Insects trained to detect bed bugs in homes, hotels, businesses, or other locations? It sounds very sci-fi and a bit nutty, but can it be done? The answer is a resounding “yes” according to a Cary based company called “Bennett Aerospace.”
According to reports by WRAL techwire on November 20, 2012, the “Smart Hound” technology has been developed by a husband and wife team whereas insects are trained to seek out the presence of bed bugs in a variety of locations.
It is well-known that bed bug sniffing dogs have been a helpful asset in detecting bed bug infestations in the past couple of years. Sniffer dogs use their keen sense of smell to find both live and dead bed bugs, their eggs, nymphs, and even shed bed bug skins. These working dogs work quickly and efficiently and have become a popular and reliable choice among pest control professionals as wells as consumers. Bed bug sniffing dogs take on average six months for training to commence and they are a pricey addition for any handler.
The “Smart Hound” insects are said to be easier to train to detect bed bugs than dogs are by using biosensing technology that has been developed by the Pentagon, the University of Georgia and the US Department of Agriculture. In fact, reports are that the insects, which are food motivated, are trainable in only two short minutes.
“Besides training other insects to root out bed bugs, Bennett Aerospace is hopeful that the newly developed technology will eventually help contribute to
• “Cyber, intelligence and ommunications
• Advanced materials, chemical/biological
• Health and medical devices • Robotics
• Photonics: optics, lasers and displays”
For now…we are all dying to see insects finding the little vampires that attack in the night!
