed bugs come into schools from infested homes on children’s clothing etc.
In hopes to reduce the costly extermination fees, the PTA and teachers bought bags so students and teachers can protect their belongings.
The Association of Pest Control Regulations Officials (ASPCRO) is encouraging the approval of the section 18 request submitted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture for three formulations of Propoxur for the control of bed bugs.
ASPCRO is a professional association composed of the structural pest control regulatory officials of many of the 50 states.
Section 18 of Federal pesticide act allows for the special use permit of a pesticide for a specific use. In this case to control bed bugs.
The Emerald Ash Borer has now been discovered in West Virginia, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Kentucky. New quarantines are being established by USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service. (APHIS).
This borer, first discovered in Michigan in 2004 threatens to destroy the entire Ash species. Prevention is only possible with pesticide treatments prior to heavy infestation. Quarantines do not appear to be working.
Safe Lawns Foundation and Toxic Actions Center said absolutely not to a proposal to spray a million gallons on insecticide to a million acres to combat the out of control Asian Longhorn Beetle. They did allow the USDA forest to direct a trunk injection program which began in September.
