Bed bugs

Bed bugs are small, flat, oval shaped, wingless  insects around 4-5mm long. They are reddish brown in colour & approximately 4-5mm long. bed bugs feed on the blood of warm blooded mammals. Humans are their preferred host, but they will also feed on the blood of pets if necessary. They can survive up to 12 months without feeding. Each female bedbug can lay up to 500 eggs.

Once a common pest, the incidence of bed bugs declined though the mid 20^th century. However, there has been a recent wordwide resurgence of them. An increase in worldwide travel & the withdrawal of the pesticide DDT are believed to be the cause.

Bed bugs are most active at night, seeking shelter in small crevices when inactive. Typical hiding places are cracks between floorboards, bedding, mattresses, wall cracks, carpets etc.

Bed bug bites:

Bed bugs pierce the skin of their host using their proboscis (feeding organ) into the skin. Saliva is then injected, which contains an anticoagulant to stop the blood from clotting & an anesthetic to numb the area & then feeds on the blood. Engorgement takes approximately 10 minutes.  Bites from bed bugs can cause localised irritation & inflammation. Repeated exposure can cause some people to become sensitised, resulting in mild to severe allergic reactions. Severe itching may need to be relieved by a topical cream, either over the counter or prescribed by your doctor.

How do I know if I have bed bugs?

Bed bugs tend to be quite secretive, hiding in nooks & crannies when not feeding. They typically live within 1 metre of your bed head but as they are extremely elusive, you may never see them.

Signs of bed bugs may include:

• Symptoms of bites such as raised, red spots, itching etc., especially around the arms & shoulders. Bites are typically observed in orderly rows on the body. It should be noted though that many people will show no reaction to a bite whatsoever.
• You may notice small spots of blood on your bedding & reddish brown feces.
• You may notice a sweet/sickly smell in heavy infestations.

How did bed bugs invade my home?

There are many possible ways for bed bugs to get into your home. They may hitch a ride on somebody's luggage, or in/on newly acquired furniture, they may travel from apartment to apartment in high density areas.

Unlike other common household pests such as cockroaches & rodents, bed bugs don't feed on food debris. And they aren't a sign of an unclean house!

How do I kill bedbugs?

Unlike other common household pests such as cockroaches, bed bugs are resistant to most insect sprays. They are also very hard to find. Therefore it is best consult a licensed pest controller.

Controlling bedbugs:

• Remove all bedding, wash in hot water. Anything that can't be washed, put in a black plastic garbage bag, seal & leave in a hot, sunny location for a week. Tumble dry bedding.

• Thoroughly clean your bed frame, mm by mm.

• Vacuum everything thoroughly including the floors, furniture, mattress, skirting boards etc. Discard contents of vacuum cleaner bag properly.

• Repair any cracks in the walls, skirting boards etc.

• You can purchase bed bug mattress protectors. These completely encase the mattress, trapping and eventually starving any bedbugs/eggs that may have been missed.

• Bed bug barriers can also be purchased to go on bed legs. These act as a physical barrier to stop bed bugs climbing up the legs of your bed to reach you.

Carefully inspecting any new/second hand furniture you bring into the house may help.

Avoid storing anything under your bed.

Do bed bugs cause any health problems?

It is not believed that bed bugs spread disease. As has already been mentioned, some people can develop allergic reactions to bites.

Further reading:

Bed Bug Bites

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