Bed Bug Beacon

Watch an Overview of the Bedbug Beacon™
What is the Bedbug Beacon and how does it work?
The Bedbug Beacon is an active bed bug monitors that is ideal for personal/home use but is also a promising option for pest management professionals. Unlike passive bed bug monitors that intercept and trap traveling bed bugs, this unit proactively attracts and traps bed bugs. The ‘active luring’ capability makes the Bedbug Beacon an ideal tool for confirming the presence of bed bugs and monitoring the progress of bed bug management programs. It should be noted that the Beacon represents one of the more affordable options for active bedbug monitors.
The unit operates by releasing a CO2 attractant (for a period of up to five days). The unit will then trap bed bugs that have been attracted to it in an escape resistant container.
Features:

1. CO2 Attractant System- when purchased, the Beacon includes two chemical packages. When mixed with Luke-warm water the reaction slowly emits CO2 as a bedbug attractant. Each package pair can release CO2 for up to 5 days, providing customers with roughly two weeks of around-the clock monitoring from the two sets of packages. Additional refills can be purchased here.
2. Oil- A vial of oil is included to coat the pitfall trap of the Bedbug Beacon to prevent the escape of captured bed bugs.
3. Pitfall Trap- the CO2 delivery system of the Beacon is attached to an escape-resistant pitfall trap enclosure. Once bed bugs enter the Beacon they will fall into an enclosed “well” that should be coated with the included oil. The slick surface of the well will prevent bed bugs from escaping.

What does this really mean? The combination of these three features creates an active bed bug monitor that is extraordinarily simple to use and proven effective for monitoring in high-level infestations. Additional chemical lures can be purchased at BedBug Central. The lures are capable of providing around-the-clock monitoring for up to five days. For thorough monitoring, it is recommended to operate the Bedbug Beacon for a full five days to increase the likelihood of capturing bed bugs emerging from dormant feeding cycles.
What are some key issues that I should know about?
Zero Catch Reading- During the conclusion of a Bedbug Beacon inspection, you may find that the unit has not captured any bed bug specimens. This is known as a “zero-catch reading”. It is important to understand that a zero catch reading should not be interpreted as a definitive answer that bed bugs are not present.
Instead, the Bedbug Beacon is designed as a tool to suggest whether or not bed bugs may or may not be present.
Why do you need this product?
The Bedbug Beacon has considerable bed bug monitoring applications for both individual and professional use and will be a tremendous aid in detecting bed bug infestations. Because of the unit’s unique operational advantages over other CO2 trapping devices, it can be an integral tool for several bed bug management protocols.
Individual Uses:

1. Helping confirm suspicions of an infestation: The Bedbug Beacon can be an important tool for individuals who would like a method to help confirm the presence of an infestation in their residence. This unit can be particularly valuable in homes with frequent travels, college students, frequent visitors or that have experienced bed bugs infestations in the past.
2. Monitoring Bed Bug Treatments- The Bedbug Beacon is an ideal method for monitoring the progress of bed bug treatments for existing infestations.

Professional Uses:

1. Pre-move-in or move out inspections-With property managers facing increasing legal concerns related to bed bugs, pre-move-in inspections are essential for providing evidence of due diligence. To that end, property managers may contract pest management professionals for monitoring services or can run the monitoring program with in-house staff.
2. Commercial Properties- Commercial properties such as schools or office buildings are difficult to inspect for bed bugs largely because blood-meal sources are not present during peak activity periods. The Bedbug Beacon can mimic a host after normal business hours to lure bed bugs and help confirm the presence of an infestation.
3. Dormant Occupancy Periods- The Bedbug Beacon is a valuable tool for the hospitality to monitor bed bugs for periods of dormant occupancy. This will be an important tool for hospitality industries to utilize between visitors. The unit is also valuable in periodic living conditions such as college dormitories over summer break.
4. Storage Unit Inspections- This monitor can also serve as a proactive method for monitoring and helping confirm the existence of an infestation in storage or warehouse units.

Additional uses: There are additional bed bug management programs and uses that are ideal for pest management professionals.

When you make a purchase from Bed Bug Central, we often include free supplementary materials that are exclusive to our company and will put the expertise of our entomologists at your finger tips. These materials are designed to ensure that you:

1. Use our products effectively and avoid common usage and installation mistakes that our certified technicians and entomologists see in the field. This will increase your product’s longevity and the level of protection offered.
2. Educate you to be as knowledgeable as possible about bed bugs, offer additional prevention methods, and clarify expectations.
3. Add the most value to your purchase without adding the highest cost.
   

Supplementary Materials:

1. Bed Bug Information Packet- Dealing with bed bugs is a complex, frustrating, and often emotional process. We have included an information packet that will teach you about bed bugs, the various symptoms of an infestation and bites, and how to inspect for bed bugs properly. Because bed bugs can be a complex problem to deal with, education, knowledge and prevention are your best weapons.