What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are tiny parasitic creatures that feed primarily on blood. They are about 5mm small or approximately the size of a seed, and they can survive a year without any food source. These insects are not very friendly with light, so during the day, they tend to hide out in your home’s cracks and crevices, mattresses, bedsteads, and shelves. At night, they come out and feed on their host’s exposed skin.
Without feeding, adult bed bugs take on a long, flat and brown appearance. However, after feeding, they bulge and take on a reddish colour.
Another thing to know about bed bugs is that they’re quite tricky to spot. Their size makes them almost too tiny to notice, and their six legs allow them to move quickly across floors, furniture, and ceilings. Before you know it, you become the next victim.
How would you know if you have bed bugs?
To know if you have bed bugs at home, take note of the following signs:
To differentiate bed bug bites from other insect bites like mosquitoes, look for patterns. Usually, bed bugs bite multiple times. So, if you find several red spots on your exposed skin like arms, legs, neck, and face, chances are, there’s a bed bug hiding in your home.
If you notice tiny reddish-brown droppings around your home, they might be signs of bed bug infestation. These pellets consist of their digested blood and appear like black pepper flakes. Often, you can find these within the vicinity of their hiding spot. So, aside from getting a positive sign of infestation, you also know where they seek shelter.
At night when they go out of their hiding spots to forage, they climb to your bed to seek food. Unknowingly, you might crush them in your sleep as you move about, thereby leaving tiny blood marks on your bed.
Pungent odour can be detected only during a severe infestation. Bed bugs release pheromones that cause odour. Therefore, the more bed bugs there are, the higher the odour intensity will be. When you start smelling something unusual, it’s best to get the help of a bed bugs control specialist in Singapore.
The last sign of an infestation is a sighting of discarded skins. To grow, bed bugs generally moult, discarding their skin on nearby areas. Therefore, when you notice the presence of these exoskeletons, it might indicate the beginning of a bed bug infestation.
When you inspect the room and find no signs of bed bugs on the floors, a good place to start is with your furniture, such as couches and beds.
When you assess your couches, be mindful of the deep corners at the back as they are perfect hiding and breeding spots for bed bugs. Likewise, when checking the beds, examine the mattress carefully and look underneath the blankets. Don’t forget the pillows and any other cushions.
To help you spot these insects more easily, you can use a flashlight. Moreover, have a hairdryer on hand and run it along the surface you are inspecting. Bed bugs don’t react well to heat, so the hot air coming out of your hairdryer should send them scurrying out.
Health Effects of Bed Bug Bites
Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. Their bites cause discomfort and irritation to the affected person.
- Skin irritation
- Allergic reaction
- Secondary infections, especially when scratched
- Sleep disturbance
How to get rid of bed bugs?
When faced with a bed bug problem, you can use practical and efficient solutions to address your infestation concerns. These solutions range from home remedies to professional solutions, depending on the severity of the problem.
Home remedies can be efficient if the problem is not severe. Although they’re effective, they don’t guarantee the permanent eradication of bed bugs. These home solutions include:
Bed bugs can be destroyed when they’re exposed to temperatures above 60-degrees Celsius. So, when you find bed bugs in your mattress or bed sheets, immediately wash all affected linen at high temperatures. It’s one of the most effective ways to get rid of them.
Another trick is to vacuum regularly, especially in areas you suspect are bed bug breeding grounds. Beyond vacuuming floors, try to vacuum your furniture and any other location with cracks and crevices. It’s a quick and easy way to remove bed bugs, their droppings, skin casts, and eggs from your home.
Using bed bug encasements on your beds limit their movements, trapping them in one area only. By employing this method, you prevent bed bugs from infesting your home.
If you’ve tried all three home solutions but still find signs of bed bug infestations, you will need to get professional pest control services.
Conclusion
When you inspect the room and find no signs of bed bugs on the floors, a good place to start is with your furniture, such as couches and beds.
When you assess your couches, be mindful of the deep corners at the back as they are perfect hiding and breeding spots for bed bugs. Likewise, when checking the beds, examine the mattress carefully and look underneath the blankets. Don’t forget the pillows and any other cushions.
To help you spot these insects more easily, you can use a flashlight. Moreover, have a hairdryer on hand and run it along the surface you are inspecting. Bed bugs don’t react well to heat, so the hot air coming out of your hairdryer should send them scurrying out.
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