Bed Bugs feed off human blood, making them a lot more dangerous than many other insects. A few bugs are more than enough to start an infestation, as once they have fed, the females will lay two to three eggs a day. These eggs typically hatch within 10 days, and any females will then go on to lay eggs after feeding, causing the infestation to grow exponentially. Many people who have experienced bedbugs liken their bites to mosquito bites, saying the skin reaction is similar and that they itch just as much. Here are some tricks for getting rid of bedbugs and tips on what to do if you get bitten.
What Do Bedbugs Look Like?
So what exactly do bedbugs look like? Bedbugs are not usually seen with the naked eye. This is because they are only a few millimetres long, no bigger than an apple seed. Bedbugs are also nocturnal and are attracted by warmth and carbon dioxide, both of which are emitted by sleeping people, so they are most active during times that people are not. This does not mean you shouldn't look out for them, however, because if you see one bug then it is typically a sign that there is an infestation somewhere near you. A bedbug can be brown or dark red in color and has 6 legs which it uses to move around on the floor (and your mattress).
Wash Your Sheets And Hang Them Out To Dry
The first line of defense against bedbugs should be to wash all your sheets and hang them out on the washing line or put them through the dryer. Heat kills bedbugs - exposure to temperatures of 45°C kills bedbugs within an hour. Temperatures of 60°C kill bedbugs instantly.
Steam Clean your Mattress
Many methods that work for controlling other insect infestations don’t work on bedbugs for one simple reason. Most common pest control measures or substances require the insect to ingest the substance to kill them, but as bedbugs feed on blood, they are highly unlikely to ingest poisons. Another problem is the fact that while some methods may kill adult and nymph bedbugs, the eggs are left unharmed, meaning that an infestation can reoccur.As bedbugs are effectively killed with hea, steam cleaning your mattress is an effective way of controlling an infestation. Temperatures above 60°C kill both adult bedbugs and their eggs. Steam cleaners reach temperatures of 100°C and can penetrate deep within your mattress.Steam cleaning your carpets and bedding can also kill bugs that may be hiding there.
Keep Your House Clean And Tidy
Of course, it goes without saying that keeping your house clean and tidy is always important, but never more so than when there are little blood-sucking creatures hanging around just waiting for their chance to pounce on unsuspecting humans. So keep up with all those chores like vacuuming and mopping. If you suspect you have an infestation, empty your vacuum bag/cannister and dispose of it immediately, so any insects cannot crawl out and back into your carpet, bed or furnishings. If you can’t dispose of the waste immediately, seal the waste inside a plastic bag and get rid of it as soon as you can.
How Do Bedbug Infestations Start?
Until recently, bedbug infestations were rare in Australia. It is believed that the increase in infestations in Australia in recent years is thanks to frequency of international travel and bedbugs being good travellers, hitching rides around the world in suitcases, shoes and clothing.Bedbugs typically don’t roam around, so you don’t typically have to worry about them coming in through the door or window, but rather they are carried in from another outbreak. Visiting a place with an infestation may lead to you carrying bedbugs back to your home on your shoes, clothes or hair.
Second hand furniture, especially box spring mattresses (latex and memory foam mattresses have fewer if any places bedbugs can hide) can also carry bedbugs, so if you buy any you should thoroughly inspect for bugs before any purchase. Team cleaning the furniture is also advised.
Do Essential Oils Work to Kill or Repel Bedbugs?
People looking for a pesticide free way of killing bedbugs or controlling an infestation often reach for essential oils. These oils are a concentration of the scent producing compounds found in the leaves, stems, roots, flowers or fruit of plants. Numerous studies have been conducted looking at the efficacy of essential oils on controlling bedbug infestation, and the results aren’t particularly positive.A Rutgers University study of 18 different essential oils showed that a few, notably oregano, thyme, clove and lemongrass, were capable of killing bedbugs, but the amount needed to kill a bedbug by contact was approximately 70,000 greater than a synthetic insecticide. Lavender oil, widely touted on the Internet as one of the prime “green” ways to eradicate bedbugs proved to be ineffective.When it comes to repelling bedbugs, things do look slightly rosier. A 2018 study testing the effectiveness of oregano oil in repelling bedbugs in comparison to DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide, a common insect repellent) in a laboratory setting showed the oil to be more effective.
Use An Oatmeal Bath To Relieve Itching And Irritation
Many people swear by oatmeal baths as an effective way of treating bed bug bites . Oats contain both cellulose, which can soothe the skin alleviating the itch, and Vitamin E, which acts as an antiinflammatory agent, further alleviating the itch. Simply grind up around a cup of oats into a powder and add it to a hot bath. A few drops of essential oils, like lemongrass or tea tree, can add to the soothing effect.
Use Oral Antihistamines
If you develop a rash around the bites, or have a history of severe reactions to insect bites, an oral antihistamine, the kind typically used to help with seasonal allergies may help to reduce the itch.
Use Soothing Creams
Calamine lotion, pure aloe-vera extract and over the counter corticosteroid creams can all help alleviate the itch associated with bedbug bites. A paste made with baking soda and a little water spread on the affected area may also bring relief..
Bed bug bites typically heal and disappear after a week or two, but if you have a severe reaction, such as developing swelling or hives around the area that is bitten, or the bites don’t appear to be healing, you should definitely schedule an appointment to see a doctor .
The fastest and easiest way to search for and book healthcare appointments online is through MyHealth1st.