Bed bugs and pesticide reststance

According to new research, the bed bug resurgence in the last few years is in part due to a resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. Pyrethroids are one of only two types of insecticides still available for use in domestic properties in the UK. Scientists have compared resistant populations of bugs to non-resistant groups and discovered they were able to withstand 5,200 times more insecticide than the non resistant insects.

The resistant bed bugs had multiple genetic defenses against the toxins. There are three specific genes (cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, carboxylesterases, and glutathione S-transferases) that can bind to, deactivate, and break down insecticides, and all three were increased in the resistant bugs.

Does this mean that insecticides are not effective against bed bugs?

No what it does mean is that it's not as simple as many pest controllers and online stores would have you believe. For insecticides to be effective against bed bugs it is important that the product has all the correct attributes. Secondly it needs to be applied correctly a quick spray round the skirting boards will have little effect.

Bed bugs and heat

There is one thing that bed bugs are not resistant to and that is heat. To boost the efficiency of our treatment we use a super heated dry vapour. This method speeds up the eradication process and in light infestations can be used as a stand alone bed bug treatment method.