A commercial method of controlling bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) using CO2 in dwellings

As a result of withdrawing residual insecticides such as organophosphates and carbamates throughout the world, infestation in Cimex lectularius has been dramatically increased in recent years. The ability of this pest to 12th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection (IWCSPP) in Berlin, Germany, October 7-11, 2018 Julius-Kühn-Archiv 463 1053 starve for three months and its flattened shape of body enables it to hide in tiny holes/cracks or folds, making it difficult to control. Therefore, as a complementary action, fumigating products like textile products and furniture within the dwellings became a practice in Israel. After the conventional treatment of stripping the room, vacuuming, steaming the mattresses and then spraying with a Pyrethroid – a novel method was developed; instead of steaming the mattress and dry cleaning all textile clothes and products, fumigating all movable furniture and textile products with CO2 inside the dwellings. Based on several scientific papers on the efficacy of CO2 on the bedbugs, this method has been successfully implemented in Israel. All textile products are inserted into a sealed, low permeability fumigation cube for three days of exposure time at room temperature to reach a calculated concentration of 100% CO2. Since textile products absorb some of the CO2, the concentrations quickly drops to about 80%. During the summer of 2017, numerous treatments have been carried out with a 100% success and repeated treatments were not required. This treatment has proved to be a promising method of controlling C. lectularius with no need for evacuation of the residents and saving money and efforts in dry cleaning cloths and textile products. It is highly effective against all life stages of the pest.