Bed bugs are one of the most difficult pests to control. In recent studies, scientists observed that pests produce enzymes that neutralize pesticides. In addition, the scientists discovered that the pests acquired mutations in their nerve cells, which attenuated the neurotic effect of the pesticides.
Insects develop resistance to pesticides by natural selection, a nonrandom process where biological traits become common in a population based on the differential reproduction of their carriers. The insects that survive the pesticide are the most resistant and pass on genetic traits to their offspring.
Several factors contribute to pest resistance, one of which is exposure of the pest to natural toxins over a long period of time. Another reason is that pests produce large numbers of offspring, which increases the probability of random mutations. This allows the number of resistant mutants to increase rapidly. Because the insects are difficult to kill, you must use a variety of techniques and treatments.
Bed bug control refers to the techniques used to detect, eradicate, and reduce a bed bug infestation. Five control techniques support knowledge building (inspection, detection, observation, post-treatment evaluation and follow-up procedures) and two suppression techniques (treatment application and preventive control measures) reduce, detect and eliminate bed bugs.
The process begins with acquiring knowledge about pests. A good understanding of bed bug habits, biology, and behavior is the foundation of a good control program.
People without knowledge try to control them and fail. The structured approach (construction of knowledge, prevention, control and application of treatments) is the basis of effective control.
Acquire knowledge
The construction of knowledge transcends the biology, behavior and habits of the pest. It takes cause and effect into account. In other words, successful control depends on finding the answers to 6 questions:
1. Why do bed bugs enter the house? They need shelter and food.
2. When did they enter the house? The extent of the infestation determines when the pests entered the home. An established infestation implies that they have been around for a while. Low infestation implies that they were recently introduced into the home.
3. What can I do to remove them? It is important that you study the biology, behavior and habits of bed bugs and understand and implement the proper techniques to reduce, detect and eradicate pests.
4. How do bed bugs get into the house? Pests can enter the home in 3 ways:
Person: someone physically brings them home in luggage or other personal belongings.
Thing: They enter the house through furniture, equipment, clothing or any other used item.
Forced invasion: They enter the house from a neighboring apartment, especially in a multi-unit complex.
5. What are bedbugs like? You should research the pest or ask a pest control professional to identify the target pest.
6. Where can I get help with a difficult infestation? Hire a pest control professional to remove the pest.
Inspection
The inspection consists of locating shelters. Two types of inspections, visual and canine, are used in bed bug control. Canine inspection involves the use of a trained dog to locate shelters.
The canine inspection is quick and guarantees 95% that the dog will be successful. Since it only has a 95% guarantee, a visual inspection is still necessary to locate the shelters that the canine inspection missed.
Visual inspection is a physical search for shelters. It’s tedious and time consuming, but it’s the only technique that makes it easy to locate and treat all the havens. Although the dog locates the shelter, someone has to clean and treat it. Therefore, the visual inspection complements the canine inspection.
Detection
Detection in bed bug control refers to finding evidence that suggests an infestation. In other words, bed bug inspection makes detection easy.
what to look for
1. Bed bugs and adult nymphs
2. Eggs, eggshells
3. Get rid of fur
4. Stains of blood, excrement
5. An unpleasant smell described as sickly sweet raspberries or musty shoe smell
6. Bite marks on the body
Observation
Bed bug monitoring tools make it easy to observe pest activity. By observing pest activity, you can determine the source and extent of an infestation.
This information allows you to select and apply a variety of treatments to eliminate an infestation. Treatment depends on the structure and location of the refuge site.
Post-treatment evaluation
Evaluation and monitoring procedures are secondary data collection techniques. After each treatment it is best to assess the effectiveness of the treatment.
The objective of the evaluation stage is to determine:
1. If you achieved the goal
2. Whether the strategies achieved the desired effects
3. Whether the pests were managed properly
4. Whether the control methods were satisfactory
5. If the program needs any improvement
Follow-up procedures
Bed bug control is not easy, especially with an established infestation, hence the need for subsequent inspections, observations and follow-up treatments until the pests are completely eliminated.
Bed bugs are difficult pests to control. The information gathering techniques described above are designed to generate knowledge about the pest. The knowledge you build allows you to eliminate an infestation using preventative controls, chemical and non-chemical treatments.