Bed bugs are a notoriously difficult pest to eradicate. To prevent an infestation, regularly launder sheets and pillow cases, steam clean mattresses and other furniture items and seal cracks and crevices with caulk.
Watch for visual signs of infestation, such as rusty red spots of dried excrement and light-colored molted skins. Place interceptors under the legs of beds, sofas and plush chairs and check them every 1-2 weeks. For professional help, contact Bed Bug Control Boise.
A specialized heat treatment can be very effective against bed bugs, and can also kill other household pests such as fleas and mites. This method involves exposing items to a very high temperature for a long period of time, resulting in the deaths of the pests within the item. This process is typically performed by a professional, but it is possible for people to do the work on their own with the proper equipment.
Infested clothing and linens can be laundered and placed in a clothes dryer with the highest heat setting to kill both adults and eggs. This should be done on a regular basis until the problem is under control. Occupants should carefully inspect clothing and linens before bringing them into the home, and should put them in plastic bags until they can be washed and dried. If discarded furniture is infested, it should be rendered unusable before putting it in a dumpster or landfill so that someone else does not bring it into their homes.
Over-the-counter aerosol sprays containing powerful chemicals are available, but should only be used as directed on the pesticide label. Misapplication can result in occupants experiencing unnecessary health risks and can result in regulatory fines and lawsuits. Those who choose to use these products should thoroughly ventilate rooms during application and be cautious when handling and applying them around the house.
It is important to know that while insecticides can be effective at killing bed bugs, they are not an efficient means of eliminating them. Bed bug infestations are difficult to eradicate and require multiple treatments, often involving many different methods. Occupants should work closely with their pest control company to identify and treat all infested areas.
Besides heat treatment, other non-chemical methods are available to control bed bugs. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder-like substance that can kill insects when applied properly. It can be sprinkled into cracks and crevices in walls, around beds, along the joints between wall and floor, behind furniture, and inside closets and dressers. It can be purchased from most hardware stores, and it is safe for children and pets when properly applied.
Insecticides
Insecticides are often required to control serious bed bug infestations. Several products are federally registered for over-the-counter use, but few have been proven to be effective against resistant strains of the pest. Insecticides should only be used in combination with other methods such as heat treatment and meticulous cleaning. If you’re unsure how to treat a bed bug infestation, seek the help of a licensed pest management professional.
The location of the bed bugs will determine the type and amount of insecticide required. Indoor or outdoor use will also influence the application method. The presence of children or pets may also require extra caution when selecting a product. When using pesticides, follow label directions precisely for safety and efficacy.
One option is to use pyrroles, such as chlorfenapyr or cyfluthrin. These compounds work by interrupting cellular energy production, which leads to death. Other options include pyrethrins, which are botanical insecticides derived from chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethrins have shown resistance in some bed bug populations, so it’s important to mix them with other insecticides for maximum effectiveness.
Another option is to spray the insects directly with a chemical such as deltamethrin or a neonicotinoid-pyrethroid combination. However, this can be time-consuming and messy. Alternatively, you can place items in a sealed plastic bag and expose them to direct sunlight for about an hour. This will kill the insects and eggs.
Insecticide strips are available for treating smaller objects such as books, luggage, and clothing that can’t be laundered. They contain odorless, vaporizing chemicals such as dichlorvos or permethrin, which slowly release their toxins over days and eventually kill the bed bugs.
While fungi like yeasts and bacteria have not been demonstrated to be effective against bed bugs, they might prove useful in combination with other control measures. For example, Jenkins’s team has experimented with the fungus Aprehend, which they have successfully used to destroy the insecticide-resistant pests. In their study, the scientists sprayed the fungal compound on quilt fabric and then briefly exposed a group of bed bugs to it. The result was high mortality rates, comparable to those achieved by a deltamethrin-based commercial insecticide.
Vacuuming
If you have bed bugs, thorough vacuuming of rugs and floors can help remove some of them. Vacuum cleaners with a high temperature and low moisture (or “dry” steam) are best for this application, as they leave less water behind to prevent mold and mildew growth. Look for a wide head that covers more surface area in each pass, and test the steam cleaner on small sections of fabric to check for possible damage before using on an entire room.
It is important to vacuum often, as it reduces a bed bug population and keeps the bugs’ eggs from hatching. Using a brush attachment and a crevice tool for seams, corners and baseboards can help dislodge eggshells.
Vacuuming should be done on a daily basis in the areas of your home where bed bugs are most likely to be found. Empty the vacuum cleaner bag in a plastic garbage bin that is sealed, and wash the bags and any vacuum attachments with hot water and detergent to avoid reintroducing the bed bugs when you use the vacuum again.
Regular washing of your mattress, box spring and other bedding is also important for reducing the number of bed bugs. Make sure to use hot water, and strip your bed linens directly into a double plastic bag before washing them, to reduce the chance of spreading the insects.
Visual inspections can detect early infestations, as the bugs’ droppings are reddish-black and have a sweet, musty odor. Some inspectors use specially trained dogs to sniff out bed bugs.
If you suspect a bed bug infestation, you should keep records of your attempts to eliminate them and the dates on which they occur. This will help you decide whether to do the work yourself or hire a professional. If you do not have the time to perform the treatments yourself, a pest control company that specializes in bed bugs may be able to help. Several methods can be effective for controlling the problem, including whole-room heat treatment, insecticides and vacuuming. The best IPM programs combine a variety of approaches and are tailored to your specific situation.
Bed Bug Traps
Bed bug traps are a good way to get rid of small amounts of bed bugs and can be effective for many people. However, they are not a complete solution and many people will need to call pest control for help with a severe infestation. Bed bugs are tiny and well adapted to hiding in small places, so they can be difficult to detect. They also have a tendency to develop resistance to insecticides.
There are two main types of bed bug traps: active and passive. Active traps use an attractant to lure the bugs into the traps where they can be killed. The attractant can be a pheromone, carbon dioxide or another substance that mimics the signals that bed bugs send out to find a host to feed on. Passive traps simply position themselves in the path of bed bug movement and wait to catch them.
Before using any traps, you should prepare the area for treatment by vacuuming and removing clutter. This will make it easier to see any signs of bed bugs and get them under control. It’s also a good idea to seal any small hiding spots in your home with silicon caulking.
Once you’ve finished preparing the area, it’s time to start treating the infested areas. This process will likely take several rounds to eradicate the entire infestation. It’s important to stick to a schedule, so you don’t miss any treatment sessions.
It’s also a good idea to keep a log of your progress throughout the entire treatment process. This will allow you to track your progress and better understand what steps are working and which ones need to be improved.