This past year has come with more than its share of unique obstacles and varied challenges. From a business perspective, normal operating procedures have been upended. Companies and organizations have had to quickly adapt to a changed environment as well as disrupted routines. Despite the disruptions and required adjustments, one thing has not changed — rodents’ abilities to adapt and to thrive.

The societal dislocation as a result of COVID altered rodents’ habitats and behavioral patterns. Stories of rats taking over Bourbon Street, relocating from restaurants to residential areas, and running rampant in Chicago and New York have populated the news throughout 2020. This has required pest control companies to modify their protocols: whether instituting additional safety precautions, flexing work schedules, altering communications or looking for the proper tools to assist in navigating this new environment.

We commend the efforts of the pest control industry for reacting quickly to the required operational changes of the past year. At Bell, we recognize this need, and our goal is to ensure pest management professionals (PMPs) have the tools for efficient and efficacious rodent control.

One tool we offer that meets today’s need is the new line of iQ products. Powered by Bell Sensing Technologies, the iQ product range takes popular Bell rodent control devices and outfits them with customized Bluetooth sensors, recording when and where rodents are active at an account.

With iQ’s automated data gathering, keeping acceptable social distance in areas of high employee traffic is achievable. PMPs no longer are checking empty devices or bait stations without activity; they are instead focusing on treating the areas where rodent activity has been timestamped and recorded.

Innovations like Bell’s iQ product line are intended to help you thrive in environments like we have today. Bell promises to make every effort to provide great rodent control solutions to our customers, and continuing our work in the ongoing fight against rodents.

We appreciate your support and thank you for your business. Stay safe and be well.

Steve Levy

President and CEO

Bell Laboratories

Insecticide treatment was the primary method of bed bug control for 71 percent of PMPs, followed by heat (15 percent), found the PCT 2020 State of the Bed Bug Control Market survey.

Mattress encasements/active mattress liners were offered by 62 percent of PMPs and vacuuming by 48 percent. Rich Schroll, owner of Garfield Pest Control in Merrimack, N.H., first used a vacuum last year for a particularly heavy infestation. It reduced the number of bed bugs that might escape conventional treatment. “Vacuums are definitely something we’ll use on a regular basis,” he said.

The go-to treatment for Rodney O’Quinn of Keller’s Pest Control is heat, but he uses tent fumigation, offered by 12 percent of PMPs, for homes with high levels of clutter. O’Quinn has canines, offered by 16 percent of PMPs, to identify bed bug hot spots and clear homes post-treatment. “That really helps a customer with peace of mind,” he said.

All Florida Pest Control in Hollywood, Fla., combines steam and conventional treatments, said Regional Manager Pedro Alvarez. More than a quarter (26 percent) of PMPs offer steam treatment, found the PCT study.

Brian Metzger of GP Home Defense primarily uses silica desiccant dust and a bio-pesticide. “We do a very meticulous, full top-to-bottom crack-and-crevice treatment. We’ve had phenomenal success,” he said.

PMPs said products with long-lasting residuals made it possible to offer proactive or preventive bed bug services. These deliver recurring revenue while providing clients reassurance and a better way to budget for bed bug control. Bed bug monitoring, an element of these programs, is offered by 48 percent of pest management professionals.

Proactive service appeals to frequent travelers and facilities like shelters and low-income housing where re-infestations are common, but not all clients see the value.

“We tried to do those, but people find it too expensive,” said Alvarez. Others think the market for proactive service will grow, especially among small hospitality clients. “When it comes down to small outfits, reputation is everything,” said Schroll.

The charge for a typical residential bed bug treatment in 2020 was $892. Forty-three percent of PMPs said the price of bed bug control increased in their markets over the past three years, while 45 percent said it was unchanged.

ABC Home & Commercial Services developed an extensive menu of treatment options featuring different approaches and price points. “Having that menu of services allows us the flexibility to really come up with the best treatment,” as well as address clients’ budgetary concerns, said Alan Brown.

According to the PCT 2020 State of the Bed Bug Control Market survey, 42 percent PMPs said revenue from bed bug control service would increase next year. That’s down from 59 percent who felt this way last year.

Much depends on the pandemic’s end. “If this ends and we go back to normal, I think my bed bug work will go back to normal,” said Tom Sieminski, Team Pest Control. He said he thinks a return to normal travel, recreation and entertainment levels may take a while. “The trepidation and the uncertainty are really paramount in people’s heads right now,” he said.

Daniel Conrad of Pro-Tech Termite and Pest Control said he expects the number and scope of bed bug jobs to increase. “I think the call volume will go up and I think the infestation levels are going to be higher because (people) have put off calling someone to come into their house,” he said.

“I’m pretty happy with the bed bug market right now,” added Conrad. “I’ll be ready to go out there next time it really picks up again.”