SCHAUMBURG, ILL. - In light of the multitude of recent bed bug reports in the media Central Life Sciences recommends that pest management professionals take a broad-spectrum approach in working with customers to minimize bed bugs’ impact and limit opportunities for infestations.

“No pest has shown a greater resilience than bed bugs and this influx of media stories underscores the importance of pest management professionals utilizing all the tools in their arsenals to help customers’ control infestations,” said John Neberz, Business Manager of the Zoëcon division of Central Life Sciences.

Neberz added, “Beg bugs can have a potentially substantial negative economic impact, and as a biting nuisance, can have an extremely debilitating effect on their victims. Pest management professionals need to provide education, prevention techniques and a portfolio of effective products to counter their spread.”

A variety of methods and products can be used to treat bed bug infestations including low-odor sprays, dusts and aerosols. And, pest management professionals must provide customers with a pre-treatment checklist to ensure that once applied, the products have the opportunity to work effectively.

Neberz explained that vacuuming, steam cleaning and hot water laundering of bedding items are essential in residential environments. Reducing clutter is a necessity in all areas prone to bed bugs because items strewn about rooms or open areas afford many places for the insects to hide and impedes inspection and treatment. Customers should caulk cracks and crevices where the bugs can thrive, such as around floorboards and moldings. Newer strategies such as “superheating” and mattress covers are additional tools to combat the pests.

In conjunction with customer control strategies, pest management professionals can utilize Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) such as Gentrol to combat the bed bugs. Neberz explained that IGRs have a strong history in controlling a wide variety of insects and keep populations under control by breaking the life cycle and preventing infestations from rebounding.

For more information visit www.zoecon.com.