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May 2022
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CAPMA caught in the community
A Bed Bug Bonanza? Covid-19 Might Have One Punch Left to Deliver Bed bugs cases likely to rise thanks to Covid Customers will agree that even one bed bug infestation is one too many, but things get especially worrisome when there’s an explosion of cases all at once, a troubling health threat that appears to be just on the horizon. Generally speaking, the statistics of bed bug incidents are relatively stable, constant and predictable, which has helped keep the problem manageable. There is reason to believe there is an increase in infestations in mid-to-late summer every year, but not for biological reasons. Instead, this annual uptick in bed bug activity can be explained by human activity. Bed bugs can’t travel on their own. Rather, they have to hitch a ride with a host. As people leave their homes for vacation during the summer, bed bugs get their chance to travel far and wide, even across oceans. An infested hotel room may host several guests before anyone is alerted to the problem, and then they all travel back home before autumn, when the problem is likely to spread to family members, neighbors, colleagues and others. Now, the same principles that drive this yearly boom for bed bugs appear set to cause a much worse problem and, like so much else these days, it’s all thanks to COVID-19. When the coronavirus first reared its ugly head, one of the few unexpected upsides was a dramatic decrease in the spread of bed bugs. Why? Because the world was experiencing the opposite of the usual summer-time bonanza. Lockdowns, strict travel restrictions and anxiety over meeting in large groups meant that fewer bed bugs could take advantage of increasingly rare opportunities to find new hosts. Bed bug infestations were down by a full 20%. Now, though, the world is opening back up and tourism is on the rise. We may have learned a thing or two about trying to keep public spaces cleaner due to the pandemic, but the fact remains that more travelers in more hotel rooms and AirBnbs are likely to spread more bed bugs. But wait! If bed bugs weren’t able to spread effectively during the pandemic, those who went without a host for long enough should have died, right? Unfortunately, this is an unlikely scenario. Bed bugs can live without feeding for around 400 days, which suggests that despite slower rates of spread, the overall bed bug population has probably changed very little, if at all, as a result of the pandemic. Instead, they’ve gone hungry for longer than normal and are now just waiting for the right opportunity to find a new host. What can customers do to protect themselves against this new wave of bed bugs? ● Avoid taking home used clothing, furniture and books ● Conduct regular, thorough checks of their home ● Examine hotel rooms and other accommodations carefully when traveling ● Stock up on an easy-to-use pest control product like Sterifab Bed bugs may be on the rise as Covid falls, but with a bit of diligence and the right tools, you can help your customers protect their homes and businesses against a “pandemic” of bed bugs.
A staff writer at Sterifab, John-Michael Kibrick is a writer, editor and Hebrew-English translator. Formerly a journalist and news editor for the Israeli publications Haaretz and Ynet, John-Michael has since expanded his knowledge to include pest control and disinfectants. Member News
Check Your Mailbox - It's Renewal Time!
Rats of California media campaign, led by ARC Strategies and Grassroots Lab
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As we are ramping up for the Annual PCOC Expo at Disneyland on June 8th-10th, we are also conducting our first District Leadership Training on June 20th-22nd at the Ventura Beach Crown Plaza. We have a lot of new faces chairing our districts this year and this meeting is critical to ensuring we get them off on the right foot. I hope all districts will be participating and inviting the next generation of leadership to this important training. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us at the PCOC Office in Sacramento.
Chris Reardon
PCOC Executive Vice President
chris@pcoc.org
(916) 372-4363
This article comes to you with mixed news. Lets start with the good news.
SB 1064 (Newman), the bills sponsored by PCOC requiring pest control companies to have workers’ comp is moving easily through the new making process. There is great support from the legislature on the premise behind this bill and we do not anticipate any issues or opposition for this bill.
AB 2452 (Chen), extending the Fumigation Enforcement Program, is moving through the legislation process easily as well. This extension is removing San Diego county but keeping Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Clara counties. The counties participating have committed to using the funds for inspections and will continue to enforce the laws and regulations in a consistent manner. Removing San Diego will allow the association and the county to reset expectations and get everyone on the same page.
Now the for not so good news. AB 2146 (Bauer-Kahan), the bill banning neonicotinoid insecticides with some exceptions, is also moving through the process. PCOC has engaged the author and is in current dialogue with her staff on the impact of this bill and will be proposing amendments. These conversations will determine our course of action moving forward. Other interest groups have already engaged the author and are proposing amendments as well. One change that has occurred to the bill language is the proposed restricted use designation has been removed. We will continue to do everything we can to protect the tools of this industry.
If you are interested in being more involved in the association and any of its legislative activities, do not hesitate to reach out.
Darren Van Steenwyk, M.S., BCE
Director of Learning and Technical Services
Clark Pest Control
Office: (209) 368-7152 ext. 235
Mobile: (209) 224-4629
Fax: (209) 334-5040
darrenv@clarkpest.co
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