Bed Bug Facts

Bed bugs are a growing nuisance in Singapore. These sneaky pests feed solely on blood and hide expertly in cracks and crevices. At 5mm long, they can squeeze into tiny spaces and evade detection.

To get rid of bed bugs, it’s important to understand their habits. We’ll explore what they eat, where they live, and details of their life cycle and biology. Professional pest control and treatment methods are often needed, but learning more about how bed bugs survive and reproduce can help prevent and eliminate infestations.

Keep reading to uncover key facts about these pests so you can keep them out of your home and personal spaces.

Feeding Habits

Bed bugs typically bite and feed at night when hosts are asleep and most vulnerable. Attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide, the nocturnal insects emerge from hiding to feast on exposed human skin.

Habitat

These tiny pests can squeeze into cracks, crevices, and folds around beds, furniture, luggage, etc. During the day, they prefer dark hiding spots close to human hosts, tucked away in mattresses and box springs, as well as bed frames, headboards, and nearby areas in homes and hotel rooms.

Life Cycle and Biology

Understanding the life cycle and biology unlocks the doors of bed bug control and effective treatment methods. Bed bugs go through five nymph stages, each requiring a blood meal to moult into the next immature stage before reaching adulthood.

Bed Bug Infestations

Professional pest control companies have reported a 40% increase in bed bug infestations over the past two months. Cases are expected to surge another 20-30% in early 2025 after the holiday travel season.

Bed bugs are master hitchhikers. They easily spread through contact with luggage, clothing, and furniture. International travel is a major contributor, with recent bed bug resurgences in Paris and South Korea. However, local spread is also happening in homes, hotel rooms, dormitories, and offices.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation in Singapore

Know the signs of bed bugs so you can effectively detect infestations early and guide professional treatment methods to get rid of them. Monitor for the following indicators in residential homes and commercial spaces like hotels and offices.

Residential Homes

Itchy, red bite marks, often in lines or clusters
Tiny blood speckles on sheets and bedding
Small dark droppings in hiding spots and on floors
A sweet, musty odour in heavily infested areas
Sightings of actual bed bugs, which are flat, oval, brownish bugs less than a quarter inch long
Discarded transparent brownish shells from moulting nymphs

Inspect mattresses, box springs, bed frames, furniture cushions, and fabric folds carefully using a flashlight. Concentrate on cracks, seams, tufts, and edges. A hairdryer helps flush them out of hiding. Call pest control professionals at the first signs for the best elimination results.

Hotels & Offices

Guest complaints of itchy wels after staying overnight
Blood smears on sheets
Sweet “buggy” aroma in some rooms
Reports of seeing the bugs in rooms or workplace areas
Tiny blackish faecal dots on walls or furniture

Check the beds, headboards, curtains, and upholstered furniture thoroughly to confirm their presence. The key to effective bed bug control involves monitoring customer complaints, inspecting periodically, and hiring professionals upon noticing the first indicators of bug-infested spaces.

Where Bed Bugs Hide

Bed bugs are experts at tucking themselves into cracks, crevices, and secluded spots close to human hosts. Common hiding places include:

Homes

Aside from the common places previously discussed, here is the complete list so you won’t miss any area during an inspection.

Bed frames, mattresses, box springs, and headboards
Behind wall hangings and art
Under loose wallpaper
In couches and chairs (seams, tufts, and skirts)
Kitchen appliances (toasters and coffee makers)
Books, paper files, and toys

Restaurants & Hotels

Bed frames & headboards (for hotels)
Behind baseboards & mouldings
Under tile edges
Electrical plates and outlets
Furniture seams and tufts
Area rugs and curtains

What’s Causing More Bed Bugs in Singapore?

The recent surge of bed bugs across Singapore can be attributed to a few key factors. Read on to learn about these reasons.

Increased International Travel

As Singapore residents return from holiday trips abroad, bed bugs can inadvertently get brought back in luggage and clothing. The bugs spread easily through contact with infested hotels or lodging overseas.

