With the issue of bed bugs and their control still a major issue in today’s society we thought it important to address some control methods, not product recommendations but location of applications. With bed bugs being hard to find, persistent insects, control techniques need to be effective and thorough so know what type of product and exactly where they should be applied is mandatory.
How to Eliminate Exposed Bed Bugs
One very effective method of eliminating exposed bed bugs is to vacuum. Vacuuming and other mechanical means of quickly killing and removing exposed bed bugs are recommended as a first step toward controlling an infestation. You want to focus on harborages that are accessible to use and the vacuum and areas disturbed during preparation where bed bugs may have scattered. You will however not be able to get complete control of bed bug infestation with mechanical methods.
You will want to apply a directed contact treatment for quick reduction of bed bug populations is necessary in most situations. Treating and neutralizing eggs wherever bed bugs are found is also very important, so the additional of a insect growth regulator is warranted in you bed bug treatment. This means applying an insecticide on the bed bugs you see and their harborage areas.
To ensure that resistance and repellency will not be an issue with you control efforts, the smartest approach is to start with a nonrepellent foundation. One nonrepellent insecticide labeled for bed bugs is Phantom® termiticide-insecticide and/or Prescription Treatment® brand Phantom® pressurized insecticide.
For a quicker killing of bed bugs you can use a fast acting pyrethrin contact insecticides. A Pyrethrin product, such as PI or 565, dissipate quickly, they will not compromise the longer-term residual action of non-repellents.
Treat Likely Harborages
You will want to perform a crack and crevice treatment. These are common around bed frames, box springs, headboards, and in cracks and crevices associated with baseboards, mouldings, carpet edging, wall fixtures, night stands, dressers, and other hard furniture. Spot treatments for bed bugs are common on baseboards, undersides of dressers, drawers, and to certain areas of other furniture that bed bugs are likely to crawl on near aggregation sites or en route to feeding. A good non-repellent insecticide both liquid concentrate and a pressurized insecticide are highly recommended for spot and Crack & Crevice treatment. They will offer a residual action and effectiveness in killing eggs.
What is a void treatment? A void treatment is applications to enclosed spaces where insects may live, hide, or travel. Common voids are hollow bed frames, platforms, walls, and other hollow structures. A Dust will provide excellent long-term control when applied to voids and other harborage areas. One of our favorites is Alpine® dust . Alpine dust for Bed bug control is recommended because it is a nonrepellent dust labeled for bed bugs, and its Reduced Risk* active ingredient, dinotefuran, makes it ideal for sensitive accounts.
Things you want to do when treating your room or bed bug contaminated area of you home.
- Pictures and other wall hangings should be removed from wall for thorough Crack & Crevice treatment.
- Wall fixtures, lamps, should be detached to treat voids located behind them. Electrical faceplates should be removed to treat wall voids behind them.
- Remove drawers for easy access to all cracks and crevices on the interior of the cabinet, as well as the tracks and support of the drawers.
- Don’t forget the underside of the cabinet, flip these pieces of furniture over if you can to treat with a crack and crevice treatment product.
- Headboards should be removed from the wall or dismantled to allow thorough treatment to cracks, crevices, and voids ( treated with a dust) located on or behind them.
- Mattresses should be dealt with carefully. Use a product labeled for use on mattress and box spring and you will want to purchase a mattress and box spring encasement.
- Box springs and bed platforms should be lifted and turned over for thorough investigation, and for access treatment to all sides, including the underside and internal areas, this may require you remove the liner on the bottom of the box spring to treat this area.
- Upholstered furniture should be inspected and treated in a way very similar to bed and box spring. Always pay extra careful attention to all seams and folds, as well as the legs and dust liner on the underside.
- Wheels, casters, posts, and legs of all furniture should be closely examined and treated.
- Pulling carpet back from the wall often reveals a void beneath baseboard mouldings. You can apply a dust or a residual insecticide spray
- Baseboards should be spot treated, especially when they are in dark, undisturbed areas, such as behind the bed or other furniture. Baseboards often have an unsealed seam along the top where they meet the wall, and along the bottom where they meet the floor. If not sealed, be sure to treat these gaps.
- Curtains can be removed from the window and heat-treated in a dryer, steam cleaned or spot treated. Be careful to test treat the fabric to avoid staining.
Address Sensitive Areas
Bed bugs, live closely associated with the bed, resting areas and human hosts. While direct treatment of troubled areas like this is tempting, it’s important to keep in mind that people spend an average of one-third of their day on or around their beds. Always consult and follow the label and refrain from any deviance from the label language. Following treatment, mattress covers are often recommended to prevent future infestation in this sensitive area and to reduce risk associated with human contact of treated surfaces. Use of the Aller-Zip Mattress and box spring cover are worth the cost in retreatment labor.