Bed bugs are tiny wingless insects that like to live in beds or crevices close to humans. They have a flat oval body which is light brown, or rust-red after they have fed. Although they have six legs and large antennae, they are difficult to spot because they are only around 4 to 5 mm long when they are fully grown. Let’s find out more about what causes bed bugs, and how to get rid of them.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?
Generally, bed bugs come out at night and stay hidden during the day, although they will come out in the day if they are particularly hungry. Bed bugs can hide in the seams of mattresses, sheets, and bedding. But they can also hide and lay their eggs in carpet, household objects, behind loose wallpaper, and beneath skirting boards and floorboards.
Bed Bug Bites
Bed bugs like to feed on human blood. They have highly developed mouthparts so they can pierce the skin without causing any pain. When they feed, they inject their saliva into their host because it contains an anticoagulant to thin the blood. The saliva is what causes some people to suffer an allergic reaction.
Bed bug bites look like itchy red welts. They can be swollen or form a blister. If the bite is really itchy and you scratch hard, you can end up with a secondary skin infection. However, you are unlikely to catch anything serious from a bed bug as they don’t transmit any blood-borne diseases.
Some people do not react to bed bug bites at all. Some people suffer a reaction up to nine days later, and others are irritated by the bite straight away. If you’re wondering what to do for bed bug bites, follow this advice:
- Wash the area with antiseptic soap and apply anaesthetic cream.
- Dab on some calamine lotion to soothe the itch.
- Apply an ice pack to encourage the swelling to go down.
- If you’re in pain, take a painkiller.
- Don’t scratch!
If you are in any doubt, always consult a medical professional. This ensures that you choose treatments that are both safe and effective for you.
How do you get bed bugs?
So, what causes bed bugs? Any household can be invaded by bedbugs. Infestations are most often found in places where people frequently come and go, such as hostels, shelters, hotels and apartment complexes. Although you probably won’t see bedbugs on mattresses or bedsheets, you might notice specks of blood where the bugs have been crushed. Or bites on your arms, legs or body. You can also buy bed bug detectors for your home.
If you’re wondering how to avoid bed bugs, the best advice is to maintain a high standard of hygiene. That way, you can discover bedbugs before they become widespread. You should regularly vacuum and clean all surfaces. Heat will help kill bed bugs, so wash your bedding on a hot wash.
How do I get rid of bed bugs?
If you suspect bed bugs, vacuum your mattress, seal it in dark plastic, and leave it outside in the hot sun. You can also steam clean carpets and spray suspected hiding spots with a suitable pesticide.
You might need to use a bed bug treatment product more than once depending on the chemicals in the product, the lifecycle of the bed bugs, and the extent of the infestation.
Although there are products available to eliminate bed bugs, it’s not always easy to know where they are hiding and what to use. It might be difficult to access their hiding spot, or you might treat one area but miss out another. If you are not confident enough to treat bed bugs or you think the infestation is heavy. It’s better to ask a Perth pest control company to help you get rid of them once and for all.
The experts at Pesti Pest Control will know which is the best bed bug sprayor appropriate bed bug killer to use for your situation. Get in touch with us to find out how much bed bug pest control in Perth costs.
