Bed Bugs Extermination  

Bed bugs extermination is incredibly difficult, because they are difficult to access. Bed bugs hide in tiny cracks and crevices and to top if of they are highly resistant to insecticides. There are a variety of ways to combat these nasty creatures, which mainly can be divided in chemical and non-chemical treatments.

• The main insecticide used for indoor use is primarily pyrethroid to which bed bugs are known to be resistant. Therefore no single insecticide is capable of eliminating a bed bug infestation if used alone. For this reason pest management services will often use a variety of chemical as well as non-chemical products to be more successful in bed bugs extermination. 

• In addition to insecticides you could try using Diatomaceous Earth. It is a desiccant dust made of the silica-based skeletons of microorganisms called diatoms and is a naturally occurring pest-fighter. This dust kills bed bugs by sticking on the outside of their bodies and absorbing the wax layer that keeps them from losing their body moisture. The bed bugs desiccate and die within a couple of days. Diatomaceous Earth can be ordered online and if used carefully is safe to use around children and pets. 

• One of the latest methods and more effective ways in killing bed bugs is heat treatment. The advantage of heat treatment is that heat is non-toxic and kills bed bugs at all life stages. The steam cleaners can be used to treat bed bugs in carpets, behind skirting boards and on upholstered furniture. The disadvantage of this treatment is that it is relatively expensive and has no residual activity, which means that bed bugs can re-infest again the day after treatment. Be aware that only those bed bugs get killed that come in direct contact with the heat. 

• Another non-chemical method to kill bed bugs is mattress and pillow sealers. These mattress encasements should not be removed at all for at least one year for risk of reinfestation. Bed bugs can live up to a year on one blood meal. Also make sure that the sealer is for use against bed bugs. Regular encasements often have zippers. This allows bed bugs to slip through.

• Climb-up interceptors are placed under each leg of your bed or piece of furniture. Hungry bed bugs coming to feed on humans crawl up the outside of climb-up and fall into the outer well where they cannot escape. Make sure when using these devices that your bed it away from the wall. Climb-up interceptors are monitoring devices, which need to be used for a period of time. Keep in mind that no monitoring device is 100% accurate. 

And of course you have to make the decision to try and do-it-yourself or get the professionals to do the job of eliminating the bed bugs. Due to my experience with bed bugs and the difficulty to get rid of them I would suggest the services of a professional pest management company.

Take a few days to select a professional pest control service. Make sure that they are knowledgeable about bed bug and their behaviour and up to date with the latest elimination techniques.

After an inspection of the premises the professional should provide you with the following information:

1. Information about the bi ology of bed bugs and their behaviour.
2. The potential extend of the infestation with what they can see at the time.
3. A copy of a service agreement stating each step of the elimination treatment, including a list of chemical and non-chemical treatment products that they will use.
4. What you need to do prior to the arrival of the professional services.
5. An estimate time of how long the treatment will take and the company’s warranty/guarantee period. (Be aware that the guarantee is not that the bed bugs are gone, but that the next treatment is either free or at a reduced cost).
6. And of course the cost involved.  

The above has shown that to be successful in bed bug extermination you may need a variety of methods.