“Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite”
This is a childhood nursery rhyme that adults are taking on a more serious note. It is now a genuine concern as bed bug infestations surge. In this simple guide we’ve created for you, we’ll find out what causes bed bugs in our homes.
Basic Knowledge About Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects. Here in Singapore, there are two species:
- The Common bed bug (Cimex lectularius)
- The Tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus)
They measure between one to seven millimetres, about the size of an apple seed when full grown.
Their reddish-brown bodies are perfectly designed for hiding in tiny cracks and crevices during the day. At night, they emerge to feed.
An adult female bed bug lays about 200-500 eggs in her lifetime. Nymphs undergo five molts or instars before becoming adult bed bugs.
So just a minor bed bug problem in your home can quickly become a concerning infestation.
Why Singapore is Vulnerable
Singapore is a global transit hub which creates perfect conditions for the proliferation of these pests.
Bed bugs have countless opportunities to hitchhike with thousands of travellers passing through Changi Airport daily and our extensive network of hotels, hostels, and serviced apartments.
Aside from this, our tropical climate provides favourable conditions for bed bugs to thrive. With global warming, we’re now seeing an unprecedented mixture of Tropical and Common bed bugs coexisting.
Urban density is also a factor in why our country is vulnerable to bed bug infestations. They can easily migrate between units through wall voids, electrical conduits, and shared ventilation systems. It may be a one-unit problem in the beginning, but over time, bed bugs can become an entire floor or building’s nightmare.
And perhaps the most concerning is their growing resistance to pesticides. Research has shown that both species found in Singapore have developed resistance to pyrethroids, DDT, and even neonicotinoids – some of the most widely used insecticides globally.
Their evolving defence mechanisms include thicker exoskeletons and nervous systems immune to many toxins.
Primary Causes of Bed Bugs
Travel and Transportation
International travel remains the primary vector for the spread of bed bugs. They attach themselves to luggage, clothing and personal items in infested hotel rooms, and then they travel home with unsuspecting tourists.
The problem isn’t isolated to budget accommodations because luxury hotels worldwide have reported infestations too.
Public transportation provides another avenue for them to spread. Documented cases from December 2016 and January 2024 involving coaches travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore highlight how these pests can take over vehicles.
MRT trains, buses, and ride-sharing vehicles are not safe from bed bugs.
Second-Hand Items and Furniture
The growth of circular economy has paved the way for bed bugs to spread through secondhand furniture like mattresses, sofas, and upholstered items. Online marketplaces like Carousell and Facebook Marketplace can be sources of infested items.
They are sneaky because of their innate ability to hide. Eggs that are laid in the crevices of furniture can remain viable for how many weeks and hatch after the item has been installed in your home.
Even the seemingly clean items from your trusted thrift stores can host them in seams, screw holes, and joints.
Neighbouring Infestations
These insects exploit tiny gaps around pipes, electrical outlets and skirting boards. An infestation in one HDB flat or condo can spread to nearby apartments through shared walls.
This is also the case in hotels and serviced apartments. Bed bugs can move between rooms through the following:
- Housekeeping carts
- Shared laundry facilities
- Or simply crawling along walls and ceilings
Public Spaces
This may be surprising to many people, but yes. Entertainment places can be hotspots for bed bugs. It is dark in cinemas and, with the steady stream of warm bodies in the area, they can be hiding spots for these pests.
Concert halls, theatres, and libraries have also reported infestations. Workplaces are not an exception either, like in breakrooms with soft furnishings, waiting areas in clinics, and public transportation terminals.
What Attracts Bed Bugs to Your Home
Human Factors
Bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale during sleep. It tells them that there’s a blood meal. The heat in our bodies guides them to the exposed part of our skin, so they usually feed on necks, arms and legs.
Let’s also debunk the popular belief that bed bug presence is due to poor hygiene or an unsanitary space. They are only drawn to blood, regardless of how clean or unorganised your home might be.
In short, anyone can experience an infestation.
Environmental Factors
It was told that cleanliness does not prevent their presence, but it can be challenging to address them if your home is cluttered. Bed bugs love dark and undisturbed areas near their food source.
You can find them in mattress seams, bed frames, skirting boards, electrical outlets and picture frames.
What You Can Do to Prevent Them
There are things you can do to minimise the risk of them entering your private space. We will discuss them one by one.
Travel Precautions
When you are checking into hotels, make it a habit to thoroughly inspect your luggage before settling in. Not only that, examine the bedsheets, the headboard and upholstered furniture for signs of infestation.
If possible, keep luggage away from beds and walls. If you are planning to buy suitcases, choose hard-shell options instead of soft-sided bags.
When returning back home, immediately wash all clothing in hot water and dry on high heat for a minimum of 30 minutes. Include unworn clothes because bed bugs do not discriminate between used and unused clothes.
Managing Your Home
The first step you should take is to reduce the clutter so you can easily spot any sign of their presence. Remember that poor hygiene is not a cause of bed bug presence.
If you are planning to buy a new mattress, choose high-quality ones and box spring encasements that are designed for bed bug prevention.
Also check for possible entry points like caulking cracks around skirting boards and electrical outlets. Seal them if you find any.
Second-Hand Item Safety
It’s not bad to purchase second-hand furniture. What’s bad is not checking them for signs of bed bugs. Use a flashlight and carefully inspect the seams, screw holes and joints.
What to look for?
- Live bed bugs
- Their eggs
- Faecal spots
- Shed skins
You may want to consider professional heat treatment or steam cleaning for your recently bought upholstered items before bringing them into your main space. Quarantine them in a garage or any outdoor area you might have for a few days.
If you have high-value vintage or antique pieces, call in professionals to inspect them for any pest problems.
The Benefits of Professional Pest Control
Engaging pest control in Singapore is far more beneficial than you expect. Or shall we say, far more economical?
Pest control professionals bring expertise to the table, as well as unmatched equipment that is very effective in treating various pests, and species. We employ IPM or Integrated Pest Management (IPM), meaning we integrate different approaches to achieve maximum effectiveness.
This addresses existing infestations and at the same time ensures that their presence is gone for good.
Our heat treatment equipment can sustain the 50°C+ temperatures needed to kill all life stages of bed bugs. We have a full understanding of their behaviour patterns and resistance profiles, so you can rest assured that your home is safe from bed bugs.
In Choosing Your Bed Bug Control Partner
First things first, look for certification. A pest control partner should hold proper NEA registration and have licensed technicians who are familiar with pest regulations. So in discussing with a potential partner, ask about this.
You must also look for providers offering comprehensive treatment plans. They should have numerous treatment options and employ IPM wherever needed. Inquire about their treatment protocols, safety information and realistic timelines for when you can expect a bed bug-free home.
Don’t hesitate to discuss all your pest concerns. What may seal the deal is their post-treatment support. The company should be 100% committed to customer satisfaction that even after the treatment, support is still available to the client.
Conclusion
If you suspect that you might have a bed bug infestation inside your house, take action right away. The most effective and efficient step is to call in pest professionals and have them take care of the eradication.
Contact Avalon Services here to start a short discussion about your pest concern.
