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There’s an enemy lying in wait in millions of homes around the world. It’s so tiny that it’s barely noticeable to the naked eye, yet one single bite will leave the victim feeling uncomfortable for a few days. Surprisingly, this enemy is common, and may be closer than you think, even as close as your own bed.
A bed bug is a tiny pest that makes its home in mattresses, bedding and furniture. While not nearly so big and creepy as its larger cousins such as the cockroach, this wee insect has the power to gross you out and leave your skin crawling.
These small, wingless insects live in cracks, small holes, and crevices in walls and floors, mattress seams and even the folds of bedding. They seek dark places and tend to converge in unclean corners and portions of the house.
Blood is the only source of food for the pesky bed bugs. Normally, they are nocturnal creatures, thriving on the blood of sleeping victims. While experts claim that they transit or carry communicable diseases, their bites can cause a great amount of itch and discomfort. Some persons, including those with sensitive skin or have allergies, may experience more serious health issues.
Control Bed Bugs
If you think that you may be sharing your bed with bugs, there are several methods that you can take to get rid of the problem. But first, DON’T PANIC. Think clearly and make a sensible strategy. Madly running about your home spraying pesticides will only drain you of energy and cash. Chances are that the bed bugs won’t even notice. So, the primary question remains: “”How are bed bug infestations controlled?””
Your first priority should always be prevention :
* Even if your home is clean and bug-free, make sure that you know where bed bugs come from, and how to prevent an infestation.
* Cleanliness is a major factor in controlling or preventing bed bugs from thriving in your home. Keep your floors, furniture, and walls spic and span.
* Bed bugs love to make their homes in dark, cozy, comfy mattresses. Change your bed sheets regularly, vacuum your mattress and make sure that your mattress is free of tears and holes.
If you find that there are bed bugs in your home, create a plan of attack that includes one or more of the following alternatives:
* Following manufactures instructions, apply insecticides or pesticides to the infested areas. There are plenty of pesticides available and readily accessible on the market, including those specially formulated for bed bug control. Again, make sure to carefully read all labels and instructions before use.
* Pesticides are made with harsh chemicals that can knock out insects like bed bugs. Insects are highly resilient to chemical formulations, so if they’re strong enough to control bed bugs, they will also pose a health threat to all of the other living things in your home. You, your family and pets may also be in danger.
Many people opt to hire professional help. In the long run, this can be the most effective and budget-wise alternative:
* Managing your bed bug infestation should not involve ‘spur of the moment’ decisions. It takes thorough planning to devise a successful strategy. This is where the recommendation of a pest control expert can be irreplaceable.
* Check your telephone book or search online for a pest control company in your community. All you need to do is make the call, and help will be on the way.
* If you live in a condo or an apartment building, deal directly with your landlord or the person in charge of building maintenance. It is his or her obligation to make the necessary arrangements for pest control measures.
* Depending on where you live, state, provincial or civil laws may oblige building owners or property managers to ensure that the building is safe and pest-free. Take the matter up with them, and find out who is responsible for the pest control service fee payments.
* Inform anyone living in your building when you plan to control a bed bug infestation in your home.
Residue and odor from the pesticides will most probably reach other living areas and apartments, and these may pose serious health risks for some people.
* Bed bugs are extremely persistent, so be prepared for the control process to be tedious and tiresome. Insects have extremely strong systems and have developed resilience to pesticide chemicals, therefore, repeat treatments will likely be required.
* Each visit from the pest control professionals will take a few hours. These experts need to be extremely thorough in their work, and will carefully check and treat any holes, crevices, and small cracks where bed bugs might be hiding.
* Furniture and home accessories must be thoroughly checked. If even a single bed bug is overlooked, the infestation can start all over again.
* Eliminating bed bugs may involve certain sacrifices. In extreme cases, pest control experts may advise you to discard clothing, bedding, and even furniture. Most mattresses are made up of foam and other porous materials with tiny holes, creating the perfect breeding ground for bed bugs. Be prepared and be willing to accept and follow through on this recommendation.
* If you are instructed to dispose of your mattress, make sure that it will not be used by anyone else. Otherwise, the bed bugs will simply transfer from your house to another person’s house.
* Environmental concerns will stop you from burning the mattress, so you’ll need to use a special bag to trap the bed bugs inside.
Bed bugs are a persistent force, but, of course, they can be overtaken. Arm yourself with the help that you require, and you can sleep safe and sound once again.
Tagged with: bed bugs control • pests control
Filed under: Bed Bugs