Lawrence J. Pinto, Richard Cooper, and Sandra K. Kraft
Pinto & Associates, Mechanicsville, MD
2007; 266 pp.
Price: $67 (soft cover)
ISBN:  978-0-9788878-1-0

Bed Bug Handbook: The Complete Guide to Bed Bugs and Their Controlis a timely book given the resurgence of bed bugs in the United States and many parts of the world. All three authors are well-known entomologists who are extensively involved in the pest management industry, particularly in combating bed bug infestations. Their combined expertise and writing style provide for an easy-to-read, informative guide to bed bugs and their control. The book is written primarily for pest management industry professionals, hotel and apartment managers, and others in commercial operations susceptible to bed bug infestations. Nonetheless, Bed Bug Handbook is a valuable resource to anyone interested in bed bugs and their control. It also would be useful to extension specialists as they reach out to community partners afflicted by bed bug infestations.

Bed Bug Handbookprovides a comprehensive guide to bed bug control with excellent color and black-and-white photos throughout the text. This book consists of 11 chapters, each with numerous subsections. The authors’ frequent use of text boxes, many with bulleted items, calls attention to practical information that can be easily captured for training purposes.

In the first two chapters, the authors discuss historical background, societal impacts, and an appraisal of factors involved in the resurgence of bed bug infestations. In chapter 3, they provide a brief overview of bed bug biology, including identification, feeding habits, growth and development, and ecology. A minor criticism is that chapter 3 would benefit from additional primary references; also, the literature sources for several statements are unclear. Chapter 4, “Medical and Social Considerations,” is quite short, but includes information on identifying bed bug bites and tips for avoiding misdiagnosis due to delusory parasitosis. In this chapter the authors reiterate that the role of bed bugs as disease vectors and as inducers of allergies and asthma remains undocumented.

Chapter 5, “Business and Management Considerations,” covers some of the myriad issues related to bed bugs, such as responsibility for an infestation, the public relations and legal perspectives of dealing with a bed bug crisis, and choice of a pest control company. This chapter also addresses business aspects for pest control firms engaged in bed bug work, given the unique problems, liabilities, and constraints that they may face. Business aspects include specialized educational training for technicians and sales personnel, customer education materials, service contracts and warranties, and recordkeeping.

The remaining chapters cover the mechanics of bed bug control, with an emphasis on integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Although the authors emphasize that controlling bed bugs is a challenge, they give the reader detailed information on a variety of chemical and nonchemical control tactics. The final chapter deals with safety considerations, such as avoiding bed bugs and human pathogens and minimizing the risk of pesticide exposure to people and pets in treated areas.

The appendix comprises checklists for possible actions to help prevent or eliminate bed bugs from various settings. The action checklists are tailored for similar settings: apartments and other multifamily housing; dormitories, residence halls, and barracks; health care facilities; hotels, motels, and lodging facilities; furniture rental and rent-to-own businesses; schools; shelters; etc. For each setting, the authors suggest guidelines for proactive measures, such as providing education and training of the building’s occupants, responding to a bed bug incident, and preparing for bed bug control services.

Bed Bug Handbookoffers excellent insights into understanding the difficulties of bed bug control and the IPM measures needed to achieve and evaluate success. The authors’ strategy for success emphasizes education, communication, monitoring, inspection, sanitation, prevention, nonchemical tactics, and insecticide treatment options. Bed Bug Handbook is a valuable reference for anyone involved in combating these blood-feeding insect pests.

Susan C. Jones
Department of Entomology
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
E-mail:  jones.1800@osu.edu
American Entomologist
 Vol. 55, No. 1, Spring 2009