When to Use Pesticides in Treating Bed Bugs

May 27
10:34

2012

Ma. Theresa Galan

Ma. Theresa Galan

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Experts believe the recent increase in bed bugs in the United States may be due to more travel, lack of knowledge about preventing infestations, increased resistance of bed bugs to pesticides, and ineffective pest control practices.

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The good news is that there are ways to control bed bugs. Getting good,When to Use Pesticides in Treating Bed Bugs Articles solid information is the first step in both prevention and control. While there is no chemical quick fix, there are effective strategies to control bed bugs involving both non-chemical and chemical methods.

Identifying Bed Bug Infestations

Bites on the skin are a poor indicator of a bed bug infestation. Bed bug bites can be misidentified, which gives the bed bugs time to spread to other areas of the house. Bed bug bites can look like bites from other insects (such as mosquitoes or spiders), rashes (such as eczema or fungal infections), or even hives. Some people do not react to bed bug bites at all.

A far more accurate way to identify a possible infestation is to look for physical signs of bed bugs. For example, spots on bedding, as described below, are one of the earliest and most accurate methods.

When cleaning, changing bedding, or staying away from home, look for:

  • Dark spots (about this size: •) which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric like a marker would
  • Eggs and eggshells, which are tiny (about 1mm) and white
  • Skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger
  • Live bed bugs
  • Rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses caused by bed bugs being crushed

When not feeding, bed bugs hide in a variety of places. Around the bed, they can be found near the piping, seams and tags of the mattress and box spring, and in cracks on the bed frame and head board. If the room is heavily infested, you may find bed bugs in the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains, in drawer joints, in electrical receptacles and appliances, under loose wall paper and wall hangings -- even in the head of a screw. Since bed bugs are only about the width of a credit card, they can squeeze into really small hiding spots. If a crack will hold a credit card, it could hide a bed bug.

Controlling bed bugs takes time and patience. There are a variety of non-chemical approaches that have been shown to be effective. In addition, pesticides are available to aid in the control process.

Combining chemical and non-chemical treatments in a unified approach often makes the most sense. This approach is called integrated pest management (IPM). IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment combined with available pest control methods like pesticides. Together this information is used to manage pest damage based on what you can afford and what is most effective. It also provides a solution with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

Recommended steps:

  • Inspect infested areas, plus surrounding living spaces
  • Correctly identify the pest (save a sample to show an extension agent or other reliable expert in entomology)
  • Keep records – including dates when and locations where pests are found
  • Clean all items within a bed bug infested living area
  • Reduce clutter where bed bugs can hide
  • Eliminate bed bug habitats
  • Physically remove bed bugs through cleaning
  • Try non-chemical methods
  • Use pesticides carefully according to the label directions or hire a pest management professional
  • Follow up with inspections and possible treatments
  • Raise awareness through education on prevention of bed bugs

For more information, check out the links below:

pest control auckland, pest control northshore