Gone are the days when pest control is ruled by chemical sprays and liquids. Dust for bed bug control is becoming a new trend in the eradication of the pest as some of the powders are safe to use in the household. Also, this reduces the fumes that may be inhaled during a bed bug chemical bombardment. However, you should know that for these dust to work, you should practice proper application. Otherwise, it can still jeopardize the health of the property occupants.
Even professional exterminators use many pest control dust. You could also administer some as a home remedy but beware of the very active ones that can stir skin irritations and other health problems.
Diatomaceous earth (DE)
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If there’s a quintessential dust in insect pest control, it would be the diatomaceous earth. This substance is extracted from the fossilized remains of microscopic water creatures called planktons. When used as a pest control agent, it can kill the bugs upon contact through sucking out the moisture out of their bodies. This would also give the nervous system of the pest a kick that will result in sure death.
As much as DE is harsh on the pest, it’s relatively safe for humans. It can be used in food preparation areas and in living spaces where kids and pets roam. But to avoid any allergic reactions, make sure to use this in small amounts and in cracks where the pest hides. You can also use this dust for bed bug control to treat a highly infested carpet.
Arsenic dust
Arsenic dust is also a popular choice for households. This kills the bugs in contact by drying them out and acting as a poison. This should be mixed with a soft soap to avoid the harmful effects, especially on children. Such solution is recommended by the USDA and it’s discouraged to use pure arsenic in dealing with the bugs.
Keep in mind that arsenic dust has lead content. Continuous exposure to it could lead to heart disease and respiratory problems. Always mix it with soft soap and avoid sprinkling it like DE. It’s also advisable to vacate the treated area especially if you have children and pets around. The youngsters are more susceptible to the harm the dust could cause. If you want, you can let an expert administer this for you.
Boric acid
Who said household items can’t make wonders on the bed bug infestation? Boric acid or borax is a common household item as it’s used as a cleaning agent. And true enough, its abrasive properties are lethal for the pest. Boric salt has spiky structures when put under a microscope. Although it feels soft in the hands, it’s damaging to the tiny bugs.
You can sprinkle this dust for bed bug control on the cracks and crevices so the pest would be in contact with it when they crawl out. Another method is diluting boric acid to water and spraying it on the affected area. This would reach deeper through the cracks but avoid using it directly on fabric to avoid irritation.
Overall, boric acid is safe but keep children away from the treated object or room. Borax is still acid and it can induce skin issues.
Delta Dust
The Delta Dust is another choice in addressing bed bugs, but one thing that you should know before buying this is it has very slow action. For a single application, this dust would kill the whole colony for about eight months. It contains deltamethrin and is known for being the first waterproof insect control dust.
This characteristic makes Delta dust a good choice for treating cracks and crevices even those exposed to moisture. The dust would maintain its potency even if the treated surface is washed repeatedly with water. If you want a faster result, you can pair Delta dust with another dust for bed bug control.
The good thing about Delta dust is it can also target other insect pests like ants, silverfish, scorpion, and roaches. Remember that this should be applied with a duster, unlike DE that can be sprinkled using the hands.
Permethrin dust
As one of the Pyrethrins, Permethrin dust is known to have very lethal effects for different insects like bed bugs, cockroaches, mites, and fleas. There are commercially formulated Permethrin dust that can be applied directly to clothes and mattresses.
For the pesticidal Permethrin, it can be applied to cracks where the bugs are harboring. You can use a brush to smear the surfaces with this dust, though safe, you should keep children and pets away from the treated area. Once you applied this to carpets and other parts of the house, avoid vacuuming for two days to let the dust settle and the bugs to be in contact with it.
Compared to Delta dust, Permethrin is fast-acting and it will kill the bugs upon contact. It will be a very strong poison to the bugs that will paralyze the nervous system, thus instant death.
Drione Dust
It’s a bit unheard in most households, but the Drione dust is one potent substance that can be the answer to the resurfacing problems of bugs. This is a silica-based dust that’s mixed with a natural pyrethrum. This dust is commonly used in industrial and commercial establishments as it’s safe to use even of food preparation areas.
This dust penetrates cracks and crevices pretty well, and if left undisturbed, it can kill bugs for as long as six months. You can apply this on the insides of pieces of furniture to discourage a bed bug harborage.
Using a dust for bed bug control could be better if you’re planning to opt out of the usual chemical-based pesticides. Most of these are safe but always practice enough caution for a few that has very abrasive effects. All these are available commercially so you can employ home remedies to alleviate the infestation. Do you have a specific choice? Let us know!
