Top 10 reasons why bed bugs breed in an apartment or private home, where they come from, how they appear in the bed, a person's bed

Reader Question:

Anna

We recently disinfested my grandmother's apartment (we took her in for a while). Now there are no parasites, but the possibility of their appearance is high - three times in one year the problem has returned. I do not understand where bed bugs in the apartment, and how to deal with them correctly. At first we coped with ourselves, although it is difficult: my grandmother has a lot of things, some of them had to be thrown away, because it is difficult to notice the insects among the junk.
В последний раз не стали сами возиться, заказали дезинсекцию. После этого тоже пришлось все убирать, но зато эффективность способа выше. И действительно, прожили без клопов несколько месяцев. Но вот вчера бабуля звонит, говорит, опять кто-то кусает по ночам. Сил уже нет. Я понимаю, что если мы снова закажем дезинсекторов, результат будет аналогичный, т. е. нулевой. Вижу, что без профессиональной помощи не обойтись. Прошу совета, как мне поступить: заказывать обработку или, возможно, есть другие варианты. Буду благодарна за ответ. Анна.

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What a house bed bug looks like. Close-up photos

There are different kinds of people living at home Insects. Not all of them can be spotted because they occur at night. This includes bed bugs. You need to know what it looks like, then you can confirm your fears of an infestation in the apartment. The main signs of the parasite are:

• flattened body 6-8 mm in length, this is an average value, sometimes the pests can be smaller (young individuals), larger (bed bugs after ingestion increase several times);
• The color of the outer covers is brownish-burgundy, sometimes milky-white if a larva is seen, or light brown when a nymph is seen;
• 3 pairs of limbs;
• The part of the mouth apparatus visible to the naked eye is a short, powerful proboscis;
• the body is segmented, becomes rounded after eating, the color of the outer shell changes to a darker color.

Signs of bed bugs in the house

As the existence of Insects leave behind a lot of traces.

The more pests, the worse the dwelling looks.

One of the signs is the chitinous shells shed by the larvae/nymphs at each stage of development. This "husk" appears in places where insects congregate, but gradually spreads throughout the apartment. Other signs will be discussed below.

Red bites on the body

Locations of contact with parasites are different in appearance from traces of attack by other insects. Red dots of caked blood and hyperemic areas remain. They form a line-like pattern, as the parasite bites several times, while it advances along the host's body. Traces of the attack are visible where the skin was exposed at night: arms, legs, neck, face. If the person sleeps without pajamas, the bites can be found everywhere.

Bedbug smell

As a result of their vital activity, bed bugs secrete a biological fluid (a special Secret), they leave behind excrement.

It is difficult to get rid of the smell, even if you clean the apartment from the parasites.

Its intensity increases as the pests multiply. The smell is somewhat reminiscent of old cognac.

Brown stains on the bed

There may be different reasons for this:

• there are parasites living inside the mattress or on its surface (in the seams);
• bed bugs cannot move quickly, if a person changes his position at night, press the insect, the parasite, having drunk blood, will burst (literally, because its body enlarges).

Usually the appearance of red spots on the bed is accompanied by other signs - a dead insect is found nearby.

Black spots from bed bugs

Where pests The insects' excrement is the insect's excrement. We are talking about the excrement of insects. These are black dots of small size. With the existence of bed bugs, the amount of excrement increases, they enter into the upholstery of furniture, wood and chipboard material. It is extremely difficult to get rid of the dark spots after the parasites have been exterminated.

Sources and causes of bed bugs in the apartment

It may seem that parasites always come from the neighbors. In fact, this is only one probable factor. There are other causes of bed bugs in the apartment. But they all fall into two groups:

• accidental ingestion by various means (furniture, equipment, animals);
• targeted relocation of pests (from adjacent premises).

Neighbors or neighboring premises

This is the most common reason bed bugs in the apartment. Contributing factors:

• escape because of the full-scale control of parasites: when they begin to destroy them with insecticide-based means (hot, cold fog, sprays, sprays), bed bugs escape in a hurry (but only some can leave the infested object, the rest die);
• searching for additional food sources, which happens if there are too many parasites in a limited area.

Pests will climb through communications: ventilation, pipes, as well as through cracks in the supporting structures.

