June 4, 2012
Bed Bugs Are Even Peskier Than We Thought
A new study shows that over-the-counter products sold to eradicate the bed bug, shown feeding above, are relatively ineffective
First comes a mysterious difficulty sleeping through the night, then a splotchy, itchy rash and finally the alarming (and somewhat embarrassing) realization—your bed is infested with Cimex lectularius, the dreaded bed bug.
A new study published yesterday in the Journal of Economic Entomology has more bad news for those suffering from an infestation: Over-the-counter products like “foggers” and “bug bombs” do virtually nothing to kill the irritating pests.
Bed bugs have afflicted humans for a long time—they were even mentioned in the writings of Aristotle and Pliny the Elder—and a number of natural remedies have been used around the world, from black pepper to wild mint to eucalyptus oil. In the years after World War II, bed bugs were nearly wiped out in Western countries by heavy use of pesticides. Since the late 1990s, though, they have come back with a vengeance.
Scientists are unsure why they’ve made a comeback in recent years, but increased international travel and the bugs’ resistance to pesticides are suspected culprits. Bed bugs are especially likely to spread in densely populated cities and apartment buildings—and once they’ve infested your bed, as bed bug sufferers know well, they’re extremely difficult to eradicate. The tiny bugs, just 4 to 5 millimeters in length, can live for up to a year without feeding, and their eggs can lodge invisibly in the seams of sheets or pillowcases.
Most infestations are detected when the creatures do begin to feed, piercing the skin to suck out blood and leaving a series of telltale blotchy red marks. Since bed bugs can become fully engorged with blood in just a few minutes while you’re asleep, catching one in the act is extremely rare. Infestations can also be detected by a characteristic smell, similar to that of over-ripe raspberries, and pest control companies often use dogs to recognize the odor.
The new study, by Susan Jones and Joshua Bryant of Ohio State University, evaluated consumer bed bug control products. They tested the effectiveness of three different products on a five bed bug populations collected from the field, and the results were consistently dismal: The bugs showed essentially no adverse effects after two-hour exposures to the spray insecticides. One population did show an increase in mortality, but only when the bugs were directly hit by the spray, something the authors say is exceedingly rare in real-life applications since the bugs burrow deep into mattresses and fabrics.
“These foggers don’t penetrate in cracks and crevices where most bed bugs are hiding, so most of them will survive,” Jones said in a press release. “If you use these products, you will not get the infestation under control, you will waste your money, and you will delay effective treatment of your infestation.”
One reason the the products are so ineffective, the authors speculate, is an especially concerning one: pesticide resistance. Excessive use of products such as these, which contain the pesticide pyrethoid, might be causing more and more bed bugs to become entirely resistant to the same chemicals that used to wipe them out easily.
So what are you to do if hit with a bed bug infestation? Bringing in a pest professional to kill the creatures is likely more effective than using the store-bought products, but increasing resistance can also render this approach ineffective. Oftentimes exterminators will recommend that you throw out mattresses and other pieces of furniture that bed bugs have infested. Using extreme cold or heat to kill the bugs is an increasingly popular solution, but these techniques also sometimes leave behind founder populations that generate an infestation afterward.
The bottom line—once an infestation of bed bugs has taken hold, it’s extremely difficult to get rid of. Experts advise that early detection and immediate treatment by professionals is the best chance you have of eradicating it entirely. But buying a pesticide over-the-counter and hoping for the best really doesn’t work.
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An innovative method can solve bed bug problem in 2 hours by yourself. Chemicals can’t reach inside of mattress; people buy mattress encasement. This is no longer right. It only seals bugs inside of mattress. A bed sized trap seals all of bugs in a bedroom. One trap replaces both mattress and box spring encasements with additional function of no more bites.
Each wash/vacuum/spray effort may kill 8? % bed bugs; but those behind wall and under carpet can suck blood and lay eggs. You may wash/vacuum/spray daily or weekly to kill bugs faster than the egg laying speed. This is similar to a dummy mosquito method which opens windows and sprays chemicals in a house instead of closing windows.
