PMPs Share How NOT to Take Home Bed Bugs After Treating

CLEVELAND – For the most part, pest management professionals have done a good job taking precautions to ensure they do not bring bed bugs home after treating for them. Eight-seven percent of those of responded to PCT’s recent poll said they have not brought them home while another 13 percent said they have had this unfortunate experience.

Jeffrey White, CEO and owner of White Mantis Consultants, said he brought them home once around 2007. “I only found one and luckily it only bit me twice over the course of a week,” he said. “The problem was solved quickly.”

White learned from that experience to limit his contact with items within a home and when working with beds or couches, to make sure his clothes don’t brush up against items.  “Also, if you’re working in a bad infestation, watch the treads of your shoes,” White said. “When working in bad infestations I would recommend wearing Tyvek booties or putting an approved insect repellent on your shoes (of course assuming the label permits it).”

Mark Davenport, district manager at Rentokil Terminix, Lansing, Mich., shared on PCT’s LinkedIn page: It's all in how you do the service. Set nothing down in the home.

Macy Ruiz, technical services manager, Rentokil Terminix, said he has NOT brought them back home, but he recalled a close call. “Once after looking all over at this hotel room, I couldn’t find any activity, but while I was going to the next stop, a 3rd instar nymph was crawling on my shirt. I thought that was incredible, I couldn’t find it, but she found me!”

Chris Knear, account executive, Bay Pest Control, Biloxi, Miss., commented on PCT’s LinkedIn page, that he once brought them home early on in his career: We were not sure the origin, as my wife works with the public in mental health. However, as a precaution I now undress in the garage and put all my clothes in a garage bag tied off.

Participate in PCT’s newest poll question: Which best describes your 2024 outlook?