Does Bombing Get Rid of Bed Bugs?

Misconception

Bombing is not the same as fumigation. Bug bombs are one-time aerosol cans that spray all of their contents at once. However, the insecticide sprayed only covers the surface of a room and does not penetrate into wood and many fabrics. Fumigation uses extremely strong pesticides that are sprayed into the home after it has been prepared and all plants, pets and animals removed. Pesticides used in fumigation penetrate wood and fabrics.

Bed bugs have nearly flat bodies, which makes them able to get into very narrow places such as mattress seams, rips in wallpaper and crevices in wood. Bed bugs can hide in these places when they first detect a bug bomb going off and can wait there until the insecticide has dispersed. If they do not hide, they run. Although they cannot hop like fleas or fly like mosquitoes, they can run as fast as an ant. They can run into another room away from the bug bomb and come back when the coast is clear.

Bed bugs will seem to disappear for perhaps a night or two after use of a bug bomb. But all they are doing is hiding or traveling to other parts of the home where traces of the bug bomb fumes cannot reach. Bombing also cannot kill bed bug eggs, which hatch between six to 10 days after the female lays them. Bed bugs can wait a long time in order to return to easy prey. Adult bed bugs can exist over one year between meals, according to Cornell University.

Some effective alternatives to controlling bed bugs include professional fumigation treatments; putting linens, clothing and small pillows through a hot wash; vacuuming regularly; repairing any damaged wallpaper and sealing up any cracks in floorboards or walls. Remove any bed ruffles or overly large blankets so they do not touch the floor. Immediately vacuum any luggage to kill any bed bugs that may have tried to hitch a lift back to your home.