Whether you are travelling to Paris, South Korea, or other tourist destinations, take proper precautions as bed bugs can be picked up and transported back home. We certainly don’t want that.

Secondhand Furniture and Clothing

Used furniture, especially beds, couches, and stuffed chairs, harbours bed bug eggs, nymphs, and adults. Infested clothing and fabrics also introduce bed bugs into Singapore homes. So make it a habit to always inspect and clean secondhand items thoroughly before bringing them home.

Lack of Awareness and Prevention

Many Singapore residents simply aren’t aware of the resurging bed bug problems. Without proper precautions, the bugs easily spread from travellers to homes, workspaces, public transport, and more. More education and proactive monitoring could help curb infestations before they get out of control.

The Challenge of Controlling Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to wipe out. Their resilient biology and habits allow them to spread stealthily and survive harsh conditions. Here’s why they can be so hard to control.

Tiny Size

Bed bugs fit into the smallest of cracks and crevices. They can readily hide from view and chemical treatments. Getting pesticides into every possible harbour spot is challenging.

Resistance

Some bed bug populations have developed a resistance to common pyrethroid insecticides. So even professional-grade chemicals may not fully eliminate resilient bugs.

Rapid Reproduction

Females can lay up to 500 eggs over their lifetime in sheltered areas. So just a few surviving adults can quickly bring back infestations. Any bed bug control attempts must kill all life stages: adults, nymphs, and eggs.

Persistence

Adult bed bugs can survive over a year without feeding. Meaning, they can patiently wait out treatment methods meant to starve them. Their hardy biology makes comeback attempts possible after initial control procedures.

The Implications of a Bed Bug Infestation for Your Home & Business

Dealing with bed bugs is really challenging if you let things get out of control.

First off, those bites itch like crazy! Who wants to be scratching all night instead of sleeping? And those creepy little bugs crawling on you are enough to give anyone the heebie-jeebies. Some people get downright embarrassed if friends or customers learn about an infestation. It can feel isolating, too.

There’s the whole money headache as well. If they invade your mattress or sofa and you don’t get rid of bed bugs, chances are you’ll end up paying to replace them. Calling in the professionals to eliminate them and treat the infestation isn’t cheap either. Hotels and apartments lose business if the bugs keep driving away customers. Some take legal action to get compensation.

Finally, bed bugs force you to put life on hold while you deal with them. You need to wash and bag up most of your stuff so that professional exterminators can treat it properly. And even after forking out big bucks for experts to make those biters history, you still have to keep a careful eye so they don’t return. Talk about a nuisance!

The ultimate solution to getting your home and business back in shape faster and cheaper is to catch them quickly before things get worse.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

When those pesky bed bugs invade your home or business space, there are some DIY tricks you can try before calling in the professionals. Methods like washing infested sheets with high heat over 60°C can kill the bugs including their eggs.

Regular vacuum targeting your mattress, bed frames, furniture, and floor cracks sucks them up along with skins and droppings. Using bed bug encasings also traps them on beds so they cannot spread faster.

What to do if DIY treatment methods do not work

If you still see signs like bites or dark faecal spots after trying these home remedies, it is best to bring in the experts. Professional pest exterminators have commercial-grade insecticides called pyrethroids that can get rid of bed bugs hiding in crevices.

Heat treatments involving special heating equipment raise room temperatures high enough to bake the bugs but still keep your place safe.

Other treatments to consider

Other pro-grade solutions you may hear about include diatomaceous earth, a powder that destroys their protective coating so the bugs dehydrate. Plastic pack bags help isolate infested furniture and starve them out.

Fumigation using special gas releases or bug bombs also offers potential control methods depending on the severity and scale of your infestation.

Avalon Services: Singapore’s Trusted Bed Bug Elimination Experts

As a licenced, NEA-certified pest control firm, Avalon utilises the latest effective treatment methods and solutions. Our company has over two decades of experience in the residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors. Using eco-friendly methods registered with authorities, Avalon strives to resolve infestations safely and at a reasonable price.

Know you’re in good hands with Singapore’s bed bug experts, who are dedicated to thorough, sustainable solutions. Contact Avalon Services today for an inspection and quote to restart your pest-free life.

