# Why doesn't everyone have bedbugs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 4, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450 "2015-12-04T21:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/21 "2016-07-25T18:37:46Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > We’re looking into diatomaceous earth in cups/plates for the bed feet, and I will research “no pest strips.” Thank you for the advice. They sell them at most larger hardware stores, I have even seen them at Target. But \*move fast. \* ---
**Author:** ![Chetumal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@Chetumal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chetumal)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/22 "2016-07-25T20:17:44Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > The wife is working from home today with the intention of getting a start on bagging and washing/disposing of stuff. If you’re currently in the US and experiencing the heat wave, you can put all your laundry in black plastic garbage bags and leave em out in the blazing sun for an afternoon or two. This will kill them. ---
**Author:** ![Chetumal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@Chetumal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chetumal)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/23 "2016-07-25T20:19:22Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > We’re looking into diatomaceous earth in cups/plates for the bed feet, and I will research “no pest strips.” Thank you for the advice. > > The luggage is getting thrown out (nice Samsonite garment bag, but it is about 15 years old and seen a lot of miles). Hopefully if the wind is right and my arm is willing, I can throw it directly into the sun. You can either put it in the freezer overnight if you have a chest freezer, or put in a a large black garbage bag, tie it shut and leave it out in the hot sun for a day or two. Both methods kill em dead, no need to throw stuff out! ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/24 "2016-07-25T21:41:52Z")
Direct sunlight not only works, but is, I believe, the traditional cure pre-pesticides. You may think people don’t like bedugs today, but our great-grandparents _literally_ went thermonuclear on them. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/25 "2016-07-25T23:46:46Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > …\ > > I don’t know if it’s just my mind messing with me, but I can’t stop scratching while sitting at my desk. The wife is working from home today with the intention of getting a start on bagging and washing/disposing of stuff. > > \… I think I got bedbugs just reading about it. Thanks for that. _scratch scratch scratch_ ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/26 "2016-07-26T00:50:27Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > So, I read through a website about ridding your house of bed bugs {[Cite](http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/bed-bugs.htm)}, looks like a major hassle. > > These new generations of bed bugs may be pyrethrin-tolerant, but that doesn’t mean they like the stuff. It’s a violation of Federal Law to use dog and cat flea shampoo in your laundry, the same as mixing said shampoo with your normal shampoo to prevent head lice infestation. Probably won’t kill them but it sure “might” make 'em sick. Don’t the regular household sprays fall onto to the floor eventually ? People who wash hard floors make a safe haven for the bugs, by keeping the pyrethrin levels down and keeping the spaces wet… (the bugs avoid dry places as they dry out easily.) And same with carpets… washing them removes the build up of insect sprays that people have used. The apartment blocks are getting bedbugs because houses would have copious permanent insecticides around the ground level… (to stop spiders,ants,wasps,termites,borer…) I guess the spider and ant repellant surface sprays on your skirting boards and bed posts would send all insects to some other residence… ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/27 "2016-07-26T20:39:02Z")
[Gentrol IGR](http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/gentrol-igr-liquid-concentrate), Insect Growth Regulator, makes all the babies grown into non reproducing adults. Read and follow the labels. ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/28 "2016-07-26T20:52:13Z")
I’ve seen enough episodes of _Hotel Impossible_ to know that you just need to heat up the room for a bit to kill them off. Increasing the room’s temperature to 120ºF for 20 minutes will kill them off, keep it at that temperature for 90 minutes to make sure the eggs are dead too. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/29 "2016-07-27T12:02:18Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > I’ve seen enough episodes of _Hotel Impossible_ to know that you just need to heat up the room for a bit to kill them off. > > Increasing the room’s temperature to 120ºF for 20 minutes will kill them off, keep it at that temperature for 90 minutes to make sure the eggs are dead too. Take it from me\*, You CAN NOT do this yourself. You need to call in the big boys - they have special heaters to do the job. Its not enough to heat up the room, you need to heat it up to the point were it reaches temperature inside the walls as well. Call a professional exterminator with documented experience treating bedbugs. Get references. Do not try to treat this yourself - that’s how small infestations become big infestations. \*entomologist with almost 20 years experience working on, among other things, bedbugs. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/30 "2016-07-27T12:06:03Z")
