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===Causes of resurgence ===

===Causes of resurgence ===

The prime causes of the increased bedbug infestations are yet debated. Social aspects such as  increased travel immigration and population density, clutter, etc. and even climate change (dismissed), have all been blamed, as well as changing pest control products and methods and the development of strains of bedbugs that are resistant to insecticides. As regards the latter, this theory for the cause of bedbug resurgence postulates that use of DDT and its successors ([[DDT ban|DDT was banned]], effective Jan 1, 1973) on household pests such as the German [[cockroach]] also killed bedbugs before they became established in a home. After roaches developed resistance to insecticides being used, hydramethylnon bait was introduced in the early 1980s, which provided superior effectiveness. This resulted in a switch from spraying and dusting and baseboard treatment which also controlled bedbug populations, to the use of baits and Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) in the early 1990s. In addition, many more pesticides besides DDT, including broad spectrum residual chemicals, were banned or heavily restricted in the United States during the past few decades, and many developing countries have also banned many powerful pesticides, due to the danger of harmful effects to humans.<ref>[http://waronbedbugs.blogspot.com/2007/03/tracing-cause-of-bedbug-epidemic.html The War on Bedbugs]</ref>  

The prime causes of the increased bedbug infestations are yet debated. Social aspects such as  increased travel immigration and population density, clutter, etc. and even climate change (dismissed), have all been blamed, as well as changing pest control products and methods and the development of strains of bedbugs that are resistant to insecticides. As regards the latter, this theory for the cause of bedbug resurgence postulates that use of DDT and its successors ([[DDT ban|DDT was banned]], effective Jan 1, 1973) on household pests such as the German [[cockroach]] also killed bedbugs before they became established in a home. After roaches developed resistance to insecticides being used, hydramethylnon bait was introduced in the early 1980s, which provided superior effectiveness. This resulted in a switch from spraying and dusting and baseboard treatment which also controlled bedbug populations, to the use of baits and Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) in the early 1990s. In addition, many more broad spectrum residual pesticides besides DDT were banned or heavily restricted in the United States and many developing countries during the past few decades, due to the danger of harmful effects to humans. These included the organophosphates, ''chlorpyrifos'' (Dursban, and to which bedbugs show no resistance to) and ''diazinon'', and the carbamate ''propoxur'' (Baygon, also deadly) which had became the indoor insecticides of choice to control cockroaches and most other pests. Replacing them were pyrethroid insecticides, all of which bedbugs have now developed resistance to.<ref>[http://waronbedbugs.blogspot.com/2007/03/tracing-cause-of-bedbug-epidemic.html The War on Bedbugs]</ref><ref>[http://web.extension.illinois.edu/ipr/i6046_829.html#2 ''Bed Bug Increase Due to Pesticide Regulation?''], University of Illinois Extension, Illinois Pesticide Review, May, 2009</ref>

Dr. Michael Potter, a  professor and urban entomologist at the University of Kentucky, stated, “What made this problem pretty much go away for decades was the availability of very effective, long-lasting insecticides that were cheap, affordable and available not only to pest control companies but to consumers over the counter,” he said. Having conducted a study comparing older pesticides to those used today, he found that insecticides in two families, organophosphites and carbamates, are especially effective at eradicating bedbugs.  While some of these compounds can be found in insect traps or spot treatments, most are no longer permitted for use by pest-control professionals in North America.<ref>''FAQ about Bedbugs: Pesticide bans have led to a resurgence of the dreaded pest,'' National Post, August 7, 2010</ref>

Dr. Michael Potter, a  professor and urban entomologist at the University of Kentucky, stated, “What made this problem pretty much go away for decades was the availability of very effective, long-lasting insecticides that were cheap, affordable and available not only to pest control companies but to consumers over the counter,” he said. Having conducted a study comparing older pesticides to those used today, he found that insecticides in two families, organophosphites and carbamates, are especially effective at eradicating bedbugs.  While some of these compounds can be found in insect traps or spot treatments, most are no longer permitted for use by pest-control professionals in North America.<ref>''FAQ about Bedbugs: Pesticide bans have led to a resurgence of the dreaded pest,'' National Post, August 7, 2010</ref>