my breif story, followed by a good question « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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my breif story, followed by a good question

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Stefan

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Posted 4 years ago
Tue Mar 3 2009 5:08:03
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I have searched around, and am having a hard time getting an answer to this question. I have been forced to self treat, before I am jumped on, understand that a PCO is not always an option for various reasons, money, location etc. And while it is obvious that this should be hired by a PCO, we also need to realize that just because someone has a certificate in spraying poison, does not mean he is any better then a well educated, research capable person at doing so. I have been dealing with these critters on an off for almost a year. The first time, a pco came and did his thing every monday for a month. We were more then cooperative. We encased our matress (twice!), vacuumed prior, steamed, laundered and otherwise did everything possible to help. 6 months without a bug, I wake up and there is one sitting right next to me on the pillow! Upon squishing him (after careful investigation) it was apparent he already got me!

I have not seen any more, or any other signs, and trust me, I looked. I decided I had to self treat, If not a major infestation, then as a preventative measure.

Supplies: Cyonara 9.7
One Gallon sprayer
Pest Control Approved Respirator
Eco DX dust
More DE then I would ever know what to do
Caulk
Laundy machine
Bellow duster

I removed everything I could launder and did so, moved everything into the center of the room, spraying the cyonara around where the carpet meets the wall, treated the furniture with steam, spray etc where applicable, I was thorough, while not spraying too much as to drive them away. Eco DX-d the bottom of the closets, inside draws, and everywhere else that was specified for us. Cyanora'd the curtains and such. There was much more involved, but I'm not gonna tell every detail of what I did that day, would be a whole lot. Long story short I was very thorough.
I drilled Holes the size of the tip of the bellow duster 8 inches from the ceiling all the way around the bedroom, inserted the bellow duster into each whole, and let rip with DE, followed by DX dust. I did this one to kill any that may have gotten in, but more as a preventative measure, as I live in a multi unit building. I found the bellow duster to be the best thing ever, I can create almost a smoke of DE, that settles to be mostly undetectable. I have fogged the DE nearly everywhere, under the bed, around the living room, etc. I have yet to be bit in a week. In 4 days, making it 13-14 since the initial treatment, I will be spraying again, to make sure any hatched eggs will meet there fate.
Keep in mind, I only saw one bug, no neighbors have had an issue (each let me inspect personally), and my encasments have not ripped. While im not willing to believe there was only one (as is obvious by my treatment) it is reassuring to know, that it is always possible!

My question. It is well known that DE does not kill on contact, But hard to track down exactly how long it DOES take to kill. For clarity, I am not talking about taking a bed bug and drowning it in 3lbs of DE. I am talking an adult bug crossing a very thin coat on a carpet. What is the estimated time of death. Thanks to anyone that may have an answer for me!
bitten123

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Posted 4 years ago
Tue Mar 3 2009 11:38:33
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Wow, you have been through alot! I'm no expert, so take my advice as just a fellow companion in the war, but I believe I read on here, that once the bed bugs shell (exoskeleton) is scratched by the de, that it takes up to 10 days for it to dry up and die. Just be careful of the de floating around in your bedroom, it is hard on the lungs. I hope you get rid of them.
Stefan

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Posted 4 years ago
Mon Mar 9 2009 3:39:35
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Does anyone else have an answer regarding the speed in which DE kills bedbugs?
BugBoy911

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Posted 4 years ago
Mon Mar 9 2009 4:52:19
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Personally after treating an area with silica dust, upon inspecting the premisis within 2 weeks after treatment, I have observed many dried up bedbuggers in the areas treated. To give an exact study, I have not done this. I'd say it takes at least 3 days to a week. This is not an exact fact, yet using dusts take a weee bit of time to dry out an insect but provides long term residual. DE Dust is very very harmful to the lungs and sometimes when I go into apartments that have been treated with DE all over the place, its a toxic environment for any living thing to be in period. Try using a hepa vac and suck up all that DE thats all over the floors... What if you open the window.. or what not.. poof... cloud of silica particals that get lodged within your lungs. Put in in cracks and crevices only and start thinking like a bedbug.
bugbasher

