Traditional pest control methods prove remarkably ineffective in the battle against bed bugs.The Perils of Poor-Quality Bed Bug Treatment
Many pests plague our corner of Texas, but bed bugs are notoriously difficult to exterminate through traditional treatment methods. As a result, misguided pest control techniques can become financially and emotionally draining. Proven treatment techniques are limited, but there is hope.
The Perils of Ineffective Bed Bug Treatment
At a global bed bug summit that was held in Denver in December 2013, one of the presenters shared some poll numbers about treating bed bugs. In both 2010 and 2013, 76% of the pest management professionals who were surveyed indicated that bed bugs are the most problematic pests to control.
One Vermont couple learned the hard truth about bed bug control. Neil and Patricia Whitney are highly praised foster parents, and one of their foster children came from a home infested with bed bugs. When an infestation occurred, the state provided the Whitneys with cans of bug spray. The sprays were ineffective, so the state hired an exterminator. Unfortunately, the man who came to spray the house used large quantities of a banned pesticide, and the Whitneys can no longer enter their home or claim their possessions.
The Whitney case is not the only failed attempt at controlling bed bugs. Many homeowners use over-the-counter pesticides or professional chemicals, but most traditional pesticides are useless against bed bugs. Even if the adult insects are killed, most chemicals don’t penetrate the eggs. As a result, completely eliminating a bed bug infestation by traditional means can seem like an endless and costly nightmare.
Effective Bed Bug Treatment
One of the most effective treatments is heat remediation. Unlike most chemical applications, heat remediation generally requires only one treatment. This method utilizes fans and heaters to raise the temperature of the infested area to 120 degrees or higher. The high temperature is maintained for several hours to ensure that the bed bugs and the eggs are killed. Heat remediation can be used to treat specific areas or whole structures, and most belongings can stay in the structure during treatment.
If you have any questions about any aspect of bed bug control, please contact us at ABC Home & Commercial Services in Bryan-College Station. Our pest management professionals are fully trained to answer your questions about bed bug infestations and our pest control services.