Comments on: crystal silica gel cat litter crushed & powdered can kill a bed bug : habits

By: Cisco

Cisco — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:22:24 +0000

Apparently in the nineteenth century people tried to control bedbugs with kerosene. The Fire Department Museum in Denver observed that in the old logs many fires were listed as having been caused by “bedbugs,” which was puzzling until an old-timer explained that smoking and kerosene are a volatile mix.

By: Heidi Rush

Heidi Rush — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:21:05 +0000

How do you get the stains out when they have been there for a while?

By: MikeZB

MikeZB — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 04:41:50 +0000

Be vigilant long-term: they wait 18 months for a victim to trip up, and bring heat and CO2 (exhale). Check traps weekly.

By: MikeZB

MikeZB — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:46:43 +0000

Oh, and they can’t swim through mineral oil, or
walk over petroleum jelly, or
climb a smooth surface (like a bowl) after walking thru talc.
Good ingredients for traps, like under bed frame feet.

By: MikeZB

MikeZB — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:27:56 +0000

Careful – crystalline diatomaceous earth is as irritating to your lungs as asbestos fibers, and leads to silicosis & cancer.
Look for “food grade” amorphous or fused DE/silica, and consider a respirator (quality dust mask).
Some farms feed it to livestock to kill parasites.
DE kills all sorts of soft-bodied bugs (aphids, bedbugs, etc.) by slicing their waxy surface and absorbing their fluids. But it can be slow.
[
Bedbugs prefer human blood, and form colonies in crevices.
Usually near a bed, or chair. Eggs are tiny, like salt.
They mostly come out before dawn; you won’t feel the bite.
Until later – minutes, hours, or even days later.
Many people think it’s just a delusion because of the delay.
Even the allergic minority among us.
[
Alcohol quickly kills on contact, then evaporates away.
You can cook ‘em (145 degrees F, or 120 for an hour),
or freeze ‘em (23 degrees F for a week, or -15 for faster).
Biz and Oxydol enzymes for dried/set fecal blood stains.
Good hunting!

By: Ratata

Ratata — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:08:23 +0000

How’d it go?

I’ve been looking FAR and WIDE after Kiselgur aka Diatomaceous Earth aka Something Silica, but only one apothecary could get it where I live – at a ridiculous price. So getting this news is welcome indeed! Now to buy a mortar and pestle…

By: jackcarpentersax

jackcarpentersax — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:38:32 +0000

The powder is a …
The powder is a nightmare too but bedbugs crawling on you while you visit friends is the ultimate nightmare. Get the people in your building to all work together. The silica gel cat litter is very cheap and a large bag goes a long way and can treat many apartments. Just be sure it is ground very very fine.

By: karinagha

karinagha — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:38:32 +0000

Yes, I know, cause …
Yes, I know, cause three appartments had it probably two weeks ago, and i have jsut one bite so far, i powdered again, i hate my room but i am sure powder works. thanks.

By: jackcarpentersax

jackcarpentersax — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:38:32 +0000

Thanks. Those 3 …
Thanks. Those 3 bedbugs would be hundreds in a few weeks.

By: jackcarpentersax

jackcarpentersax — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:38:32 +0000

You have to put a …
You have to put a fairly thick layer of fine fine powder everywhere (about a quarter to half a millimeter) Bedbugs can be difficult to eliminate because you live in a building. All the tenants must put powder at the same time. The spread from apt. to apt. Trust me without the powder your problem would be worse. They can climb the legs of the bed or drop from the ceiling (they climb easily on the wall.)