Winning the Bed Bug War: Facts You Should Know

With the use of chemical pesticides such as DDT, the common bed bug (Cimex Lectularius) was all but eradicated here in the US. But with the banning of DDT, and the increase in global travel, the bed bug has made a resounding comeback. Health officials in Canada have called this pesky annoyance the "insect of the 21st Century." Mostly, we just consider them disgusting and annoying. The battle is not hopeless, by any means. If your home has an infestation, don't just run to the corner store for a can of bug spray. This problem needs to be approached intelligently.

Winning the bed bug war: Facts you should know Stay calm.
While the very idea of sleeping with blood sucking insects can turn the stomachs of the squeamish, it's important to remember a bed bug infestation is not a statement about your housekeeping habits. While most insect infestations do rely on some level of unsanitary conditions to survive, bed bugs get everything they need from mammal blood. We are their only source of food and water. So, if you discover a bed bug infestation, remain calm. Bed bugs find us tasty, and that is the only reason they infest our homes.

Also, according to researchers, bed bugs have not been observed to spread communicable diseases while feeding like mosquitoes or ticks have been. So, while an uncomfortable thought, there's really very little to fear. They've been with humans for a long time, and they're just hungry.

Winning the bed bug war: Facts you should know Work with a professional.
We consumers love to save money by taking things into our own hands. Fighting bed bugs is no different. The problem with this approach is most home made remedies are not just ineffective, they sometimes make the problem worse. One example is insect repellents which only run bed bugs off, but doesn't kill them. Another example is using lavender oil. Still yet, simply adjusting your thermostat is not doing any good either. While it's true temperatures over 120 degrees Fahrenheit will kill them, who wants to heat a home to such extremes? Temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit are also fatal to bed bugs, but only after two weeks of constant exposure to that range.

The best chance of eliminating bed bugs is to hire a professional pest exterminator who will inspect your home, and begin a regimen designed for their eradication. This will include a combination of cleaning, vacuuming, and a proper application of pesticides.

Winning the bed bug war: Facts you should know Some non-chemical treatments can help.
Among the most effective, non-chemical approaches to battling bed bugs is the use of seal-able mattress and pillow covers. The ones that work are those which cover the mattress completely, and are then zipped closed. Sealing the zipper opening itself is also important, as these little critters are tiny, and can negotiate incredibly small openings.

The mattress cover will need to remain on for anywhere from twelve to eighteen months. Bed bugs can go that long without feeding. This method prevents the insects from gaining access to your body as you sleep. Those inside of the mattress will eventually starve. The same goes for pillows. Even with such measures, regular cleaning of linens and pillowcases is still crucial. Other approaches, such as steam cleaning, and applying diatomaceous earth in infested areas, can help as well.

Sources:
Cornell University

IdentifyUS.com

University of Kentucky

BedBugsGuide.com