4 ms·

I once had bed bugs, and can attest to how nasty they are and how difficult to get rid of. Eventually we learned that none of the bed bug repellent products wor

by Joeri 3y ago

I once had bed bugs, and can attest to how nasty they are and how difficult to get rid of. Eventually we learned that none of the bed bug repellent products work, and the only thing that actually works is diatomaceous earth.

RajT88 3y ago
We got bedbugs once at my old place. We think we just randomly picked them up at a Marriott we stayed at a few weeks prior to noticing them - crap luck. We got rid of them by sealing the mattress for 6 months, and letting them starve. This was after taking a pass at them with sprays and such (the ones we could spot).
- anjel 3y ago
  Did you ever notice most all hotel and motel rooms come with a chromed luggage stand? The chrome makes it impossible for bedbugs to climb up and into your luggage.
  - RajT88 3y ago
    I learned that too late! But yes, this is an amazing piece of knowledge not well known.
mrtesthah 3y ago
Ivermectin actually works, as long as everyone in the household takes it for at least two weeks (length of the BB lifecycle).
- killingtime74 3y ago
  Isn't it safer to have control mechanisms that don't involve taking some drug ourselves?
  - GuB-42 3y ago
    Effective control methods include: - Heat: improper heat treatment has caused house fires - All sorts of poisons: poisoning not just the bugs - Diatomaceous earth: Using the wrong kind, or using it improperly can cause diseases like silicosis And all the creative yet incredibly stupid things people think of when they are desperate. But done properly these techniques work with minimal risk. The same can be said of Ivermectin.
    - mrtesthah 3y ago
      Don’t forget the use of organophosphate insecticides in the form of Nuvan Prostrips, which are chemically similar to nerve gas for humans. BTW Cimexa is the current best practice for desiccating bed bugs upon contact, and, unlike diatomaceous earth, is approved for use in human living areas.
- mettamage 3y ago
  Interesting that it works. Some quick googling shows that it only slows them down. For example: [1]. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6901371/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6901371/
  - mrtesthah 3y ago
    There are multiple studies so far showing that it works; they can become paralyzed as well as prevented from maturing into adults, which effectively ends the reproductive cycle.
galaxyLogic 3y ago
So it seems they discovered an anti-dote to roaches, but not to bed-bugs. Is there any hope? C'mon science, do your thing!
- autogenerate999 3y ago
  Heat, Bedbugs die at 119-125 degrees fahrenheit after a few hours. I put 6 propane gas blowers in an apartment, the kind that is used at construction sites. Let that run with thermostats and cameras for a few hours. Bedbug free. Have since done it at 2 other apartments after months of infestations, immediately fixed. Source: personal experience, after trying lots of other methods. https://www.orkin.com/pests/bed-bugs/does-heating-or-freezing-kill-bed-bugs https://www.orkin.com/pests/bed-bugs/does-heating-or-freezin...
  - KennyBlanken 3y ago
    > their heat-resistant eggs require temperatures upwards of 125 degrees. Achieving that temperature in a home would be nearly impossible unless you live in very hot summer area and likely cause substantial damage to a lot of things.
    - autogenerate999 3y ago
      I've done it in Vermont USA in the summer with all windows closed. Infrared saunas are 120-140f. https://www.saunasociety.org/sauna-experience https://www.saunasociety.org/sauna-experience A car reaches 120f on a 70f day in the sun in 90 minutes so I don't think that temperature would damage that many things. https://www.scottsfortcollinsauto.com/how-hot-do-cars-get-in-the-summer/ https://www.scottsfortcollinsauto.com/how-hot-do-cars-get-in... This company selling electric bed bug heaters says 7 minutes at 115f. https://convectex.com/pages/bed-bugs https://convectex.com/pages/bed-bugs
  - Physkal 3y ago
    Yes heat is an effective treatment. I've also seen 10kw Resistive load banks used in load testing of single or three-phase AC power systems utilized this way. They are essentially bed bug killers as they generate a tremendous amount of heat. https://mosebachresistors.com/products/bed-bug-heaters https://mosebachresistors.com/products/bed-bug-heaters

by Joeri 3y ago

RajT88 3y ago

We got bedbugs once at my old place. We think we just randomly picked them up at a Marriott we stayed at a few weeks prior to noticing them - crap luck. We got rid of them by sealing the mattress for 6 months, and letting them starve. This was after taking a pass at them with sprays and such (the ones we could spot).

