Are Bed Bugs Getting Harder to Kill?

Bed Bugs Found by One of Our Technicians
Bed Bugs Found by One of Our Technicians

Applying chemical pesticides to infested areas is one of the most common ways to get rid of bed bugs, but it’s losing its effectiveness. Bed bugs are becoming more resistant to some types of chemicals, making it more difficult to destroy these pests.

A recent study done at Virginia Tech showed that pesticides that are classified as neonics, or neonicotinoids, are becoming less effective at destroying bed bugs. Researchers studied the effects of these products on bed bugs in different cities and found that they show some degree of resistance to neonics, mainly depending on whether or not they have been exposed to them previously. When bed bugs have prior exposure to neonics, their bodies make enzymes that detoxify these chemicals. This helps bed bugs build up resistance to these pesticides, causing these products to become less effective over time.

These findings highlight the need for pest control companies to adopt other forms of treatment for bed bugs, such as pesticides that do not contain neonics and nontoxic types of treatments. Our Freehold exterminators focus on using safe and nontoxic treatments to destroy these pests and manage infestations. These treatments are effective at getting rid of bed bugs and lowering the risk of having an infestation occur again.

If you have a bed bug problem, Allison Pest Control can help. Contact our Freehold exterminators for safe and effective treatments for bed bug infestations.