Bed bug infestations are poised to become one of the most significant “portals” to: (1) the dismantling of IPM programs and their users in institutions and homes because most of these programs–and their least/less-toxic approaches–are minimally or NOT effective against bed bugs; and (2) the re-introduction of toxic pesticides to homes, schools, workplaces, and community and public spaces which have attempted to forgo these toxins.

BP’s bed bug fact sheet is outdated, inadequate, and contains incorrect information, e.g. there doesn’t appear to be any scientific evidence that borax kills bed bugs as a residual or contact agent. It is unlikely that ANYONE can rid or prevent an infestation of bed bugs using this fact sheet!!

The extraordinary difficulties in remediating successfully bed bug infestations with current IPM or toxic interventions–combined with the very real social stigma associated with being “beg bug-infested” and capable of transmitting bed bugs to others in a variety of settings–demand that BP and other advocacy groups become current with the scope of this epidemic and fully capacitated to give ACCURATE AND HELPFUL information to consumers NOW.

Although whole-house/apt heat treatment–with IPM (interceptors, DE, less toxic residuals, steam cleaning, hot washing and drying, etc)– appears to be the most viable method of successfully remediating bed bugs w/o harmful pesticides, its cost is beyond the grasp of most consumers. THESE CONSUMERS (even if they consider themselves ‘green’) WILL USE/DO ALMOST ANYTHING IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO GET RID OF BED BUGS.

After spending nearly 2 years reading about bed begs in the media, through research, and in the BB forums, it is sad to read characterizations of BP’s bed bug advice as, for all practical purposes, clueless. But as it now stands, that characterization would be close to the truth.

As one of the great advocacy organizations in the US in the fight against biocides, BP must GET A CLUE about bed bugs and step up to the plate with a comprehensive, evidence-based protocol that consumers can actually rely on.

My biggest fear (beyond the obvious threat to adults and children using and being exposed to ineffective and dangerous pesticides) is the loss of credibility that BP faces by failing to offer bed bug remediation fact sheets and resources that are actually helpful to consumers who desperately need them.