Evaluation Of Whole-Home Heat Systems For Bed Bug, Cimex Lectularius, (Hemipetera: Cimicidae) Elimination In Low-Income Housing

In this study three commonly used heat systems: the GreenTech Titan (propane), the Temp-Air Thermal Remediation (electric), and the Heat Assault (glycol), were evaluated in the field to determine their overall efficacy for bed bug control, and to determine the factors contribute to heat system success: the heat system itself, technician entries (for temperature monitoring and equipment positioning), heat sensors reaching lethal temperature, and treatment duration.  Additionally, the clutter ratio in each home was measured to determine if high clutter levels were an impediment to heat treatment success. Sentinel bed bugs and remote heat sensors were also placed in each treated home to determine heat treatment efficacy. The mean bed bug sentinel mortality across all heat system replications ranged from 85.2% to 98.7% with no system achieving 100% across all replicates. The GreenTech system produced the lowest overall mortality and Heat Assault system produced the greatest mortality across all replicates.  Logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of technician entries per hour was the most impactful factor for a successful heat treatment.