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Diatomaceous Earth... are they gone??
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Anonymous
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Posted 2 years ago
Wed Feb 16 2011 18:18:13
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I live in Manhattan, and sure enough I have bed bugs like so many others. I immediately called my landlord who sent the bed bug dog (came back positive) and then the exterminator. After the exterminator came it was twice as bad - more bites than before. I'm going to have a second treatment, but that is not until next week, so I haven't given up on professional treatment.
DE was recommended to me, so I purchased it, put it all over, and (drum roll please...) no bites in days. This stuff seems like a miracle. So my question is, how do I know that the problem is actually gone? If bed bugs can live for 18 months, then how do I know they are all dead and not just hanging out dormant somewhere avoiding the DE? I am planning on moving in the next year, and I want to make sure that I am actually bed bug free before moving so I don't infect a new apartment and have to start this horrific process all over again. I really don't want to stop using DE and experiment and learn the hard way.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 2 years ago
Wed Feb 16 2011 18:31:12
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Hi,
We are told that diatomaceous earth takes up to ten days to kill bed bugs once they walk across it. Depending on your timeline, it may actually be what the pro did that reduced your bed bugs (you did not say exactly when they came or when you put down the DE).
Most people seem to massively overapply DE. I hope that is not true in your case. Keep in mind that many pros will refuse to treat if you are also doing so; it's worth talking to them about it beforehand in future.
Sometimes PCOs will apply products which drive bed bugs out of hiding and this may be what occurred here.
Finally, many people later regret usig their real names on this forum. If you think you might, please contact me: http://Bedbugger.com/about/contact
I can delete your account now and you can start over, but you can't wait and change your username down the road, once you realize it's coming up in Google searches.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,755offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Feb 16 2011 18:48:06
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ps please PM me from your new account. Thanks!
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BugsRgone
newbite
Joined: Mar '11
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Mar 17 2011 6:43:51
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A few weeks ago I found scores of red welt all over my arms, legs, hands and feet and they were unimaginably itchy. I feared I had some sort of auto-immune disease, since I couldn't imagine what could cause such a severe problem. Then I developed a rash. I lost several nights sleep and literally laid in bed with a back scratcher. A coworker suggested bed bugs which plunged me into deep denial.
Unfortunately upon inspection of an extra pillow I keep to the side I discovered what I assumed were the culprits. I scoured the internet including forums like this one and weighed my options. Based on what I read -- professional exterminators, bug spray, orange oil... it was clear that DE was getting the highest marks. But who carried it? I found only one place in lower Manhattan, so I set off on my mission. They didn't have "food grade" that everyone was talking about but I was desperate so I bought what they did have. Something called "Safer" D-E PLUS". I figured even if it's not as good, it might do something.
I inspected my 12" mattress found a few droppings and maybe some small bugs here and there. I covered my nose and mouth with a scarf, then sprinkled all the creases at the side of my mattress. I had already inspected the other side when I flipped it. Then I rubbed the powder into the floor, around the bed legs, at the doorway so they couldn't escape and under and around the base-boards. Pretty much any nook and cranny I could find was my rule of thumb. Some poster also warned not to leave obvious streaks or clumps bc they'll just walk around them, so I followed his lead.
Someone else mentioned it took 48 hrs to take effect. That night to be on the safe side I slept with a long sleeve night shirt and pj bottoms tucked into socks. Happily there were no bites on my hands. The next day without thinking I flopped onto the bed, bare-legged and fell asleep for a few hours. No bites.
This is the 5th day and I can find no droppings or bugs but I did find some shells ( or maybe they were eggs) up until a few days ago.
In any event I went from no sleep about a week ago to a restful sleep the past 5 days. As far as I can tell this stuff works extremely well. It emits no odor and settles quickly. My bites and rash are finally healing fast! You might want to wear gloves because DE does have a bit of a drying effect but nothing major.
It's possible I wasn't that infested but I would say it's definitely worth a try. It really does seem that bedbugs cannot withstand the sharp fossil edges penetrating their skin.
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BBGen0cide
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Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 210offline
Posted 2 years ago
Thu Mar 17 2011 8:04:22
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I have had epic fails with DE.
Why, because I over used it, had piles of it, and had no instructions the first 2 times, the 2nd time followed canada bed bugs. BE BUGS WILL AVOID DE IF THEY CAN SENSE IT, SEE IT. So if it is not a light dusting you cannot see with the naked eye, forget it, they will walk around it or wait for you to clean it up then start attacking again.
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BugsRgone
newbite
Joined: Mar '11
Posts: 2offline
Posted 2 years ago
Thu Mar 17 2011 11:17:42
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BBGen0cide - 3 hours ago »
I have had epic fails with DE.
Why, because I over used it, had piles of it, and had no instructions the first 2 times, the 2nd time followed canada bed bugs. BE BUGS WILL AVOID DE IF THEY CAN SENSE IT, SEE IT. So if it is not a light dusting you cannot see with the naked eye, forget it, they will walk around it or wait for you to clean it up then start attacking again.If I'm not mistaken you have to leave it down, at least along the crucial sides of the room and bed legs & frame. It's the cutting action that zaps them, it's not like a chemical spray. But if you did leave it the 2nd time, I guess it's possible not all BB are built alike.
I've also heard they can't survive extreme heat. SO maybe you can turn a heater up in the room when your heat is already on or on a hot day for a few hours. That was my plan B. The room temp needs to be raised to between 113º - 120º like Arizona. But your electrical wiring should be good and best to stay in the house to keep an eye on it just to be on the safe side.
Sorry DE didn't work.
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BBGen0cide
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Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 210offline
Posted 2 years ago
Thu Mar 17 2011 17:37:44
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DE can work when done correctly, i hate dusts though, mess with my allergies.
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