December 10, 2012-A new study shows that despite their claims, ultrasonic devices do not stop bed bugs.

Bed bugs are wingless, rusty insects about the size of apple seeds. They don't spread diseases, but they bite. Their bites can trigger allergic reactions, including wounds and itching.

Recent media reports on the bedbug epidemic have helped fuel an industry full of products and services designed to prevent bedbugs from infesting and/or remove these creatures (if you already own them).

Now, a new study in the Journal of Economic Entomology shows that equipment that generates sound waves can hardly stop these creepy crawling pests.

Researchers from Flagstaff, Arizona purchased four ultrasound devices online on Amazon.com and followed the instructions on the label. During the experiment, they created an area where the device emits sound waves and a quiet comparison area.

There was no difference in the number of bed bugs observed in these two areas, indicating that bed bugs were neither intimidated by sound waves from any equipment nor attracted by sound waves from any equipment.

As early as 2001, the Federal Trade Commission issued warning letters to more than 60 manufacturers of such devices, stating that the validity of these products must be supported by scientific evidence.

Many people in the field of insect control are not surprised by these findings.

"Throughout the history of pest control, ultrasonic equipment has been evaluated for everything from rodents to cockroaches and fleas to mosquitoes," said Dr. Michael F. Porter. He is an entomologist at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. "They have never proven themselves to be effective control tools. If there are, I hope bed bugs use them as a [safe haven] because they usually emit a small amount of heat, which is a short-range attractant for bed bugs."

According to Porter, "The results are not surprising, but in a sense, they have debunked another so-called secret weapon in the fight against bed bugs. It is useful. Just like in pest control and general life. As often happens, if something sounds too good to be true, it may be so."

Dr. Susan C. Jones agrees. She is an associate professor of entomology at Ohio State University in Columbus. "They are very popular with various insects and rodents," she said. But "research does not support the manufacturer's claims. They usually don't work."

The retail price of these devices is 20 to 40 US dollars. "I will use the money to launder all the clothes and put them in a sealed carrying bag because it protects them better than [ultrasonic] testing," Jones said.

She said that drying bedding and clothing at high temperatures for 20 minutes can kill bed bugs.

What else can you do?

"Bed bugs are labor-intensive and time-intensive insects," Jones said. If you suspect that you have a bed bug, please call a professional and they will tell you whether it is a similar bed bug or a real bed bug.

Dr. Dini Miller is an associate professor of urban entomology at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia. "If these methods work, we won't have a bed bug problem in the United States," she said.

Unfortunately, "We don't have a good answer to bed bugs right now," she said. "We are very good at caring for 12 bed bugs, but when you have 1,200 bed bugs, things get tricky."

Heat and pesticides are currently the best solutions, but they are not foolproof.

The best way to avoid bed bug infestation is to keep these small animals away from your home.

"It doesn't matter if you noticed something or got bitten while traveling," Miller said. "You just don't want them to go home with you." Check yourself and all your belongings before going home.

Dr. Dini Miller, associate professor of urban entomology at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.

Michael F. Potter, PhD, entomologist, Lexington, University of Kentucky.

Dr. Susan C. Jones, associate professor of entomology at Ohio State University in Columbus.

Yturralde, KM Journal of Economic Entomology, 2012.

Federal Trade Commission: "FTC warns manufacturers and retailers of ultrasonic pest control equipment."

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