Bed Bugs - What to do and who has the answer?

Focus on: bed bugs 

Does Kaiser have the answer? 

BED BUGS are a growing worldwide problem in the hospitality industry, as infestations are carried from place to place by travellers, according to international pest control developer, owner and advisor Heiko Kaiser. 

“As Dr Sisi Vassallo rightly points out in IT852, conventional treatment methods using insecticides are not without risks to guests, including, in extreme cases, death. However, there is a safe, non-toxic, reliable alternative. This is the use of extreme heat or cold,” he tells us. 

Heating 

Heating an infested area to over 55 degrees, or alternatively cooling it to well below zero, kills bed bugs and any other creepy-crawlies that might be lurking there. “Best of all,” he adds, “unlike when an insecticide is used, the room is ready for use the minute it returns to normal temperature – a matter of hours, not days or weeks. There is no residue, no lingering smell, and no danger. What’s more, unlike insecticides, insects will never develop immunity to the treatment. 

Technology 

“While applying such treatments might sound like an impossible dream, the truth is the technology already exists, and has been in use for some years in Europe and America.” He says all required equipment and knowledge is available for the first time in New Zealand through his speciality heating company HEATME™.  Serviced through licenced Pest Control technicians of his Alpeco, Alternative Pest Control Company. This high tech heating equipment thermal elimination treatments are MPI approved. “The result is that it is now possible to treat hospitality accommodation in New Zealand for bed bugs using environmentally friendly, non-toxic and rapid yet totally effective methods.” And for DIYers the PestStop DIY Online retail store is the place to shop for the latest tech specifically for Bed Bug Monitoring Traps, Lures and Bed Bugs protection and elimination solutions.

Courses 

D2K/Alpeco are running free courses in bed bug prevention all around New Zealand and abroad, and in other regions by arrangement, he tells IT. Mr Kaiser previously worked in tourism high end estates and prior to joining he was already working on finding out as much as possible about alternative pest control.  

“I made it my task to find out as much as possible about alternative pest control methods and found, guess what? Nothing much. The answers I received in New Zealand were pretty poor and I quickly concluded that none of the treatments offer a satisfying approach. 

Poisons 

He adds: “We are selling NZ as ‘clean, green and pure’ but are still putting out 10/80 and other poisons.” During a three-month stint in Europe Mr Kaiser spoke to many hoteliers about bed bugs. “It was great to discover that the laws and, therefore, the treatment methods have moved to environmentally friendly solutions.” On his return he set up the company to offer “100 percent green, pure and eco-friendly” solutions. 

Concentrate 

“We concentrate on the accommodation and food industry and are specialized in the treatment of bed bugs and other unique approaches like 24/7 high tech monitoring and non- toxic solutions. A hotel room can be cleared discreetly, fast and efficiently in less than 12-24 hours of any infestation without the use of any harmful pesticides.” Bed bug infestations were thought to be a pest of the past, but recent years have seen resurgence.

There was a 26 percent increase year-on-year in London over the five years to 2007, from then it even got worse and look at it now. France reached a peak and between 1999 and 2023 Australia experienced a massive 500 percent increase. 

Epidemic 

Newly released figures show the epidemic in France, UK, Australia and the US hotels is far from over. US travelers experienced bed bugs in huge numbers for many years, Canada also reports a nightmare in multi complex buildings and many hoped the problem would be less widespread in 2021 during C-19.

“However,” Mr Kaiser adds, “statistics for January and August show the number of reports of bed bugs have topped 2020's numbers by more than 660 percent. Since 2010 the number of individual hotels with bed bugs has also risen steady.” 

The reasons for the surge are generally accepted to be: an increase in cheap air travel, with bed bugs hitching a ride generally in people’s luggage; a reduction in pesticide applications, in particular a switch to more specific spraying rather band spraying; the development of some resistance to certain insecticides; the increase in popularity of second-hand furniture; a lack of knowledge and understanding among the public and pest controllers alike about what to do about this pest.  

Pests 

Bed bugs are pests that potentially threaten everyone. “It’s an exposure pest not something spreading due to lack of hygiene,” he says. “One thing is for sure. If you haven’t got bed bugs in your business yet, the chances are you will have soon.” Bed bugs are a global pest requiring a worldwide solution so an understanding how to treat bed bugs is to be welcomed as a step in the right direction.” 

Mr Kaiser advocates a four-step approach to the control of bed bugs: prevention, detection, eradication and post control. Contact: info@peststop.co.nz, 07 213 1317 or visit www.peststop.co.nz