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Getting rid of bed bugs: trickier than ever

knowablemagazine.org

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Re: Getting rid of bed bugs: trickier than ever

#91

Post by nickpsecurity »

tiltowait wrote: post #3

I worked pest control for a few years until 2021. We all knew that pesticides basically don’t work on bed bugs—it was old news. The article glosses over heat treatments, which is odd, because it really does work, and usually in a single session. It’s a very labor-intensive and invasive procedure, though. The residents must leave the house for 8 hours while the techs bake each room and throw everything around. By the…

I got rid of them in two places just using a bed protector, the things you put under the bed’s legs, fast-acting spray, and a foam spray (residual). I did the bed and edges of the carpet and furniture. It killed them all. We knew cuz I didn’t have bloody holes in my arms and back.

Article indicates some types are immune. That will be a different story. People might still be able to clear them out with sprays, though.

Re: Getting rid of bed bugs: trickier than ever

#92

Post by thaumasiotes »

kibwen wrote: post #18
RajT88 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are creepy, but they eat baddies. The last time one showed up in our bathroom, my wife yelled at me to "Stop marveling at it!" It was the biggest one I had ever seen, close to 3 inches. RIP Uber-coleoptrata scutigera!

If they're big it means they're eating well, so consider how many more bugs you'd be seeing if it hadn't already made a meal of them!

Is that true? My first guess would have been that size more or less directly reflects age.

Re: Getting rid of bed bugs: trickier than ever

#93

Post by bitwize »

calamari4065 wrote: post #82
dom96 wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it safe to use this to avoid any possible bed bug outbreaks? or are there any risks that outweigh the benefit of it defending against possible bed bugs? I've been thinking about spreading it around every so often under my bed (plus around my bedroom) just in case.

It's generally considered safe. It's sold as an additive to livestock feed, though I don't know what the purpose there is. It's very finely ground volcanic rock. The particulates have very sharp edges which shred insect exoskeletons. It doesn't hurt your skin though. It might cause a problem if inhaled, similar to silicosis but that's mostly a guess. Some people leave a line of it on windowsills or door thresholds to…

> It's generally considered safe. It's sold as an additive to livestock feed, though I don't know what the purpose there is.

Antiparasitic.

Re: Getting rid of bed bugs: trickier than ever

#94

Post by thaumasiotes »

rssoconnor wrote: post #25
weatherlight wrote: post #4

We had a house centipede infestation when I lived in NYC. It was awesome. No bed bugs. No roaches except in the end of summer, (the giant flying variety and it was really just the month of August when the humidity is out of control they would come out of the drains.) No bugs in general. Those house centipedes ate everything.

When we moved into our house we were disturbed by the house centipedes. I did a quick search online about how to get rid of them, and I mostly found stories of the form "Help, I got rid of all my house centipedes and now my home is infested with other bugs! How do I get the house centipedes back?" So we let them be.

From Wikipedia in 2005:

> House centipedes feed on spiders, termites, cockroaches, silverfish and other household pests. They do not cause damage to food or furniture.

> For this reason, house centipedes are considered among the most beneficial creatures that inhabit human dwellings, but because of their alarming appearance few homeowners are willing to share a home with them.

( https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scutigera_coleopt... )

For some reason, this has been stripped from the article, despite obviously being the most useful information that was present in it.

Re: Getting rid of bed bugs: trickier than ever

#95

Post by andrei_says_ »

UncleOxidant wrote: post #87
Citizen_Lame wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

3. Spread the diatomaceous earth all over the floor. Don't be shy and over do it. It wont work immediately but in 7 days or more they are dead.

Don't you have to be careful not to breathe that stuff since it's composed if tiny silica spikes? You'd need to wear a respirator in your house.

Have used it to get rid of fleas. The DA dust just lays on the floor - once applied it’s out of the air.

We didn’t wear respirators and I haven’t heard of anyone who does in this scenario.

Re: Getting rid of bed bugs: trickier than ever

#96

Post by nope96 »

tiltowait wrote: post #3

I worked pest control for a few years until 2021. We all knew that pesticides basically don’t work on bed bugs—it was old news. The article glosses over heat treatments, which is odd, because it really does work, and usually in a single session. It’s a very labor-intensive and invasive procedure, though. The residents must leave the house for 8 hours while the techs bake each room and throw everything around. By the…

Does the heat treatment damage electronics? Can you leave your computers in the house while your house is baking?

Re: Getting rid of bed bugs: trickier than ever

#97

Post by fortran77 »

gopher_space wrote: post #64
rssoconnor wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When we moved into our house we were disturbed by the house centipedes. I did a quick search online about how to get rid of them, and I mostly found stories of the form "Help, I got rid of all my house centipedes and now my home is infested with other bugs! How do I get the house centipedes back?" So we let them be.

In my neck of the woods it’s the same deal with spiders. You just escort them outside once they get fat and too lazy to not be on your wall in the daytime.

An indoor spider might not survive outside. Leave it alone!

https://www.livescience.com/55270-can-indoor-spiders-survive...

Re: Getting rid of bed bugs: trickier than ever

#98

Post by idlewords »

whitepoplar wrote: post #78
idlewords wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This exactly. Freezing is useless unless you have something like a lab freezer that gets to -50C. Hot dryer for clothes, and you can put empty luggage in a dark trash bag and leave it in the sun to heat treat.

Having run the bedbug site, what's your advice on long-term travel? I've never gotten bedbugs, but I feel it's only a matter of time. How do you balance prevention with simply living your life?

Bedbugs are my valued business partners and I feel it's only right I should give back sometimes.

I do a quick bedbug check (headboard, nightstand, boxspring) in hotels I visit and mostly don't worry about it.

Re: Getting rid of bed bugs: trickier than ever

#99

Post by patientzero »

UncleOxidant wrote: post #87
Citizen_Lame wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

3. Spread the diatomaceous earth all over the floor. Don't be shy and over do it. It wont work immediately but in 7 days or more they are dead.

Don't you have to be careful not to breathe that stuff since it's composed if tiny silica spikes? You'd need to wear a respirator in your house.

Not really, there are different forms and OSHA recommendations for how much of a safer form should be in the air if you are possibly breathing it your whole working life..

Pets and very small children might get much higher doses being curious and near the floor though.

Re: Getting rid of bed bugs: trickier than ever

#100

Post by lazide »

UncleOxidant wrote: post #87
Citizen_Lame wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

3. Spread the diatomaceous earth all over the floor. Don't be shy and over do it. It wont work immediately but in 7 days or more they are dead.

Don't you have to be careful not to breathe that stuff since it's composed if tiny silica spikes? You'd need to wear a respirator in your house.

Yup. It’s a fine powder that will get into the air if walked on or near, and causes nasal and lung irritation if breathed in short term - and silicosis if breathed in long term.

Unlikely this length of exposure would result in silicosis probably though.

[http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html]

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