Carbon dioxide fumigation for control of bed bugs

As to many insects, high concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) is lethal to bed bugs. We tested the effect of CO2 concentration to bed bugs at various temperatures. The lethal exposure time is negatively correlated with temperature and CO2 concentration. Bed bug eggs are more susceptible to CO2 fumigation at 25-30oC than nymph and adult stages and less susceptible to CO2 fumigation at 20 oC. At 25 oC, 50% CO2 fumigation for 12 hours caused 100% mortality to all stages of bed bugs. The results suggest CO2 fumigation could be an effective and safer bed bug control technique than insecticide applications.