I've heard of folk recipes that should work. I want to use wormwood, I have a lot of it at home. I dried it in the summer, but I don't use it very often. It is a case where all the stars aligned. It's just a question of how to use it. It is necessary to understand how best to use wormwood from bed bugs in the apartment. The parasites we have at grandmother's house were exterminated, so the remedy will be used to repel, no more than that. Perhaps there is a more effective method of using such an herb. Thank you in advance for the answer.
The author of the portal answers the question:
Bed bugs are afraid of smell. The structure of the parasites
The main feature of the sense organs bedwetting pests is a nerve-sensitive unit. It is called a sensilla. These units are located on the antennae that help pests navigate in space.
Sensillae are micro hairs at the base of which are receptors responsible for the perception of odors.
This feature saves bed bugs from the need to observe what is going on around them. The pests are well oriented without the organs of vision, although they have them.
Scientists have not yet fully determined what kind of odors attract parasites to a person: the components of sweat (in various stages of decomposition), components of exhaled air, or maybe not scents at all, but heat.
But not all of the sensilla are equally sensitive to the same components.
Are bed bugs afraid of wormwood. What the plant looks like. Close up photos
Parasites avoid all odors. But what makes them most uncomfortable is an intense aroma. The source can be anything: vinegar or another household substance, as well as herbs (tansy or wormwood).
The parasites will try to find another place to live if they are constantly exposed to scents.
Wormwood contains essential oils, which have a pronounced effect on the senses of parasites. And their content in the herb is substantial - up to 2%. Other components in the plant also repel insects: alcohols, bitterness, etc. These substances contribute to the appearance of an intense aroma, bitter and very rich.
These features contribute to the strengthening of the negative effect on parasites. In addition, due to its composition, wormwood takes the leading position among all remedies of this type (used due to its strong aroma), repels insects better than others, and does not harm people when used in the home.
There are different kinds of the plant. Against bed bugs are used mainly 2 varieties:
- bitter wormwood: reaches 100 cm in height (average), the main difference is the silvery shade of the ground part, the flowers are yellow in color;
- wormwood: height about 200 cm, leaves green, up to 10 cm long, inflorescences reddish in color.
Wormwood growing places
Растение широко распространено. Встречается в разных странах, на различных континентах: в США, Европе, Африке. На территории нашей страны полынь сильнее распространена в европейской части.
The grass grows best on well-moistened soils with a neutral composition. In addition, this plant is more often found along roadsides, near houses, near fences, in overgrown fields, meadows, vegetable gardens, edges.
It's a very tenacious weed, not easy to get out, which is especially good when you often have to use the flowers or the green part of the shrub for home use.
What time is the collection
It is important to collect the herb in time, otherwise it will lose most of its useful components and will be less effective. Recommendations for collecting and harvesting raw materials:
- before flowering or in the initial stages of budding;
- It is acceptable to collect and olive tops during flowering (up to 25 cm in length);
- The root leaves are cut off, leaving the petioles, and this should be done at the stage of budding or just before it.
Dry the grass in the shade. Exposure to a temperature source up to +50 ° C is allowed. It is best to choose the method of natural drying. Sufficient thickness of the grass layer in this case is up to 3 cm.
Where to buy wormwood and at what price
Можно искать растение на рынках у травников. Однако более надежный вариант – покупка в аптеке. Стоимость полыни (50 г) составляет 65-70.
How wormwood works on bed bugs
This method has no deleterious effect on parasites. Wormwood (neither fresh nor dry) does not kill parasites. It acts as a repellent, but only of plant origin. Even if you pour an infusion or decoction on the insects' nest, it will not have a proper effect on the parasites.
Wormwood helps create unacceptable conditions habitat for bed bugs. Considering that insects are guided by their senses, they will not be able to find a food source on an object with a strong smell of plants. Insects will seek to bypass the source of the odor, but in fact it is impossible to do so.
Bed bugs may tolerate the inconvenience for a while, but eventually they leave the shelters.
If you're wondering if wormwood helps with bedbugs or not, we need to consider the question from the other side. Thus, these pests are among the most hardy. They adjust to different factors, withstand the impact of extremely high and low temperatures, survive even when the object is treated with insecticides. This contributes to the creation of conditions in which the parasite organism is mobilized to endure the next harmful influence.
If the bed bugs have been hungry for a long time, wormwood or another folk remedy won't stop them anymore. The insects will continue to exist under such conditions and will even attack humans. So, it is necessary to understand the limit of possibilities of this remedy. If when using wormwood from bed bugs in the apartment no results are noticeable, it is necessary to stop using it. It is recommended to switch to insecticides.
Wormwood Uses
There are different remedies for bedbugsYou can use any of them.
But it's important to understand which option helps more.
The condition of the dwelling is evaluated. Based on this, a decision is made as to the best method of application.
Pharmacy Wormwood
It is sold in dried form. Such a raw material is less effective because the flavor is weaker than that of the fresh plant. However, it can be used to prepare other remedies. In this case, wormwood is used as the main component. Prepare decoctions, tinctures, also the smell of wormwood well preserves the essential oil.
Dried mugwort from bed bugs
Self-collected herbs are also used at home. There are also two options: fresh or dry. The first option is more preferable. Fresh raw material is spread around the room, first of all - next to the bed, under the mattress, inside the furniture and behind it on the floor. If pickling insects has to in winter, wormwood will only be available in dry form.
