There are two types of bed bugs: common and tropical, disease vectors. Before choosing methods of struggle at home, study where they come from, appearance and how they look, what to be able to distinguish. If dangerous species are found, urgently order sanitization.
Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of bed bug complaints. Bedbugs were once thought to be pests that can only be found on bedding in private homes and populous apartments. Bed bugs can now be found in office buildings, retail stores, hospitals, dorms, nursing homes, libraries, movie theaters, buses, and any other places where people congregate. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and spread easily by moving beds, furniture, luggage, or clothing from one place to another.
Many people today are worried about the answers to the questions: how do bedbugs get into an apartment? how to get rid of bedbugs if they have already started?
Bed bug information
What do home bed bugs look like and what are the varieties? With such a question, a painful interest in these stinking creatures begins.
Gritting our teeth, pacifying disgust, we carefully examine the photo on the monitor how bed bugs look, indignant aloud: where do such disgusting creatures come from?
The next stage of anxious curiosity passes under the question mark: what are the bugs in the house?
And, finally, having gained resolve, we begin to study in detail the tips on the topic: how to get rid of these apartment monsters at home? Where to look for traces of their vital activity? How to identify a bloodsucker's nest?
When we have already overcome our negative emotions, then for the sake of victory we are ready to study the enemy even under a microscope.
The task becomes close-up: to destroy uninvited guests, to remove furniture parasites forever!
Identifying bed bugs
- Bed bugs are small, flat, oval, reddish brown, wingless insects that feed mainly on human blood.
- Adult indoor bugs are about 6.6 mm long, about the size of an apple seed. Young bed bugs (larvae, nymphs) are rather small, and when they are unwell, they seem lighter and almost transparent in color.
- The female adult bug lays up to 500 eggs during the childbearing period.
- The male does not lay eggs.
- Bed bugs do not fly or jump. However, they can crawl very quickly.
Insect life cycle
The bed bug is a separate species that is an exoparasite of humans and warm-blooded pets. It is believed that these insects developed in parallel with the formation of humans as intelligent beings. These creatures have a flattened body, the length of which can vary from 3 to 8.4 mm. Typically, females are larger than males.
The size of the insect largely depends on the degree of their saturation with blood.
Insects can range in color from dirty yellow to dark brown. The parasites have no wings. This insect has no jaws.
The bug has a long enough proboscis, which serves to pierce soft tissues and feed on blood.Having found a victim, the bug produces a large amount of saliva, which is injected into the wound, which leads to the fact that the person does not notice the bite itself, since there are no unpleasant sensations. These insects have only 6 legs. In addition, they have special glands that constantly produce a secret that has a specific odor. Learn more about the lifestyle of bedbugs in this video:
If the room is inhabited by a large number of bedbugs, a specific musty smell is constantly present in it.
These creatures are slow, therefore, if necessary, they cannot escape from danger. It is because of this feature that the bugs prefer to hunt at night, and during the day they carefully hide in hard-to-reach places. These parasites are highly sensitive. They can determine the prey within 30 m. Insects can overcome this distance without difficulty.
In rural areas, not only people, cats and dogs, but also cattle become victims of parasites, which significantly reduces its productivity.
In the process of feeding, 1 bug can absorb about 7 ml of blood.
Bed bugs reproduce in a rather unusual way. Males, ready for breeding, can attack not only females, but also other insects. They perform so-called traumatic insemination. To do this, they pierce the partner's or partner's peritoneum with a special organ and inject semen there. In females and males, after such a procedure, the shell is then restored. The lifespan of adult bed bugs is about 1 year. During this time, the female can lay about 200-600 eggs, depending on the presence or absence of favorable conditions.
Bed bug bite symptoms
Usually, the first sign that you or your cub has been bitten by a bed bug is the appearance of red itchy wounds on the body, where it is exposed during sleep. Then look for small black or rusty spots on the bedding, pillows, or mattress. These are blood stains and bed bug droppings. Also, look for live bed bugs, their eggs, and empty skins from molted larvae.
Bedbug bites:
- Bed parasite bites often occur on the arms, shoulders, neck, and legs.
- The bite can usually be seen as a red bump, up to a centimeter in size and without a red puncture point in the middle.
- The bite can appear within a few hours or with a delay of up to a week.
- Red and brown bed bugs are, first of all, an annoying nuisance for people, and there is no reliable information that they transmit the disease. Some people do not respond to bites, while others may itch and irritate the skin.
IMPORTANT Avoid scratching the bites. Questions about bite marks should be addressed to a doctor.
Complications of running head lice
When the stage of infection with these parasites has gone far, then the patient may experience symptoms indicating the neglect of head lice. It:
- nervous disorders that develop due to the constantly present itching;
- groundless and regular irritability;
- the appearance of abscesses at the sites of the bite due to their re-infection;
- pyoderma (skin lesions with changes in pigmentation and leaving scars);
- deterioration in the quality of sleep.
