Frequently asked questions
Is this a pest-control company?
No. This is an educational science desk. It does not book jobs, sell products, or dispatch technicians. For local field guidance in northwestern Pennsylvania, see PestFactor.
Why do treatments that “worked last time” stop working?
Usually one of three documented reasons: resistance in the surviving population, a change in the pest or its harborage, or the protected life stage (for example, cockroach oothecae hatching after treatment). See the Resistance section.
Do bed bugs spread disease?
There is no confirmed natural disease transmission to humans by bed bugs. The documented harms are skin reactions, sleep loss, and mental-health burden. See Public-Health Evidence.
What does “the label is the law” mean?
A pesticide must legally be used exactly as its label directs — site, rate, method, and protective measures. Off-label use is a legal violation, not a technique.
Where can I verify these claims myself?
Against the sources that settle each kind of claim — extension services, university entomology, NPIC, regulators, IRAC, and the CDC. The Verify Sources page maps them.
Can I cite this site's charts?
Only as schematics. Figures labelled schematic illustrate a concept and contain no measured data.