A bottle of spray for bed bugs sits on a table, with a bed and dresser visible in the background.

Aprehend- The 5 W’s

Bed bugs have been touted as one of the most difficult pests that pest control specialists encounter, so people are always looking for new ways to keep them out of their homes and their lives. Have you ever heard of Aprehend? It’s a spray used for bed bug control that has gained popularity in the last few years. It is advertised as a “biopesticide,” using a natural fungus in order to target and control bed bugs. We’ll go through the 5 W’s- who should use Aprehend, why it’s used, where you should use it, and more. 

What is Aprehend?

Aprehend is a pesticide that uses beauveria bassiana. It’s a naturally occurring fungal spore that has shown promise for bed bug control. It causes a condition called white muscardine disease in insects when it comes in contact with them. This disease infects the insects quickly and takes over their body, killing them within 3-5 days. After the insect dies, the fungus takes over their carcass and releases more beauveria bassiana spores into the air, meaning that it can infect more nearby bugs. 

Who Should Use Aprehend?

Aprehend may be useful for those who have a small number of bed bugs in their homes. If you have a full-scale infestation, unfortunately, Aprehend and other sprays may not work efficiently for you. Natural fungi like beauveria bassiana may be a better choice than chemical sprays, since the disease that it causes can spread more efficiently from insect to insect than chemicals can. Note that when using Aprehend, you should exercise caution as with any bug spray. Use gloves and a mask when applying it.

Why Does Aprehend Work For Bed Bug Control?

Aprehend works for bed bug control because of the fungus that’s used in it. Unlike some traditional chemical sprays for bed bug control, the bed bugs don’t have to ingest the substance for it to work. It infects the bugs with white muscardine disease pretty much as soon as it comes into contact with them. After that, they’ll likely take roughly 3-5 days to die, which is a significant disadvantage because they may be able to reproduce in that time frame. 

When Should You Use Aprehend?

Products like Aprehend are best used at the beginning of a bed bug infestation. For example, you might bring something home from a thrift store with bed bugs on it. You might find a piece of furniture on the curb waiting to be thrown away and bring it home, only to find later that there were bed bugs on it. In these cases, isolate the item somewhere like a garage or shed outside of your home so that the bed bugs cannot continue to spread in your home. If you choose to use a spray, then any bed bugs spotted on those pieces of furniture or clothing should be sprayed directly so that the fungus infects them right away. You should also spray the surface of the item so that the fungus can infect them as they walk across it. Do not bring the item into your home until you find no evidence of bed bugs on it.

Where Should You Use Aprehend?

Unlike a lot of sprays, there aren’t any toxic chemicals in Aprehend. This is a major plus side, because chemicals in bug sprays can cause health or breathing issues in those with lung illnesses, young children, elderly folks, and more. What’s more, those toxic chemical smells can linger for a long time in your home, clinging to carpets and furniture. The lack of toxic chemicals in Aprehend means that you can use it in your home without worrying about causing breathing problems (however, you should always use personal protective equipment when you are using bug sprays).

Are The Bed Bugs Out of Your Control?

By the time you find bed bugs, it may be too late for sprays to really be effective. That’s where whole-home heat treatments come in! If you think you have bed bugs or are interested in a home heat sanitation treatment, contact Bed Bug Barbeque, LLC in Lakewood, Ohio! We use heat treatment to eradicate bed bugs and we offer entire home sanitation heat treatments. This safe, effective treatment is completed in less than 12 hours, and Bed Bug Barbeque, LLC offers a 60-day warranty for you to verify for yourself that your bed bugs are fully eradicated. Contact Bed Bug Barbeque, LLC today for a FREE quote at (216) 221-1227 or through our website, and check out our other bed bug informational resources on identification, prevention, and eradication.

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