And yet a person begins to see crawling insects everywhere and feel them on his skin, even if they are not visible during an ordinary cursory examination. Some people may develop a reaction to lice bites, resulting in severe allergies. And at such a moment, the temperature may rise, the lymph nodes may enlarge.
There are cases of infestation with head lice, when there is no way to regularly wash your hair and comb your hair daily. And then, due to the presence of lice, the strands begin to stick together, forming tight and tangled tangles.This happens because the female secretes a sticky secret and distributes it along the length of the hair shaft, then attaching her laid eggs (nits) to it. And if the louse uses several strands at once, then they stick together tightly. And the skin under such mats begins to itch even more, dandruff appears on its surface and the process of natural oxygen supply is hampered, which further negatively affects the general condition of the hairstyle and hair growth.
How dangerous are bed bugs
Parents in this world love their children the most; nothing can replace their love. And seeing your child bitten and sick is a real nightmare. It is very unpleasant and unnerving when bed hunters for blood offend people and hurt your little treasures, and anyone will be upset when they see inflamed bite marks on the smiling face of their beloved child.
But you can handle the problem. You just need to be patient and know how to get rid of uninvited small bed guests.
Take care of yourself and especially the child
Bites are especially dangerous for young children. To quickly take control of the situation, you must do two things: remove the bugs themselves and start treating the itchy wounds.
Wash all bedding in hot water and dry in a hot dryer. You may also need to wash your curtains.
Scrub the furniture to remove eggs and repair any cracks in the furniture that may be in the furniture; you may need to disassemble the furniture to do this well.
Then vacuum the room, including the mattress (concentrating on the seams) and any surrounding crevices. You may want to fill in and repair any cracks in the room and apply new wallpaper. Check adjacent rooms for bed bugs, even if the tenants don't complain of itching.
Sometimes, in cases of severe infestation, it may be better for a licensed pest control agent to inspect the area and destroy the bugs.
Remember that some insect repellents can be toxic to children, so make sure you know exactly what chemicals the agent will use, what the chemical's risk profile is.
A topical cream or ointment with low-potency corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone, can be purchased without a prescription to help with itching. Do not apply medicated ointment to your face or skin folds. Make sure your children's nails are trimmed short to avoid scratching the skin.
When traveling and staying in hotels, keep your suitcase and clothing away from your bed or other furniture.
When you get home, wash the clothes you took with you and put your suitcase in the attic, basement, or garage, where bed bugs are unlikely to hit people for extended periods of time at night.
IMPORTANT
Bed bugs do not carry infections, but they can cause allergies!
You may need a doctor
Your doctor may give you a suitable corticosteroid to relieve itching and inflammation. They are especially useful at night to help prevent infection. In rare cases of skin blistering, oral corticosteroids become necessary.
If there is a bacterial skin infection from scratching, oral antibiotics will be needed.
As stated above, if anaphylaxis occurs, then it is treated only by emergency doctors.
Prevention of bedbugs in the house
Disinsection and disposal of predatory insects cannot be carried out at the same time.
Complete elimination of a bed bug infestation is difficult and may require the services of a knowledgeable and licensed pest control professional.They may have to be called several times in order to gain control over the process of total destruction of insects.
Bed bugs in the apartment
Start by looking for uninvited bed guests. The house bug hides where people sleep. He prefers fabrics, wood and paper over metal or plastic.
Look for live bugs, their eggs, discarded skins, blood stains or traces of feces in the following places: mattresses, box springs, headboards, upholstered furniture, armchairs, baseboards, wallpaper under pictures, draperies, electrical outlets, telephones, radios, televisions, stacks of books, stacks of papers, backpacks, luggage, sports bags, drapes and curtains, stuffed animals, hollow furniture legs, door frames and hinges, wall-to-ceiling connection.
IMPORTANT
Explore what a bug looks like!
How to poison bedbugs in an apartment
If you choose the DIY method, use only those pesticide products that are labeled for bed bugs. Remember to always read the directions carefully and follow the directions on the label before applying any pesticide product. Here are some additional tips to help eliminate bed bugs.
- Do a general cleaning. Do not store piles of clothes, boxes, toys, shoes, etc., on the floor, under the bed, or in closets. These are the main hiding places for bed bugs.
- Wash contaminated bedding and clothing in hot water and then dry over a gas fire for at least 30 minutes.
- Place the infested mattress and box spring in a zippered cover that is labeled and certified as "bed bug protection". Leave them in their covers for at least a year.
- Vacuuming the bedrooms should be done thoroughly and often. Pay particular attention to the area around the bed and the bed itself. Place the bag or the contents of the vacuum cleaner in a plastic bag with a zipper and discard it in the garbage chute, or better yet, take it to the trash can on the street.
- Getting rid of bed bugs is a collaborative effort. Follow all the pest control company recommendations for preparing your apartment prior to each visit from a disinfection center.
