

From their itchy bites to their ability to rapidly multiply, bed bugs can quickly become a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Bed bugs are resistant to many pesticides but not all and there are new options hitting the market all the time.While bed bugs may not be harmful to human health, they can certainly be a nuisance. If bed bugs are so hard to kill, you might wonder how you can effectively destroy the pests and rid your home from their presence once and for all. Even if a pesticide shows promise of killing the insects, the same product might not work a decade from now after the bugs have had a chance to adapt. Their ability to genetically change and evolve is one of the main reasons why they are so hard to kill. Despite their ancient history, the bugs adapt to their environment and continue to survive. Living Fossils: Bed bugs are considered living fossils that existed even during the time of the dinosaurs.The bacteria have a symbiotic relationship with the bed bugs and appear to help keep them alive by fending off viruses, pesticides, and other harmful substances.
ARE BED BUGS HARD TO SQUISH PLUS
In addition, there are 400 plus species of bacteria that live both inside and on the exterior of bed bugs. They have genes from the parasitic bacterium Wolbachia and others within their genome. Scientists have found that the bed bug possesses genes from other organisms, which makes them even harder to kill. Bed Bugs are Mutants: Yes, in some ways bed bugs are mutants.Their bite contains anticoagulants to keep the blood flowing as well as an anesthetic making it painless. A bed bug can consume up to 200% of their body weight in one meal.

When they do eat, the bed bug can consume a great deal of blood which fuels their tiny bodies for an extended period. If a home has been vacant for a long time, there is still no guarantee that it is not home to a thriving population of bed bugs who are just waiting for new occupants. In fact, adult bed bugs can live up to 550 days with no food.
ARE BED BUGS HARD TO SQUISH SKIN
The skin also has great levels of enzymes known as esterases and oxidizes which breaks down common insecticides and renders them useless. Scientists believe that the thicker ‘skin’ is to better repel pesticides. The modern bed bug exoskeleton has evolved to be 15 percent stronger in recent years. Exoskeleton Adaptation: The bed bug that you see today is quite different from one 20 years ago.Bed bugs can hide behind wallpaper, along baseboards, under floorboards, and even inside electrical outlets. Their exceptionally tiny size enables them to squeeze into cracks and crevices which often makes detection difficult until the colony has burgeoned in size. Hardy Survivors: Bed bugs are seriously hardy survivors.Here are 6 of the top reasons why bed bugs are so hard to kill: It was not until 2001 when DDT was banned worldwide due to its devastating environmental and health effects that bed bugs started to re-emerge and once again became a common pest, especially in bustling metropolitan cities. DDT was an especially effective killer and for a time bed bugs became rare. In fact, the pests were so prevalent that many parents would send their children to bed with the rhyme, “Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” The practice of tucking the covers snuggly around sleepers arose to prevent the bugs from gaining access to those slumbering in the night.Īfter the 1940s, the development of harsh pesticides started to take center stage for pest control. Prior to the 1940s, bed bugs were a common pest in cities around the world. They have the capability of genetically adapting to environmental changes that would kill other insects making the creatures notoriously hard to kill.
