Bed bugs can be an extremely frustrating pest once they get into the house. Many people say they are a combination of mosquito and cockroach. They live to suck blood out of people and pets, but they are very difficult to find and kill. There are two main options to consider from bed bug thermal treatments in St. Louis to various chemical treatments and insecticides. Insecticides There are over 300 different insecticides on the market for treating a bed bug problem, with 7 different categories that treat the problem in a unique way. The first category is a poison derived from plants that work to kill the population. The second works by stripping the protective coating on the bugs, thus causing them to dehydrate quickly and die. Biochemicals work to control not only the adult bugs but the eggs and young bugs at larval stages at the same time. Pyrrole insecticides combine with the cells in the bed bugs and disrupt their purpose, eventually killing the bug. Nicotine works by sending the bug's nervous system into overload until it stops working. Finally, some insecticides affect the growth process of the bugs, either preventing them from reaching adulthood or speeding the aging process until they die before multiplying. One of the biggest drawbacks to the chemical approach is in affecting the entire population. Some bugs may never come out of hiding while others become resistant to the chemicals. Heat Treat Heat treatments have the advantage of not being affected by walls or other barriers in the house. A pest control technician will bring in special equipment to heat the interior temperature of the home to at least 135°. Adult bed bugs as well as the eggs and larvae will die if exposed to a temperature in excess of 122°. This temperature needs to be in direct contact with the bug, so the technician will raise the temperature higher for an extended amount of time. This ensures the heat has time to reach the entire population, not just the ones in the bed or furniture. Thermometers are placed in strategic locations throughout the house to ensure the temperature levels rise to the effective levels. This can range from a few hours for a smaller, open floor plan to almost a day for a larger house. The biggest problem with the heat is how it can affect people, pets, and even some personal belongings. Everything that is sensitive to the heat needs to be removed from the house and treated with a chemical agent.
The most effective system will not use one or the other, though. It will combine a residual chemical treatment with bed bug thermal treatments in St. Louis. This will eradicate the problem while attempting to prevent future infestations.
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