Why Are Bed Bugs Hard to Kill?

by Kevin Smith Author

Bed bug exterminators in St. Louis, MO, say that it's hard for individuals to get rid of bed bugs. There are several reasons why bed bugs are hard to kill. While they aren't particularly hardy, especially when it comes to temperature, bed bugs are sneaky and have a life cycle that is conducive to avoiding pesticides. Crowded residential living conditions also help improve the odds of survival for bed bugs.

Smaller than a Bread Box

Bed bugs are small enough that they can hide in the seams of the bed. They might use the electrical outlets in a room to get from one place to another in the search of food sources. Their ability to flatten out makes them excellent at hiding. They may hide behind headboards, along the space between the carpet and the wall, or anywhere else where a dime's edge might fit.

Resisting Death

Most poisons that are used to kill bed bugs are contact poisons, meaning the insecticide has to touch them in order to kill them. Like all insects they can build up a resistance to the poisons that are meant to kill them when the insecticide is improperly used or not delivered in doses large enough to kill the bugs outright. Worse, an insecticide can be applied correctly and still not get rid of the problem because it doesn't kill the eggs. When they hatch, the bed bugs are back and ready to go another round with death.

Apartment and Condo Life

For people living in apartments and condos, getting rid of bed bugs can be something of a nightmare. Even if one or two apartments take the right precautions and do all the right things, the bed bugs can simply move to another apartment and wait out the treatments. When the coast is clear, they can return. Some residents may have bed bugs without ever having gone anywhere to get them.

What Can Be Done?

Those who find they have bed bugs need to do a couple of things. Isolating the mattress with a bed bug bag will help make sure the bugs that are there don't find a new home. Calling in professional bed bug exterminators in St. Louis,MO, will make sure that the problem is taken care of for good. Many professionals use a combination of ways to get rid of bed bugs, and they may be able to negotiate with the neighbors or landlord to keep the bed bugs from coming back.