CENTRE REGION BED BUG COALITION WORKSHOP:

THE COMING BED BUG TSUNAMI

WELCOME•Questionnaire Reminder

COALITION

•Good Morning!

•History

•Statement of Purpose

COALITION

Presenters

Dr. Ed Rajotte, Professor of Entomology and IPM Coordinator for Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension, Penn State University - History and Entomology

Keith Hamilton, District Manager-State College, J.C. Ehrlich Co., Inc., Member Pennsylvania and National Pest Management Association - Legislation/Litigation

Presenters

Eddie Connor, Jr., Manager, Connor’s Pest Protection – Treatment

David Manos, Assistant Director for Housing, Penn State University – Management Strategies

COALITION

COALITIONManagement Strategies

Bedbug management is everybody’s responsibility including building management and residents. Without this cooperation bedbug infestations are difficult if not impossible to control.

COALITIONBe Proactive What Apartment Managers Should Know

○ Develop a bed bug action plan in advance to deal with bed bug infestations.

○ Regular inspection and monitoring programs in common areas.

COALITION○Education is the best deterrent!

Resident and staff education

- Provide residents with handouts educating them on bed bug biology, behavior, where they come from, how to prevent them, how to identify them.

COALITION- Include information about bed bugs in

“New Resident” packets.

- Encourage residents to report cases of bed bugs.

- Train staff on signs of bed bugs, behavior, biology, how to identify, and how to assist pest control operators during service.

COALITION○ What Renters Should Know

Know bed bug behavior, biology, and how to identify.

Know how to identify signs of bed bugs.

COALITIONKnow how to inspect properly.

Be prepared to cooperate with management in comprehensive bed bug management program.

COALITIONPrevention

○ Notify management immediately if bed bugs suspected.Cost implications ($, PR)

- Tenet – incentive or deterrent to report?- Management

- Cost of early notification - Cost of late notification or late discovery

COALITION○Consider establishing policy

about used furniture, i.e. no discarded mattresses, beds, or furniture. Work with local used furniture venders to ensure items are BBF. Only allow used furniture from trusted BBF vendors.

COALITION○Provide travel advisories for tenets

before major travel periods. Include education about:Checking beds and headboardsInspecting luggage before returning

homeWashing cloths immediately upon

return, etc.

COALITIONNegative Ramifications of Inaction

○The longer infestations persist or go unreported, the worse it gets, the more it costs.

○Residents afraid of repercussions may not report infestations, causing the problem to worsen.

COALITION○Loss of income due to bad press.

○ Inability to rent out property.

○Could be legally liable for tenet’s costs.

○ Insurance may not pay punitive damage in litigation.

COALITIONBe Proactive

Bed bugs are durable, prolific, cryptic hitchhikers. They are everybody’s issue, they are a community issue and a community wide management strategy is needed to successfully manage them.

Join and support your local BBC.

15 MINUTE BREAK

PANEL DISCUSSIONKevin Kassab, Health Technician, Borough of

State College (Local Government)

Shannon Burns, Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Leasing, The Apartment Store Real Estate Group, L.P. (Property Management)

Bob Woodard, General Manager, Nevins Real Estate, (Property Management)

Panel DiscussionDr. Ed Rajotte, Professor of Entomology and IPM

Coordinator for Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension, Penn State University (Entomology)

Keith Hamilton, District Manager-State College, J.C. Ehrlich Co., Inc., Member Pennsylvania and National Pest Management Association (Legislation/Litigation),

Eddie Connor, Jr., Manager, Connor’s Pest Protection, Springfield, VA (Treatment)

Coalition

Wrap up – what next?

Coalition

Thank you!

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE

•Educational Fliers•Poster Samples•Treatment Protocols