Bed bugs in Australia are on the rise. These little bugs can be a significant pest and can cause illness and irritation to many. However, bed bug treatment isn’t relatively challenging and you can use a few simple, eco-friendly tactics to remove bed bugs from your home. So in this article, we will be looking at how to check for bed bugs and how to get rid of bed bugs from your home.
What are Bed Bugs, Australia’s Hidden Pest
Bed bugs are from a small family (Cimex) of wingless insects. There are two species which are commonly known as bed bugs, these two have specifically evolved to feed on human blood and therefore live within locations where humans rest. The two species, Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus, are often thought to be found solely in beds, but they can be found in numerous locations, including sofas, seats, car seats and even on the floor.
Though their primary location is in beds because this offers them the best opportunity to find their primary source of food at the lowest risk of detection. They can be found in many locations including homes, hotels, hostels, cinemas and theatres.
The insects are unable to fly, transferring between locations through hitching a ride on a person. They’re also quick movers, especially when they’re exposed to light.
What do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs are extremely small, ranging in length between 1 and 5 mm. A fully grown adult is comparable to an apple seed in size, but looks flat and oval. Generally they’re brown in colour, but once they’ve had a feed, they can look red as the blood colouration shows through their outer shell.
Like all insects, they have six legs with two long antennae and a close look at their mouth will show their large mandibles which they use to bite humans and draw blood from their victim.
Bed bugs are rarely seen in the day, they are sensitive to light and so only come out to feed during the night. The warmth of the human body and carbon dioxide, from the exhaling human, are what attract bed bugs into activity.
Bed bugs do not need to feed daily. They will generally wait between five and ten days between meals. Though research has found that they can survive for months without a victim. During the feeding process, the insects will pierce the human skin with two hollow tubes, releasing a mixture of anticoagulants and anaesthetic into the wound. This prevents the blood from clotting to allow for a feed, and stops any pain so the victim doesn’t feel anything.
The feeding process can take up to 10 minutes to complete. Even after bed bug bites, the victim may bleed for a little longer, which will leave blood spots on the clothes/sheets. This is one of the signs that there might be bed bugs in your home.
How to Check for Bed Bugs
There are two things that make detecting bed bugs being discovered. One is their small size, at just a couple of millimetres long, they are very small and you’ll need a keen eye to spot them. Another problem is that you might have a small infestation that can be hard to detect, especially as bed bugs like to hide out of view.
However, if you're looking carefully, then you can spot them.
Early signs of bed bugs are the hardest to detect. You’re likely to find the bed bugs in the seams, beading and folds within the mattresses or sheets. As the infestation grows, the bugs can move into any small crevice close to where a victim may rest. For instance, they’ve been found in bed heads, cracks in plaster and in skirting boards.
Spotting the adults, which are usually the easiest to spot can be simple as their colour makes them easy to distinguish, especially against light coloured materials. However, they can be challenging to spot on brown materials such as wood beds slats, wooden furniture or wooden floors.
The young, due to their size, can be very challenging to spot.
It might be the activity that you spot first when it comes to bed bugs. For instance, when they use an area extensively for hiding or feeding, you will see black/brown spots of dried blood, this is also known as spotting. You might also be able to smell a sweet, sticky odour when populations have grown beyond a certain point. The smell is considered similar to what a stink bug emits when squashed.
Other signs that you might have include white eggs, egg cases or moulted skin shells.
How to Remove Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can be difficult to remove. Pheromones are used to communicate between individuals, especially when they are threatened and they release an alarm pheromone. Therefore, others in the area can quickly hide and therefore you might think that you’ve treated an area, but the bed bugs have just hidden.
However, there are several activities that you can do to help you control them.
Regular Cleaning
Regular cleaning can be really important for keeping populations low. Using a vacuum cleaner on a mattress, behind the bed and around the edges of the room can help reduce the chances of bed bug populations establishing themselves.
You should also have a regular washing routine of bed sheets and others.
Physical Removal
If you're looking for a quick solution to get rid of bed bugs at home, using adhesive tape may serve the purpose. You can trap the bed bugs in the room and then you can pick them up and throw the tape away. Place the tape in dark spots around your room. Before placing them, be sure to clean the area to ensure dust and debris is at a minimum and that you maximise the chance that you will catch some of the bed bugs.
One thing that should not be used is a stiff brush. Instead of removing the bed bug eggs from the home, you could disperse them, making bed bug treatment harder.
Heat
A rapid increase in temperature can be fatal to bed bugs. They can die within one hour when exposed to temperatures of over 45°C or instantly when temperatures exceed 60°C. And increase in temperature must be sudden. A slow, gradual increase in temperature will just encourage the bed bugs to move into new areas. This dispersal does not help with treatment.
Using steam treatment can be a very good option for treating bed bugs, because it will kill bed bugs in all stages of life. Steam treatment can also help you to get rid of bed bugs permanently. Steam vapour can be used on all soft and hard surfaces. In addition, you can wash all linen at a high temperature and then dry it in a machine.
Cold Treatment
In addition to heat, bed bugs hate cold temperatures, and quickly freezing them can kill them. The best option to freeze bed bugs is to place smaller items in the freezer overnight. For every 2.5kg, keep in the freezer for 10 hours.
Envirobug Treatments
In addition, you can utilise Envirobug treatments that are safe to use around pets and children. These attract the bed bugs by mimicking a safe spot to hide and then kills them by trapping them on a sticky surface. Replacing the traps every three to six months is highly recommended.
These can be very effective, and require very little time to set up. Regular checks are recommended.
How to Treat Bed Bug Bites
Treating bed bug bites focuses on alleviating symptoms such as itching, swelling, and redness. Most bites heal on their own within a week or two without needing medical attention, but here are some practical remedies to manage discomfort:
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Wash the Area: Clean the bite with soap and water to prevent infection. This also soothes the skin and removes any allergens left behind.
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Apply a Cold Compress: Use a cold pack or a cloth soaked in cold water to reduce swelling and numb the area. Apply it for 10-15 minutes at a time.
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Use Anti-Itch Creams or Lotions: Over-the-counter creams containing hydrocortisone or calamine lotion can relieve itching and redness. Antihistamines, like diphenhydramine, can also help if itching is severe.
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Avoid Scratching: Scratching may increase the risk of infection or lead to scarring. If itching persists, wearing gloves at night can reduce unconscious scratching.
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Monitor for Infections: If the bite becomes more swollen, painful, or shows signs of infection (such as pus or redness spreading), seek medical advice promptly.
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Natural Remedies: Some people find relief by applying aloe vera gel or tea tree oil to the affected area, though these should be used cautiously to avoid irritation.
Bed bug bites typically heal without complications, but persistent or severe reactions might require consultation with a healthcare provider.
Final Word: How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are a pest that can be hidden for months without you noticing them. However, large infestations can be a burden to your health. Therefore, it is important to do regular checks, cleaning and treatment for bed bugs to ensure that you and your family are safe. Above is all the information you need to help you.
