Bedbugs
Bedbugs are small, oval-shaped, brownish insects that feed on blood from humans or animals. Their size ranges between 1 mm to 7 mm. Adult bed bugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed. After feeding, their bodies swell and become reddish in colour.
Bedbugs do not have wings and cannot fly, however they can crawl quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings. Bed bugs are considered pests mainly because they bite. Fortunately, they are not known to transmit any diseases. Although bedbug bites are rarely dangerous they can cause severe itchiness and in some cases an allergic reaction may result.
How Are Bedbugs Transmitted?
- Through exposure. They can hitch a ride in luggage, clothing, used furniture and other second-hand items or via infested items that are brought home
- They can travel between rooms in multi-unit buildings, such as apartments, condos and hotels
- Through Interconnected homes in a neighbourhood
- Infestation at the workplace and via transportation systems
Where Can Bedbugs Be Found?
Bedbugs tend to live in groups in hiding places.
- During the day, bed bugs hide inside mattresses, pillows, bed frames, and headboards
- They also may crawl all over your bedroom and other area in your home; moving into cracks or crevices and protected locations such as bedside drawers, spaces behind light switches, electrical outlet plates, curtains, the carpet and clothes
Signs of Bedbug Infestation
- Blood stains or blood speckles on your bed sheets, pillow cases and mattresses
- Small dark spots of bedbug excrement on sheets and mattresses, bed frames, and walls
- Bedbug fecal spots, egg shells, or shed skin in areas where bedbugs hide
- Dead or live bed bugs
When Do Bedbugs Bite?
- Bedbugs are active mainly at night and usually bite people while they are sleeping. They are most active in the middle of the night especially between 3.00am to 5.00am
- They feed by piercing the skin and drawing blood through an elongated beak; feeding from 3 to 10 minutes. When they are engorged they then crawl away unnoticed
- Most bedbug bites are painless at first, but later turn into itchy weals. Unlike flea bites that are mainly around the ankles, bedbug bites can occur anywhere there is exposed skin whilst you are asleep
- Bedbug bites do not have a red spot in the centre of the weal unlike flea bites
Control Measures
- Check your home or residence for signs of bedbugs on a regular basis, particularly when you have just returned home after travelling
- When travelling, be mindful of your surroundings and check your accommodation
- To help prevent an infestation, launder and dry all clothing items when you return home
- Clean up clutter to reduce the number of places where bedbugs can hide
- Regularly wash and heat-dry your bed sheets, blankets, bedspreads and any clothing that touches the floor
- If you are considering second-hand furniture, check the items prior to moving them into your house
- If you discover or suspect an infestation, it is always best to hire an experienced pest control professional
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