PSU researchers create solution to get rid of bed bugs – WTAJ

University Park, Centre County, Pa. - After five years of working on a way to prevent bed bugs, Penn State researchers have come up with a solution.

Researchers from the Department of Entomology call the product 'Aprehend.' They said it is more effective than products off-the-shelf because of how it's formulated.

Nina Jenkins, senior research associate of the department, said Aprehend uses fungi, penetrating the bed bugs' body and kills them within three to 10 days.

"This means you can control a population without having to detect every single harborage that exists in your home," Jenkins said.

Bed bugs are tiny insects that feed off of blood of animals and humans.

They aren't easy to track because they hide in tiny cracks and crevices and aren't active during the day.

"50 percent of people often don't react at all to bed bug bites, so the infestation can become quite extensive before people realize that they're there in their sleeping quarters," Jenkins said.

Aprehend awaits registration by the US Environmental Protection Agency by April.

Researchers said the product will be aimed at professional pest controllers and hotels to help prevent the pesky insects from hitchhiking home with people.

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PSU researchers create solution to get rid of bed bugs - WTAJ