How to get rid of Bed Bugs

The most common mistake made when controlling bed bugs: not knowing which type of insecticide to use in the correct areas. Most of the people who read this article will skip the most important step: dusting cracks and crevices with Drione Dust. Just as in controlling ticks, you must apply a professional insecticide dust into tiny cracks and crevices where the targeted pest hides. Many household pests can be controlled or prevented by a simple insecticide bug spray on baseboards and exterior surfaces of the home. This is not the case when dealing with an infestation of bed bugs.

Once bed bugs have invaded your home, they can be a little tough to eliminate. Their habits, size and their hardy nature help contribute to their persistence in homes that they have invaded.

An adult bed bug is not very large; it is usually about 1/4 an inch long. The small body size helps this pest to hide in areas that make their elimination difficult. The bed bug nymph succumbs to pest control products easier than their adult counterparts but (just like adults) can go for long periods without food. Blood taken from humans is the preferred food of young and adult common bed bugs.

There are other species of bed bugs (besides the common bed bug) that prefer other hosts (bats, swallows, pigeons, starlings, etc.) but these blood feeding pests will also feed on humans if given the opportunity.

A bed bug's secretive nature makes it a difficult pest to identify and eliminate. These insects are not seen crawling around in the daylight hours where they would be easily identified. They hide in various areas during the day and come out at quiet times of the night to feed on human blood. Since they usually wait for their host to go to sleep, the host does not see or feel their presence. The obvious sign that a bed bug infestation is in a room is the presence of small drops of blood on sheets and pillows or pillow cases.

Bed Bug Elimination Bed Bug Pest Control Products

Bed bug elimination procedures, methods and products closely resemble those used for indoor tick elimination, due to their size, harborage areas and habits. Thorough inspection of the premises will save you time and money. These tiny bugs can be found in any small crack in proximity to where humans rest or sleep. These cracks and crevices are generally behind and beneath baseboards, beneath area rugs, between carpeting and walls, in power areas of appliances or even in the folds of curtains and drapes in the infested room. A thorough vacuuming of cracks, crevices and other areas where bed bugs hide is an essential part of an integrated pest management program targeting this particular pest.

A combination of odorless insecticide spray and insecticide dust is needed to eliminate bed bug populations with special attention given to dusting all bug hiding places. Once mattresses and box spring setups have been thoroughly cleaned and (if necessary) treated with an odorless dust, plastic covers on the mattresses will help keep bugs in as well as keep others out.

A general purpose spray can be used on carpets, furniture and baseboards to help cut back on some of the population but the most important pest control tool you can use is an insecticide dust. Many pest control service technicians are now using premium fogging solutions in addition to other suggested pest management procedures for bed bug control. When fogging with a cold fogger is required for stubborn or re-occurring bed bug infestations, BP100-Plus is giving best fog results. BP100-Plus contains a high amount of natural pyrethrins (1.00%) and also contains an IGR called Hydroprene. Fogging is rarely considered to be great controller of pests when used alone. Only use a fog when a very fast kill of existing bugs is needed. Fogging mainly kills exposed bugs that are not hiding in cracks or crevices. With the addition of Hydroprene, BP100-Plus does give an extra residual effect. Elimination of a bed bug infestation takes some patience. These pests live in tiny cracks that are sometimes difficult to reach with pest control products and they can live a longer time without food than can other blood feeding bugs such as fleas. Apply your spray to baseboards, carpets, flooring, throw rugs, area rugs or other areas where bed bugs might crawl at night. This insecticide will also kill spiders, fleas, ticks, ants and other household pests. After allowing your pesticide spray solution to thoroughly dry, you may now begin the important application of dust. Any area of possible bed bug harborage (especially those areas where your spray cannot reach) should be treated with Drione Dust.


Bed Bug Sprays

General purpose sprays such as Suspend SC that are water safe for fabrics are preferred for elimination of bed bug populations. Suspend SC is odorless and (when used as directed) is safe to use in homes where children and pets live. (The active ingredient in Suspend is Deltamethrin, the same material found in Delta Dust.) Use this insecticide to spray carpets, flooring, rugs and baseboards. Do not spray bedding, mattresses or pillows with this product. If you want to spray these objects, use a spray that is labeled for such use. Claire Lice Killer can be sprayed on inanimate objects such as bedding, stuffed animal toys, etc. in homes. Other professional concentrates that work when spraying for bed bugs: Tempo SC and Demand CS. Both of these products will give a good residual and (like Suspend SC) have little to no odor. The main advantage of Suspend SC is its broadcast label, allowing more liberal application than most professional insecticides. Sprays used for killing bed bugs are listed on Bed Bug Control Products page.

Bed Bug Dust

Once your insecticide spray has been allowed to dry, it is time to apply your insecticide dust. Drione Dust is the very best product for killing bed bugs where they hide, in cracks and crevices. Use a Crusader Duster for applying this product. Bed bugs can hide in many places where your dust must be applied properly or you will have a failure in your effort to control the bugs.

Dusts used in bed bug elimination are listed on Bed Bug Control products page.

Areas to dust include seams or joints in the construction of bed frames, inside boxed springs, flooring beneath beds, behind and beneath baseboards and baseboard moldings - any area small enough for bed bugs to enter and hide.