If you continue to see live bed bugs several weeks after the treatment, it may be time to call your pest control professional again. Persistent activity could indicate that the initial treatment missed some areas or that the bed bugs are resistant to the methods used.
Bed bugs can return after extermination for several reasons: Incomplete Treatment: If the extermination process does not reach all infested areas, some bed bugs may survive. They can hide in tiny cracks and crevices, making them difficult to eliminate completely.
The basic rule of thumb is if you can go 30 days without receiving a bite or seeing any new evidence of this pest, you are then considered bedbug free. Bedbug follow-up treatments are typically done every 7-10 days until the occupants of the home do not receive a bite or see any evidence of new bugs for 30 days.
Don't get too discouraged. It's normal to get a few bites after your first treatment and even second one. The spray doesn't instantly kill them. But if they walked over the residual pesticide left from the spray as they traveled up your mattress to feed, they got it on them and within a day or so, they'll be dead.
Cleanliness alone will not prevent bed bugs from being introduced to your residence. Unfortunately bed bugs can be carried into your residence concealed in infested used furniture, clothing, and other personal property.
"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."
Bed bugs are not a sign of a dirty home or poor personal hygiene. Bed bugs are hitchhikers - they travel to new places by hiding in furniture, suitcases, or other objects that get moved around.
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.
It is perfectly fine to resume sleeping on your bed after a bed bug treatment. However, note that you may have to wait for around four to five hours after the treatment to return to the house. Also, ensure to use bed casings before getting on the bed.
When to Call the Professionals Again. If you continue to see live bed bugs several weeks after the treatment, it may be time to call your pest control professional again. Persistent activity could indicate that the initial treatment missed some areas or that the bed bugs are resistant to the methods used.
The treatment can disrupt their hiding spots, causing pests to emerge and become temporarily more visible. This surge often signals the effectiveness of the treatment. Expect increased bug activity to last a few days to a couple of weeks, as some pests need time to come into contact with the pesticide.
It's usually safe to celebrate true success if you haven't seen any bed bugs or experienced any bites for six to eight weeks after treatment. It can feel like a waiting game to determine if your treatment was successful and unfortunately, it's impossible to know overnight.
There could be some reasons why you're finding dead bed bugs. One possibility is that the extermination treatment was successful, and the bugs have been eliminated from your home. However, if you didn't know you had bed bugs, then seeing any dead bed bugs could be a sign that the infestation is growing.
The number of treatments needed to get control is (national average) 3 to 4 treatments.
While you can use your Hoover to reduce bed bugs and remove visible adults, treating an infestation solely by vacuuming is not recommended. Bed bugs are often hidden. The eggs especially can be in non-visible areas of the bed or mattress, so vacuuming isn't likely to eliminate them.
You shouldn't have to throw away any of your possessions during a bed bug infestation. Everything can be salvaged with proper treatment in place. Instead of tossing your clothes and bedding, you should try washing them in a hot water wash. High heat washing and drying consistently kills bed bugs and their eggs.
No need to be concerned, it is completely normal to see more bugs after receiving a pest control treatment.
You should always launder items after returning from a trip, but will washing clothes kill bed bugs or just reduce the population? While it can remove the pests from individual items, unfortunately, this method isn't effective for total elimination.
Heat is non-toxic, and can kill all bed bug life stages including bed bug eggs. However, heat treatment of any kind (except your home clothes dryer) is still relatively expensive and has no residual (long lasting) activity. The lack of residual activity means that bed bugs can re-infest again the day after treatment.
"Although bites acquired during the night can point to a bedbug problem, it can also mean that you're dealing with some other pests," Karen Thompson of InsectCop.net, told Insider. "Anything from mosquitoes to fleas can leave bites while you're sleeping.
Once you've gotten rid of them, they're gone for good. Bedbugs can live for several months at regular temperatures. You'll need to call an exterminator service as soon as possible to treat the problem, and they may need to follow up to ensure they've taken care of all the bedbugs.
Bed bugs are sensitive to strong smells and certain scents can help keep them away. Essential oils like lavender, tea tree and peppermint are popular choices. These oils not only smell good but also act as natural repellents.
If you have bed bugs, there is no need to be embarrassed. Any home can have bed bugs; even the nicest, most expensive home can become infested with bed bugs.
Pyrethroids are synthetic chemical insecticides that act like pyrethrins. Both compounds are lethal to bed bugs and can flush bed bugs out of their hiding places and kill them.