What Is Aprehend?
Aprehend® contains a special combination of oils, which enable the application of the Beauveria conidia (spores) to surfaces where they remain attached until encountered by a bed bug.Â
Microscopic ‘seeds’ readily attach to the insect’s cuticle (skin). Once attached, the conidia germinate and penetrate directly through the cuticle to gain access to the insect’s blood system. Once there, the fungus grows inside the insect, using the blood as a food source. Very soon the insect becomes sick and dies from the fungal infection.
Aprehend infects an insect by direct contact and does not need to be eaten to initiate an infection. When a bed bug comes into contact, it carries the fungus on its body back to the harbourage. When an exposed bed bug comes into contact with another bed bug, the fungus transfers from one to the other. Since bed bugs live tightly together in harbourages, the fungal disease easily spreads in the population. This process is called auto-dissemination.
Direct spray contact is not necessary. Bed bugs of all life stages, sex, or feeding status are killed within four to ten days following short-term contact with a treated surface. As with all current bed bug control methods (except heat), it will take time to kill all the bed bugs in an infestation. Â
The fungus remains dormant on the sprayed surface and will only germinate when it comes into contact with a bed bug. This is how Aprehend® remains effective for up to three months after application if undisturbed.
Aprehend Vs Chemical Pesticides
Bed bug populations are becoming resistant to many of the most commonly used chemical insecticides. Unlike chemicals, which require bed bugs to remain in contact with the spray to absorb the toxins, Aprehend® requires only the briefest encounters with the sprayed surface to be effective.
We already know that the common bed bug has shown substantial resistance to deltamethrin, a widely used insecticide. Studies have also shown that certain bed bug populations are moderately resistant to two other common insecticides, bifenthrin and chlorfenapyr.
Aprehend Treatment Process
Aprehend is sprayed along all baseboards and furniture in the entire home. The cracks and crevices of the bottom and back of furniture is thoroughly sprayed. The perimeter of vents, outlets and doorways are also sprayed.Â
Since Aprehend is a cracks and crevices spray, the technician needs to take their time and hit all desired areas where bed bugs could hide. At Heat Relief we pride ourselves in getting full coverage with Aprehend and spraying more rather than less.
