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Bed Bugs

Bedbugs are wingless insects, which are roughly oval in shape and 4-5mm long at adult stage. They are a rusty brown to deep red in colour depending on when they have last had a blood feed.

Bedbugs respond to the warmth and carbon dioxide of the host. They are quick to locate a suitable feeding site which is commonly the shoulders, arms and neck. Their bites are painless but become itchy and swell. They inject saliva when feeding which can cause an allergic reaction in some people. They take around five to ten minutes to feed. Although bedbugs can contain diseases, they are not known to transmit disease to humans. Their bites can be highly irritating. They will only contact humans for a food source and will not live on the host (human). They usually feed at night, but have been known to feed during the day if food is scarce. They prefer to hide close to where they feed, but if necessary they will crawl to obtain a blood meal. As an infestation grows the bed bugs may spread to adjacent rooms or apartments. They usually become inactive during the day while they digest their food. They are able to go for long periods of time between the blood feeding which is some of the reason why they can be so difficult to control. They prefer to feed from humans but if they need to they will feed from other warm-blooded animals. They require a blood meal before they are able to moult to the next stage in the nymphal stage. A female bed bug can lay from 200 to 500 eggs (in batches of 10 to 50). The entire life cycle from egg to adult can be as short as 45 days or as long as a year or more depending on feeding conditions and on temperature. Bed bugs can go without feeding for several months. An adult lives for about 50 days to over a year depending on conditions. Blood spotting on sheets is often a sign that there is a bedbug infestation.

Bedbugs can be very difficult to control and vigilant cleaning is requiring partnered with Stewarts chemical treatments. Prior to us attending the property these are some of the steps that need to be taken:

All bedding, clothing and other materials need to be washed in hot water. Then dried in a dryer if possible. Delicate materials can be placed in a freezer.

All floors and mattresses are vacuumed and the vacuum bag thrown out.

Carpeted rooms can be steamed cleaned for a more effective treatment.

Mattresses, pillows and stuffed toys need to be wrapped in blacked plastic and put out in the sun for a minimum of five to six hours.

All Surfaces are cleaned.

Stewarts comes to the property and spray all common areas with an insecticide.

A second treatment is often required and the same procedures need to be followed again.

Any house can be infested with be bugs. A high standard of cleanliness will help to control them and keep them isolated to one area. Quiet often Bed Bugs are brought into a building from another building (hotel, motels and hostels) with an infestation on clothes, luggage and furniture.

If you would like more information or to arrange a treatment please contact us.