The distress and cost of bed bug infestations in the accommodation industry is ENORMOUS and growing every day. The mere mention of bed bugs can seriously effect an hoteliers reputation so an understanding of bed bug habits and control is essential to the modern manager.
The growing bed bug problem is not restricted to accommodation providers. Mine sites, camper van renters, boat charters, in fact any one who provides sleeping facilities is likely to encounter bed bugs and is liable for the protection of their customers and staff.
A major problem for the accommodation manager is that many people (I would estimate 75-85%) DO NOT REACT TO BED BUG BITES IN THE EARLY STAGES OF INFESTATION*. Some may think this is a good thing but it does, in fact, lead to infestations growing and spreading through a lack of detection, and failed treatment through an unawareness that some adjoining rooms are effected. I recently traveled to country WA to treat a motel that had had 17 treatments from local pest controllers for a bed bug problem. The local pest controller was suggesting closing the entire establishment (which he had done before for 3 days) for a week and spraying every day. The manageress told me there were 5 effected rooms but when I inspected the building, I found all rooms had living populations of bed bugs. I had to show the manageress the live bugs as she said some of the rooms had never recorded a complaint. Two days later the motel re-opened and no bed bugs have been seen since. ( I have returned to this motel 6 months after treatment as they had a small reinfestation and found the other 14 rooms had no sign of bed bugs)
A BAD INFESTATION
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BED BUGS AND THE OCCUPANT WAS NOT REACTING TO BITES
This highlights the need for regular checks of beds for signs of bed bugs as early treatment is easier and less expensive. Housekeeping staff need to know the signs of bed bug infestations and every report of itching or rashes needs to be fully investigated. Preventative spraying would be costly and possibly ineffective as you can't spray mattresses, so regular, (I would suggest every three months in the warmer part of the year), in house inspections are a must.
When you discover an infestation of bed bugs, you need to isolate the room and arrange specialised treatment ASAP. DO NOT ALLOW STAFF TO SPRAY INSECTICIDES OR MOVE BEDDING OR FURNITURE! As stated previously, these practices can spread an infestation throughout a premises so it is best to lock the room and get treatment ASAP. Some pest controllers will tell you to throw out mattresses. This is not necessary and is only because they are unaware of, or unwilling to suggest or apply alternatives.
LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS
A constant area of confusion and dispute is the start of an infestation. Due to many people being unaffected, thus unaware of a bed bug problem until it is quite large, it is very common to have had no complaints until a new tenant moves in. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE BED BUGS WERE NOT THERE, ONLY THE PREVIOUS TENANT WAS UNAWARE OR BOLTED WHEN HE BECAME AWARE, AFRAID HE OR SHE MIGHT BEAR THE BLAME! Before any accusations start, get the property inspected by a professional. This will often lead to an equitable resolution and the co-ordinated treatment that is necessary to eliminate this major pest.
It is also very advisable to have property managers trained to spot the signs of an infestation so the costs of treatment (which can and often do include re-carpeting and re-painting) can be paid for by the tenant who did bring them in. Strata companies and property managers should perhaps consider annual inspections, particularly if the establishment caters to commercial travellers, young, overseas students and or backpackers.
It is vital to get a pest controller who knows bed bugs and gives you effective treatment. Failed treatments are a major frustration in the industry and can cost you dearly so understanding some bed bug basics can help you select the right operator. For a real life treatment that had these consequences, see the Example page.
Firstly, bed bugs have a highly developed sense of smell, in fact they locate their victims by the smell of the CO2 they breath out when sleeping. This also means they can detect many of the pesticides commonly used and will "spread out" and wait until the pesticide has faded before returning to attack another victim.
UPDATE: IT APPEARS THAT WHEN BED BUGS ARE FORCED TO HIDE IN CAVITIES OF WALLS, CEILINGS ETC, THEY DO NOT, AS SUGGESTED BY SO CALLED EXPERTS, RETURN WHEN THE SMELL OF PESTICIDES FADE. THEY NEST WHERE THEY ARE AND ACCESS THEIR VICTIM FROM THIS NEW HIDING PLACE. THE ONLY RE-APPEARANCE ARE PROGENY MAKING THIER OWN NEW AGGREGATIONS.THIS MAKES TREATMENTS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE WITH A HIGHER CHANCE OF FAILURE. MAKE SURE YOU USE A KNOWLEDGABLE PEST CONTROLLER OR YOU WILL SUFFER!
Secondly, NO PESTICIDES OR INSECTICIDES KILL BED BUG EGGS! So a single spray only treatment is very unlikely to eradicate a bed bug problem.
Thirdly, pesticides cannot be used on mattresses, a common habitat of "cimex lectularius" or bed bugs.
So what happens in a failed treatment? A customer in room 102 complains of bites so, after confirming the infestation you call your regular pest controller. Well meaning but probably inexperienced in this emerging plague, he sprays his regular "kill all" pesticide throughout the room. He may even suggest you throw out the bed to protect himself as he can't spray it. The "kill all" pesticide probably does kill some bed bugs but some will scurry into wall cavities or ceilings or adjoining rooms to avoid the spray. After a period in which you are feeling relaxed as there are no more complaints, the pesticide fades to ineffectiveness and suddenly room 102, and possibly 103 and 101 (if they weren't there in the first place) are hosting healthy bed bug populations. This period could be a few weeks or several months but with poor treatment BED BUGS WILL RETURN.
Best practice treatment means identifying the extent or range of the infestation, using low moisture, extreme temperature steam vapour to treat the mattress, base and any nests to kill BED BUGS AND THEIR EGGS**, then applying an odourless, residual pesticide that can eradicate any bed bugs that were inaccessable (in large infestations or after failed treatments, a second pesticide application is necessary). This allows minimal disruption and loss of income as the room is immediately available and is the most effective treatment to eradicate a bed bug infestation. I recognise it is sometimes impossible to shut down several rooms at once but a thorough investigation allows you to plan a series of treatments to get on top of the problem. The thought of ongoing treatments may sound scary but several hotels across the globe have had to completely close and be treated because of bed bugs and this could be a very real scenario for poor or "spot fire" management.
A BED BUG SPECIALIST can give staff training in the identification of bed bug infestations and can provide inspection and eradication services.
*See Habits page for more information.
**Interstate and country accommodation providers who can't find anyone experienced or able to use steam can find solutions with the products on the PRICING page.
DO IT ONCE DO IT RIGHT AND DON'T LET THE BED BUGS BITE!
her 14 rooms had no sign of bed bugs)
