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09 October 2024 - Case studies
The IQ® system by Bell, developed by Bell Laboratories for rodent monitoring and control, supports pest control operators by collecting data and speeding up inspection times. It allows immediate insight into infestation levels and enables timely intervention.
Pest Control Operators (PCOs) are increasingly seeking innovative solutions for constant, simple, real-time, and effective monitoring of synanthropic rodents such as Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus, and Mus musculus.
This need is closely linked to the requirement to use rodenticides responsibly, minimizing the risk of contamination and dispersion of biocides into the environment, in compliance with current regulations (EU Regulation 528/2012 and Legislative Decree No. 179 of 02.11.2021).
As a result, intelligent devices for rodent control have been introduced to the market. Among these, Bell’s IQ® system is a cutting-edge solution for precise, documented, and efficient control that simplifies the management of the rodent colony residing in a given area.
The mill, located in an urban area near green and commercial spaces, with an open ditch in front, was experiencing a significant rodent infestation, primarily driven by Rattus rattus. To address, monitor, and resolve the issue, we used IQ®, an intelligent system for 24/7 rodent monitoring and control.
The IQ® system includes bait dispensers and trap stations equipped with sensors that record rodent activity data. These data are collected via Bluetooth technology during regular monitoring and sent from the Bell Sensing app to the web portal, with no additional service costs. Detailed reports on interventions are available, including the number of checks, products used, rodent movements, bait consumption, captures, and more.
They have been used:
TRAPPER T-REX IQ
The sensor records the trap closure, regardless of whether it was triggered accidentally due to movement or impact with the device.
PROTECTA EVO PULSE RAT IQ
The sensor records rodent entries into the bait dispenser as events. Once activated by rodent intrusion, the station records the event and deactivates for 30 minutes, after which it becomes active again.
After conducting a preliminary survey, the most critical areas for rodent presence were identified based on telltale signs such as droppings, footprints, trails, and sightings by facility staff. The IQ stations were then placed, and monitoring schedules were planned, conducted bi-weekly and/or monthly.
The monitoring revealed that rodent activity detected by the IQ® stations tended to increase in November and December, when new specimens born in the summer months become independent and increase the pressure on the resident colony.
In order to contain the infestation, when the virtual bait placed inside the stations was consumed, it was possible to replace it with anticoagulant rodenticide bait.
The activity recorded by the Protecta Evo Pulse Rat iQ stations showed a correlation between the recorded events (and thus the visits to the dispenser) and the consumption of bait.
The activity recorded by the Trapper T-Rex iQ stations also reported both closures with actual captures of some specimens and closures that were likely caused by movement or impacts on the traps.
In conclusion, the IQ® stations correctly recorded and communicated the detected rodent activity, proving to be a valuable tool for rodent control with several advantages:
The activity recorded by the Protecta Evo Pulse Rat iQ stations showed a correlation between recorded events (and thus the use of the dispenser) and bait consumption.