Throughout 2012 We've seen quite a few bed bug
stories, ranging from bed bugs in thrift stores to library book infestations. All this pest coverage is likely to make your
skin crawl and your mind spin with worry that all bumps or bites are a sign of
bed bugs.
Fortunately, that’s not the case. Bed bug bites
create specific symptoms that make diagnosis quick and easy. There are several indicators that your bite is from bed bugs:
- Red in colour: Bed bug bites have an
intense red spot located in the middle of the bite, and a dark red colour
is common for bed bug bites.
- Grouping arrangements: These bites tend to be in
clusters of three, typically lined up one after the other. Clusters are
not always linear, and can also be
bunched together in the same area.
- Bite locations: Typically bed bugs bite
the face, neck, arms and hands. While they may bite elsewhere on the body,
these four areas are most common.
- Timing: It may take up to a week for bed bug bites
to appear and produce symptoms. Because of this time lag, bed bugs can
spread when victims unknowingly bring them home from trips.
- Sequence: Bed bug bite symptoms begin with small bumps
on the four main bite locations. They’re not itchy or painful to begin
with, so the best way to diagnose is the linear pattern of bumps.
After a few days, the red welts will rise and itching may occur.
People often mistake bites from other pests as bed
bug bites, and end up wasting money on unnecessary exterminations.
Remember we covered dust mite allergic reactions in
our previous blog, they look more like a risen up patch of skin like in the
photo below:
Spider’s in the UK generally do not bite,
the few that do only effect you for 24 hours and most are only found outside of
the home. So I wouldn’t say that spiders are anything to worry about.
The best thing is to be vigilant and aware
of the risks concerning Bed Bugs, Bed Bugs are on the rise and if you want to
avoid being their next victim then take these precautions:
·
Know how to identify a bed bug. Bed bugs are reddish-brown with a flat, oval body
that measures approximately ¼ of an inch (6.35 mm) long. Bed bugs usually hide
close to the bed but can spread to other areas of the room or home over time.
Bed bug colours can range from nearly white after they moult,
a light tan, a deep brown, to a burnt orange.
·
Although bed bugs are generally found on or near the bed, most insects
found there are not bed bugs. Before beginning pest control efforts to rid a
home of bed bugs, confirm the identity of the pest.
·
Know how bed bugs are able to get into your home. Bed bugs enter a home through
many possible ways, the most common being hitching a ride on your luggage,
computer, clothing or other belongings after you have stayed somewhere else, or
travelled where bed bugs are present, including on public transportation.
Moving time is another possible way to get into a new home, as they catch a
ride in the moving boxes.
·
Know the most likely places
where bed bugs can be found once they get into your home.
·
Bed bugs are more likely to be found in buildings where many occupants
sleep or where there is frequent turnover, such as a hotel or college
dormitory.
·
Bed bugs tend to congregate where people sleep more than any other part
of the home. They love hiding out in the bed frame, mattress, and box spring.
·
Given their flattened body shape, bed bugs hide out in cracks and
crevices within a room, the furniture, and other objects.
·
Bed bugs can wander from apartment to apartment using the voids between
walls and wire/pipe holes.
·
Bed bugs like warmth. They are known to enter laptops, netbooks, and DSL
ports, which are also very portable objects that you might inadvertently carry
around to other rooms and homes!
·
Occasionally, bats and birds introduce bed bugs.
Preventing Bed Bugs From Entering the Home
·
Check for bed bugs before unpacking during a trip away from home. Change rooms or hotels immediately
if you see any evidence of bed bugs.
o Pull back the
sheets from the mattress and look for bugs along the seams or tiny blood spots
on the mattress.
o
Look along the edges of the box
springs and in the seams of the bedding.
o Inspect the headboard and
behind it.
o Examine wood or
upholstered furniture, especially along crevices and seams. Bed bugs seem to
prefer wood and fabric to plastic and metal.
o Don't put your
baggage on the bed. Use the suitcase holder if provided, or leave your luggage
in the bath tub or outside until you have inspected the room.
1. Take care of bed
bugs that may have hitched a ride on clothing.
o Separate laundry into plastic bags so the clothes can be placed directly in the washer
without bugs escaping. Wash and dry the clothes on the highest setting that the
fabric can withstand or take items to the dry cleaners.
o Undress on a hard
surface floor rather than on carpet if you suspect bed bugs are on your
clothing. Bed bugs do not travel on people like lice do. Wipe off the floor to
capture any bed bugs that fall off the clothes.
Inspect luggage and other personal
items for bed bugs. Vacuum off luggage and items that cannot be washed. Hand wash other items with hot, soapy water. Use a brush to scrub items,
especially where bugs and eggs may be hiding in the seams and folds.
Take care when bringing used furniture and clothing into your house. Wash clothing
immediately. Furniture, however, should be inspected carefully before even
bringing it into your home:
o Check the crevices,
behind mouldings and other embellishments, and any cracks.
o Avoid bringing home
used mattresses.
o Wash and dry all
soft furnishings, such as curtains, at high temperatures before using.
Knowing Your Home
Has a Bed Bug Infestation
Consider bed bugs if any member of
the household is complaining of being bitten during the night.
Check for signs of bed bugs:
o Faecal staining
(dark brown or reddish spots) can be seen by the naked eye on bedding, the
mattress, and even the walls near the bed.
o A heavily infested
house may smell like coriander.
Confirm the identity of bed bugs if you're not sure. Drop a sample in
to an entomologist for verification.
Preventing Bed Bugs
From Spreading
If bed bugs have invaded your home, it's important to act quickly to
curtail their invasion.
Fix your bed. There are several
things you can do to make the bed a less desirable residence, or harder to get
to:
o Vacuum mattresses
and box springs to remove bugs and eggs.
o Cover box springs
and mattresses with zippered, vinyl covers for at least a year, as adult bed
bugs can survive a year or longer without a meal. Seal any tears with duct tape.
o Pull beds away from
the wall.
o Use a commercial
ClimbUp® interceptor. This is a cup-like talc-filled item that sits under each
bed leg that captures bed bugs trying to climb up and down. You can make a
do-it-yourself version using plastic cups filled with a little mineral oil and
placed under each bed leg. Remember to empty frequently.
Deal with your bedding. The bedding needs
to be treated and cared for appropriately as well:
o Wash bedding in hot
water and then dry on a high heat setting on a weekly basis. Place pillows and
other non-washable items in the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat.
o Keep bedding from
touching the floor.
Eliminate bed bugs on carpet, fabric
drapes and upholstered furniture by vacuuming weekly.
o Dispose of the
vacuum contents carefully in a plastic bag that you can seal and remove from
your home immediately.
Minimize the number of hiding places
for bed bugs.
o Caulk cracks along
the baseboards and moulding.
o Seal holes in areas
where pipes or wires go through the wall.
o Reduce clutter in
the bedroom, especially near the bed and on the floor.
Hire a pest control service to
routinely treat the home and prevent a bed bug infestation.
o Ask for references.
o Ask for
eco-friendly solutions if wished.
o Talk to their
customers about their satisfaction with the treatment process.
o If you are renting,
contact your landlord immediately to get a solution implemented quickly.
