Successful management of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera:
Cimicidae), is difficult because of its pesticide resistance, which can allow a reduction
in population, but not elimination. We evaluated the effect of heat and/or air circulation
on the efficacy of dichlorvos resin strips in the control of bed bugs. Treatments
were performed in unoccupied dormitory rooms and consisted of dichlorvos resin
strips containing 18.6% active ingredient, the same strips + fan, and strips + fan +
heat. The mortality of recently fed bed bugs and weight loss of the dichlorvos strips
were evaluated over 7 days. Dichlorvos resin strips killed bed bugs and eggs in just
over 7 days. The addition of a fan or a fan + heat decreased time to 100% mortality
to 3 days and 36 h, respectively. Eggs located in treated rooms did not hatch. Resin
strips in the strips + fan treatment and the strips + fan + heat treatment volatilized 10
and 70 times, respectively, faster than strips in the strips-only treatment. The addition
of heat in treatments with dichlorvos resin strips enhances the overall efficacy of the
volatile insecticide and reduces the time required to eliminate live bed bugs and eggs.