FAQS FOR BED BUG CONTROL SERVICES

Is the chemical used to kill bed bugs harsh?

No, the chemicals used by pest control firms to kill bed bugs are not harsh. When applied correctly in targeted areas, they eliminate bed bugs safely and effectively. Gentler heat treatment methods are also available.

Do I need to throw away my bed, clothes, or other household appliances or furniture after the bed bugs specialist sprays the chemicals on it?

No, you don’t need to throw away your belongings after professional chemical treatment. The pesticides used are contact killers and have no lasting effects on beds, clothes, and other items. You can continue using them safely once the treated areas are dry.

Is there a pungent smell from the chemical?

No, the chemicals used by professional exterminators to treat bed bugs do not have a strong or pungent smell. You may notice a slight chemical odour initially after application, but it dissipates quickly once dried.

How many sessions will it take to exterminate the bed bugs?

The number of treatment sessions needed to fully exterminate bed bugs varies case by case. Severe infestations often require two to three applications about two weeks apart. Minor isolated issues may be resolved in one thorough treatment.

Your pest control technician will determine and convey the expected timelines and follow-ups required based on inspection findings.

What do we need to do before the bed bug specialists come over?

Before the bed bug treatment, you should:

Declutter affected rooms and clear floors
Wash and dry bedding on the highest heat setting
Vacuum floors, mattresses, and furniture
Seal clothing, linens, and fabrics in plastic bags

Doing prep work helps maximise the effectiveness of the treatment for the specialists.

Can bed bugs be eliminated permanently?

Yes, bed bugs can be permanently eliminated through professional pest control methods. However, reinfestation is possible if new bugs are introduced from external sources. So be vigilant and responsible, especially when you are travelling to far places.

How can I tell if a bed has bed bugs?

You can tell if a bed has bed bugs by checking for:

Tiny dark blood spots on the mattress or bedding
Small brownish or black dots (bed bug droppings) around tufts and seams
Sightings of small oval, brownish bugs in cracks and crevices
Groups of red, itchy bite marks on skin after sleeping
A sweet, musty odour coming from the bed area

Are bed bugs from poor hygiene?

No, bed bugs are not caused by poor hygiene. They are extremely hitchhikers and spread by latching onto a traveller’s belongings, secondhand furniture, clothing, and more. Sanitation does not deter them once they invade and hide in cracks and spaces.

How did I randomly get bed bugs?

Bed bugs spread from place to place very easily through “stealthy hitchhiking”. So it’s quite common for even the cleanest, tidiest homes to pick up a random bed bug introduced inadvertently. Getting them, unfortunately, doesn’t always require an apparent cause.

What brings bed bugs to your bed?

Bed bugs are attracted to the warmth of our bodies and the carbon dioxide we exhale. These are what draw them out of hiding spots to climb onto beds and feast on exposed skin during the night.

Can you see bed bugs with the naked eye?

Yes, you can see bed bugs with the naked eye. Adult bed bugs reach about 5mm long, about the size of an apple seed.

How do I keep my bed free of bed bugs?

Here are some tips to help keep your bed free of bed bugs:

Inspect your mattress regularly for signs of infestation
Use a protective mattress encasement
Keep the bed away from walls and avoid bed skirts
Wash and dry bed linens frequently in hot water
Vacuum crevices in bed frame thoroughly
Carefully check secondhand beds before bringing them home
Engage pest control firms at the first signs

Where is the most common place to get bed bugs?

The most common places to pick bed bugs are:
Hotel rooms or short-term lodging when travelling
Moving into rental units or buying pre-owned furniture or beds with existing infestations
Public modes of transport, such as planes, trains, and buses
Movie theatres and other seated public venues
Visiting friends or family who have bed bugs in their places

What are bed bugs attracted to?

They are attracted to:
- Body heat
- Carbon dioxide from breathing
- Dark, hidden spaces near hosts
- Clutter (to hide and breed)
Their instincts as parasitic pests drive them to get as physically close as possible to people, their food source.