It can also be spread around the apartment, but the parasites are more afraid of fresh raw materials.
Wormwood Tincture
Prepare such a remedy for a long time - for 1 month. Recipe:
- mix alcohol and fresh wormwood in equal parts;
- Leave in a place where no sunlight falls, preferably store the tincture in a container of dark glass;
- after 1 month you can apply wormwood from bed bugs, the remedy is applied to the areas where the parasites are found.
You can make a more or less concentrated product.
In any case, the effect of essential oils will be enhanced by alcohol, because the parasites do not tolerate it either.
This product has many disadvantages: a strong odor of alcohol, a long period of preparation, high cost, and the need to constantly repeat the treatment procedure, because the active ingredients quickly evaporate.
Wormwood decoction
The ratio of raw materials to water can be different.
But the effectiveness of the remedy increases as the concentration of wormwood increases.
One way to prepare a decoction with a pronounced aroma of herbs: mix 2-4 tbsp. with water (1 cup), the liquid must be brought to a boil. After 10-15 minutes the container is removed from the stove. Then the liquid should be cooled to room temperature, after which it is allowed to apply it to the treatment of places where often encounter parasites.
Mugwort essential oil
Such a remedy can be purchased in a store. Bedbugs are afraid of wormwood, but for people the plant in the form of oil is beneficial, so it can be safely used: put 2-3 drops of the substance on a cotton disc, put it inside furniture or under the bed. For this reason, wormwood-scented cotton disks are spread all over the room.
You can also make your own oil. This requires dry or fresh raw material. Grind the herb (with a knife or scissors), then put it in a container of dark glass. It is necessary to pour wormwood with olive oil. After that, the remedy is left to insist. After 10-12 days, the herb will give useful properties to the oil.
There must be many sources of odor.
Pros and cons of using wormwood
There are about 400 varieties of this plant. Not all of them can be used at home. You need to find out what wormwood looks like to help ward off bed bugs. Then study the properties of the plant. The benefits of using wormwood:
- ease of use: the herbal remedy contains the minimum number of components;
- low cost of production (decoction, essential oil);
- absence of toxic components, which reduces the risk of complications after using home remedies;
- Wormwood is used, not adhering to the scheme, but as needed;
- a herb with bitterness is good for the human body;
- it can be used if there are children at home, with caution - to allergic people.
Disadvantages:
- low efficiency of wormwood, which is due to the weak effect on chitinous membranes, the lack of an aggressive mechanism of action on the nervous system, as in insecticides;
- wormwood can not always be found: the herb is easy to harvest in the summer, but in winter you have to use only dry raw material, which has already partially lost its properties when dried;
- there is no possibility of destroying insect eggs.
How and in what form is better to use wormwood in the home
Plants in fresh form are most effective, they contain a significant proportion of essential oils and therefore repel parasites better. However, in this case, you will need to renew the raw material often, because in the fresh air, in a warm room, it quickly loses its properties.
Essential oils and alcoholic tinctures take longer to show negative effects.
Wormwood against bed bugs is best used in these forms. However, in this case, too, you will need to renew the layer of the substance on all covers every few days.
Video tip: (photo + video): how to scatter grass (wormwood) in the apartment so that bed bugs escape
People's testimonials about using the product
Analogs. Means with high efficacy
When removing parasites from an object, it is recommended to use a variety of means, among which the first positions in popularity are occupied by insecticidal preparations:
- Get. It is a microencapsulated product containing chlorpyrifos (a type of organophosphorus compound). It is used to kill various insects. The emulsion is diluted with water before use. The advantage of the drug is its prolonged action (the product retains its properties longer than analogues due to microcapsules).
- Combat. A large number of products are produced under this brand name. Against bed bugs, aerosols are used more often, as they are more effective than analogues in other forms. The peculiarity of the Combat preparation is the presence of a thin tube for delivery of the poison to the removed crevices.
- The Executioner. Available in small volume bottles, it is a highly effective product. It can be purchased as a concentrate that must be mixed with water before it can be sprayed over surfaces.
- Dichlofos. It is represented by a large number of types, among which there are ecological means, as well as odorless preparations. Dichlofos contains permethrin, which has a devastating effect on the nervous system of parasites.
- Tetrix. This is a one-component drug. However, it has a high concentration of the active ingredient. It is diluted with water before use. Tetrix is a product for professional disinfestation, but it is also used at home, but you can buy it only in a bulk bottle, canister.
Expert tips
- When preparing a remedy based on wormwood (except for the tincture in alcohol), it must be applied immediately, otherwise the already low content of essential oils will decrease;
- If possible, repeat the treatment every day, then the result will be better.
Conclusion
You can buy wormwood or harvest it yourself in the summer. It is important to collect the raw material in time, otherwise the plant will lose some of its properties. Wormwood herb is considered moderately effective against bed bugs, but when using it, it is important to follow some rules, as well as take into account the peculiarities:
- The parasites are odor intolerant because they use their sensitive antennae to orient themselves in the human dwelling. Bed bugs look for food this way, and if they smell something else, it is harder for them to know where to go to get it.
- Mugwort does not kill the bloodsuckers, but contributes to the creation of unsuitable living conditions. The herb should be collected before flowering or at the initial stage of bud formation. Cut off the lower and upper leaves.
- Different means are used for treatment: tincture in alcohol, decoction, essential oil. You can also place fresh raw materials under the bed or inside furniture.
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