What are Bed bugs?
Bed bugs are insects that feed on animal or human blood to survive. They are tiny, flat, oval-shaped, reddish-brown insects that can live anywhere, despite their name. They can thrive inside your furniture, in tight spaces under your kitchen counters, cracks on your walls, and of course, in your bed and pillows. Bedbugs grow up to a quarter of an inch in length, and they take around a month or two after hatching to fully mature. It is also around this time that they can start laying their eggs. Their eggs are hard to find because they are translucent white.
Bed bugs are usually more active during the night, but they can also be seen during the day. That’s why you are more prone to being bitten by these insects when you are sleeping. Their bites are itchy and often come in clusters. They are red and have a dark spot in the middle.
How to treat bedbug bites?
Bedbugs’ bites get better on their own in a week or two. To relieve the symptoms, doing these may help:
- Avoid scratching of the bitten areas
- Take an oral antihistamine to reduce itchiness
- Apply an anti-itch lotion or cream to bites
- Take oral pain relievers to reduce pain and swelling
In some cases, some people may suffer allergic reactions to bed bug bites. If you feel severe symptoms like difficulty in breathing, blisters, fever, or irregular heartbeat, see a physician right away.
What causes Bedbugs?
The no. 1 cause of getting bedbugs is traveling. They come from outside and into your house as you do. Without you noticing it, these bugs hitchhike on your clothes, bags, shoes or other belongings. Even if they cannot fly, they are great travelers who can sneak up on you as they are tiny and can crawl fast. When you have bedbugs in your house, it is tough to tell where the exact spot from which they came.
An effective way of preventing a bed bug infestation is to prevent them from coming inside your house. Whenever you come home from traveling, make sure to check your clothes and other stuff for these little insects. Your luggage must be thoroughly inspected before you bring them back inside.
How to get rid of bed bugs?
The easiest way for you to get rid of a bed bug infestation is to contact a bed bug exterminator in your area. However, if you want to start solving the problem on your own, doing these things may help contain them:
- Scrape the infested areas thoroughly.
- Wash your linens, curtains, and clothes with hot water, and dry them on the highest setting.
- Vacuum clean your floors, furniture, mattresses, pillows, and other appliances more often.
- Repair cracks on your walls, baseboards, and furniture where bedbugs can hide.
- Declutter your home.
- If your mattress gets infested, you may want to consider getting a new one, but make sure to exterminate all beds in your house first or infest your new bedding.
Related articles:
- Telltale Signs of Bed Bugs and How to Eliminate Them
- How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs and Prevent Re-Infestation
Getting bed bugs in your home can be a headache if you’re doing it on your own, but having solutions that truly work relieves the stress. Call the experts at Pest Be Gone!