2013 Global Bed Bug Summit – Denver, Dec 5-6
The 2013 Global Bed Bug Summit was held in freezing Denver Colorado on December 5th and 6th this year, where the temperatures fell to -7 degrees at night. But the topic of bed bugs was hot and front and center during the two day event, sponsored by the NPMA (National Pest Management Association) and Bed Bug Central.
There were nearly 500 attendees, coming from as far away as Norway, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Caribbean, Great Britain, and Canada, as well as scientists, technicians, exhibitors, and pest management professionals from around the United States.
The consensus, if there is one on such a complicated topic, is that study must and will be ongoing, and that methods of treatment are evolving. So far, according to several of the panel presentations, there is no single ‘magic bullet’ solution to the problem yet. There also seems to be consensus that the overall rate of bed bug infestation is increasing. 75% of pest control professionals agree on that point and 99% of pest management organizations have received customer calls about bed bugs during the past years.
Further, it appears that there is also consensus on the increasing resistance by bed bugs and other insects to traditional pesticides. The fact that bed bug populations seem to be increasing in many urban areas adds further weight to that view. Another point of consensus is on the need for more consumer focused education efforts on the part of the industry. Many national, regional, and local PCOs are already doing that, but it is broadly agreed that more outreach is needed to inform the public.
Indeed, the entire purpose of the 2013 Global Bed Bug summit was one of education and idea exchange for the pest control industry, whose members are on the forefront of the battle against bed bugs.
We couldn’t help but notice that there was an implicit acknowledgment of the ‘green’ trend of pest management in the fact that many of the exhibitors at this year’s Summit were not the traditional pesticide products. With a few exceptions (a couple of pesticide manufacturers and distributors,) most were ‘green’ to one degree or another, and heat technologies were somewhat dominant.
Of course, EcoRaider is on the forefront of this green trend. This is our focus. This is where the future is leading us.
