As far back as Aristotle’s time in Greece or medieval Europe, getting rid of bed bugs was a well-documented issue. Bed bugs are intelligent creatures that choose to move when the target is least aware. They frequently attack while one is fast asleep. Everyone will have their own bed bug story, which will almost certainly be bad.
Bed bugs are scientifically known as “Cimex lectularius” and have a brownish ultra-thin body with no wings. Various studies indicate that these creatures originated in Asia but are now found worldwide. Bed bugs thrive in warm, dry climates but have infiltrated northern regions due to the proliferation of heated buildings.
The adult bed bug is 14 to 3/8 in length when unfed, but it will grow significantly after a hearty meal. A starving bed bug appears very different from one that is well fed. Young bed bugs, also known as nymphs, resemble adults but turn a yellowish color after molting. A nymph can grow into a fully grown bed bug in as little as one month, depending on how much it can eat.
When They Become a Nuisance
When bed bugs become hungry for blood, they become a problem. They typically stay home between meals and are only forced to leave if hungry. They are drawn to the warmth of a nearby body, but they cannot detect a food source more than 5-10cm away. Bed bugs bite and suck blood from an unsuspecting person’s skin using their highly developed mouthparts. Engorgement can last up to seven minutes or as little as one minute. An adult bed bug can absorb approximately seven times its body weight in blood. After feasting, the bed bug returns to its hiding place and lays eggs.
Bed bug bites have an organized pattern of heals, unlike mosquito bites. A person will only realize he has been bitten by a bed bug after noticing prominent wheals in the affected area of his body. Eventually, these wheals will change into a little red mark lasting at least two to three days. The affected area should never be scratched and washed immediately with soap and water to avoid infection. Bed bugs prefer any part of the body with good blood flow, so the reproductive organs are always on their list of target areas.
Getting Rid Of Bugs
Treating bed bug bites is only a tiny part of the solution; the next step is to get rid of these unwanted visitors. Those who frequently travel to tropical climates are especially vulnerable to bed bug infestations, as their luggage may become their new home. Because bed bugs are tiny, agile, and cryptic, it is difficult to see them crawl into boxes, suitcases, and belongings. Homes that have not yet been infested may inherit this problem using used furniture, couches, or beds.
Bed bug removal is tricky. Fabrics with holes and tears are ideal places for them to lay their eggs. DDT was popular in the 1940s and 1950s because it helped reduce the spread of bed bug infestations, but it was eventually banned due to concerns about its effects on humans.
Pest control companies use various tools to help rid bed bugs, including pesticides, aerosols, and other chemical agents. Beds in bad condition or highly infested should be discarded. Whether the bed is thrown out or not, encasing the box spring and mattress is highly beneficial, especially if the bugs are still present. Vacuuming may also aid in the removal of bed bugs, and some pest control professionals use portable steam machines to treat beds. Whether the infestation is minor or severe, bed bugs are always a nuisance, especially for those who want to sleep well. The most effective way to avoid a bed bug infestation is to practice good hygiene and cleanliness.
Bed bug removal is tricky. Because the bed bug resembles a tick, distinguishing one from the other can be difficult. Though ticks primarily feed on animals such as dogs and cats, some bed bugs also feed on humans. Although medical professionals dismiss the bites and bed bug infestations as causes of embarrassment, anxiety, and sleep loss, most people would be relieved to know that these parasites do not live in their homes.
Many people want to get rid of bed bugs, which is understandable. The owner must hire a pest control company to eliminate bed bugs. The pest control specialist is an expert in determining whether the bed bugs feed on humans or those known to animals. A softer bed with infestations can be just as dangerous as a plan to eliminate bed bugs that appear out of nowhere. Bed bugs are frequently portrayed as vampiric creatures. They wait patiently in the shadows for their prey before emerging to feed.
However, bed bugs are difficult to detect and eradicate. They are tiny creatures that can only be identified through close inspection. However, even small animals are at risk when bed bugs infest a home. To get rid of bed bugs in some furniture, you may need to replace it or buy new ones. Bed bugs are cunning and hardy. Bed bugs, like cockroaches, will require the owner’s commitment to eradicate them. These parasites can live undetected in sofas and carpeting. The fact that bed bugs can thrive in seemingly neat and orderly rooms complicates the task of locating and eliminating them.
A bed bug’s habitat is warm areas with plenty of hiding places. It must be near human contact. Mattresses, carpeting, throw pillows, and sofa beds are the most obvious places to look for and eliminate bed bugs. Regardless of how clean or well-maintained the furniture is, only if it has been pre-treated for bed bugs can one be certain that it is safe. The bugs and light brown spots of molted skin are things to look for when getting rid of bed bugs. Bed bug excrement has left dark spots along mattress seams where the pests stayed. A thorough examination of the bed will save you time and money.
Steps To Eliminate
Step 1: Locate infested areas. Because bed bugs reproduce quickly, it is critical to find them before they begin to multiply. With this in mind, look for signs of bed bugs in the following areas:
- Your mattress and box spring’s seams.
- Cracks in the bed frame and headboard.
- Between sofa cushions and seams.
- Along the carpet seam, where the carpet meets the wall.
- In furniture joints such as couches, accent chairs, and futons.
