Controlling Haematophagous Insects: The Quality-of-Life Scenario - Urban Insect Pests: Sustainable Management Strategies - page 190

educate tenants about the safe and effective
use of diatomaceous earth, either providing
the dust to tenants or dusting routinely as
part of a preemptive control strategy. The
New York City Bed Bug Advisory Board
suggests several best practices for tenants
and property managers, such as preserving
exuviae or fabric with bed bug faecal stain-
ing for positive identifi cation, rapid report-
ing to property managers, avoiding
dangerous products such as kerosene or
gasoline, reducing clutter, thoroughly clean-
ing spaces, frequently laundering and the
use of mattress encasements (New York City
Bed Bug Advisory Board, 2010).

vector control has yielded several important
insights:

• Cleaning, vacuuming and decluttering
the home improve general health and
reduce harbourages for domestic pests
and their allergens.
• Improving rubbish disposal, wastewater
management, and women's and chil-
dren's health in particular have immedi-
ate and long-term benefi ts beyond the
realm of vector-borne disease.
• Community participation and women's
involvement is essential for the success
of public health intervention.
• IPM works but must be creative and
specifi c for the urban environment. In
addition to decreasing insect-human
contact, IPM reduces pesticide residues
and can engage community members.

Sanitation and hygiene

A number of studies have found that proper
rubbish disposal reduces the risk of vector-
borne disease. Rubbish disposal, washing
clothing and bed linens, and vacuuming
can also reduce the risk of other biting pests,
such as bed bugs. In addition, organizing
community-wide education and action for
proper rubbish disposal and wastewater
management benefi ts the community
politically. It can galvanize individuals and
even hold local governments accountable
for the quotidian but necessary maintenance
of public health.

Bed bugs are an example of a haema-
tophagous insect that is not a vector but
whose public health, fi nancial and psycho-
logical impact is substantial. Strategies to
reduce the risk of infestations, regardless of
non-vector status, will improve the quality
of life for urban residents. Community
involvement and political will are crucial to
effectively manage rubbish disposal, waste-
water, building construction and pre-
vention/detection strategies to improve the
quality of life for urban residents.

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

For the fi rst time in human history, the
majority of people live in cities instead of
agrarian settlements. High population dens-
ities, abundant squalor, crumbling infra-
structure and poor wastewater management
create and sustain breeding sites and
harbourages for insects that feed on
vertebrate blood and for vertebrate reser-
voirs of zoonoses. Effective vector control
must continue to be our goal but infestations
of haematophagous insects that are not
vectors can also be devastating. Urban

R. Vaidyanathan was supported by internal
R&D funding by SRI International. Sections
of this chapter are reprinted with per-
mission from the National Association of
Housing and Redevelopment Offi cials
(M. Wong, N. Vaidyanathan, and R.
Vaidyanathan (May/June 2013) Strategies
for housing authorities and other lower-
income housing providers to control bed
bugs. Journal of Housing and Community
Development ).