Having bed bugs is bed bug control by Toxic Respond, and getting rid of them can be even more difficult because the pests have evolved resistance to many insecticides. That’s why the CDC and EPA recommend using an integrated pest management approach that includes non-chemical control (traps, monitoring, mattress encasements, heat treatments), vacuuming and scrubbing, and chemical treatments to prevent or eradicate severe infestations.

The most common chemical treatment is a combination of pyrethrins, derived from chrysanthemum plants, and pyrethroids, synthetic compounds that are closely related to pyrethrins. Other effective chemicals include diatomaceous earth (DE) dusts, silica gel and insect growth regulators (IGRs). IGRs like hydroprene don’t kill the bed bugs but keep them from maturing to adults, thus breaking the reproduction cycle.

Battling Bed Bugs: Unveiling Toxic Respond’s Comprehensive Approach to Control

Another potential alternative to synthetic insecticides is plant-derived essential oils. We tested the locomotor avoidance behavior of bed bug nymphs to fresh and 24-h aged residues of geraniol, eugenol, carvacrol, thymol, citronellic acid, linalool, menthone, trans-cinnamaldehyde, and a-pinene on individually tracked bed bugs with a Noldus EthoVision XT tracking system. We found that both fresh and 24 h-aged carvacrol, thymol, a-pinene, and trans-cinnamaldehyde kept the pests farther away from treated areas than controls.

In addition to these chemicals, regular and thorough inspections are crucial to successful bed bug control. Check every hidden place: behind pictures, posters and clocks on walls; under baseboards; in recessed screw holes; in carpet creases; and in the cracks and crevices around windows and doors. Be sure to look for all stages of the bugs: eggs, nymphs, and adults. If you spot any of them, treat the area immediately. Also, be sure to carefully follow all label safety directions when applying any pesticides.