Check each area thoroughly with a flashlight. Examine the room for tiny dark or rust-colored droppings, live bedbugs, or small pale yellow eggs. If you find evidence of bedbugs in any of these locations, you should also inspect your nightstand, dresser drawers, and closet.
Step 2: Keep the bugs at bay. Once you’ve detected an active bed bug infestation, you must contain it. Sucking up live bed bugs with your vacuum is a quick and easy way to stop them. To remove live bedbugs, vacuum your mattress, dresser, furniture seams and joints, carpets, and other affected places. When you’re finished, seal your vacuum canister’s contents in a plastic bag and throw it away. After vacuuming, wash and dry linens, clothes, and other fabrics in hot water and on high heat. If you can’t wash and dry anything (like a couch cushion), use steam. Remember that this will only pick up live bed bugs and will not eliminate the infestation. Unhatched eggs may produce a subsequent infestation.
Step 3: Eliminate bedbugs. It’s finally time to get rid of bed bugs for good. How it’s done:
1. Heat and cold naturally destroy bed bugs. Temperature kills bed bugs on mattresses and other surfaces. With this in mind, collect any affected bedding or clothing and wash it in hot water for 30 minutes. When the wash cycle is finished, place the items in the dryer on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes. Alternately, place the affected items in a freezer at least 0°F. Allow them to stay for four days to ensure that all bed bugs have died.
Pros: Non-toxic, simple, and efficient.
Cons: Not all items or materials are eligible.
2. Make use of steam. Steps to get rid of bed bugs without an exterminator:
Use a steamer to kill bed bugs in mattresses, couches, and other places where they hide.
Pros: It is safe, simple, and effective and can be used as a preventative and a bed bug-killing treatment.
Cons: Not everyone has a steamer, and it may ruin some fabrics.
3. Protect mattresses. Buy bedbug-proof covers and wrap them around your mattress and box spring. When fully zipped, these covers prevent bed bugs from entering and kill bed bugs trapped inside. They also form a barrier that keeps bed bugs from biting you while you sleep.
Pros: Effective, inexpensive, non-toxic, and simple.
Cons: It does not eliminate bed bugs from mattresses.
Typical Treatments
1. Apply an insecticide. If home remedies do not work to get rid of bed bugs, you can use insecticides. Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are two commonly used insecticides for killing bed bugs. In terms of pesticides, these have low toxicity to pets and humans and act quickly. They also require a low dose to be effective in killing insects. Some bed bugs are chemical-resistant. You (or your exterminator) may need to employ pyrroles, neonicotinoids, or a synthetic nicotine.
Pros: Effective and quick-acting, making it ideal for eliminating bed bugs in homes and hotels.
Cons: Harsh chemicals may be present that some people do not want in their homes.
2. Make use of a desiccant. Desiccants are chemicals that kill insects by destroying their protective coating. The bugs would die if they did not have this coating. Desiccants include silica aerogel and diatomaceous earth. Bed bugs cannot develop resistance to desiccants, which have a high kill rate.
Pros: Relatively safe, effective, and simple to implement.
Cons: It can be messy and necessitate more frequent reapplication than insecticides.
3. Plant a bug bomb. What kills bed bugs fast? Bug bombs. Both foggers and bug bombs kill bed bugs and are effective broadcast solutions. You must leave your home while they work because they’re hazardous to humans and pets.
Pros: Effective and quick to act.
Cons: Dangerous, highly toxic, and unable to penetrate cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide, making it less effective than direct-application insecticides.
Step 4: Check the treated area weekly for a few months to confirm success. Treat the site again if you notice new signs of bedbug activity.
Step 5: If you don’t want to do it yourself, you can hire a professional exterminator. It’s the fastest technique to kill bed bugs. They will assess your bed bug infestation and devise a plan to eliminate all bugs and restore your home’s peace and tranquility. Adult bed bugs are not able to withstand professional extermination. However, it is important to note that extermination does not always result in the death of bed bug eggs. After the initial elimination, conduct periodical bed bug checks. These inspections will detect newly-hatched bed bugs and, if necessary, provide follow-up treatments to eliminate them. The average cost of bed bug extermination varies depending on the method used and the severity of the infestation. Customers can expect to pay between $300 and $5,000 for a thorough bed bug extermination, with the average cost hovering around $1,750. Bed bugs are more expensive to remove than other pests such as fleas because they can survive for long periods without food (up to 400 days) and are often difficult to exterminate.
Bedbug Prevention
- Be on the lookout for bed bugs on clothing.
- In a hotel, put your suitcase on a stand, not the floor.
- When you get home, wash all of your clothes and dry them in a hot dryer.
- When purchasing used furniture, exercise caution.
- Before bringing new or secondhand furniture inside, check seams, joints, tufts, and cushions.
- Invest in a plastic or hypoallergenic cover to keep bedbugs out of your mattress, box springs, and furniture.
- Remove any clutter that could allow bed bugs to hide in your home.
- Paper, magazines, clothes, and other items on the floor should be picked up, and nightstands and dressers should be cleaned regularly.
- Vacuum your mattress and floors regularly.
- Wash sheets, clothes, and fabrics weekly in hot water.
- Caulk baseboards, outlets, light sockets, and furniture to prevent bed bugs.
- Check hotels, hostels, and guestrooms for bed bugs.
