An integrated pest management strategy is required when exterminating or getting rid of bed bugs. 

Available in the market are several pesticides to control bed bugs. The list of pesticides for the purpose can be a long one, and you may easily access them or buy them in the market. 

But professional help from pest control operators are necessary because small failures and mistakes in applying pesticides to control bedbugs may cause more serious problems. 

Pesticides’ formulations 

The most common pesticides and insecticides, from the long list of available ones in the market, for controlling bedbugs usually are classified as: 

·       Contact insecticides. These substances have their own long list. Most bed bugs pesticides contain a number of contact insecticides that have the ability to kill bed bugs instantly when they come or get into direct contact with surfaces with the pesticide or its residues. 

Contact insecticides are normally made up of pyrethoids, which are formulated synthetically or from natural extracts from chrysanthemum flowers. These substances tend to emit smell that instantly knocks out bed bugs. 

However, bed bugs may develop repelling properties or characteristics against the substance. Hence, using contact insecticides may not mean killing bed bugs, but preventing them from getting into surfaces applied with the pesticide. 

·       Insect growth regulators or IGR. These insecticide is also common among the long list of pesticides for controlling bed bugs. The pesticide does not directly target adult or crawling bed bugs. The pesticide’s attack on bedbugs is based on the principle that the youngsters are more vulnerable. 

IGRs affect and directly exterminate eggs or bed bugs that have just hatched. The eggs’ and the young bed bugs’s development are hindered and stalled, thus, no new generation of bed bugs will follow the current one. 

IGR application is not a quick way to control bed bugs. From among the other pesticides in the currently existing list, IGR is the slowest, or the insecticide that will have results in the longest time. 

But IGRs are truly effective. No doubt about that that. All you have to do is wait. Slowly, but surely, that is. 

·       Insecticidal dusts. Insecticidal dusts are those in the list that are directly applied or spayed to bed bugs. The insecticide is made up or conveyed into dusts, which are directly aimed at crawling bed bugs. 

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Insecticidal dusts, on the other hand, is the most potent compared to other pesticides in the list. The substance works by ruining bed bugs’ outer waxy coats, causing the bed bugs to dry out easily. 

These pesticides usually are made up of fine granules of silica powder or ground glass to ensure efficiency. The fact makes it very harmful to humans, too. 

Insecticidal dusts are often applied to crevices or cracks in the floor or wall that are suspiciously infested with bed bugs. 

List of pesticides that control bed bugs 

The list of pesticides to control bed bugs is ever growing. Every year a handful of additional insecticides make the list longer. This acknowledges how people are concerned with the increasing annoyance and discomfort from having bed bugs at home. 

The most common pesticides available in the market are: Pyrethrins, Tempo, Allethrin, Delta Dust Flee/ Dragnet, Malathion, Drione Dust and Suspend SC. The list is very incomplete, but the above mentioned are the most common and easily purchasable in the market today. 

The short listed pesticides are commonly sprayed into areas suspected of being habitat for bed bugs.  

As mentioned in the pesticides categories, these sprays are aimed at knocking out bed bugs directly by attacking their physical vulnerabilities. 

Professional help from seasoned pest control operators, however, is needed in applying or using the pesticides. The insecticides may also cause a long list of harmful effects to humans that may inhale the spray or may have skin contacts with the pesticide residues. 

In case, any allergic reaction or physical counter-reaction is experienced due to the pesticides, consult or immediately seek advise of your physician or family doctor. 

Prevention is still on top of the list 

Yes, of course. An ounce of prevention is way better than pounds of cure. The statement applies to the control of bed bugs infestation. Hygiene and regular room checks by pest control personnel can do wonders in your fight against bed bugs. 

Education and knowledge about what to do and how to deal with bedbugs will definitely get into the top of our list inn fighting bed bug infestation.