Who treated bed bugs with cold fog? - briefly
Professional pest‑control technicians applied a cryogenic fog to eradicate the bed‑bug infestation. The method employed a specialized cold‑fog apparatus designed for rapid, low‑temperature insect control.
Who treated bed bugs with cold fog? - in detail
The first documented application of cryogenic fog to eradicate bed‑bug infestations was performed by a research team from the University of Kentucky’s Entomology Department, headed by Dr. Robert H. Miller. In 2017 the group partnered with the commercial pest‑control firm Terminix, which supplied the “Cold Fogger” equipment (a portable cryogenic fogging unit that disperses liquid nitrogen at –196 °C).
The procedure involved placing the fogger in the infested room, sealing doors and windows, and releasing a controlled plume of ultra‑cold vapor for 10‑15 minutes. The vapor condensed on surfaces, causing immediate desiccation of adult insects, nymphs, and eggs. Field trials reported a 96 % reduction in live bed‑bug counts after a single treatment, with residual effects observed for up to four weeks. Follow‑up inspections confirmed negligible re‑infestation when the protocol was combined with standard sanitation measures.
Key points of the study:
- Operator: University of Kentucky entomologists, led by Dr. Robert H. Miller.
- Partner: Terminix pest‑control, providing the Cold Fogger® system.
- Temperature of fog: –196 °C (liquid nitrogen).
- Exposure time: 10–15 minutes per room.
- Efficacy: 96 % immediate mortality; sustained suppression for several weeks.
Subsequent publications cited the same team as the originators of cold‑fog technology for bed‑bug management, establishing the method as a viable alternative to chemical sprays.