Here’s a link to my hotel traveling advice to prevent bringing bedbugs home. If you travel a lot, its a good idea to follow the advice: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12993245&postcount=2](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12993245&postcount=2) ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/31 "2016-07-27T13:25:22Z")
Thank you for your advice, **mozchron** and others! Currently have most of the bedroom stripped of bedding and clothing. Trying my best to convince the wife that diatomaceous earth is safe to use around the bedrooms. We have a 2 year old and the packaging unhelpfully lists “KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN!!!11one!” as the final instruction. I suppose he’d be in trouble if he ate a bunch of it or inhaled it in mass quantities, but sheesh. Thanking Og I bought a $75, 4" thick foam pad because it’s making sleeping in the living room a lot more tolerable. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/32 "2016-07-27T13:33:13Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > [snip] … People who wash hard floors make a safe haven for the bugs, by keeping the pyrethrin levels down and keeping the spaces wet… (the bugs avoid dry places as they dry out easily.) … And same with carpets… washing them removes the build up of insect sprays that people have used … [snip] If **mozchron** will correct me … pyrethrin is nonpersistent, the chemical breaks down after a few hours into harmless byproducts. This is by design, we don’t want dangerous poisons building up in our carpets and drapes. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/33 "2016-07-27T16:19:27Z")
How long can bedbugs live in the absence of a host? How long are the eggs viable? I.e., if your house is infested, could you just go on a lovely vacation? ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/34 "2016-07-27T16:25:14Z")
I have a commercial website that makes theis claim: “Adult bed bugs can survive for about five months without a blood meal.” [“How Long can Bed Bugs Survive Without Feeding?”](https://www.terminix.com/bed-bug-control/behavior/diet/living-without-food/) … and again, this is a commercial website … they want you to buy their service more than they want you to know the true facts. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/35 "2016-07-27T16:31:49Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > I have a commercial website that makes theis claim: > > “Adult bed bugs can survive for about five months without a blood meal.” > > [“How Long can Bed Bugs Survive Without Feeding?”](https://www.terminix.com/bed-bug-control/behavior/diet/living-without-food/) … and again, this is a commercial website … they want you to buy their service more than they want you to know the true facts. It depends on the temperature and humidity. But 6 months or more isn’t out of the question. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/36 "2016-07-27T16:34:16Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > If **mozchron** will correct me … pyrethrin is nonpersistent, the chemical breaks down after a few hours into harmless byproducts. This is by design, we don’t want dangerous poisons building up in our carpets and drapes. Couple days to a couple weeks, depending on the product, the concentration of the active ingredient, what you’re spraying it on, environmental conditions (exposed to sunlight etc…). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/37 "2016-07-27T16:46:36Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Thank you for your advice, **mozchron** and others! > > Currently have most of the bedroom stripped of bedding and clothing. Trying my best to convince the wife that diatomaceous earth is safe to use around the bedrooms. > We have a 2 year old and the packaging unhelpfully lists “KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN!!!11one!” as the final instruction. I suppose he’d be in trouble if he ate a bunch of it or inhaled it in mass quantities, but sheesh. > > Thanking Og I bought a $75, 4" thick foam pad because it’s making sleeping in the living room a lot more tolerable. Have you hung up the no-pest strips? How old are your kids? Yes, eating tablespoons of it could be a issue. But the main issue is if a kid plays with it then rubs their eyes. Same with us, so wash your hands afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/38 "2016-07-27T16:50:44Z")
If the diatomaceous earth is food grade, its safe to spread around. You already eat this stuff, as its added to food products (don’t eat it of course). If you got it from a pool supply store, its not safe - its an inhalation hazard. You need food grade. But I reiterate my point above - call an experienced exterminator. Don’t try to cheap out and control this yourself. ---
**Author:** ![TheSundial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@TheSundial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSundial)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450/39 "2016-07-28T02:01:48Z")
You don’t have to strip a room or get rid of anything, what you have to do is mimic a human with a household trap (You can see on Youtube). Bedbugs have no idea what a human or animal is and is just attracted to what a human gives off so they will delightfully all die in a trap because they don’t know what’s happening. I had them in a motel and this was before I knew about household traps, I simply spent mostly the entire couple of days sitting at the desk with my laptop. All of the bedbugs left the bed and were all underneath the chair I was sitting in, then I simply overturned the chair and killed them and made sure I got all of the ones hiding between the fabric and wood of the chair. Years later I can safely say that I conquered them that way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-everyone-have-bedbugs/739450.md?page=1)