Stored product insects and other pests represent a major hygiene and safety issue to many industries, from food production to building infestation, and issues for timber pallets and packaging. Beds bugs are rapidly becoming a public health issue in hotels, hostels and houses in many parts of the world. While fumigation has been one of the prevalent routes for pest control, there remain issues with the toxicity of the chemicals used and potential exposure to humans therefore heat treatment has proven to be a successful alternative when used correctly. It is well known that excessive heat is dangerous to life. There is a difference between the amount of heat required to kill microbes such as bacteria and viruses and that required to kill larger life forms such as insects or mammals. This book focuses on the use of heat to kill insects and mites in food production, storage and other facilities. Heat Treatment for Insect Control examines how controlled heat treatment kills all stages of pest insect life across species and without causing damage to surrounding structures or electronics. The advantages of heat treatment include no health & safety hazards, a completely controllable and environmentally friendly process, reduced treatment time of fumigation (hours verses days), as well as no factory shutdown or exclusion of staff from adjacent areas during treatment. Part I reviews the principles of heat treatment, with chapters covering the fundamentals, planning, best practice and costs of integrated pest management. Part II looks at heat treatment applications in food production, storage, food materials and fresh produce. Part III examines the other applications in clothing, small rooms, buildings, and transportation. Provides a comprehensive and systematic reference on the heat treatment for insect control Reviews the development of heat treatment processes and technology as part of integrated pest management approaches

Due to the nature of agricultural commodities as carriers of exotic pests, importing countries have employed varying methods of pest control for postharvest products. Thermal treatments are emerging as effective, environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional methods, eliminating chemical residues and minimizing damage to produce. This book provides comprehensive information of these increasingly important treatments, covering temperature measurement, heat transfer, physiological responses of plants, insects and pathogens to heat, and an introduction to current and potential quarantine treatments based on hot air, hot water, and radio frequency energy.

Simple instructions on how to exterminate bed buds using heat treatment instead of toxic pesticides.

Insect Management for Food Storage and Processing, Second Edition is completely revised and updated with new chapters on topics including inspection techniques; retail pest management; environmental manipulation (e.g., hot, cold, modified atmospheres, ionization) to control insects; and the latest scientific research on integrated pest management (IPM) control techniques. Common and unusual exterior/interior pest insects are covered and examples of both chemical and non-chemical pest insect control strategies are thoroughly discussed. The book provides the practical and science-based strategies to solve pest insect problems in an effective and economical manner. Chapter authors are recognized around the world as experts in their respective fields. Scientific language is put in simple terms so those working in a food plant or warehouse environment can easily take information from the chapters and apply it for effective pest insect control strategies. Control methods explained have survived the test of time. This edition addresses the pesticide and food safety regulatory environment food processing personnel must work in every day. Chapter information presented is original research that contains basic reference material, literature reviews, and actual pest insect case histories that authors have experienced with control methods that work. The book is written so its readers can pick it up and use it as a ready reference across any food manufacturing or production environment. It’s a must read for commercial and structural pest control operators, technicians, or directors; food plant inspectors, auditors, and plant sanitarians; as well as QA managers, food safety consultants, and university extension personnel.

This book focuses on an array of integrated pest management tools (IPM) that exploit extreme temperatures, examining the biological basis for using temperature extremes in controlling insects and presenting practical IPM techniques that rely on temperature.