# Overview: U.S. Bed Bug Problem and Role of Efficacy

Studies Lois Rossi, Director Registration Division Office of Pesticide Programs US Environmental Protection Agency

March 6, 2012

## Presentation Overview

• Overview of bed bug problem and 

## EPA’s role in addressing problems

• Importance of accurate efficacy evaluations for bed bug control products



## • Efficacy guidelines role in addressing bed bug problem

## Bed Bug Problem

• Over the past ten years, the bed bug problem in 

### the U.S. has become increasingly difficult

– Started with resurgence of bed bug infestations

– Increased media and public inquiries

– Led to concern at local governments

• Lack of resources increased feeling of helplessness

– Strain concerned states and regional officials


### • Lack of information on biology and control 

### increased public’s concern

– Education needed on all levels, from pest control professionals to housing managers to general public

## Bed Bug Problem

• Prior to 2009, EPA treated bed bugs as it did 

### other indoor residential pests

– Regulatory processes followed standard PRIA deadlines

– Communication materials and web site was largely silent on issue, no special treatment

– Efficacy was conducted using a general protocol for crawling insects (810.35)


### • In short, it was business as usual

## Bed Bug Summits

• In 2009, EPA hosted first bed bug summit to: share information among stakeholders, identify ideas and options, develop recommendations for actions
• In February 2011, 2 nd summit held to: discuss progress since last summit for a variety of stakeholder perspectives; identify knowledge gaps and barriers to effective, community
– wise bed bug control; propose next steps in addressing knowledge gaps and eliminating barriers; prioritize next steps for developing strategies.

• Based on recommendations from both 2009 and 2011 summits, EPA has been very proactive in addressing the bed bug problem:

– New web page, facilitating communications between communities, funding grant opportunities, working with registrants on new products. working with federal partners (Federal Bed Bug Work Group) to deal a strategy.

## EPA’s Bed Bug Strategy

• EPA has a multi - pronged approach:

– Encourage the development of new tools and promote Integrated Pest Management efforts;

– Education and outreach, promoting appropriate control techniques (and discourage misuse);

– Collaboration with federal government partners and communication with state and local governments.

## Regulatory Activities

• Encouraging new registrations by:

– Expediting registration of new products to control bed bugs or adding the use to an existing label.

– Facilitating new products through interactions with stakeholders and federal partners

– Improving efficacy evaluations for bed bugs

– Developing new guidelines to provide guidance to the registrant and more information to the Agency, user, public.

## Efficacy and Bed Bugs

• Both the 2009 and 2011 summits discussed 

### the need for efficacious pesticide products to control bed bugs

– Many asserted there were no registered products (subsequent EPA inventory identified over 300 products, with several different modes of action)

– Others asserted registered products did not work

– Standardized tests for efficacy was a recommendation from 2011 summit

## Efficacy for Current Bed Bug Products

• EPA attempted to address efficacy confusion in homeowner and the PCO market by creating a product search tool

• EPA conducted a very resource - intensive effort to identify efficacy data submitted to support registration of these products

– Found testing methods were inconsistent

– Issues raised on whether product would consistently work in the situation where used

– Data vary in test populations and methods of control

## Accurately Expressing Efficacy

• Quality efficacy data can drive more accurate 

### and effective labeling, improving treatment outcomes


### • Label language is directly derived from data

– Some language is site - specific:

• Types of surfaces, use on bedding, precautions when used around children, retreatment intervals, etc.

– Other language will be bug - specific

• Resistant populations, egg claims, kill versus control claims, etc.

## Accurately Measuring Efficacy

• A guideline for bed bugs will address issues that 

### are specific to bed bug control products, such as:

– Residual, surface contact

– Fogger/mister/aerosol efficacy

– Susceptible, resistant, and field strain testing

– Insecticide - impregnated materials

– Egg kill 

### • By mimicking application techniques, efficacy testing can better account for bed bug’s unique 

### biology and behavior

## Importance of the Guideline

• A guideline for efficacy testing of products to 

### control bed bugs will greatly improve EPA’s efficacy data review process by:

– Increasing transparency

– Providing clear expectations for data development to support product registration

– Outlining consistent testing/evaluation that should vary little between registrants, products, or lab choice

– Ensuring more consistent efficacy of bed bug products

## Conclusions

• Advice from the Scientific Advisory Panel is a 

### vital part of our guideline development process in the areas of:

– Bed bug biology

– Bioassay design, insecticide testing and data analysis


### • We welcome the SAP’s input and public 

### comments on the draft guideline and are looking forward to a productive meeting.