Researchers Make Movies to Get a Jump on Bed Bugs

Two bed bugs hide in the hole of a ruler. A third looks on from the edge. Source: Changlu Wang, Rick Cooper, Department of Entomology, Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension.

Scientists are sharing their knowledge in the battle against bed bugs by fashioning themselves after Hollywood stars. They’ve launched three videos on the web as part of their multi-faceted outreach.

Changlu Wang and Rick Cooper, researchers at Rutgers University, say that while the bed bug problem has grown, in-person trainings can be expensive and attendance may be hit-or-miss. “It’s not a lack of interest that keeps people from attending training events, it’s lack of time,” Cooper says. “Making resources available to those with limited time to travel may be the key.”

With support from the Northeastern IPM Center and EPA, the bed bug team at Rutgers has produced three videos, recorded live presentations at multifamily properties, written fact sheets, and published research on key aspects of the bed bug puzzle. All of these resources are now available at http://njaes.rutgers.edu/bedbug/.

Cooper points out, “Videos offer a great opportunity for those who want to see and hear the information presented.” Through two IPM Partnership Grants, the Northeastern IPM Center funded the construction of the website and these videos:

• Bed Bugs and Integrated Pest Management, a seven-minute overview of the biology, behavior, and control options;
• Las Chinches de Cama y el Manejo Integrado de Plagas, a Spanish version of the seven-minute English video; and
• Bed Bug Management for Professionals, which details how a Pest Management Professional conducts a bed bug service. Cooper says, “This 40-minute video is good for both new technicians and those who have been working in the pest management industry.”

The videos are intended to speak to a wide audience. Cooper says, “We are using the seven-minute video to train housing managers, staff, and residents. The video delivers the messages in a concise manner that keeps their attention as much, and sometimes more, than an in-person presentation.”