- Pesticides designed to kill bed bugs are available over the counter and can provide effective control. However, if the problem persists or is highly ingrained, seek help from a knowledgeable, experienced, and licensed pest control professional.
- Because bed bugs are difficult to control, plan for several extensive treatments to eliminate the infestation.
- If there is a suspicion of contamination in a rented space, contact the building manager or landlord about the problem. Property owners should contact a professional pest control company for advice and assistance.
DO NOT USE Insecticidal Smoke Bombs. They are ineffective against hidden bed bugs. They can aggravate the infestation by scattering insects all over the house or apartment.
Specific smell
The first signs of bedbugs are also associated with a characteristic odor, which intensifies in the apartment every day. Insects in their activities are guided by the organs of smell, they themselves have odorous glands. They inform relatives about the location of a power source, danger. The work of the glands is activated during the mating season.
The aroma from one bug is extremely weak, a person cannot catch it. If the smell is felt quite strongly, it means that there are already a lot of parasites in the room. The mating season is in full swing.
The smell of bedbugs in the apartment resembles rotten raspberries, cheap cognac, almonds. Some people start to smell like a banana. The aroma intensifies with the onset of darkness, since at this time of day the parasites begin an active life. If a specific aroma is constantly present, the number of bugs in the apartment is several hundred individuals.
Reappearance after treatment
Preventing future bedbug infestations on your bed, what are the causes of bed bugs?
- Do not bring abandoned bed frames, mattresses, springs, or upholstered furniture into your home.
- Thoroughly inspect used or rented furniture before bringing it into your home.
- During your journey, inspect the bed, headboard and furniture upon arrival. Keep suitcases off the floor and bed and inspect them before leaving. After returning home, wash and dry all clothing thoroughly.
- Seal and seal any cracks and crevices throughout the home, especially in areas where people sleep.
- Be careful with guests staying overnight in your home.
Under what conditions do
While no place to live is safe, some populations are particularly susceptible to bed bug infestations. In these places often.
Bed bugs in nursing homes or hospices
Having bed vampires is a problem for many elderly people living in nursing homes. Shared laundry rooms, shared lounges, or adjoining rooms can be a source of bed bugs.
Small bloodsuckers are attracted to the heat and chemicals released by humans. Therefore, homes where people with reduced immunity live are a “paradise” for bed bugs due to the large number of residents, employees and family members moving around the site. In addition, elderly and sick people stay in bed for long periods of time and live crowded lives, making it easier for bed bugs to survive.
Clutches of eggs
After receiving the next portion of blood, adults begin to multiply. Their eggs resemble small, translucent grains of rice.
Bedbug nests are located close to the food source - near beds, sofas... Sometimes females protect offspring from possible detection and hide eggs in old things, behind plinths.
If masonry is found, it must be destroyed with boiling water or mechanically. If this is not done later, new bloodsuckers will hatch from the eggs and continue their population.
On average, one egg matures in 2 weeks, so in a month whole armies of bloodsuckers will travel around the house.
How to get rid of bed bugs
- Clean and wash your entire living space regularly. Clutter provides excellent hiding places for bed bugs.
- Bites that appear after sleep can indicate the presence of bed bugs, even if they are not itchy.
- Do not self-medicate if infested with bed bugs. Never treat yourself with pesticides, especially smoke bombs that drive bed bugs into adjacent rooms or rooms.
- Do not remove anything from the infested room until after it has been treated by a pest control specialist.
- Fully follow the recommendations provided by special pest control cleaning companies to prepare the rooms for inspection and subsequent etching of bed insects.
- Place all trash from infected rooms in sealed plastic bags before handling. Items in bags should remain in the contaminated room for processing with special agents until disposal.
- On the day of pesticide treatment, all bedding and clothing must be packed in plastic bags, taken to a laundry room, and washed with hot water. Dry items for at least 30 minutes at high temperature. Bags used for transport should not be reused, but should be sealed and disposed of with other contaminated waste.
- Bed bug infestation is a problem that affects everyone. The sooner it is eliminated, the more likely it will not recur.
Synthetic products
Pyrethroids are synthetic analogs of pyrethrins. Both types of sprays are very popular chemicals. The principle of their action is as follows: an attack on the nerve cells of parasites, respectively, there is multiple excitation of the nerves.
It leads to the expected outcome: paralysis and death. These are very powerful pesticides. The problem is, over the years, many insects have become resistant to them. Pyrethroid sprays remain the most common and preferred sprays these days.
Sun and cellophane bag
If you have items that cannot be washed or washed with hot water, the sun will come to your rescue. Place infected items loosely in a large, resealable plastic bag.
Place the bag in the sun and let sit for a few hours. The temperature in it should reach 50 degrees Celsius. If you are confident that the bag is tightly closed, it can be placed in a car parked in the sun to help the bag reach the required temperature more quickly.
This tip is especially useful if you are traveling and are not sure if there are no bugs in your luggage when you arrive home.
