Bed Bugs Require Attention

A few months ago, pest control expert Steve Anderson was hired to get rid of bed bugs that had taken up residence in an apartment. Among other measures, the residents threw out their mattress. But it didn't end there.

"They threw the mattress outside, and another resident of the building picked it up and brought it into their place," says Steve from SDA Pest Control. "A short time later, I was back out at the apartment of the people who took the mattress. That's how it happens sometimes."

Like pest control experts around the country, Steve is getting more calls from people anxious to get rid of bed bugs. The infestation has reached proportions that haven't occurred since a previous epidemic in the 1950s.

Bed bugs are so named because these pests, the size of an apple seed, thrive mainly in beds and upholstered furniture. But the bugs can survive in other nooks and crannies, too, even computer keyboards, in books, inside electrical switches and behind ceiling mouldings.

Bed bugs are brown, flat and oval shaped; adults are about a quarter-inch long. They are nocturnal, feed exclusively on blood, and can go for months without a blood meal. Not everyone has a bad reaction to bed bug bites, but symptoms typically appear as a row of itchy, red welts. Bed bugs don't transmit disease, but their bites can cause an allergic reaction or infection.

"During the past few months I've had four or five calls," Steve says. "I usually get one or two calls a year, if that. I had another job where all three floors had bed bugs. That was probably one of the biggest jobs that I've done."

Although there is a stigma attached, bed bugs aren't socio-economic discriminators. They hit homes across the board.

Why have the tiny bloodsuckers become a problem again?

The infestation is worldwide, and increased international travel is a likely culprit, since the pests hitch a ride in the tucks and folds of suitcases.

Change in pest management is another reason. Formulas that once were used to treat bed bugs now are banned, and the methods used today are safer but not necessarily as effective.

One thing is certain: If you suspect that you have bed bugs, you should deal with the problem immediately.

"It's important you address it quickly and contact a qualified professional to provide a thorough inspection and diagnosis before you seek treatment," says Steve. "Female bedbugs can lay up to five eggs per day, so a major infestation can happen quickly."

How can bedbugs be kept at bay? What's the best way to get rid of them?

Here are some tips from SDA Pest Control:

• Don't pick up used furniture someone put out for rubbish pickup. The ideal habitat for bed bugs is on mattresses and box springs, where they are usually guaranteed a food source for eight hours a day. However, bed bugs have also been found in rental or reconditioned furniture, and inside delivery vehicles.
• Always inspect the room in which you'll be staying if you're away from home. Leave luggage outside the door and use a torch to check mattress seams and along bed frames, headboards and box springs for signs of bed bugs. Look closely at sheets and blankets for evidence that could include exoskeletons (shed skins) of younger bugs and "spotting," which are small, dark stains from excreted blood. If you notice signs of bed bug activity, immediately request another room.
• When you travel, keep your personal items in sealed plastic bags. Keep bags and luggage off floors and beds.
• Thoroughly inspect your belongings before bringing them back into your home. If you suspect bed bugs, unload your luggage on a hard surface, like a bathtub. Immediately wash suspected items in the hottest temperature possible. Wash by hand items that can't be laundered; dry, then thoroughly vacuum and discard the vacuum bag.
• Clutter offers an unlimited number of hiding places for bed bugs and makes eradication even more difficult. Keep your rooms and closets tidy, and avoid putting items under your bed.
• What works for moths or carpet beetles won't work for bed bugs. You can't just hire any pest control company to treat bed bugs, so find one that specialises in bed bug eradication. It takes a specialised treatment and likely will require multiple applications.

If you do try to get rid of bed bugs on your own, thoroughly clean an infested room. Launder linens in hot water. Remove clutter, turn over drawers and furniture and clean thoroughly. Disassemble bed frames and clean. Repair and seal cracks and holes around baseboards, window frames and mouldings. Vacuum thoroughly and discard the vacuum bag.

Some pest control companies use specialised equipment to heat a room to at least 50°C for two or more hours to kill off bed bugs.

Use entomologist-approved mattress covers. Encasing mattresses restricts bed bugs to the surface, where they can be more easily detected and eradicated. Encasements should be bed bug "bite-proof" and "escape-proof."

Structural fumigation is the most extreme and costly method, but also the most effective. It requires the structure be covered with a tarpaulin and vacated for several days while a gas is released.

Article provided by SDA Pest Control