Evolution Of Bed Bug Treatment Technology Over Time

Bed bugs have been a problem for almost all of human history. Truth is, we’ve been working on exterminating these pests for centuries. This has given humans plenty of time to come up with new and innovative ways for getting rid of them. Here are some of the ways that bed bug treatment technology has evolved over the years.

What bed bug treatments were used in the past?

Treatments for these bugs were initially developed in the early 19th century. Back then the methods were crude. The main method of killing them was with mercury chloride, which was known as “bed bug poison“. Along with this, they also used arsenic and pyrethrum and not the high temperatures we use today. These chemicals were placed in bottles and sprayed over mattresses. The biggest issue with this was that these chemicals are extremely toxic to humans.

After this, bed bug treatment technology started to evolve. Pest control companies began developing insecticides which were more effective. These poisons were deadly to bed bugs and it seemed as if the problem was solved. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. All organisms evolve to fit their environment, and bed bugs were doing the same. At this stage, these bugs are almost completely immune to even the deadliest insecticides.

It seemed as if bed bug treatment technology would have to evolve again, this time to include techniques that could get rid of bed bugs completely. Because bed bugs were now immune to poisons, something innovative was needed. The breakthrough came when scientists realised they could use heat to kills these pests. This technology is truly incredible and is now the industry standard for killing these bugs. What scientists found was that bed bugs and their eggs die after being exposed to 118°F for only 90 minutes.

Modern evolution of bed bug treatment technology

From this discovery came the invention of something known as heat treatments. This is basically a machine that works almost like a giant heater. The machine is placed in a room and the air gradually heats up. After 1-2 hours the bed bugs are completely dead. What makes this technique so powerful is that it kills the bugs as well as their nymphs and eggs. This means that the bed bugs have no way of coming back. What’s also great about this method is that it does not use chemicals.

Bed bugs treatment technology has now evolved even further to kill both the bed bugs and their eggs. The advent of “smart” technology has allowed pest controllers to come up with ingenious methods for killing these pests. A company in Finland has developed devices which are attached to the legs of hotel beds. These sensors alert staff to the presence of these bugs. From there, proprietors can take action to remove the bugs, before an infestation sets in.