Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
understand educational materials. Because
they are less likely to prepare their units
adequately before treatment, they would
need special attention.
Building construction
Single family versus
high-rise buildings and
tenant density correlate directly with rates
of infestation and re-infestation. Construc-
tion techniques that reduce the ability of
pests to travel from one unit to another
should be emphasized on high-density
projects. Proactive measures such as sealing
cracks and crevices with insulation or
sealant, closing conduits and chaises, and
using earth-craft techniques to tighten the
interior shell of the unit can have a positive
return on the investment. Window screening
can effectively prevent the entry of mos-
quitoes. Screening inhibits free airfl ow,
however, and creates stifl ing indoor tem-
peratures in tropical countries, and most
screens are useless against smaller biting
fl ies, such as
Phlebotomus
,
Lutzomyia
,
Hippelates
and
Culicoides
.
Community involvement
Housing authorities need to educate tenants
on the benefi ts of systematic surveillance
and control. Involving tenants in scheduling
and meeting with PCOs or extension
entomologists may improve compliance.
Minority or immigrant populations might
be suspicious or uncomfortable allowing
inspectors into their homes. Individuals
from Muslim communities may object to
canine inspections. Persons with mental or
emotional disabilities might not realize they
are being bitten or be paranoid by the
prospect of strangers entering their homes.
It will be crucial to engage with social
workers trained in minority or mental
health to gain the trust of these populations.
School nurses and teachers, guidance or
camp counsellors, and hospice workers can
play an important role in educating children
about early detection and safe control.
Better communication and 'comparison
shopping' for pest control
Housing authorities in Virginia spent
between $120 and $4000 per bed bug
infestation. This range of prices refl ects the
lack of communication among housing
authorities. 'Best practices' to effi ciently
control infestations with available funds
must be shared among government- and
affordable-housing providers. On 23 April
2012, the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) launched an online bed bug
'Information Clearinghouse' to provide a
shareable and scalable database of infor-
mation regarding bed bug prevention, detec-
tion and control (US EPA, 2012).
Tenant awareness
Tenants must be aware of housing policies
before they move in. Beds and other
upholstered furniture need to be inspected
- and possibly treated - before they enter
the building. Tenants in lower-income
housing sometimes provide a temporary
home for homeless friends or relatives.
Tenants need to be aware that this behaviour
increases their risk for bed bugs. Educational
materials need to be practical, understand-
able and meet the specifi c needs of tenants
of governmental and affordable housing.
Transparency in access to information and
research results - for example, by the use of
social media or mobile applications to
reduce communication gaps - can also
improve tenant compliance to prevent re-
infestation.
Integrated pest management
Housing authorities could offer to treat a
new tenant's furniture with insecticide or
heat before bringing items into the unit.
This measure would entail an initial
investment but proactive treatment would
decrease the cost of re-treatment for re-
infestations. Housing authorities need to
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