Bed bug brigade battles blood-sucking foe

Posted by Owen Roberts | Nov 8, 2010 | Guelph Mercury

Bed bugs have risen to the top of the public health agenda, and they’re providing opportunities for molecular biologists such as Prof. Kurt Saltzmann of Purdue University to use their background in agricultural pest control to address this problem. Kurt, pictured below,Â is speaking about his research next week in Guelph at the Ontario Pest Management Conference, where he’ll be looking to recruit other scientists to join a network of experts united in battling the blood-sucking insect. I write about his efforts in today’s Urban Cowboy column in the Guelph Mercury. Kurt says society has become lax in dealing with bed bugs, and urges home owners and renters to stay vigilant — steam and launder your belongings, vacuum with zeal, and seal gaps where bed bugs can hide.

Prof. Kurt Saltzmann

About The Author

Owen Roberts

Urban Cowboy

Raising awareness and promoting dialogue about current food and agriculture issues.

OWEN ROBERTS

Owen Roberts is an agricultural journalist and communications instructor based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He is a trustee on the Global Foundation for Agricultural Journalism and an associate editor (communications) for the Journal of Agromedicine. Previously, Owen was president of the International Forum for Agricultural Journalists, an agricultural communications faculty member at the University of Illinois, and research communications director at the University of Guelph. His programs and research papers have been recognized through awards from the Journal of Applied Communications, the National Agri-Marketing Association, the Association for Communications Excellence and the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation.