In some U.S. cities, bedbugs are becoming resistant to insecticides. Neonics are a common form of insecticides to eliminate and control bedbugs, but the new study has uncovered that many bedbugs are becoming resistant to this common mode of control.
Data was collected from homes in Cincinnati and Michigan and exposed bedbugs to four different types of neonics. The results were compared with lab bedbugs, which are known to be vulnerable to insecticides.
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They found that it took 0.3 nanograms of acetamiprid to kill off nonresistant bedbugs – 50 percent of them. For the other 50 percent, it took 10,000 nanograms to kill the bedbugs from Cincinnati and Michigan.
Using imidacloprid, 2.3 nanograms killed 50 percent, but 365 nanograms and 1,064 nanograms were needed for the Cincinnati and Michigan bedbugs respectively.
Comparing results from the nonresistant lab bedbugs and the ones from Michigan, the Michigan ones were 462 more resistant to imidacloprid, 198 more resistant to dinotefuran, 546 times more resistant to thiamethoxam, and 33,333 times more resistant to acetamiprid.
Cincinnati bedbugs were 163 times more resistant to imidacloprod, 226 times more to thiamethoxam, 358 times to dinotefuran, and 33,333 times more resistant to acetamiprid.
Study author Alvaro Romero said, “[Pest companies] need to be vigilant for hints of declining performance of products that contain neonicotinoids. For example, bedbugs persisting on previously treated surfaces might be an indication of resistance. In these cases, laboratory confirmation of resistance is advised, and if resistance is detected, products with different modes of action need to be considered, along with the use of non-chemical method.”
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
