Monthly Archives: November 2013

Bed bug, Cimex lectularis

Bed bugs are one of the most difficult pest problems to eradicate quickly. By far, the best solution for bed bugs is to hire a pest control company with experience successfully controlling bed bugs. Unfortunately, this can be expensive and beyond the means of many people. If you feel you cannot afford to hire a professional, and want to attempt do-it-yourself bed bug control, there are some things you can do. With diligence and patience and some hard work you have a fighting chance of getting rid of bed bugs in your home.

If you live in an apartment or condominium, its best to alert the property manager. A coordinated bed bug control effort using a pest control company is generally needed in such situations. Bed bugs readily move from apartment to apartment, with many people unaware that they have a problem. If one apartment is infested, adjoining units (left side, right side, above and below) should be assumed to be infested unless shown otherwise through inspection or monitoring. Simply asking tenants whether they have bed bugs is not enough. In one recent study only half of residents in a large apartment with bed bugs knew (or admitted) they had a bed bug problem.

Pesticides alone are not the answer to bed bugs. Most of the commonly used pesticides today, including professional products and consumer products advertised for control of bed bugs, are at best moderately effective at controlling these pests. Pesticides must be used with care for safety and with attention to proper application to work well. Aerosol bug bombs or fumigators are also mostly ineffective in eliminating bed bugs. Aerosol insecticides mainly kill insects that are exposed, and out of their hiding places, not those hidden behind baseboards, in cracks and crevices of the bed, under carpet edging and in walls.

A bed that has been treated, encased and isolated from the rest of the room with Climbup Interceptor cups is a safe place to sleep.

Bed bugs are flattened for hiding in cracks and crevices. This bed bug was hiding along the welting on the edge of a mattress.

A last warning

Pesticides should always be used with caution, and especially when used indoors. Never use a pesticide for bed bugs that does not bear clear directions stating that it can be used indoors. Never spray yourself, children or pets with a pesticide. And follow the label safety directions carefully. Pesticide labels contain directions for use that are not merely suggestions. Failure to follow directions exactly is illegal and can result in poor control and possible harm to yourself and family. For more information, see the EPA Consumer Alert on pesticides and bed bugs.

For more information about bed bugs, including their biology and how to recognize them, see other factsheets on the Citybugs bed bug page. Also, if you decide you need professional help, check out our advice on How to Select a Bed Bug Control Professional, ENTO-033.

Michael Merchant, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Urban Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Dallas.

Read this article:
Bed bugs: Do-it-yourself control options | Insects in the City

Bed bug extermination can be far from an easy task, however, if you involve pest control experts it can also be a very costly task running into thousands of dollars.

Unfortunately any household can be infested with bed bugs at any time. No one really knows what has caused the massive increase in bed bugs and it is not only people with less than clean homes who are suffering at the hands of these blood sucking beasties.

It is possible to exterminate bed bugs yourself which although it will cost you in time and patience if successful, it can save you that large wad of cash.

There are a number of methods of bed bug extermination you might want to consider but which ever you choose the first vital step is to clear and clean the infested room from top to bottom. Remove all bed linen, clothing and clutter. Wash everything possible on a hot cycle in the washing machine something like Benzarid can be added to your wash. Anything which cannot be washed can be put into a tumble dryer for ten minutes at a hot setting. One very important tip anything which you are removing from the room should be sealed in a plastic bag to prevent the spread of bed bugs throughout the house. It is also important to check in the most obscure places for example lamp shades, clocks, picture frames, even smoke alarms these pests can travel quite a distance! That done you can now decide how to tackle the bed bugs.

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Here are your DIY bed bug extermination options:-

1.Insecticides or Pesticides. This is an option but unless you are 100% sure of how to use these chemicals safely it is not one which is advisable. These chemicals are toxic and could be very harmful to your health and anyone else living in your house including your pets. Another down side to such treatment is that bed bugs have become immune to the effects of quite a lot of these chemicals so whilst they may make you and your family ill the bed bugs may survive to suck your blood.

2.Vacuum cleaner and steam cleaner combination. This method although very laborious does work. Firstly you will have to use the vacuum cleaner on all the affected surfaces e.g. mattress, bed frame, box spring, curtains, carpets and other soft furnishings. The various tools on the vacuum cleaner are fantastic for getting into cracks and crevices. This should remove bugs, larvae and eggs. Once this is complete you can begin the whole process again with your steam cleaner. This part can take quite some time because to be truly effective the nozzle must be placed directly onto the surface and moved over it at a rate of around 30cm very 10-15 seconds. If done properly this should successfully exterminate any remaining bugs at all stages of growth.

It is worth mentioning that you will need a steam cleaning machine which can produce a high temperature and a low vapor output so that the surfaces you are treating do not end up really wet.

The big advantage with this method is that the heat will actually kill the eggs too. Insecticides cannot penetrate the outer casing which means these chemicals have to be sprayed more than once to ensure an effective bed bug extermination.

Read more:
Bed Bug Extermination - Do It Yourself Guide!