The video and attached text in Youtube describe how to build sticky barriers, so that bed bugs can’t get access to top of bed, chairs, tables, clothes, and shoes. This is similar to the closing window method. It immediately stops bed bug bites and your daily effort to keep barriers’ function is almost zero. No more bite and zero daily effort mean that you have solved bed bug problem after 2 hours of initial effort.
I caught bed bugs into a glass bottle without cap where they could feel the smell of sleeping people and actively crawl for seeking food. The last bed bug starved within 3 months at room temperatures. The information that bed bugs may live for one year without food might be generated at low temperatures and they did not have any activity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTdOxn9MoPg
We have a massive research in united Arab emirates especially in dubai a bout bed bugs how come , where hide and how to treat . It’s really hard work but reiterate the service could help to get rid of bed bugs its impossible from first treatment could rid of them or rarely to get good result but in the end will success the service
I can remember my mother telling me that they had lots of bedbugs when she was small, born in 1909. They put the posts of beds in kerosene to keep the bugs from crawling up the legs of beds. That would not be a good site in today’s world, but back then people had very little and the bugs were more important than site.
Bedbugs were kept under control decades ago because DDT was available and effective. Maybe it’s time to bring it back, with the right controls (such as professional use only).
Avoid picking them up on hotels or other places you are planning to stay but stripping sheets and covers and looking for the dusty pellets the bugs leave behind, and look for little blood spots on sheets. Flee while you can.
I got rid of bedbugs after almost 2 years of fighting them with a spray bottle and undiluted ammonia. It kills them within minutes on contact. it also eventually peels paint on wood and stains walls, but who cares! It’s the only thing that worked for me, I refused to use chemicals for my sake and my dogs’ sake.I also use ammonia in the laundry.
I found that after a trip to Spain, we had also brought back some bedbugs. I put Borax at the bed legs and all around the walls. I also washed all bedding in very hot water with a cleansing product that contained cedar. That was three years ago and we have been bedbug free since then.
When we travel now I try to be very careful and always keep our luggage closed when not in use.
I had an infestation that I was able to successfully control using products from this Australian supplier: http://www.bedbugbarrier.com.au/bed-bug-barriers/bed-bug-killer
A combination of barriers and the dust knocked it out in about a fortnight. I wanted to hug the owner.
Just ready this article and the attached comments made my skin itch. I began to feel the little bugs crawling up my legs. Is this some kind of psychological warfare?
Ammonia is a chemical. In our property preservation business, ammonia is a chemical, and is require to be removed and properly dispoed of at the chemical hazmat depository. Just because it is common does not mean it is safe. However, it may be safer and more effective for bedbug removal than other products.
Bedbugs have been brought back by immigrants from third world countries. We got rid of them with kerosene, which is sickening itself.
We were told in Sri Lanka, years ago, that putting the mattress out in the sunlight would make the bugs go away. We actually got to try that some time later and it worked.
Encase your furniture that contains easy places for bed bugs to hide and thrive, like sofas with cloth and crevices, mattresses, etc. in plastic wrap. Then put it in a trailer and heat it up to 50 degrees celcius for a time. The heat will kill them. Then treat the boarding along the walls and carpets with pesticides. That should do it. You should not have another infestation.
GM
We had a bed bug infestation years ago (2002 or 2003, I think). At the time, there were no foggers/sprays especially for bedbugs, so we used ones designed for fleas. We also dumped the mattress and box spring that were the site of the primary nest. (it was old and needed to go anyway). We washed everything in that room that was washable and anything that wasn’t (like stuffed animals) went into plastic bags in the shed for a year. (they probably didn’t need to stay out there the whole year, but we really did not want to deal with this issue twice)
We had one secondary infestation, in a different room. We didn’t toss this mattress but sprayed with an alcohol based cleaner that mechanics use to clean brakes and other greasy parts. This along with washing everything, and another dose of the fogger took care of the problem for us.
The use of dogs to nip an infestation in the bud before it gets out of control is a very cost-effective, efficient and accurate method. Our beagles, for instance, are trained to sniff out live bed bugs only and live eggs, and down to one specimen. They are at least 3 times more accurate in locating infestations than a human visual inspection. I would highly recommend using dogs more often especially in large facilities like warehouse, hotels, apartment complexed and colleges and do regular inspections as a preventive maintenance approach.
