What is a bed bug
The bed bug is a parasitic insect that feeds on blood of people while they sleep. These insects are about 5 to 7 mm when they are adolescents or adults. We can compare their size to an apple seed which turns from brown to reddish after feeding. They reproduce and spread rapidly and are considered a nuisance. They have an oval and flat body, which helps them hide easily. They are visible to the naked eye, move at the speed of an ant, and do not jump or fly. These parasites have a lifespan of 5 to 6 months, but they can live for more than a year without feeding when they enter a state of dormancy.
The whitish eggs are the size of a pinhead and are placed in small, tight spaces. They hatch approximately 10 to 14 days after being laid by the bed bugs.
Habitat
These insects like to hide near where they feed, such as on the mattress and the box spring. They can hide in the seams, under the mattress or bedding. When the infestation grows larger, bed bugs can hide elsewhere in the bedroom and in other rooms. For example, they can hide in furniture, drawers, clothes, bags or suitcases, chairs, sofas, carpets, curtains, moldings, behind baseboards or electrical outlets, cracks, papers, books...
The spread of bed bugs
Bed bugs can spread through close contact with infested items such as clothing, bags, armchairs, mattresses, furniture... That's why it's important to wash fabrics in hot water in the washer and inspect used furniture found on the street or in second-hand furniture stores before bringing them into your home.
During travel, bed bugs can hide in clothes and suitcases.
How to know if we have bed bugs?
Bites on the skin
Bed bug bites are usually found on the arms, shoulders, back, abdomen, and legs. Some people have no visible reactions while others have red welts similar to mosquito bites and itching which is more present in the morning. However, bed bugs do not transmit diseases.
- Blood stains: There may be blood stains on the sheets or mattress.
- Excrement: Small black spots can be present on and under the mattress, on the sheets, at the bed base, on the furniture, or anywhere they can be found.
- Presence of bed bugs: The presence of live or dead bed bugs can be found near their hiding places.
- Molts and eggs: The presence of dead skins and white eggs can be found in the contaminated environment.
Prevention
- Regular cleaning: You can vacuum frequently on carpets, mattresses, and furniture and throw the vacuum cleaner bag in a closed garbage bag after its use.
- Avoid clutter: By avoiding accumulating objects and leaving them around your home, you will reduce the hiding places for bed bugs.
- Inspection of furniture: You can check for the presence of bed bugs with a flashlight or the light of your phone to check for the presence of this insect. You can remove the drawers from your furniture to check for bed bugs under the drawers, the rails, and the cracks of the furniture. When you buy used furniture, take the time to inspect it to avoid bringing it into your home.
- Buying a mattress cover: Purchasing a mattress cover and bed bug-proof pillows helps protect the mattress and prevents bed bugs from hiding in it.
- Heat: Bed bugs do not survive at temperatures exceeding 60°C, so you can wash your sheets and clothes in hot water and use the dryer. When you purchase used textile items, wash them directly in the washer with hot water and dry them in the dryer before bringing them into the house. For items that cannot go into the washer or dryer, inspect the item or treat it with a hot steam machine.
- Repairing cracks: Filling the cracks and crevices in the walls and floors helps restrict the movement of bed bugs in the house.
- Inspection upon returning from travel: When you return from your trip, place your suitcases on a hard surface such as tile and inspect your things. You can take a shower and clean with hot water the clothes used during the trip. You can also put your suitcase in a sealed and well-closed bag before storing it.
Moving
If you choose a moving company, make sure to find out about the measures they have in place for bed bugs. On the moving day, inspect the truck to ensure it has been cleaned and is free of bed bugs before placing your belongings in it.
You can place your textile items in sealed plastic bags, which will prevent bed bugs from getting into your things. You can also seal your cardboard boxes by closing the cracks with adhesive tape.
Education
If you have questions about bed bugs, make sure to look for information from reliable sources such as certified exterminators or the Québec government website which provides information about bed bugs.
What to do if we have signs of bed bugs
When you discover the presence of bed bugs in your home, it's important to act quickly to eliminate the infestation which can become significant, and to call an exterminator to safely eliminate this pest.
You should avoid applying store-bought insecticides because the products can be dangerous for your health and bed bugs can develop a resistance if the product is not suitable, which can make it difficult to exterminate this pest later.
Photo by Alexandra Gorn