What are they?
Bedbugs are small insects that are commonly found in beds. They feed off blood and can cause discomfort if they make their home in your bed.
They cannot fly and must either crawl or be passively transported on clothes, furniture or commonly luggage after visiting a hotel or hostel etc... They are able to survive many months without feeding. The hiding place will be close to where the host sleeps; in the bedframe, mattress, bedside furniture, skirting, behind wall paper - anywhere that provides dark harborage during the daylight hours for these nocturnal creatures.
Bedbugs are not regarded as disease carriers, but with their blood feeding can cause severe irritation to some people. The bite often gives rise to a whitish hard swelling which distinguishes it from a flea bite which leaves a dark red spot surrounded by a reddened area.
Can I treat them?
If you have a bed bug infestation or if you or your family have been bitten by bed bugs some of the things you can do yourself, include:-
- Wash all bedding, draperies and clothing in hot water on a regular basis.
- Vacuum and steam clean carpets
- Use insecticides* to get rid of bed bugs that are hiding in the walls and other large objects - choose insecticides with pyrethrins as an active ingredient and only use insecticides labelled for households use.
Bed bugs can be difficult to get rid of because they hide so well.
*Always refer to the product instructions BEFORE use and follow these at ALL times.
Last Updated on Thursday, December 5, 2019