Bed Bugs
The bed bug is insect is roughly oval in shape, abut 5mm long when fully grown and a fast runner. Rust-brown in colour changing to a deep red-brown following a feed on our blood. The juvenile bed bug is called a nymph. These are paler in colour and smaller in length. They are flat and being thin they can hide in narrow cracks and crevices, so detection is often difficult. The bed bug eggs hatch in about 10 days, the adults live about 9 months. Nymphs feed every 10 days whereas adults feed every 3-4 days.
Bed bugs don’t live on humans
The bed bugs don’t live on humans, but they feed on humans by puncturing the skin and sucking blood, similar to mosquitoes (and vampires). Bed bugs respond to the warmth/heat and carbon dioxide (CO2) of a host (being us the human) when asleep in our warm bed. The bed bug can quickly locate a suitable feed host. Their only contact with us humans is for a meal of blood. Most of the feeding occurs at night and they are inactive while digesting the blood. In saying that, if they are starved they will bite during the day.
Do bed bugs transmit disease?
Bed bugs are not known to carry or transmit diseases. However, we as the host react to bed bug bites just as we respond to bites from mosquitoes and fleas.
How do bed bugs appear?
Regular travelers may pick up bed bugs in hotels and accommodation. On return you may bring bed bugs into your home environment, often carried in luggage and other packages. Where bed bugs have infested in large numbers there is a distinctive odour present. Common allergic reactions on the skin would be the development of red marks discomfort around the ankles, arms and shoulders.
Where do you find bed bugs?
The adult bed bug and nymph infest pieces of furniture, mattress box springs, mattresses, bedside stands, rugs and carpet, pictures on walls, under wallpaper, lounges and chairs. Bed bugs are usually found and located in our homes, hotels and hostel, and boarding houses to name a few.
How far do bed bug infestations spread?
Adult bed bugs can travel around 1.2 metres in 1 minute. They can move to the bed from wardrobes, dressers and lounges and they can move between rooms and apartments.
An extreme bed bug infestation can spread from one single room. Over 6 weeks the infestation can spread to 4 adjacent rooms. In 9 weeks the infestation can spread to 8 adjacent rooms. In one case 12 weeks in the infestation spread to 21 rooms on four floors.
Bed bug inspections and pest treatment
It is important that room inspections carried out consists of bed frame, bedhead, wallpaper, mattress, mattress box spring, bedside cabinet, furniture, bed heads, power points, curtains, carpet and picture frames.
Bed bug feces will show up under UV light. It has been suggested allergens from bed bugs may be associated with asthma just like the dust mite allergens. The treatment undertaken is extremely time-consuming and thorough. Areas for which particular attention is focused on is the cracks and crevices of the entire room or rooms. After a treatment, you must vacate the room and not return until the infestation is under control.
Hotel housekeeping staff can detect bed bugs by the presence of small blood stains on sheets and mattress covers. The treatment can include all adjacent and surrounding rooms to the infestation. This is dependent on the severity of the infestation.
Do you have a problem with bed bugs?
If you do, please contact us now before the infestation spreads!