Bedbug Infestations
Eliminating bed bug infestations require tenacity and persistence. It also requires a thorough cleaning and likely disposal of beds, couches, and infested items. Because they hide in many small places, inspections must be extremely vigilant. Infested bedding, clothing and other items will need to be laundered. Also a proven effective, highly efficient way is to place shoes, clothing, backpacks, and toys in a dryer on high heat for 10-20 minutes. This will kill the bedbug in all stages.
They come from the family Cimicidae. That term refers to species that feed preferentially on human blood. All bugs in the Cimicidae family feed exclusively on warm blooded animals and humans. The name bedbug has been given to this particular bug because of its habit to infest houses, particularly beds, couches and any other common areas a person might sleep. Bedbugs are mainly nocturnal, and are able of feeding unnoticed by their host. The Bedbugs were largely destroyed in the 1940′s by powerful insecticides such as DDT. But bedbugs have resurged since about 1995 and have become more and more prolific.
The common bedbug is adapted mostly to human environments. It can be found in most climates throughout the world and has a high survival rate in most temperates. However, bedbugs cannot survive in high concentrations of carbon dioxide for very long. In recent years a bed bug trap that involves dry ice has been shown to attract and kill bedbugs. This new bed bug miracle has been developed by Dr. Changlu Wang. And can be found online.
A bedbug feeds by using a pair of straw like hollow feeding tubes. One tube injects its saliva, which contains anticoagulants and anesthetics, while the other sucks up the blood of its host. The bedbug only feeds for about 5 minutes, and then it will return to its hiding place. Bedbugs often lodge unnoticed in dark crevices, and eggs can be nestled in fabric seams. Aside from bite symptoms, signs include: fecal spots, blood smears on sheets, and molts.
Eliminating bed bug infestations require persistence, elbow grease and a thorough cleaning and possible disposal of beds, couches, and infested items. Because they hide in many tiny places, inspections and treatments must be very thorough. Infested bedding, clothing and other items will need to be laundered. And a proven effective, efficient way is to place clothing, shoes, backpacks, and toys in a clothes dryer on high heat for 10-20 minutes. This will kill the bedbug in all stages.
In most cases, it will be prudent to enlist the services of a professional pest control firm. Experienced companies will know where to look for bed bugs, and have an assortment of management tools at their disposal. Owners and tenants will need to assist the professional in important ways. Allowing access for inspection and treatment is essential, and excess clutter should be removed.