One of the solutions that will come to mind when it comes to controlling bed bugs is the use of pesticides. But before even jumping into this situation, you have to consider a whole lot of information that you might not even know. Get to understand each detail about utilizing pesticides for bed bug control accordingly and from there, you can then decide whether or not it is a good choice.
There are over 300 registered products to control bed bugs
That is indeed a very huge number. While these products may be out in the market for sale to help you control bed bugs, you have to remember that not all are meant for consumer use. A few of these bed bug control products are intended for use of trained professionals. Although these products have been evaluated as to safety and effectiveness before they have been registered and accredited, there is no guarantee they are safe for your own use.
These products fall into a variety of categories
These 300-plus pesticides become more complicated the mere fact that they are trimmed down further into specific classifications. The number makes purchasing the pesticide so tricky already but the categorisation, although intended for you to know what product you are buying, added to the challenge of purchasing one. Basically, the most popular pesticides for bed bug control are dessicants, pyrroles, biochemicals, pyrethrins, pyrethoids, insect growth regulators and neonicotinoids.
There are additional classes for certain uses
One of these additional classes is the propoxur, a registered product that is meant for use in industrial and commercial buildings. The other class is known as DDVP or Dichlorvos, a pest strip that is ideal for treating bed bugs in small enclosures.
Each pesticide uses a varying mode of action
With the various classes mentioned above, expect different modes of action for them to work. Sometimes, it is best to use pesticides in different modes of action. This is the best way to treat bugs that can somehow develop resistance to a particular product over time.
Looking further into the effectiveness of these pesticide classifications
In order to understand each classification of pesticide for bed bug control, look at their specific details below.
• Desiccants. This pesticide attacks the bed bug through its protective coating. This coating, when destroyed, will dehydrate the bed bug thus killing them. This is considered one of the most valuable tools when it comes to controlling bed bugs and with the physical mode of action involved to make them more effective, bed bugs would tend to be unaffected by their effects.
• Pyrroles. The product Chlorfenapyr is the only registered pyrrole pesticide for bed bug control. It is considered a pro-insecticide in the sense that its effects will depend on how another chemical will be activated. That same chemical will then work by attacking bed bug cells and their functions thus causing the pest to die.
• Biochemicals. Under this pesticide classification, you will find out that cold-pressed neem oil is the only registered product for bed bug control. The oil of the Neem tree is considered to have both medicinal and insecticidal properties. Research on neem oil and its effectiveness in controlling bed bugs state that the product is ideal for controlling the eggs, nymphs and adult bed bugs.
• Pyrethrins and pyrethoids. These are amongst the most common compounds identifiable with the control of bed bugs and all other indoor pests. These two have the same mode of action in killing bed bugs. They are considered lethal and work by flushing bed bugs from where they are hiding. From that mode of action, bed bugs are killed. In some cases though, the action of these chemicals become questionable in that any resistant bed bug will most likely move to another home or hiding place.
• Insect growth regulators. These chemicals are those that work by mimicking an insect’s juvenile growth hormone. Additionally, their mode of action targets alteration of chitin, a compound that is used by insects to create a harder shell called the exoskeleton. Insect growth regulators can likewise work by changing how the insect will develop into adulthood. Growth regulators can work by speeding up the development process while others by halting development.
• Neonicotinoids. The products classified as neonicotinoids target the bed bug’s nervous system via its nicotinic receptors. This will result to firing of the pest’s nerve until such time that these integral parts will no longer work or fail. This will cause bed bugs to die thus controlling them. This different action of this pesticide causes bed bugs to be susceptible to its effects.
The facts presented above about pesticides for bed bug control may either convince you or dissuade you from using one to manage bed bugs in your home or offices. Add to that, since some of these products can be used only by professionals, you cannot be sure of your safety while using them. With all these in mind, you are reminded to be vigilant especially that your safety is at stake in here. It would be best to leave the bed bug control job in the hands of trained professionals.
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