Dealing with a bed bug infestation is a challenge. The EcoRaider team recognizes that infestation cases vary, and the methods used to attack a pest problem might be more effective for one particular household over another. Customer feedback helps us access what problems people are having with the EcoRaider treatment and how we can best help them find solutions. Recently, a customer sent in a few questions about the fertility cycle of bed bugs and how to eradicate future generations of bugs. 

1.      Does exposure to Ecoraider decrease bed bug fertility?

 It is unlikely one will be able to spray all the existing adults and eggs during one treatment. The adults that survive will continue laying eggs and eggs will hatch.

2.      As in, if they are exposed to the product while climbing onto my bed to bite me will females still be able to lay eggs after getting that blood meal? (Bed bug eggs hatch every 10-14 days).

According to a study done at Washington State University, exposure to EcoRaider does inhibit bed bugs fertility and appetite, suggesting that they will bite less and lay fewer eggs.

3.      If the answer is no to my previous question; how am I supposed to fully eradicate them? (Seeing as Ecoraider has a lower mortality rate at first before ramping up to high mortality rate within 10 days, the bed bugs are exposed to the product, may still have time to lay eggs after biting me. Because those offspring can interbreed, the cycle perpetuates). 

The mortality on the test report is the cumulative data. Both direct spraying and residual treatment show different mortality speed. The results show that there is an 80-90% mortality rate within the first hour when EcoRaider is directly sprayed and the residual effect is slower. Essentially, the most successful kill method is directly spraying a bed bug or egg. Another successful treatment would be for the bugs to come into contact with the liquid while it’s still wet

4.      Is there anything you guys recommend to stop this? Or is my only choice to continue spraying and hope for the best? I love your product, but repeatedly purchasing it is getting expensive, and I’m a medical student living off federal loans.

Certainly, for the best performance, spray once a week. The peak activity for bed bugs is at night. Spraying as close as possible towards your bedtime is an optimal for getting largest amount of bugs in their tracks. Take a flashlight at night, try and find where they are coming in from, if you find the nest, remove it, spray and clean this area thoroughly, and this can ultimately reduce the pests once and for all.