While our understanding of bed bugs has dramatically advanced over the past 10 years, there are still many unanswered questions about how bed bugs move around an environment. Since research is still being conducted on interception devices and their effectiveness on bed bug infestations, what can you really expect when using the SenSci Activ bed bug lure and SenSci Volcano bed bug monitor? Will the lure draw bed bugs to the interception device? Will the Volcano work although it’s not an “under the leg” design like other pit-fall styled interception devices?
Does the SenSci Activ Lure really work?
Although you may be skeptical about the SenSci Activ lure, it has been proven in studies from Rutgers University to attract up to twice as many bed bugs into an interception device than a monitor without a lure. Of course, the capture rate depends on a variety of factors.
Predictably Unpredictable Bed Bugs in Low-Level Infestations
Low-level infestations (10 or less live bugs) are tricky to begin with when it comes to actually locating the bed bugs. Whether it’s a newly introduced bed bug population or one that is trying to re-establish a population after treatment, bed bugs in low-level infestations can be in predictable locations but can often be difficult to find in those locations.
For instance, within low-level infestations bed bugs can be found in the typical resting and sleeping locations, such as beds and couches, however, within those areas they can be hard to find since their infestation size is so small. Bed bugs hide very well, so you may find it challenging in low-level infestations while searching for bed bugs in the predictable sleeping and resting areas.
“Bed bugs are predictably in the couches and beds in low-level infestations,” Director of Innovation and Technical Content at BedBug Central, Jeff White, said, “but unpredictable in regards as to where they are at in those couches and beds.”
That’s where monitors come into play. They can help detect infestations that visual inspections may miss. In a study conducted in Canton, Ohio, the SenSci Activ Volcanos discovered infestations that were missed during the 20-minute visual inspections. When you combine the detection percentage of visual inspections with the effectiveness of monitors, the success rate at detecting bed bugs greatly increases.
Time Needed to Detect Bed Bugs in a SenSci ActivVolcano
Due to the nature of low-level infestations, it may take time to see results with the SenSci Activ and Volcano. As described by White, “the difference of the capture rate depends on the severity of the infestation and where the bed bugs are located.”
For example, if you have 6 bed bugs on a bed, the length of time it takes to make those bugs move from the bed into the Activ Volcanos located under the bed is unknown. Bed bugs are going to be reluctant to leave their ideal environment to migrate off the bed to an interception device located under the bed. The ideal environment includes the sleeping host who omits carbon dioxide, provides heat and already has the scent omitting from their skin that is similar to the Activ lure.
“When somebody is sleeping in the bed, which is an ideal food source for bed bugs,” White said, “it can sometimes take a few weeks for monitors underneath the beds to pick up bugs when there’s only a few bugs present.”
Basically, the capture rate of the SenSci Activ Volcanos within low-level infestations may take more time to determine than if it was used in a moderate or high-level infestation. Moderate or high-level infestation detection can be in as little as 24 hours to a couple of days.
Proactive Use of SenSci Activ Volcano
As explained by White, the SenSci Activ Volcanos can thrive in proactive monitoring situations. In un-infested environments, you can place one at each “head side” of the bed, couch or any resting area.
The bed bugs that are attempting to establish a host will walk along seams and edges to find the bed. During their travels, they will pick up on the SenSci Activ lure that is inside the Volcano and migrate towards the interception device. At that time they will hopefully crawl up the SenSci Volcano and fall into the pit of the interception device.
One study that was conducted in an apartment complex in Canton, Ohio, examined to effectiveness of proactive bed bug detection with the SenSci Activ and SenSci Volcano as compared to visual inspections. Through the use of monitors and visual inspections, a total of 29 infestations were detected in the apartment complex, when at the start of the study only 7 were reported.
After a period of four weeks, the SenSci Activ and Volcanos detected 13 of the 19 infestations located in beds whereas visual inspections detected 11 of the 19. When combining visual inspection with proactive monitoring, you greatly increase your chances of detecting low-level infestations. By using the monitors proactively throughout the building, unidentified infestations that weren’t being reported and were unknown to management, were being detected. Proactive use allows you to get on top of the bed bug problems before they have a chance to grow into a wide-spread issue.
Reactive Use of SenSci ActivVolcano
When monitors are used reactively, they will capture bed bugs between treatment services to help reduce the number of bed bugs that are biting the people and infesting the home. When you combine the SenSci Activ™ lure with the SenSci Volcano™ reactively, you can capture up to twice as many bed bugs in your Volcanos between services, which assists in the control process.
Overall, you can expect to see results with the SenSci Activ and Volcano when used properly. When both products are used together, you may see up to twice as many bed bugs in your interception devices as opposed to when the SenSci Volcano is used without the Activ lure. Results will vary based on a number of factors including infestation size, location of infestation and proper placement of the SenSci Volcano.
To purchase the SenSci Activ and SenSci Volcano, contact your local distributor.