Pest Control Guru

Bed Bugs Pest Control FAQ

WHAT DO BED BUGS LOOK LIKE?
Adults are small, brownish insects, just under a ¼” long and are relatively flat. They are nearly as wide as they are long, and oval in shape, much like an apple seed. Immature bed bugs (nymphs) resemble the adults, but are much smaller and lighter in color. Newly hatched nymphs are translucent and are no bigger than a pinhead.

WHAT IS A ‘BIOPESTICIDE’?
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a biopesticide as ‘a type of pesticide derived from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. Microbial pesticides can control many different kinds of pests, although each separate active ingredient is relatively specific for its target pests. For example, there are fungi that control certain weeds, and other fungi that kill specific insects.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF USING BIOPESTICIDES?
Biopesticides are usually inherently less toxic than conventional pesticides. Biopesticides generally affect only the target pest and closely related organisms, in contrast to broad spectrum, conventional pesticides that may affect organisms as different as birds, insects, and mammals.

DOES THE FUNGUS AFFECT HUMANS OR PETS?
No, the fungus we use is specific to insects and will not infect humans or pets. The formulation is designed to stick the conidia to the surface where they are applied, and will not remain airborne after the spray application and it has a non-toxic mode of action.

IS THE SPRAY VISIBLE ON WOODWORK OR DRYWALL?
Generally, no, but depending on the paint surface (semi-gloss/gloss), it may be possible to see the spray line under certain lighting conditions. If this occurs, the spray can be easily removed, with a disinfectant wipe or kitchen spray and paper towel, but always leave the spray barrier in place until the bed bug infestation has been completely eradicated.

DOES THE DISEASE SPREAD IN THE BED BUG POPULATION?
Yes, once a bed bug has come into contact with the conidia, it will carry the conidia on its body back to the harborage. When an exposed bed bug comes into contact with another bed bug, the conidia transfer from one to the other. Since bed bugs live packed tightly together in harborages, the fungal disease easily spreads in the population. This process is called auto-dissemination.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR A BED BUG INFESTATION TO BE ERADICATED?
When a bed bug crosses the spray barrier, it picks up conidia, which will germinate within 24 hours. The fungus will then grow inside the body of the bed bug, and death will occur between 3 and 7 days later. Bed bugs that remain in their harborages can become infected if they contact a bed bug that has picked up conidia from the spray barrier, these bed bugs will also go on to die within a few days.

DOES IT HAVE A SAFETY RECORD?
This is a fungus that is commonly found in the environment, particularly soils in North America. People are constantly exposed to low levels of fungal spores on a daily basis. In fact, the commercial product Botanigard®, which also contains the same fungus strain, has been used to control pests in vegetable products worldwide for the past 20 years.