Bed bugs develop resistance to widely used insecticides

From: BBC News 

By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent

• 28 January 2016
• From the section Science & Environment

 

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Flightless bed bugs in the US have become resistant to the most widely used class of chemicals

A new study indicates that bed bugs in the US have developed resistance to neonicotinoids, the most widely used insecticide in the world.

Researchers found the blood sucking insects in Cincinnati and Michigan had "dramatic levels" of immunity to regular doses of the chemicals.

To kill these bugs required concentrations 1,000 larger than needed to eliminate non-resistant creatures. MORE