Resistant Bed Bugs. Superbugs?

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Bed bugs are hard to kill, even if you know what you are doing. One reason they are so hard to eliminate is that bed bugs can be resistant to pesticides. Over time, some chemicals can lose their efficacy completely.

Bed bugs are known to achieve resistance to many commonly used pesticides in a very short time. This is due to their short life cycle. Not all the bugs are killed with one chemical treatment, it may take several treatments. The bugs that survive the initial spray may produce offspring who are resistant to the chemical used. This evolution begins with the first chemical application. The longer an infestation continues, the higher the bed bug population will become and the harder it is to treat.

There are some chemical strategies that professional exterminators use that can be effective, eventually. There are many different pesticides available that can be used for bed bugs in the home, on the bed, walls, floor, ceiling.

Do you really want pesticide sprayed on your bed, even if its label says you can do it?   

Treating bed bugs yourself is not a good idea unless you have extensive knowledge of the bugs and chemicals. The best you can hope for with a DIY bed bug treatment is a partial kill, or a slight reduction in population. DIY bed bug treatments commonly cause resistant bed bugs to develop. It will save you time, money, headache, and sleepless nights, by calling a professional

Chemical Treatment is not your only option, and is certainly NOT the BEST option to treat bed bugs. A heat treatment, or thermal treatment, is the most effective and efficient way to kill all bed bugs and eggs. This treatment consists of heating the room, unit, or entire structure to a high temperature and holding that temperature until all bed bugs and eggs are dead.

If you live in Maricopa or Pinal County, AZ – call Arizona Heat Pest Services (602) 903-3375

WARNING: Do not attempt to heat your home to kill pests including bed bugs. This is not a DIY activity. Improper heating techniques can lead to fire, explosion, and death.   

Chemical Treatment VS. Heat Treatment for Bed Bugs

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If bed bugs are found they must be treated ASAP, one way or another.

Bed bug infestations are spreading more rapidly than ever during these tough economic times. If a bed bug infestation is not treated quickly, these bugs will spread. 

Every company has a different method to eradicate these bugs. Most treatments fall into one of two categories: Chemical Treatment or Heat Treatment. The majority of companies offer no guarantee with their bed bug services (we offer a long term bed bug warranty with treatment). Treatments for bed bugs can be quite costly and can take several weeks to accomplish, depending on the method used and the company providing the service. Some companies claim that only one treatment is needed. (like us)

Chemical Treatment: The cheap way.

The chemical treatment consists of using pesticides to kill the bed bugs, applying the pesticide where the bugs hide and travel. There are thousands of pesticides, only some of which can be used in the home to kill bed bugs. Every pesticide has a label which explains where and how to apply the pesticide. Using a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with the label is a violation of the law.

The areas that exterminators will spray for bed bugs include:

  • Beds
  • Floors
  • Walls
  • Ceilings
  • Furniture
  • Electronics

Chemical Treatments must always be repeated two or three times because these bugs are resilient against pesticides. Bed bugs are known become resistant to pesticides very quickly, becoming even harder to eradicate.

A chemical treatment can eventually be effective and is the lower cost option. The cost you pay – chemical exposure to you and your family. I have heard many stories of pets getting sick (vomiting for days) from exterminators who came and “poured some stuff under my carpet” to kill the bedbugs.

Always follow all label instructions when using a chemical. Make sure your pest professional is using their chemicals according to the label. You have the right to request this label – the pest professional is required to carry all labels and MSDS for all pesticides they use (AZ). They should be willing and able to provide this information to you immediately.

Improper use of pesticides can lead to illness and death.

Heat Treatment: The Best Way

The Heat Treatment consists of using high temperatures to kill bed bugs. Heat is proven to be effective at killing bed bugs at all stages of life including eggs. The heat can be applied on a small scale such as a hair dryer or clothes dryer, or on a large scale such as heating the entire structure/unit.

Not all heat treatments are equal. The best way to heat treat is by getting the heat to ALL the bugs and eggs at once, getting them hot enough for long enough.

The Benefits of An Effective Heat Treatment:

  • Minimal, or NO exposure to chemicals
  • Keep your mattress and furniture
  • Only one treatment is needed

WARNING: Using heat to kill bed bugs can be dangerous if you are not a trained professional. Improper heating methods can lead to fire and death. Please do not attempt this yourself. 

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?

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Where are the bed bugs hiding?

Bed Bugs are nocturnal by nature and stay out of sight during the day (unless you’re sleeping). They are hiding all day long and can be very difficult to find even in a severely infested room/ home. These bugs are so thin that they can fit into very small spaces, like between joints of furniture. If you have a bed bug infestation they will hide in the following areas:

  • mattress seams
  • box springs
  • bedding
  • head boards
  • furniture
  • behind baseboards
  • under carpet
  • under tack strip
  • walls
  • ceiling
  • electronics
  • picture frames
  • clothing
  • shoes
  • luggage
  • under clutter

If the infestation is severe, you may see bugs during the day. There is almost no place in the home that bed bugs can not go. This is one reason why it is so difficult to get rid of these vile vampires, and why it is nearly impossible to do it yourself. Please call the professionals, it will save you time, money, and sleepless nights.

If you try treating the bed bugs yourself, then the bed bugs can be spread to areas where they are not normally found such as kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, linen closets, attics, wall voids, and within the framing of the house.

The more clutter there is in the home, the more places the bugs have to hide. Bed bugs may be impossible to treat in a “hoarding” situation – no matter what method is used. Cleanup of clutter is always recommended in order limit their hiding places and to perform an effective treatment. If the clutter is not removed, then it can be impossible to treat the home properly (and legally). We must follow all directions provided on pesticide labels, otherwise we are breaking the law. We cannot spray pesticides on clothing, bed linens, kids toys, pet toys, or in food or feed areas.

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