Bed Bugs Control

Bed bugs emerge usually at night from hiding places, seeking human blood. While pathogens have been found in bed bugs, the bed bug apparently does not transmit diseases to humans. Bed bugs can survive more than a year without feeding.

Most people have never seen a bed bug. Adults are wingless, about one-fourth of an inch long, and flat to fit in cracks and crevices where they hide by day. Females typically lay three to five adhesive eggs per day in crevices and depressions. Eggs and newly hatched nymphs are somewhat translucent and only about one-sixteenth of an inch long. After feeding, nymphs become bright red. At night, bed bugs seek warm hosts, leaving their hiding places in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, nightstands, curtains, couches and wall voids, baseboards, carpet edges, door and window frames, picture frames, smoke detectors, electrical switches and outlets, peeling paint and wallpaper.

 

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Treatment for Bed bugs

Pesticides are applied directly into cracks and crevices harboring bed bugs for the majority of bed bug infestations.

Dusts can be used in areas occupied by electrical equipment and/or wall voids if the bugs are penetrating such areas, whereas liquid formulations can be utilised in more obvious locations. Suitable active ingredients would include deltamethrin, alphacypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin.

Aerosol insecticides can be used for ‘quick kill’. Products such as synthetic pyrethroids act very effectively to knockdown and kill bedbugs when applied directly to the insect.
The insecticide must be directed at all harborages identified in the inspection and applied in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. The carpet and underlay should be peeled back and the wall/floor junction treated.

The use of extension nozzles allows the insecticide to be applied accurately to areas such as beading on mattresses and cracks and crevices in furniture. For wall hangings and delicate or antique furniture, aerosols may be more appropriate than other formulations, after vacuuming. When applying liquid formulations, fan spray nozzles should be used along carpet edges and pin stream nozzles for cracks and crevices.