Bed bugs are now pesticide resistant and stronger than ever
Digital Reporter
Sunday, January 31, 2016, 4:56 PM - It's a grisly thought, especially during winter months when most spend a lot of time indoors.
A new study proves bed bugs to be persistent pests, strong enough to withstand one of the most commonly used insecticides created to eliminate them.
To come to this conclusion, researchers from Virginia Tech and New Mexico State University evaluated an isolated colony of bed bugs, harvested by scientist Harold Harlan of the U.S.'s Armed Forces Pest Management Board. Harlan maintained the colony for the past 30 years.
DON'T MISS: Canadian groundhog dies days before Groundhog Day. Details here.
The research team conducted comparative experiments between Harlan's bed bugs and domestic ones in Cincinnati and Michigan that had been exposed to neonics (systemic pesticides), while also examining a different, pyrethroid-resistant group from New Jersey that hadn't been exposed to systemic pesticides since 2008.
Although Harlan's bed bugs died immediately after being exposed to small bouts of neonics, the bugs from New Jersey showed some resistence to four various pesticides.
The bugs from Cincinnati and Michigan, however, proved much tougher. Having lived in the city and been exposed to many of the chemicals, they had the highest level of resistance.0.3 nanograms of neonics were required to exterminate half of Harlan's bed bugs, while more than 10,000 nanograms killed only 50 per cent of the bugs from Cincinnati and Michigan
Although they haven't morphed into "super bed bugs" just yet, scientists from Virginia Tech and New Mexico State University say what we are using as a chemical intervention is no longer working as effectively as it was designed.
"The rapid increase of bed bug populations resistant to pyrethroids demands the development of novel control tactics," the study notes.
Researchers examining the bed bugs have suggested different modes of action, perhaps including non-chemical methods.
RELATED VIDEO: Where do bugs go in the winter? Find out below.
SOURCE: Oxford Journals - Study | AOL
