Is DDT still the most effective way to eradicate bedbugs?

Not anymore. Bedbugs today are resistant to DDT as well as many pyrethroids. These work similarly (holding sodium channels open), so resistance to one can bring resistance to another. read more

Not anymore. Bedbugs today are resistant to DDT as well as many pyrethroids. These work similarly (holding sodium channels open), so resistance to one can bring resistance to another. If DDT were to be unbanned in the US, it would not have much effect at all, even though it used to be very potent against bedbugs. Bringing it back is a bad idea. read more

But going back to old pesticides won’t fix it, particularly DDT, said Roger Burley, president of Aanteater Pest Control in Hamilton. Bed bugs are resistant to DDT and most other pesticides that used to treat it. “DDT is really dangerous, and it’s really not effective against bed bugs anyway,” he said. read more