Beware Of Bed Bugs

Dr. James Weston went to Peterborough earlier this year. He stayed with his friend in Old Fletton. Shortly after, he realized he had what he thought was a scratch on his arm. It wasn't that simple, in fact, it was a bed bug bite. Pretty soon, that one "scratch" became a lot more, "I looked like I had the plague," says Weston, his whole upper body was covered with red bites. And they itched.

Steve Anderson, owner of SDA Pest Control, is familiar with bed bug bites. He didn't used to be. Several years ago he never got a call about them. Today he deals with at least a few big, bad cases every month.

What are bed bugs?

They looks like ticks, but are smaller. About half the size of an eraser head. And they feed on human blood. They come out when people are sleeping, typically live in the crack and crevices of beds and bite people. They bite, then bite and bite again. They'll feed all night so often times people will wake up the next morning and have a rash looking thing. And bed bugs have struck.

The only way to protect yourself from bed bug bites, is not to have them. So, first Steve recommends people do everything they can to avoid them. Inspect beds when in a hotel. Look under the mattress, in the cracks and crevices, peer behind frames on the walls, generally inspect. Then place luggage on a rack. Don't put clothes in drawers.

To go really extreme, turn up the heat on high when gone. Heat kills bed bugs. Then when home after a trip take all clothing and put immediately in a plastic bag (if it's summer) and leave outside. That heat will kill any possibilities of bringing them in the house. Or put everything immediately in the wash.

Why the problem, now?

Steve says increased international travel has a lot to do with it. Bed bugs have been big in North America and Asia for years now. People go there, bring them back in their luggage, or take them to other hotels before they eventually come home and easily spread.

Also, harsh chemical cleaners have gotten less popular in the United Knigdom. When those were used, bed bugs could not survive the cleaning, now they can. Hot beds here in the UK are where international travellers typically visit. Places like London, Cambridge, Sheffield and Edinburgh.

Once someone has bed bugs they need help to get rid of them. Call a pest control professional right away. Bed bugs "grow up" in 2 weeks and have up to 500 babies at one time. And then those babies perpetuate that cycle in 2 weeks. Steve once treated a house that had left the problem go for 8 months. He had to drill in the walls, they were in the light fixtures, the microwave, they were everywhere.

Steve says it's almost too much to handle. "I mean it's heartbreaking to tell someone you should take keys and clothes you're wearing or maybe not clothes and leave as if your house burned down. Don't take anything with you." Weston was lucky, he caught the bed bugs early and they were gone within 2 weeks.

Article provided by SDA Pest Control