I’ve been told that exposure to UV-C light can disrupt and kill dust mite eggs and the mites from reproducing. Does anyone know if this is true with bed bugs too. I know I have a UV-C Wand to use on my bedding because of my dust mite allegies and it seems to help also to sanitize kitchen and counter after cleaning the rooms I scan the counter tops etc.
Don’t know it it does jack? But my allergies seem to have improved.
My husband travels a lot. He discovered them while away and when he got home (I was at work) washed everything in hot water, bombed his truck and the garage where he dropped all his clothing. He knew if I found out I wouldn’t let him in the house until he was debugged/deloused. Now he is a fanatic when it comes to checking his hotel room. He said when a hotel finds bugs they have to clean that room and the ones on each side because they travel under baseboards. Ugh! Just don’t leave anything on the floor or use the drawers.
Herman King said: “Bedbugs have been brought back by immigrants from third world countries. We got rid of them with kerosene, which is sickening itself.”
By them may I assume you meant the bedbugs and not the immigrants from third world countries?
I read recently about the use of diatomaceous earth in managing some bugs. Has anyone tried this with bedbugs , or for that matter any multilegged household pests?
At a four star hotel in Denmark I was exposed at 250euro per night. I remembered my grand mothers cautions. Don’t put suitcases on the upholstered furniture, bed chair etc as that is when stuff jumps into suitcase. Hang clothes when possible. Check bed before sleeping. In the event you are exposed while traveling. Launder and /or dry cllean everything before entering home. Inspect packages and suitcases before returning. Xtreme hot water and or bleach for cottons.
If you get them sit in the middle of the bed, put kerosene over floor and ignight as whatever you do you can’t get rid of them safely and you might as well just burn the house down. Ps don’t do this, I was being facetious .
Most popular pesticides are bad for people also so they are not a good solution, prevention of spread of infestation is the best solution.
These microscopic bugs can turn in to a massive infestation. Get them taken care of immediately-at the first sign-or you will regret it later.
if you don’t want to use chemicals in your home try food grade Diamataceous earth- not pool filter grade! Puff it from a squeeze bottle, you will live in a dusty home, and it doesn’t kill instantly- (a shoe is good for that)- but it’s safe enough to eat, use on pets’ skin, and the bugs can’t develop immunity.
Bed Bugs have Positve Phototropism, does that means a lure into the light from the darkness could be devised or is there one already? Who knew?
i just boughbt a condo in las vegas, and just before i found my cousin being in volved in the black arts, she bought me a open bag of peanuts, for my dinnerparty/birthdayparty/divorece party/ ever since i got a heart attack i am only 35, and my condo is infested with bedbugs, can you please tell me what is happing thanks
Was moving into a vacation apt that was furnished with an infested bed. Noticed bugs as we were unpacking clothes into closet shelving that had been wiped clean already by us. We evacuated immediately. Luckily we put 3 layers of sheets on the bed before using it as a table for the luggage. we did sweep under the bed and i lifted the bed to see under it before noticing infestation, so could have knocked them onto floor and around (tile surface), not sure. we changed clothes and left the clothes we were wearing and shoes. any opinion on our chances to have carried them with us? apparently apartment was empty for 2 months and everything was pretty clean except for dust. would they have been in the closed empty closet? again, the shelves were clean, some dust, and i wiped them before putting clothes in, but we did put all our clothes in, and immediately took them out as soon as they went in; when we noticed the bugs.
