Bed Bug Extermination In London With Aprehend®
Our main bed bug treatment uses Aprehend®, a Health Canada-registered biopesticide made from natural fungus spores, applied by licensed and insured technicians.
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on human blood. They hide in tiny cracks, come out at night, and are hard to find and get rid of on your own. An infestation can cost you sleep, money and peace of mind.
London Bed Bugs is a London, Ontario company. We’re licensed and insured, and we use only Canada-registered pesticides, applied according to label directions. Our go-to product is Aprehend®, a biopesticide that bed bugs spread among themselves. Below, we explain how it works, how to get ready and what to expect.
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How Aprehend® Works
Aprehend® is a biopesticide. That means it’s made from something found in nature: the spores of a fungus called Beauveria bassiana. Spores are like tiny seeds. It lives in soil and infects insects. Aprehend® is registered for bed bug control by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PCP Reg. No. 33745).
Bed bugs do the hard part
Bed bugs hide in cracks during the day and come out at night to feed. We spray thin strips, about 5 cm (2 inches) wide, on the paths they take to reach you. When a bed bug walks across a strip, the spores stick to its body.
The bug then carries the spores back to its hiding spot. In lab tests, researchers at Penn State found that spores can pass from one bed bug to others hiding with it, even ones that never touched the spray. The spores sprout and grow into the bug’s body. According to the label, infected bed bugs die within about 4 to 10 days.
So it isn’t instant. That slower pace is part of how it works: bed bugs have time to carry the spores back to the others.
Where we spray (and where we don't)
Following the label, we spray around bed frames, headboards, box springs, couches and chairs, and along the baseboards where the floor meets the wall. The strips dry clear, and the label says the product has no odour. We never spray your mattress, sheets, pillows or blankets.
How to get ready
- Bag your sheets, pillowcases and blankets. Wash them in hot water, or dry them on the hottest setting for an hour.
- Move furniture away from the walls so we can reach the baseboards.
- Tell us about pets, birds, fish tanks, and anyone in the home with a weakened immune system or allergies.
What to expect after treatment
Day 1: Stay out until it's dry
Keep people and pets out of treated rooms until the spray has dried. We'll tell you how long.
Days 1 to 10: Spores at work
You may still see a few bed bugs at first. That's normal. Per the label, infected bugs die within about 4 to 10 days.
Up to 3 months: Strips keep working
Dry strips can keep working for up to 3 months in cool, dry rooms. Don't wipe, mop, wash or steam them.
About 30 days: Follow-up visit
We come back to check. If we still find live bed bugs, we can spray again.
Why follow-up visits matter
Bed bugs are good at hiding, and a few can be tucked away where we can’t see them. That’s why the label recommends a follow-up inspection about 30 days after treatment. If we still find live bed bugs, the label allows Aprehend® to be applied again. We plan that visit with you from the start.
The dried strips also keep working between visits. According to the label, they can stay active for up to 3 months in cool, dry rooms, so bed bugs that were hiding still have to cross them.
It also helps with tough bed bugs. Many bed bugs no longer die from common sprays. According to the label, Aprehend® works on bed bugs that resist pyrethroids, a common type of insecticide. Because it works in a completely different way, Health Canada’s review says resistance is not expected to develop.
The science, for the curious
Aprehend® contains spores (called conidia) of Beauveria bassiana strain GHA, mixed in oil. The spores stick to the bed bug’s outer shell (its cuticle). According to the manufacturer, they start to sprout about 20 hours after contact. They then grow thin threads (hyphae) through the shell and into the body. Insecticide experts put it in its own group (IRAC group UNF).
In a 2017 lab study (Barbarin and others), Aprehend® killed more than 94% of bed bugs from three insecticide-resistant strains, and half of them died within about 4 days. Results in real homes vary. Health Canada’s review found Aprehend® has low toxicity and is unlikely to affect your health when used according to the label. It can cause skin sensitivity, so our technicians wear protective gear when they apply it.
Our Bed Bug Treatment Process
- Inspect: we find where the bed bugs are hiding and how far they've spread.
- Plan: we explain the treatment, give you a prep checklist and answer your questions.
- Treat: we apply Aprehend® in thin strips where bed bugs walk. Where needed, we may add other Canada-registered products for cracks and crevices.
- Follow up: we come back about 30 days later to check, and treat again if live bed bugs are still present.
Our technicians are licensed and insured, and every product we use is a Canada-registered pesticide, applied according to label directions.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of people and animals. They’re mostly active at night and can live in homes, hotels and other buildings. Signs include red, itchy bites, small blood stains on bedding or furniture, and a musty smell. If you think you have bed bugs, act quickly to stop them from spreading.
Is Aprehend® Right For Your Home?
For most homes and businesses, it’s a good fit. According to the manufacturer, Aprehend® needs less preparation than many treatments. You can usually stay in your home, as long as people and pets stay out of treated rooms until the spray has dried.
Some homes need extra planning. Tell us before we treat if anyone in the home has a weakened immune system or allergies, or if you have pets, birds or fish tanks. We’ll plan around them and follow the label directions.
We’ll inspect your home first and recommend a plan that fits your situation, including the follow-up visit.
Why Choose Us For Bed Bug Extermination In London?
If you’re dealing with bed bugs in your home or business, you need a reliable plan. London Bed Bugs offers careful, affordable bed bug treatment carried out by licensed and insured technicians, using only Canada-registered pesticides, applied according to label directions.
Commonly Asked Questions About Aprehend® And Chemical Treatment
What is Aprehend®?
Aprehend® is a biopesticide made from the spores of Beauveria bassiana, a fungus found naturally in soil that infects insects. It’s registered for bed bug control by Health Canada (PCP Reg. No. 33745). We spray it in thin strips where bed bugs walk. The bugs pick up the spores and carry them back to their hiding spots.
How long does Aprehend® take to work?
According to the label, bed bugs that pick up the spores die within about 4 to 10 days, so you may still see a few bugs in the first week or so. The dried strips can keep working for up to 3 months in cool, dry rooms. We recommend a follow-up inspection about 30 days after treatment, and we can spray again if live bed bugs are still there.
Is Aprehend® safe for my family and pets?
Health Canada reviewed Aprehend® and found it is unlikely to affect your health when it’s used according to the label. Keep people and pets out of treated rooms until the spray has dried. We don’t spray mattresses, sheets, pillows or blankets. Before we treat, tell us if anyone in the home has a weakened immune system or allergies, or if you have pets, birds or fish tanks, and we’ll plan around them.
Can I clean after an Aprehend® treatment?
Yes, but leave the treated strips alone. Don’t wipe, mop, wash or steam them. Cleaning removes the spores, and water stops them from working. We’ll show you which spots we treated, such as bed frames, furniture edges and baseboards. You can wash your bedding and clean the rest of the room as usual.
How long does the treatment process take?
It depends on the size of your home and how many bed bugs there are. Most treatments take a few hours. We come back for a follow-up inspection about 30 days later.
How effective is chemical treatment for bed bugs?
Chemical treatment is an effective way to control bed bugs, but results depend on how big the infestation is, how well the home is prepared and how carefully the product is applied. That’s why we inspect first, follow the label directions, and check back about 30 days after treatment.
Can I be in the home during the treatment?
You don’t always need to leave your home, but you and your pets should stay out of treated rooms until the spray has dried. We’ll tell you how long before we start.
Do We Only Service London, Ontario?
No. As well as London, we service surrounding areas like Ingersoll and Tillsonburg. See all the areas we serve.
Ready to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in London?
Servicing: Ingersoll, London, Tillsonburg & surrounding areas