In recent years bed bugs have made a startling comeback. The wide use of the insecticide DDT (after World War II) all but eliminated these pests for decades. Of course that pesticide has long been banned, and the increase of the bed bug population is due to a combination of factors that include a huge increase in international travel. These little pests are hitching a ride!
How To Identify Bed Bugs
How To Detect Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can hide in the smallest cracks and crevices. Check under the buttons on your mattress, in the mattress seams, and along baseboards. They can be in rugs, carpets and curtains. Bites can be a sure sign – bed bugs bite in small groupings, unlike mosquito bites. If you’re really unsure if you have an infestation, use a flashlight with red cellophane or a red tissue paper over the lens. Red light is the only color these pests won’t hide from at night.
How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs
First of all, clean, clean, clean! Covering your mattress and box spring with plastic will suffocate bed bugs over a period of weeks and prevent further biting. There are now many good products on the market to rid the home of bed bugs, some are organic.
Some products come in the form of dust or powder. This type of pesticide is characterized by the presence of ground or pulverized glass and silica powder. The dust will attach to the pests and destroy their outer coats, killing them.
Another solution is ‘ insect growth regulator’. This product kills the pests at every stage, including the eggs.
Sprays are available that are fast acting and produce immediate results. They also claim to kill the eggs. Sprays can penetrate hard to reach areas and are also useful to take along on trips and vacations. Why? Because public lodgings are among the worst places for bed bug infestations these days.
If you’ve found you have a bed bug problem, consider using a combination of powder and spray. This two-prong approach is the best way to be sure you not only get rid of the bed bugs but also the eggs that lie waiting to hatch weeks after the adults are dead.
If your infestation is out of control it’s time to call an exterminator. Sprays are still widely used, but the latest method for eradication is heat. Because bed bugs and their eggs can’t survive temperatures above 113 degrees, the newest method is to super heat your home for a few hours. This is a very effective solution without using any chemicals, but an unnecessary expense unless you’ve found the bugs in several rooms.
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Pests And Diseases
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