Bed Bugs: Identify, Prevent & Treat

Bed bugs are elusive pests that can cause significant discomfort if they infest your home. Identifying them early is crucial to preventing a full-blown infestation. This guide will help you recognise bed bugs, understand where they commonly hide, identify signs of their presence, and know how to treat bites. Additionally, we'll provide prevention tips and outline effective treatment methods.

Physical Appearance

Bed bugs are small, wingless insects with six legs and two antennae. Their bodies are flat and oval-shaped, about the size of an apple seed. Their colour ranges from brown to reddish-brown, especially after feeding when they become engorged with blood.

Location

Bed bugs are experts at hiding and are commonly found in places where humans rest for extended periods. Here are some common hiding spots:
• Beds and Bedding: Bed bugs often hide in mattress seams, bed frames, and headboards. They can also be found in sheets, pillowcases, and even in the seams of upholstered furniture.
• Cracks and Crevices: Bed bugs can squeeze into tiny cracks and crevices in walls, floors, and furniture. They are often found in baseboards, electrical outlets, and behind picture frames.
• Luggage and Clothing: Bed bugs can hitch a ride on luggage, clothing, and other personal items, making it easy for them to spread from one location to another.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

• Red/Brown stains on the creases & seams of the mattress: These stains are from squished bed bugs releasing their bodily fluids including our blood.
• Small black droppings: These are bed bug excrement and can often be found on sheets and mattresses.
• Pale yellow eggs, or eggshells: Bed bugs lay almost translucent, sticky eggs that are about the size of a pinhead, can be found in cracks and crevices or attached to fabric surfaces.
• Bed bug casings: As bed bugs grow, they shed their exoskeletons, leaving behind light-coloured shells that resemble the bugs themselves.
• A musty odour: in cases of heavy infestations, a musty odour can be identified.
• Live bed bugs in or around the bed: As described, despite their name, not just found in the bed. Also it is important to note that bed bugs are most active at night, this is because they are attracted to the increased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels that humans exhale while sleeping. This, along with darkness and body heat, makes nighttime ideal for bed bugs to come out and feed.
• Bites: find more information below on bed bug bites.

Bed Bug Bites

Interestingly, only about 50% of the population react to bed bug bites. This means that some individuals can be bitten repeatedly without realizing it. Typically, their bites appear as red, raised bumps with a white centre. They frequently occur in a line or cluster, as bed bugs tend to feed multiple times along the same path. Bed bugs generally bite exposed skin, so the bites are often found on the neck, face, hands, and arms. The saliva of bed bugs contains anti-clotting agents and anaesthetic properties, which help ensure successful blood feeding without the host feeling the bite immediately. While bed bug bites are usually harmless, they can cause severe itching in some people. However, if the itching is intense, steroid creams or oral antihistamines to alleviate discomfort is recommended. If the itching persists, or if you experience severe swelling, blistering, or signs of a secondary infection, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider.

Prevention Tips

To prevent a bed bug infestation, consider the following tips:
• Inspect and Treat Second-hand Items: Before bringing second-hand furniture or clothing into your home, thoroughly inspect them for signs of bed bugs. Quarantine the items by keeping them isolated from other belongings, then treat them by leaving them in the sun, washing in hot water, and using disinfectants to ensure any potential bed bugs are eliminated.
• Protective Covers: Use bed bug-proof covers on mattresses and bed bases.
• Regular Cleaning: Vacuum regularly and declutter your living space to reduce hiding spots
• Travel Precautions: Bed bugs can easily spread during travel, so inspect before unpacking and if you notice any bites or signs of bed bugs, notify hotel staff immediately. Elevate luggage (keep bags on luggage racks, not on the floor or bed) and wash clothes in hot water and dry them on high heat as soon as you return home.

Treatment Guidelines

As certified pest control professionals, Gippsland Pest Management is committed to delivering targeted and effective bed bug treatments. To maximize the success of our intervention, we ask clients to follow these essential preparation steps before our technicians arrive:

Bedding and Soft Furnishings Preparation:
• Remove All Soft Items: Please remove all bedspreads, sheets, pillowcases, mattress pads, blankets, curtains, and similar soft furnishings from the area to be treated.
• Wash Thoroughly: Wash these items at the highest possible temperature. Bed bugs are effectively killed when exposed to temperatures above 45°C. We recommend washing the items with detergent at a minimum of 50°C for at least 15 minutes.
• Drying: After washing, dry the items in a dryer at a temperature exceeding 60°C for at least 20 minutes to ensure all bed bugs are eliminated. Make sure the entire load reaches the required temperature throughout the cycle.
• Alternative Freezing Method: If washing is not possible, place the infested items in sealed bags and store them in a freezer. Ensure the core temperature of the items reaches -17°C or lower, maintaining this temperature for at least 2 hours.

Vacuuming:
• Thorough Vacuuming: Vacuum all areas where bed bugs may be present, including floors, furniture, and mattresses, to remove eggs and larvae.
• Disposal: After vacuuming, immediately seal the vacuum bag or collected waste in a tightly sealed plastic bag and dispose of it in an outdoor waste bin to prevent any remaining bed bugs from escaping.

Treatment Approach

The effectiveness of bed bug treatment depends on a customized approach based on the specific location and severity of the infestation. We often employ a combination of insecticides to achieve optimal results:

• Water-Based Insecticides: Ideal for treating large surfaces like mattresses, carpets, and upholstery, these insecticides penetrate deeply into fabrics and cracks, addressing bed bugs at all stages of their lifecycle.
• Aerosol Insecticides: These are particularly effective for smaller, hard-to-reach areas such as crevices in furniture, baseboards, and behind electrical outlets, ensuring a thorough treatment.

By applying a combination of these insecticides, we provide a comprehensive treatment strategy that prevents the infestation from spreading. Please ensure all safety requirements are followed during and after the treatment.

Detecting bed bugs early can save you from a significant infestation. By knowing what to look for—whether it's the bugs themselves, signs of their presence, or the bites they leave behind—you can act quickly. If you suspect a bed bug infestation, it's crucial to contact Gippsland Pest Management to address your concerns.