It's normal to see more bed bugs, and there are clear reasons why this can happen. The pest control treatment makes them more active. Bed bugs can smell pesticides and other dangers to them that have been sprayed near their 'home'. Now they are panicked and are out and about trying to find a new place to live.
In some cases, treatments may provoke them to leave their hiding spots, leading to a temporary spike in sightings. Remember, while it can be frustrating to see more bugs right after treatment, this phase is often a normal part of the extermination process.
That's 100% normal and actually a good thing! It means your treatment is working! When they sprayed, they kind of 'scared' the bedbugs out of their hidey holes. The bugs are scrambling to find somewhere safe (why you found some on the living room wall). While they're moving around, they walk over the poison and die!
Entomologists Agree That The Bed Bug Situation Will Get Worse Before It Gets Better.
There should be no more bites from the bed bugs, no more fresh casings, and no new fecal matter spots or blood spots on the sheets and mattress. A good rule-of-thumb is that you should not be finding any new adult bed bugs or bed bug nymphs 7-14 days after the bed bug treatment has been concluded.
After the treatment, you should:
turn on electrical items after the rooms have been aired. do not vacuum, wipe or polish any treated rooms for at least two weeks. sleep in your bed as normal - it helps to eradicate the bedbugs.
If you have had a professional treatment and it has been three weeks since the end of the treatment with no signs of continuing infestation such as bites, live bugs, new fecal matter or cast skins, then it is likely that your bed bug infestation has been controlled. But there may be several complicating factors.
Success Rate of Bed Bug Extermination Methods (2025)
Non-Chemical Methods: 67% success rate, with some apartments achieving complete eradication. Chemical Treatments: 33% success rate, indicating a lower effectiveness in comparison. IPM Approach: 44% success rate, demonstrating a moderate level of success.
There are certain rules you must follow after your treatment to make sure it's as effective as possible. You must not: enter your home for at least two hours afterwards because the insecticide spray can be harmful to people and pets. vacuum the carpets for at least 15 days to allow the spray time to work.
Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures, meaning they are most active during the night. This behavior is influenced by several factors, including their feeding habits and avoidance of light. Bed bugs feed exclusively on blood, primarily from humans but also from other warm-blooded animals.
This temporary surge in bug sightings is often a sign that the pest control measures are effective in disrupting the normal behavior and habitats of the unwanted pests. Additionally, the residual effects of certain treatments can linger, causing pests to emerge from hiding places over the following days.
Answer: “Hitchhiking” from an infested location or item to a previously non-infested location or item are the main causes of bed bugs.
How do we know when the bed bugs are completely gone? ⇒ In case that you react to the bites, 3 weeks with no bites after the initial 2 weeks period waiting time after the treatment is a very good indication that the bed bugs are completely exterminated.
Answer: The local branch office can tell you what insecticides are used. The number of treatments needed to get control is (national average) 3 to 4 treatments.
After treatment dead bed bugs will appear shriveled and curled up, with their legs and sometimes their heads curled into the middle of their body. In heat treatment they will often cluster together into a pile, as seen in this picture taken in the aftermath of heat treatment using a ZappBug Room.
Wait Before Cleaning After Bed Bug Fumigation
It is recommended to avoid steaming or shampooing carpets and soft furnishings immediately after bed bug treatment. You can vacuum, however. Just make sure to keep emptying the hoover after use and discard the contents outside in a sealed, air tight bag.
It is recommended to wait 4-6 hours after the treatment for bed bugs is complete before returning home. This is especially important if any chemical pesticides were used in getting rid of the bed bugs as these need to dry completely. If you are unsure, ask your exterminator for their recommendation.
Most times, clothing, bedding and furniture from a home with a bed bug problem can be treated and do not need to be thrown away. If you decide to dispose of items, they should be carefully sealed in a plastic bag or container first so the bed bugs don't spread.
There can be many reasons for failure of a pesticide treatment to completely control the bed bugs, including: Not finding all the bed bugs. Inadequately preparing area (failure to remove clutter, seal cracks and crevices, etc.).
Thus, you need a professional exterminator. They have the tools and methods to fully kill bed bugs at all life stages. They also keep them from coming back. Bed bugs have also become resistant to many of the pesticides they encounter in their travels.
However, there may still be eggs that remain dormant for 20 days to a month. If the environment is freezing, bed bug eggs will remain alive even after repeated treatment. Once the temperature is warmer, they will re-emerge into the home, searching for new hosts to bite.
About 20% of US homes and hotels have an annual bed bug problem. Bed bugs are most prevalent in the Southeast region of the US, making up 29% of the country's total infestations. Bed bugs are least prevalent in the Northeast region of the US, with just 5% of the infestations coming from here.
"If you think you're ever going to get rid of them the answer is no," says Booth. "Unfortunately, bed bugs are with us until we disappear from this planet."
The bed bugs dehydrate and die within a couple of days.
Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids: Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are the most common compounds used to control bed bugs and other indoor pests. Pyrethrins are botanical insecticides derived from chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethroids are synthetic chemical insecticides that act like pyrethrins.