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Bed Bugs bugging you?

by joe golfer
13 replies
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We are being hit with bed bugs like other states have for a long time now. I was talking to a bed bug guy in the building. He said he sprays first, then heats up the place with big heaters (hast to be above 120 degrees or 160 or something for 12 hours or more). Then he sprays again for good measure.

I asked him what he sprays with. He said Malathion. Malathion? Yikes!

Anyway, are bed bugs bugging you?
  • Profile picture of the author WalkingCarpet
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
      A friend of mine had this version of "tiny livestock" a couple of years ago. A little Google research and the "fix" was about $6.00.

      Home Depot --> Bug Spray that Specifically Mentions that it Kills Bed Bugs --> use as directed.

      Gone in under a week if I remember correctly.

      Joe Mobley
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      • Profile picture of the author joe golfer
        Originally Posted by Joe Mobley View Post

        A friend of mine had this version of "tiny livestock" a couple of years ago. A little Google research and the "fix" was about $6.00.

        Home Depot --> Bug Spray that Specifically Mentions that it Kills Bed Bugs --> use as directed.

        Gone in under a week if I remember correctly.

        Joe Mobley
        Cool, I avoid the sprays myself as most just drive them back for a bit. Diatomaceous Earth dust works magic. Just don't breathe it. Of course, room heating is great if you have the time, but I'm staying away from Malathion. Smells really nasty.
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        • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
          I just had a friend tell me that his elderly grandmother received a couch from a charitable organization and it ended up infesting her house. He said it was a horrible infestation.

          He said he made a cedar oil bomb and fumigated her house with it. He said the smoke from the oil was so thick, he couldn't see his hand 6 inches in front of his face. But 2 months later, the house is still bed bug free.

          Has anyone ever heard of that before?


          Terra
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          • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
            Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

            I just had a friend tell me that his elderly grandmother received a couch from a charitable organization and it ended up infesting her house. He said it was a horrible infestation.

            He said he made a cedar oil bomb and fumigated her house with it. He said the smoke from the oil was so thick, he couldn't see his hand 6 inches in front of his face. But 2 months later, the house is still bed bug free.

            Has anyone ever heard of that before?


            Terra
            Heard of that method. The oil residue is hard to get rid of. You should use a mask to put it on.
            It's very expensive stuff. The stuff I just posted is hardly noticeable and you really don't have to spray that much. There's no cloud like with a bug bomb. The pro I hired did not even don a mask.

            There is YouTube video about a horrible infestation in a new luxury home that came from
            new bunk beds. The bugs got on the beds because the delivery truck also hauled old furniture.
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            • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
              Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

              Heard of that method. The oil residue is hard to get rid of. You should use a mask to put it on.
              It's very expensive stuff. The stuff I just posted is hardly noticeable and you really don't have to spray that much. There's no cloud like with a bug bomb. The pro I hired did not even don a mask.

              There is YouTube video about a horrible infestation in a new luxury home that came from
              new bunk beds. The bugs got on the beds because the delivery truck also hauled old furniture.
              I don't plan on ever having to use any method, but thank you very much just in case.


              Terra
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              • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
                Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

                I don't plan on ever having to use any method, but thank you very much just in case.


                Terra
                Darn things are just hitchhikers.
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                • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
                  Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

                  Darn things are just hitchhikers.
                  That's what I've heard.

                  Aww geeez! Now I'm having second thoughts about going house shopping again soon, lol!

                  Focus, Terra, Focus! Mind over matter, haha!


                  Terra
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                  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
                    Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

                    That's what I've heard.

                    Aww geeez! Now I'm having second thoughts about going house shopping again soon, lol!

                    Focus, Terra, Focus! Mind over matter, haha!


                    Terra
                    Focus like a cat.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    We had an episode at my hotel. The stuff below is flower based and safe around humans and pets - if you follow directions.

    I do not believe in the heat (temp above 120 degrees for hours or something like that.) or ice methods - expensive and the critters can move out of harms way. The steam sprayers can kill them on a direct hit, but an indirect his just scoots them away.) Even though I bought this stuff, we used a professional and he used the same exact recipe. (I watched how he applied it.)

    Makes it so they can't reproduce:
    Gentrol IGR, Gentrol Insect Growth Regulator - Free Shipping

    Irritates them so they come out and move through the other two ingredients:
    ExciteR Pyrethrin Concentrate Insecticide - Free Shipping

    This is the knock down and kill agent:
    (Chrystanthemum based, and 90 day residual. The crystals act like Diamatreous earth and break their skin so they dehydrate.)
    DEMAND CS, Demand Insecticide - Free Shipping

    Mix it as directed in an a pump sprayer. Other than being a customer, I have no affiliation with the
    company. They are very good about telling you what to use for any sitiation and how to apply...

    The over the counter stuff just seems to irritate them and the users and does not have the
    ability to stop the reproductive cycle.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Mule team borax. Sprinkle it on the bed under the sheets, and let the bug leave - then a day later sprinkle the carpets and let sit for at least 24 hours. Will get rid of fleas, too. Then you can use oils such as citrus to keep them away.
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    • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Mule team borax. Sprinkle it on the bed under the sheets, and let the bug leave - then a day later sprinkle the carpets and let sit for at least 24 hours. Will get rid of fleas, too. Then you can use oils such as citrus to keep them away.
      Ummm. Citrus and eucalyptus and such oils can keep them away, but that's not killing.

      Borax will break their skin up too. But, the buggers can live up to a year without eating - so if they just move away for awhile and reproduce, you're not out of the woods.

      Also, they can hide in light switches, telephones, alarm clocks and climb up the walls and drop down from the ceiling.

      They can target body temperature and CO2 from 40 feet away.

      Their reproductive cycles are something like 4 - 5 days and about 4 weeks to full maturity.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Since everyone else has mentioned things, here are a few apparent facts...

    1. They can not climb slippery things, so there are some simple foot traps available.
    2. The long lives without blood is kind of a myth. It is due to a VERY efficient hibernation. The problem is, and the bugs know this, they MUST feed! So if the level of CO2 rises to a certain point, it will disrupt their hibernation and cause them to die in DAYS, rather than seemingly live forever. This is because rather than hibernating, they will search all over for the living creature to get more blood. Just make sure their search is in vain, and they will quickly starve to death.
    3. You can put the CO2 generator in a trap like I mentioned, and you should catch a lot the first day, and fewer on subsequent days. They will actually SEARCH OUT the trap, and go to it because they think the CO2 is coming from some animal they can feed on.

    Steve
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