Bed Bugs can’t walk on smooth plastic. Encase your mattress. Place a clear plastic sheet between the mattress and box spring. Plastic is on rolls at Osh hardware. The plastic overhang should be about 4 inches all around the boxspring. The Bed Bugs cannot get to you and will starve. Your bed must be a proper bed. No covers touching the walls, etc. Also this treatment works well with Subdued light.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52538874@N05/7318050308/http://www.flickr.com/photos/52538874@N05/7318050308/ If, you can kill the eggs at your bed, that is the key. If you determined heat treatment is too dangerous or expensive, now what ? The big picture is you have a ranch, your’re raising Bed Bugs and using your bed as a corral. First, spray your bed or encase the bed to kill the eggs so you won’t be overwhelmed. Second, Make sure there are no problems with your bed. Nothing about your bed can be allowed the touch the wall or floor, but the caster wheels. Third, the new corral for the Bed Bugs is a dim light going 24/7 where the Bed Bugs can be drawn to and removed with masking tape. Fourth, you spray the ceiling-wall line on two of the most distant walls from the dim light to move the Bed Bugs toward the light. Notes: Do not spray near the dim light or any other location, that will create a barrier to keep them from coming to the light. This dim light is most likely for life. As new Bed Bugs arrive at your home they will go to the light. Bed Bugs are drawn to you like Bees, by your Co2. A fan moving air near your bed will mix your Co2 evenly in your bedroom, making it hard for Bed Bugs to find you. Every other day a light spray on your bed caster wheels will protect you. Those in the Bed Bug business won’t be needed anymore. Please beware of baised replies from them.This method seems to be the “Silver Bullet” for Bed Bugs. This lure will provide detection, control for the home and car. The poorest people will be able to handle their infestations. This DIY project can be done for a very small cost of parts. This is a very “Green” method. For all living places and whole house treatment, the hallways will become giant traps. The lights are there, a $5.00 dimmer switch is needed and spray. Lightly place DE on hall traffic areas where people put their foot down. Careful: My new kitten made a mistake, near the light. I moved the litter box there. Later I found a live Bed Bug in it. When the Bed Bugs stop coming to the light, they’re gone, for now. If you have total control, you’ll have complete relief. The Dim lights double for night lights and Bed Bug control. Bed Bugs are not exclusively Nocturnal. When light is used as a lure, this will lead to the downfall of Bed Bugs. Bed Bugs like darkness and subdued light. When you provide subdued light in the darkness they will go there. Search Google… Bed Bugs+ Subdued light. Bedbuggers Bed Bug forum is Overrun with Pest Control Operators who control the site to promote their Bed Bug Businesses. The web site is run by a host who has no knowledge of Bed Bugs and has sold her soul to them for information from them and to give herself credibility.Anybody who has any information to offer, that might interfere with Pest Control Operators ability to promote themselves will be surpressed to keep the information from being made available to the public. All treatments for Bed Bugs must be done by a professional and victims who suffer can do nothing to help themselves,is a lie. The public is being terrorized with false information. Persons making money from Bed Bugs,don’t want, DIY Subdued lighting treatment, to be true. What is it? Has there been a cover-up? How could so many people in the Pest control business not know that Bed Bugs are attracted to light. Don’t they look? Don’t they want to know? How could they let so many people suffer? It’s a scandal. How could reseachers not know? Is this how the World is? It’s disgusting. Insects having negative phototropism show an identical reaction, but only when they are subjected to a rapid increase of light. The bedbug is, as we know, energetically photophobic; it hides in the darkest cracks and leaves only during the night. In the daytime, says Bohn, if an accident has brought it from the shade into the light, it immediately executes a rotation of 180 degrees, which brings it into the shadow. On a sheet of paper it walks away from the luminous rays and turns about immédiately when one holds a candle toward it. “It is very difficult,” adds Bohn, “to make a bedbug which is on black paper pass over upon a piece of white paper. Anytime a Bed Bug is startled with a handheld candle or light of course it’s going to run and hide. A Bed Bug chooses a white paper over other colors when not disturbed. Negative phototropism testing is flawed. Bed Bugs have Positve Phototropism. Vintage – “Bedbugs”, US Dept of Agriculture, 1937
Leaflet No. 146. Great 8 page, illustrated leaflet stating, “Bedbugs are normally nocturnal. When the lights are out they emerge from their daytime hiding places and seek to feed upon their host. Sometimes, when very hungry, they will feed during the daytime in subdued light. Their normally nocturnal habit is modified necessarily when they infest furniture in rest rooms in stores, theater seats, desks in offices, and similar situations that are not frequented by man throughout the night. In such places bedbugs often bite persons during the day.” Bed Bug Statements:Bed bugs are nocturnal, but may feed during the day in areas with reduced lighting such as theaters when no hosts are present at night. Currently. Cornell University says, “Bed bugs can be enticed to bite during the day if light is subdued and they are hungry.”