Moving around in things

Penetration options bedbugs to new residential areas are numerous:

• dormitory: when roommates move in;
• travel (hotels): inside suitcases, sleeping bags;
• on the clothes;
• bags that are stored inside the infected apartment and are rarely used.

From tourist trips

Sometimes parasites brought back from travel, business trips, but this is not a frequent occurrence.

The reason is simple - bed bugs always rush to humans because they need food.

They are not looking for a place to hide, because they have already made nests in the hostel or motel. So, bed bugs get inside the suitcase by accident, for example, if they couldn't get out, or if they ended up there with the clothes they moved around in but didn't have time to hide.

Furnished

This is another common factor explaining why bed bugs appear in the house. Where furniture has been stored, there could be parasite nests. The same thing happens with new and old products. However, the second scenario is still more likely to occur: insect nests are more often found inside used furniture.

On the clothes.

Bed bugs can establish themselves inside closets. Here they leave clutches everywhere, including on things that have not been used for a long time. It is impossible to know that bed bugs live there unless there are too many parasites, so someone who wears infested clothing may not know that insect eggs exist, or that adult parasites exist in the folds of the clothing. When he goes to visit, bed bugs crawl out, they find themselves in unfamiliar territory. In addition, when buying used clothing, a person runs the risk of buying things with a surprise (insects).

With appliances

If in a residential apartment, where bed bugs live, equipment (working, but not functioning) has been idle for a long time, the emergence of insects inside the nest is a matter of time.

Gradually there will be a lot of bed bugs, and the bed (inside the structure or in the folds of the mattress) will not have enough space for all of them.

They will look for new crevices to live in. When selling or transporting infested equipment to the country house or relatives' home, the parasites will find themselves in uninhabited territory and quickly repopulate it.

On animal hair

This is one of the rarest factors, but still this option is also possible. The mechanism of its realization can be different. One scenario: the animal shows interest in everything, so it climbs into hard-to-reach areas, where insect eggs cling to the fur. Rarely do pets carry adult parasites, young ones do. This happens when bed bugs do not have enough food, they attack animals, but because of the fur they cannot quickly hide, and therefore remain on the body of the dog / cat, get into the apartment not yet infested.

Video tip (photo + video): causes of house bugs in the house

Bedbugs in new housing. How is this possible

In the new building, too, may appear кbones. But this happens most often due to forced relocation, when insects are brought into uninhabited areas along with their belongings. For example, if they transport old furniture or equipment. Workers can also bring parasites: on their clothes, with tools and other things.

Why do bed bugs reappear after treatment?

A common cause is a violation of the rules of preparation before treating the room. However, it is even more important to treat all rooms (together with your neighbors). If an apartment is infested, it is important to remember that bed bugs have come from nearby housing.

Even if the parasites are eliminated, there is still a risk of pests re-entering the same area after treatment.

How to get rid of bed bugs at home

It is recommended to use the combined method. It is based on the simultaneous use of different types of means, methods of controlling bed bugs.

Conditions for effective insect control

To remove the parasites, you need to perform the actions:

• close all routes of waste for insects: ventilation ducts, cracks in the areas where pipes enter through the ceiling, leaking window and door units;
• Treatment with chemicals is carried out indoors;
• immediately after spraying the substance can not do general cleaning, you need to wait 2 weeks for the insecticide to kill the larvae that have emerged from the eggs, because through the protective shell poisons do not penetrate;
• It is necessary to make sure to repeat the treatment after 10-14 days.

Folk methods

Such funds only discourage insects. For this reason, folk methods are used as an auxiliary measure. Common options:

• essential oils - Prepare a solution (dilute a few drops with water), spray it on surfaces, but you must be prepared to leave a greasy residue, the most effective oils: geranium, eucalyptus, basil, tea tree;
• vinegar solutionThe main component is mixed with water (1:1) and surfaces are washed with this product;
• turpentine-based recipe: take 100 ml of the main component, the same amount of ethyl alcohol, 5 g of camphor;
• boric acid: house bugs feed on blood, so baits do not work on them, the powder of this agent is scattered on surfaces (on the floor, in the couch, bed);
• denatured alcohol and naphthalene - the component is taken in the ratio of 300 ml and 10 g.