anjel 3y ago
Did you ever notice most all hotel and motel rooms come with a chromed luggage stand? The chrome makes it impossible for bedbugs to climb up and into your luggage.
- RajT88 3y ago
  I learned that too late! But yes, this is an amazing piece of knowledge not well known.

mrtesthah 3y ago

Ivermectin actually works, as long as everyone in the household takes it for at least two weeks (length of the BB lifecycle).

killingtime74 3y ago
Isn't it safer to have control mechanisms that don't involve taking some drug ourselves?
- GuB-42 3y ago
  Effective control methods include: - Heat: improper heat treatment has caused house fires - All sorts of poisons: poisoning not just the bugs - Diatomaceous earth: Using the wrong kind, or using it improperly can cause diseases like silicosis And all the creative yet incredibly stupid things people think of when they are desperate. But done properly these techniques work with minimal risk. The same can be said of Ivermectin.
  - mrtesthah 3y ago
    Don’t forget the use of organophosphate insecticides in the form of Nuvan Prostrips, which are chemically similar to nerve gas for humans. BTW Cimexa is the current best practice for desiccating bed bugs upon contact, and, unlike diatomaceous earth, is approved for use in human living areas.
mettamage 3y ago
Interesting that it works. Some quick googling shows that it only slows them down. For example: [1]. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6901371/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6901371/
- mrtesthah 3y ago
  There are multiple studies so far showing that it works; they can become paralyzed as well as prevented from maturing into adults, which effectively ends the reproductive cycle.

galaxyLogic 3y ago

So it seems they discovered an anti-dote to roaches, but not to bed-bugs. Is there any hope? C'mon science, do your thing!

autogenerate999 3y ago
Heat, Bedbugs die at 119-125 degrees fahrenheit after a few hours. I put 6 propane gas blowers in an apartment, the kind that is used at construction sites. Let that run with thermostats and cameras for a few hours. Bedbug free. Have since done it at 2 other apartments after months of infestations, immediately fixed. Source: personal experience, after trying lots of other methods. https://www.orkin.com/pests/bed-bugs/does-heating-or-freezing-kill-bed-bugs https://www.orkin.com/pests/bed-bugs/does-heating-or-freezin...
- KennyBlanken 3y ago
  > their heat-resistant eggs require temperatures upwards of 125 degrees. Achieving that temperature in a home would be nearly impossible unless you live in very hot summer area and likely cause substantial damage to a lot of things.
  - autogenerate999 3y ago
    I've done it in Vermont USA in the summer with all windows closed. Infrared saunas are 120-140f. https://www.saunasociety.org/sauna-experience https://www.saunasociety.org/sauna-experience A car reaches 120f on a 70f day in the sun in 90 minutes so I don't think that temperature would damage that many things. https://www.scottsfortcollinsauto.com/how-hot-do-cars-get-in-the-summer/ https://www.scottsfortcollinsauto.com/how-hot-do-cars-get-in... This company selling electric bed bug heaters says 7 minutes at 115f. https://convectex.com/pages/bed-bugs https://convectex.com/pages/bed-bugs
- Physkal 3y ago
  Yes heat is an effective treatment. I've also seen 10kw Resistive load banks used in load testing of single or three-phase AC power systems utilized this way. They are essentially bed bug killers as they generate a tremendous amount of heat. https://mosebachresistors.com/products/bed-bug-heaters https://mosebachresistors.com/products/bed-bug-heaters