It’s no secret that bed bugs are enjoying their resurgence across the United States and as a result, many new pest control companies have emerged onto America’s landscape.  To meet their customer’s needs, many existing NJ pest control specialists, and others around the US, have changed their focus from previous types of pest specialties like rats, termites, or carpenter ants, and joined others who are more experienced in the fight against bed bugs.  Despite the fact that pest control companies must be licensed, there are no real guidelines to follow when it comes to the treatment of bed bugs and often times, customers can be left dissatisfied or in some instances, in dangerous predicaments if pesticides are used incorrectly.

The Australia Environmental Pest Managers Association has developed guidelines that should serve as a great example for other countries to follow.  The “Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestation in Australia” (CoP) is now in its third edition.  The guidelines provide pest control professionals with valuable information about insecticide efficacy, recent trends, research and innovations in control solutions, bed bug prevention and other valuable information in the treatment of bed bugs in Australia.  The CoP was developed because of the lack of information that was available in Australia and it is now the primary resource for bed bug information and guidelines in the country.  Additionally, “A Bed Bug Management Policy” was also created to help aid the hospitality industry, student and staff lodging, community housing organizations, and public housing sectors who are battling blood sucking bed bugs in Australia.

Perhaps if specific guidelines were set in place for pesticide applications for the pest control industry in the United States, certain problems could be avoided and bed bug eradication could happen faster.  With so many new pest control companies forming, and so many already in existence, there is a real need for specific guidelines that all professional pest control specialists should follow when it comes to treating bed bugs.  Ultimately, any guidelines that would be implemented would help protect our environment, protect the public, and eradicate bed bugs as well.