How to get rid of bed bugs
The common bed bug are relatively small bugs that are about 3/16 inch long, 1/8 inch
wide, broadly oval, flat, brown to reddish-brown true bugs with 3 segmented beak, 4
segmented antennae and vestigial wings. Prior to feeding, nymphs appear translucent
or pale in color. Bed bugs have very thin, vertically flattened bodies covered with short,
golden-colored hairs. They are very aggressive egg layers and in fact the female bed
bug lays between 200 to 500 eggs (in groups of 10 to 50) on rough surfaces such
bedding, paper, wood etc. Eggs are covered with cement, glued to opjects and hatch in
about 10 days.
There are five progressively larger nymph stages, each requiring a single blood meal
before molting to the next stage. The entire bed bug life cycle from egg to adult takes
from 5 weeks to 4 months. Adults bed bugs live up to 10 months.
Here are the facts about Bed Bugs:
Bed Bugs are flat, brown, wingless and about 1/4 inch long. They have 6 legs, shiny
reddish-brown but after a good serving of your blood, they appear dark brown and
swollen as in the picture below.
They can be seen with the human eye, but do a great job at hiding. Bed bugs are not
known to spread diseases as of yet. They feed on human blood, preferring to do so in
the dark when you're sleeping
These bugs love to hide in the seams, crevices, and holes in:
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Mattress and Box Spring
Sofa seams
Cracks in the bed frame and/or head board
Under chairs, couches, beds and dust covers
Under rugs, edges of carpets, drawers, baseboards and window casings
Behind light switches, electrical outlet plates, cracks in plaster
Televisions, radio clocks, phones, computers
Backpacks, Sleeping bags, Clothes
Behind wallpaper, picture frames, and other dark areas
Before treatment:
All clutter should be removed. Beds should be stripped of all bedding- placed in sealed
plastic bags. You will want to remove clothes from dressers, closets etc. and place in
sealed plastic bags. Empty all washable items directly into the washer. Wash in hot
water and dry on high heat. Place pillows in dryer on high heat for a minimum of 20
minutes. Nightstands, dressers and nearby furniture must be empty so the inside and
the undersides can be inspected and treated. Place all items not being treated in tightly
sealed bags.
Vacuum the room thoroughly. Dispose of vacuum bag in tightly sealed bag. This does a
great job of dislodging any bed bugs from that area.
Bed Bugs behave much like a German cockroach, hiding in cracks & crevices of all
forms. They are described as nocturnal feeders, but in fact will feed during the day in a
darkened room. If their numbers are so high they are competing for food, they will feed
anytime.
They are somewhat lazy and the bug feeds where the body meets the bed, often
leaving red bite marks in a line on the person. Blood spots will also be left on the sheets
as the bugs excrete excess fluids, forcefully ejecting the blood with pressure.
You may experience a distinctive musky smell associated with large populations of Bed
Bugs. Be bugs are considered opportunistic travelers and have appeared to have
developed the recognition of luggage, climbing into open suitcases placed on the bed or
floor.
Bed bugs can be difficult to control and they are very tenacious pest. Using the proper
techniques and products will help you become more successful. You need to identify
the pest, then locate their harborage areas, treat with appropriate products and protect
your mattress and box springs from reinfestation.