Why are Bed Bugs so hard to get rid of?

• Small and Sneaky: Bed bugs are small, flat, and adept at squeezing into tiny spaces. They can hide in places we wouldn't typically think to look, such as behind loose wallpaper, under electrical switch plates, and inside mattress seams. This makes it challenging to find and kill every single bed bug in an infestation.

• Rapid Reproduction: A single female bed bug can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime. Within a few months, her offspring can reproduce as well, leading to exponential population growth. Bed bugs reproduce most quickly in temperatures between 70°F and 82°F, which is the typical range for indoor heating and cooling systems.

• Long Survival Without Feeding: Bed bugs can go a remarkably long time without feeding. Adult bed bugs can survive up to 550 days without a blood meal, and nymphs can last for months. This means simply leaving an infested area unoccupied for a few months won't necessarily starve them out.

• Chemical Avoidance and Resistance: Bed bugs can sense chemical odours and may avoid areas treated with cleaning agents or pesticides. Additionally, some bed bugs have developed resistance to certain insecticides, making chemical treatments less effective.

• Extensive Cleaning Required: To eradicate bed bugs, every possible hiding place must be cleaned or treated. This includes laundering all clothing, bedding, and linens, inspecting and treating every crevice and seam of mattresses and upholstered furniture, sealing cracks in walls, reattaching or removing loose wallpaper, and treating and vacuuming carpets. Clutter must also be removed to limit hiding places for stray bed bugs.

• Comprehensive Treatment Needed: Every infested item and area in the dwelling must be treated or cleaned, which is labour-intensive and time-consuming. Dresser drawers must be emptied and cleaned, and any item that cannot be washed must be inspected and treated appropriately.

These factors combined make bed bug infestations extremely difficult to eliminate without professional help. Persistent and comprehensive efforts are required to ensure the elimination of all bed bugs and their eggs.