How is Cedar Bug-Free™ Bed Bug Powder Different?
There are several different types of powders used in pest control. Some are Wettable Powders that you mix with water or other solvents and some others you use in dry form as powders. But what concerns us most is the way in which the different powders affect the particular pest we are dealing with.
Some powders are very poisonous and carry the DANGER signal word and the familiar skull and crossbones. Others, more common to the do-it-yourself homeowner, are pyrethrins based and are much milder, and then there is Diatomaceous Earth.
Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids
Pyrethrins are chemicals, used to make pesticides, which are extracted from some types of Chrysanthemum flowers. These pesticides are derived from Nature and are called botanical pesticides. But if Nature can make pesticides then so can we. Pyrethroids are a synthetic form of pyrethrins which are manufactured in the lab. Some common pyrethroids are: bifenthrin, permethrin, and cypermethrin. Most pesticides ending in thrin are either pyrethrins or pyrethroids.
Even though Pyrethrins (and pyrethroids) affect the nerve cells of insects, they are very mild forms of pesticides and, if used properly, will have low risk to humans and other mammals due to their very low toxicity. Unfortunately, bed bugs have become resistant to Natural and synthetic pyrethrins and these products are no longer lethal when used as directed; they merely act as repellents. So, consumers have been abusing these products in an effort to solve their bed bug problems and are consequently poisoning themselves in the process. These products are dangerous to fish so be careful. Read A Short History of Bed Bugs and Their Treatments to learn more about the products used on bed bugs.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a non-toxic naturally occurring fine powder made up of fossilized water plants called diatoms. DE has an abrasive quality and traditionally has been used in filtration systems, cat litter, and even in making dynamite. DE comes in different grades for its myriad of applications.
Some DE grades are crystalline with very sharp edges and other grades are much finer. When used for pest control, DE cuts into the protective outer shell of insects and dries them out, thus killing the insect. This is of concern to humans and pets since inhaling DE can do the same to the nasal cavity and the lungs as it does to insects. You must be careful to select the least crystalline DE you can find in order to minimize the dangers associated with inhaling DE.
Cedar Bug-Free™ Bed Bug Powder
Cedar Bug-Free™ Bed Bug Powder is Natural and non-toxic to humans and animals. It is not poisonous like many other powders and will not hurt your lungs if inhaled, like many Diatomaceous Earth products. The Cedar Oil in Cedar Bug-Free™ Bed Bug Powder overwhelms the breathing system of insects and triggers a suicide response – the spiracles (breathing pores) close and cannot re-open. The Silica used in Cedar Bug-Free™ Bed Bug Powder is amorphous and not crystalline. Amorphous Silica does not contain the sharp edges that cut into your lungs. Cedar Bug-Free™ Bed Bug Powder adheres to the outer skeleton of insects and causes them to dehydrate and suffocate by clogging their respiratory system.
Cedar Bug-Free™ Bed Bug Powder is electrostatically charged and adheres to the fibers and the base of the carpet, thus preventing the vacuum cleaner from easily removing it all the first time you vacuum. This helps the powder remain in the carpeting for several months and continue to kill bugs as they hatch, come out of their hiding places and travel on and inside the carpets. This adherence property also helps the powder stick to insects. As insects groom themselves to remove the powder, they ingest it and the powder dehydrates them from the inside as well.
Because Cedar Bug-Free™ Bed Bug Powder works in a physical manner instead of a chemical reaction, bed bugs and other insects do not become resistant to this product. After all, the cockroach never becomes resistant to the shoe that stomps on it!
Cedar Bug-Free™ Bed Bug Powder is the keystone of The 5-Step Program. Go to Step 1 for an explanation on treatment.
