What You Need to Know About Bedbugs

in About Bedbugs



Most of us have a question or two about bedbugs. In the following, I will present to you what you need to know about bedbugs, and to answer the most frequently asked questions.

Are bedbug infestations related to the living conditions?

This is partially true; an unclean house offers multiple hiding places and the host becomes more accessible. Infestation from bedbugs begins with the actual bugs entering the home.

Can bedbugs produce any physical or psychological effects?

Scientists have determined that bedbugs have 28 different kinds of pathogens in their bodies, but laboratory experiments conducted on animals and then on humans have shown that bedbugs do not transmit these pathogens to humans.

When the bedbug feeds, it injects its saliva which contains anticoagulant agents as well as proteins which may cause an allergic response of the host, but the severity of the reaction depends on the immune system of the human. The most common reactions to these are blemishes surrounding the bitten area, swelling, inflammation and itchy sensation.

Multiple bites can lead to sleep discomfort and even psychological distress against bedbugs even after complete disinfection.

Can I conduct a house disinfection using market products or do I need the help of Pest Management Professionals?

All the products available on the market have the desired effect if they have direct contact, but to achieve this you need to know exactly the manner in which bedbugs live, their preferred refuge as well as their habits. You may conduct your own extermination against a bedbug infestation, but you may not be successful. For actual results, you may need the aid of a specialist. It is not that the products are not effective. The problem is that you have not applied them in the correct places.

Why are bedbugs so hard to exterminate?

Bedbugs are small insects which hide mainly in small cracks and they are active mainly at night. They will travel a distance of twenty feet to get their blood meal. They can detect chemical agents and avoid them and can live up to one year without nourishment. Also, all the pesticides available on the market have an availability period of three months after it has been applied, so you need to make these operations periodically for at least one year, and I strongly recommend that you purchase the services of an expert Pest Management Professional (PMP) to apply these agents correctly and in the needed places.

What are the steps I need to take against bedbugs to prevent an infestation?

Take precautions not to bring any bedbugs into your home. To do to this you need:

  • When taking a trip, be careful not to take stowaway bedbugs with you. You need to wash all clothes at over 500C and to inspect the luggage.
  • Try to avoid buying old furniture, especially upholstered items, and if you do, inspect it carefully, preferably have an expert inspect it.
  • Protect you mattress and bed box against possible infestations by using bedbug mattress covers which will seal any possible infestation or prevent one.
  • Inspect possible hiding places periodically, especially near your sleeping places and try not to leave clutter spots in the house.
  • Do not use any bedbug extermination product unless an infestation is detected and in the dire case you have detected one, I advise you use the services of a PMP. A PMP offers you complete and thoroughly done inspections and provides you with all the information you may desire on the subject. I advise you though to read carefully the contract before signing it.

This is what you need to know about bedbugs and if you have any more questions, keep yourself informed by reading more on this subject.


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