Modern chemicals

This is an effective method of controlling bed bugs. Preparations can be used to kill all individuals (of different ages), the only exception being pest eggs. Common preparations:

1. Raid based on a venom from the pyrethroid group. The active ingredient affects the nervous system of the bedbug. The insects are killed by paralysis. This product comes in the form of an aerosol. It should be applied with the windows closed, using personal protective equipment (mask, gloves, goggles).
2. Dichlofos (any of the types of this drug: Varan, Neo, etc.). It is an aerosol that is equally effective on different pests. To kill bed bugs, it is important to spray the substance over all surfaces, including hidden and hard-to-reach ones. The composition includes substances from the pyrethroid group. Their type varies depending on the variety of Dichlofos. Most often the composition includes 2 components. In addition, the means of this group contain piperonyl butoxide. This substance does not belong to the insecticides, but can enhance their action.
3. Combat. This is another type of aerosol. It is distinguished by the presence of a nozzle with a minimum cross-section size. This allows you to treat hidden areas. The nozzle is put on the atomizer, placed with the free end inside a loose area where bed bugs can get in. This area is then treated.
4. Clean House: It comes in many forms, but spray and powder are helpful against bed bugs. The former will allow you to treat areas that have been removed. Powder, on the other hand, is an additional measure. It is sprinkled on different surfaces, including the interior of the couch and bed. Such a product does not attract parasites. However, in direct contact with it, the active components penetrate into the body, damaging the chitinous shell.
5. Delta Zone. This product is considered professional. It is available as a microencapsulated emulsion and contains deltamethrin. Like other insecticides, this substance has a devastating effect on the nervous system of the bedbug. In addition, the product simultaneously destroys other pests (flies, cockroaches, fleas, ants). It is necessary to prepare a solution, for which the drug is diluted with water. The concentration of the active substance is determined individually, which depends on the type of insect that is being fought.

Preventive measures against reinfection

To avoid problems again in the future, you should follow a number of rules and recommendations:

• Minor repairs are carried out in the infested apartment: door units, windows, floors, with the aim of closing the access ways for the insects to new territories;
• Floors are cleaned with a product based on ammonia (dilute a small amount in 1 bucket of water);
• inside furniture, along baseboards, scented cotton pads: apply a few drops of essential oils;
• use fragrant herbs: WormwoodThe plants should be placed around the apartment (inside cabinets, under a person's bed, in the ventilation shaft);
• regularly inspect the room and look for signs of infestation: husks (shells of young individuals), excrement of bed bugs (black spots), etc;
• From time to time preventive treatment of the room is carried out, this is done with the help of insecticides, odorless products should be used, they are applied inside the upholstered furniture.

Strong-smelling substances create unacceptable conditions for bedbugs. The parasites end up in the bed every night because they have a well-developed sense of smell. And after treatment with strong smelling agents, they can't stay there for long.

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Tips from the experts

Anna

Entomologist, researcher. Work experience of 16 years.

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- bed parasites will not infect neighboring apartments as long as they feel safe and have access to a food source, but if they are forced to leave the object (start fighting), there will be a resettlement of some parasites, which is why you should immediately spray insecticide in all neighbors;
- you cannot feel protected from bed bugs even in a new apartment, if someone brings in infected things, even a newly built dwelling will become a breeding ground for parasites;
- An obligatory step in the fight is to fill all the cracks, close the ventilation ducts, install mosquito nets on the windows, this will not allow new parasites to enter the territory of the object, as well as prevent the spread of existing parasites.

Conclusion

When they start to struggle with bedbugs, it is necessary to find ways of their entry into the territory of an uninfected apartment. Peculiarities of finding the causes:

1. The source of the insects can be a neighboring apartment, belongings, animals, appliances, furniture. Infestation occurs when buying/selling appliances, an old sofa, or from guests who come over.
2. Parasites in a new building, too. It happens if someone gets parasites on clothes or other things.
3. Re-infestation is the result of violation of treatment rules. To achieve the desired result it is necessary to use different types of remedies at the same time, for example, folk, chemical, as well as sprays, powders, etc.