PEST MANAGEMENT RESOURCES

EPA and NPMA Partner to Promote Bed Bug Awareness

The EPA is partnering with the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) to help raise public awareness about bed bugs and what people can do to help curb infestations. The EPA has resources for communities to learn how to prevent, detect and control bed bug infestations.  Obtaining accurate information is the first step in both prevention and control. While there are no quick fixes scientists are working on a non-chemical remedy they believe will be fail proof once developed. This development was featured in a New York Times article in April 2013. Currently, there are effective strategies to control bed bugs using both non-chemical and chemical methods.

Simple precautions can help prevent bed bug infestation in your home:

• Check secondhand furniture, beds and couches for any signs of bed bug infestation before bringing them home.
• Reduce clutter in your home to reduce hiding places for bed bugs.
• When traveling, use hotel room luggage racks to hold your luggage when packing or unpacking rather than setting your luggage on the bed or floor.

The EPA has the following bed bug resources:

• Bed Bug Information website:
  http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/bedbugs/
• Bed Bug Clearinghouse:
  http://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/bedbug-clearinghouse.html
• Ten Tips to Prevent Bed Bugs:
  http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/bed-bugs-faq-fs.html
• Travelers: Beware of Bed Bugs!” – handy reminder cards:
  http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/Publications/bedbug-traveler.pdf

Bed Bugs in Schools Webinar

On Thursday, April 25 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm ET, the EPA and the NPMA will co-host the webinar Understanding Bed Bugs in Schools. Presentations will describe proactive steps, such as how to prevent bed bugs, and how to manage bed bug hot spots in schools. To register for the webinar, please visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/775395562

The National Pest Management Association is a gold-level member of the EPA’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) and has declared April 22-26 Bed Bug Awareness Week.  To learn more about PESP, go to http://www.epa.gov/pesp/.

For information from the NPMA on bed bugs, visit http://www.pestworld.org/all-things-bed-bugs/.