Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

 

Die Bed Bugs Die

Getting rid of bed bugs has been a problem documented as early as medieval times in Europe or during the time of Aristotle in Greece. Often attacking when one is fast asleep, bed bugs are smart creatures that choose to move when the target least knows it. Every person will have his own version of a bed bug story and most likely it will be bad.

Bed bugs are scientifically known as “Cimex lectularius”, they are wingless with a brownish ultra thin body. Various studies indicate these creatures originated from Asia but now can be seen in all parts of the world. Bed bugs thrive in areas with a warm and dry climate but they have been able to invade the northern regions because of the proliferation of heated buildings.

The adult bed bug is ¼ to 3/8 in length when it is unfed but its size will expand considerably after a hearty meal. A starving bed bug looks far more different compared to one that is well fed. Young bed bugs or nymphs resemble the adults but have a yellowish color after molting. A nymph can develop into a fully grown bed bug for as fast as one month depending on how much it is able to eat.

When they become a pest

There are elements in your life that you mostly want to get rid of. There are unlikely people, events or things you want to erase and forget.

Bed bugs will definitely get into the list. Bed bugs are tiny, crawling insects that thrive in the dark spots of your house, where cracks and little holes abound.

Bed bugs are so tiny, that they can hardly be seen by the naked eye. Observing bed bugs and looking closely at them will require the use of special magnifying glasses or lenses.

Bed bugs suck blood of their hosts. You can be their unwilling and unsuspecting host, as well as your pets and your housemates.

Through, medical experts and doctors will agree that bed bugs are safe pests because they do not carry diseases into their systems, bed bugs’ bites can be really annoying and discomforting.

Bites of bed bugs are often itchy and swell, just like mosquito bites and bites of other insects. That is why, though they pose no serious medical threat, they can still be treated skin hazards.

You might accumulate lots of small wounds from scratches.

Bed bugs start to become a problem when they become hungry for blood. They typically stay in their homes in between meals and are only forced to go out if they are starving. The warmth of a nearby body is what attracts them but they cannot detect a food source that is around 5-10cm away.

Bed bugs use their highly developed mouthparts to bite and suck blood from the skin of an unsuspecting person. Engorgement time can last as long as seven minutes or as short as one minute. An adult bed bug can absorb around seven times of its own body weight in blood. The bed bug immediately retreats to its hiding place after feasting and then lays eggs again.

A person will only realize that he has been bitten by a bed bug once he discovers the large wheals in the affected part of the body. These wheals eventually develop into a tiny read mark that will stay for at least two to three days.

Bed bug bites can also be distinguished by the orderly way the wheals are formed, unlike mosquito bites that have a random pattern. It is always advised that the affected area should never be scratched to avoid infection and immediately washed with soap and water.

Bed bugs do prefer any part of the body that has good blood flow so the reproductive organs will always be included in their list of target spots.

Solving 'em bugs

Treating bed bug bites is only a small part of solving the problem, as the next step is actually getting rid of these unwanted visitors. Those often traveling to areas with a tropical climate are very susceptible to bed bug infestations, as the luggage they carry might become their new home. Seeing bed bugs crawl into boxes, suitcases and belongings is very difficult, as they are tiny, agile and cryptic. Homes not yet infested could inherit this problem from the use of second hand furniture, couches or beds.

Those that want to get rid of bed bugs in beds will have a difficult task at hand. Fabrics with holes and tears are perfect locations for them to lay eggs. During the 40s and 50s the use of DDT was popular, as it helped minimize the spread of bed bug infestations but was eventually outlawed due to concerns over their effects to humans.

Pest control firms have a wide array instruments to help get rid of beg bugs ranging from pesticides, aerosols and other chemical agents. Beds in poor condition or heavily infested should be automatically discarded. Regardless if the bed is thrown out or not, encasing the box spring and mattress is very helpful especially if the bugs are still there.

Vacuuming could also help in getting rid of bed bugs and some pest control experts even use portable steam machines to treat beds. Whether the infestation is minor or major, bed bugs are always a pest especially for those that want to get a good night’s sleep. Perhaps, the most effective way to avoid a bed bug problem is to practice good hygiene and observe cleanliness.

 

How do you get rid of bugs?

So how do you get rid of bed bugs? The answer can be plain and simple. To get rid of bed bugs, have determination.

Getting rid of bed bugs will entail lots of patience and perseverance. Allot a substantial amount of money, too.

The best, safest, most effective and most intelligent way or measure to get rid of bed bugs is to hire or seek professional help from pest control companies.

Pest extermination companies get rid not just of bed bugs but also of all other unlikely house transients---insects and pests.

To get rid of bed bugs, pest control professionals have invested in equipment. You will be amazed how bed bugs’ extermination process has gone so sophisticated.

The process has really gone so far, that the first movie scene you will remember upon seeing them with their equipment is a scene from the classic movie “Ghost Busters.”

Understanding technical aspects of getting rid of bed bugs

To get rid of bed bugs efficiently and effectively, pest control experts use certain chemicals in the form of pesticides or insecticides.

Because the chemicals contained in these substances are so harsh and deadly, it is advised that you leave the handling to them. In other words, let the pest control experts have it their way.

You have your own profession so do not mess with other people’s professions. Pest control personnel know what they are doing because they have been doing it for so long.

Trust them and let them do their job, Take the side step, and only get in when they tell you.

Pest control experts will also brief you on how to handle the furniture that may contain residues form the pesticides. Listen very carefully to instructions, not unless you want to be exterminated and poisoned yourself.

Remember, no matter how smart you are, there are still a lot of things around you that you know very little of. Chemicals and poisonous substrates can be one of them.

When professionals are out

If ever you can not seek the help of pest control professionals for lots and various reasons, you should not despair.

Having the knowledge about the harms and health risks of harsh chemicals in pesticides, you are expected to handle each substance with utmost care and cautiousness.

Remember, to be able to get rid of bed bugs or to be able to kill bed bugs, these pesticides’ formulations have to be really strong and fatal because insects, including bed bugs have strong and resilient systems.

Humans, unfortunately, are not as resilient. There are hundreds of reported cases of poisoning and fatalities from pest control contacts and inhalation.

Several of those cases really got so far to be really fatal and deadly.

To be able to prevent such instances, you have to make sure you handle every pesticide carefully, avoiding spraying at areas unnecessarily.

Clean up the sprayed areas for possible residues after.

Getting rid of bed bugs can be really hard, but you will get away with it, if you act accordingly and smartly.