Using BB Alert® ACTIVE & PASSIVE Together

The BB ALERT® System comprises of two products:

1. The BB ALERT® Active, and
2. The BB ALERT® Passive

The BB ALERT® Active is designed to monitor for bed bugs that are looking for a blood meal, by mimicking a human host.

The BB ALERT® Passive is designed to monitor for Bed Bugs that have had a blood meal and identifies the presence of bed bugs through identification of the black spots that Bed Bugs excrete before harbouring.

For best results the two products are best used together as a system, ensuring that Bed Bugs are identified whether they have had a blood meal or whether they are looking for a blood meal.

The BB ALERT® system is based on the biology and behaviour of Bed Bugs and is used for bed bug monitoring. The goal in using BB ALERT® is to identify bed bug problems at an early stage, when treatment is much easier and cost effective.

BB ALERT® consists of two products – BB ALERT® Active and BB ALERT® Passive. Although each of these products can be used effectively in isolation, they are best used together in a system approach.

Bed bugs are chiefly found in two states: Actively looking for a blood meal and harbouring or sheltering following a blood meal. The BB ALERT® System is designed to monitor for bed bugs in both states. This is how...

BED BUGS LOOKING FOR A BLOOD MEAL: Each bed bug goes through a series of lifecycle stages to get from Egg to Adult. In order to move from one stage to the next, Bed Bugs require a blood meal. They feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, and specifically target humans. In order to locate their next human, or blood meal, they use a number of physical "clues" with heat, moisture and carbon dioxide being the main clues used.

The BB ALERT® Active monitor is designed to attract bed bugs that are looking for a blood meal, by mimicking a human. The monitor contains a consumable heat pack that uses innovative technology to gives off Heat and Moisture. This heat pack makes bed bugs think the monitor contains a blood meal, and attracts bed bugs in. On entering the BB ALERT® Active monitor, bed bugs find themselves stuck in an inescapable adhesive.

The BB ALERT® Active should be used during the night (at an appropriate frequency) to monitor for activity of bed bugs looking for a blood meal. A quick inspection of the monitor in the morning and the user will know whether bed bugs (looking for a blood meal) are present, or not.

However, if there are bed bugs present in the area...but they are not hungry (or looking for a blood meal) the BB ALERT® Active will not be successful in identifying them, until they become hungry again.

BED BUGS THAT HAVE HAD A BLOOD MEAL: Once the bed bugs have had a blood meal, they spend time in harbourage digesting and moving on to the next life cycle stage.

During this time, they are not actively looking for a blood meal and are therefore not attracted to the heat and moisture produced by the BB ALERT® Active monitor.

The BB ALERT® Passive has been designed to provide Bed Bugs that have had a blood meal, with an ideal harbourage point.

Just before sheltering in any harbourage point, bed bugs excrete the unwanted matter that they collected at the last blood meal – producing a black sticky substance. The BB ALERT® Passive has been designed with a clean white border to clearly show the black spots of any bed bugs that are present in the area and have used the harbourage area. The Passive monitor, may not catch or contain bed bugs at the time of monitoring, however quick visual inspection of the monitor will provide evidence of a problem within the area.

The passive monitors should be left permanently in place in areas with a high level of population (hotel room, bedroom etc...) and monitored on a regular basis – depending on the likely risk level of the area concerned.

By using the Active and Passive monitors together, the detection of bed bugs both looking for a blood meal and bed bugs that have already had a blood meal will be possible – giving the best chance of identifying a problem.