Vector Control for Environmental Health Professionals (VCEHP) Practice Exam

The correct answer highlights that insecticide application is not considered a non-chemical method of bed bug control. Non-chemical methods rely on physical or mechanical methods to eliminate pests, without the use of chemicals or synthetic treatments.

Heat treatment is a well-known non-chemical method, where high temperatures are used to kill bed bugs at all life stages. Diatomaceous earth acts as a desiccant that damages the exoskeleton of insects and dehydrates them, making it a non-chemical approach. Silica aerogel functions similarly to diatomaceous earth, causing dehydration in insects without the use of chemicals.

In contrast, insecticide application necessarily involves the use of chemical formulations specifically designed to target and kill pests, which clearly differentiates it as a chemical method of control. This understanding is vital for professionals in vector control aiming to implement integrated pest management practices that may include both chemical and non-chemical strategies.