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Posted 4 years ago
Mon Mar 9 2009 10:47:21
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Stephan,
Good job w/ doing the wall voids,not such a great idea to do everything,since it's an inhalation risk.That said the reason as best as I can ascertain that there is no hard rule of thumb for how long it takes is simply that they must come into close contact with the de to cause lethal exposure.Put simply,if they drag their body through it(as in a just fed bug would do)it happens quicker.If an unfed(walking with their body NOT dragging through the de)it may not happen at all until they are weighted down with a meal.They don't ingest it,since they have just a siphon thing for a mouth,butr must drag their body through it for it to be effective.Thereby giving a very wide margin in time.But it will work,if you know that they must consume blood and then walk through de eventually once fed it could take as long as 2 weeks to have a kill for an adult.The babies would go much quicker as their exoskelaton is not as hard.
I had to do it myself as well,so I understand how frustrating it can be to do everything that should be right,only they don't seem to stop coming.
The thing you have not thought of is was this bug that you found from your infestation? Or are you getting reinfested from another source? If you personally checked all your adjoining neighbors on all sides as well as above and below,then you may be pickining them up somewhere in your travels ei., a close friend,a certain route to work,your own car(yes,I've heard of them living in cars)PLEASE do not treat your car even if you suspect it as that is VERY dangerous to do.If you think it may be the car call a pro.It could be a certain bus or subway line or any of the above.
Bottom line is 6 months and all you did the first time,I have a hard time beleiving it was a straggler,I be willing to bet you're getting reinfested either from your building or an outside source.Btw,your treatment program is very similar to what mine was,and it should work as it did for me.Good luck
Stefan

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Posted 4 years ago
Tue Mar 10 2009 0:17:32
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I did my second spraying today, a good thorough safe job. To be clear, saying I dusted everything was a bit of an exaggeration. I used the duster, and didnt over apply, you could take a leaf blower to the bedroom, and not kick up any. I targeted what needed to be targeted. No where was enough accumulated to kick up at all, except inside the walls, but I don't anticipate opening any windows in the four inches between sheetrock! There is always the chance. These little bastards are so psychologically destructive its insane. I felt like they were walking on me last night, the same night I sprayed!
Nobugsonme

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Posted 4 years ago
Tue Mar 10 2009 0:23:08
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We have heard straight DE can take up to ten days to kill bed bugs ONCE they have walked across it.

If some of them do not cross it, they will never die.

Even if you have it placed so they will eventually cross it, you will need to give it time. For this reason, most people would not choose it as a stand-alone solution.

Remember that the chances of bed bugs crossing DE are better if it's used properly, in appropriate locations, and NOT overapplied. (We're told they won't walk through clumps.)

Putting it ON the carpet does not seem like a great idea -- I would think it would get kicked up, but I may be misunderstanding what you did.

For reference:
FAQ on DE.
DougSummersMS

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Posted 4 years ago
Tue Mar 10 2009 1:12:13
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Romero Alvero from the University of Kentucky did a study that looked at survival times for bed bugs confined on paper that had been treated with dust agents.

My recollection was that DE started killing bed bugs within three days. Most of the bugs were dead within seven days. All of the bed bugs in the trial were dead at the end of ten days.

Three conditions were set up with a light application, a label rate application or a heavy application.

All three dosages were successful in achieving 100% kills... the heavy application condition was a little faster, but all the bugs were dead at the end of the ten day trial regardless of the application rate.

The only dust product that was found to be ineffective was the limestone dust (NIC 325) with a 30% kill rate at the end of ten days.

I don't know if the study has been published yet... I saw the presentation at the NPMA conference in DC last year.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 4 years ago
Tue Mar 10 2009 14:39:51
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This may seem obvious, but I think people get misled by the idea of that 100% kill rate, and think that having DE present means all their bed bugs will die, and soon.

Which, of course, it doesn't, unless you and your bed bugs are confined together on an enormous petri dish, dusted with DE.

Other readers will say, "Aha! I just need to cover my floor with DE, like a petri dish!" No, no, no. Very bad idea, of course. Dangerous.

(DE can be a useful tool, it can also be grossly misused.)
DougSummersMS

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Posted 4 years ago
Tue Mar 10 2009 15:30:44
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True, being confined on a treated surface 24 / 7 & periodically crossing a treated surface are two very different conditions. Keep in mind that the bed bugs used in this study were captured from the field as opposed to bed bugs that have been bred from an established lab population.

Remember that fed bed bugs are going to drag their bodies through the DE versus an unfed bed bug that may be able to cross a treated area with less contact to the dust.

I would think that The University of Kentucky team will be looking at an intermittent exposure condition in future studies.

I agree fully with Bug Boy 911 & NoBugs' concerns about use of dust agents in open areas where the dust can be disturbed & made airborne.

A damp rag or a good HEPA filtered vacuum should be used to clean up an improper application. It is a good idea to use airtight eye protection & a proper respirator when someone is applying or cleaning up a dust product.