But my delicate nature resisted, I want to use more civilized ways. I began to find out, but no one knows anything about bed bugs, but there is a lot of information about bed bugs. The problem has become more complicated because I need to study everything about these insects from scratch, which delays the process of treatment. I am asking for expert help. Need to understand where bed bugs live, what they look like, how to get rid of them at home. Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you soon.
The author of the portal answers the question:
In my material below, you will learn about bed bugs and how to control them at home.
Bed bugs. Main signs
For Destroy various parasites there are special ways. Not all of them are universal. For this reason, it is necessary to determine exactly which pests got into the apartment.
What bed bugs look like
Features of appearance insects:
- thin trunk of the mouth apparatus (stabbing-sucking type, which allows the pest to pierce human skin, sucking blood);
- Brown color in a quiet state of the body, after eating the color of the outer covers darkens (takes on a burgundy-black hue);
- 6 limbs;
- polysyllabic tendrils;
- under a microscope you can see the tiny tufts that cover the back of the parasite;
- body size small - 6 to 8 mm, when the insect receives a portion of food, immediately becomes larger (increases by 1.5-2 times);
- bed bugs don't have wings;
- the body is segmented.
Close-up photos of adults and their larvae
Young and mature specimens are similar in appearance.
У larvae many characteristic features inherent to insects of this species. However, their body size is several times smaller (1-1.5 mm); as they go through the molting stages, the bed bug increases (by 0.5-1 mm every week). The color of the carapace of young individuals is much lighter - milky, gradually turning darker. Their outer covers are still transparent, so you can clearly see the blood that the parasite consumes (bright red in color).
How to distinguish bed bugs from other pests
If bite marks appeared in the morning, it is necessary to understand who exactly is attacking. There are a number of specific signs to distinguish pests of different kinds:
- cockroaches: cockroaches remotely resemble only the larvae, the similarity is due to the same body size at this stage of development, coloration, but cockroaches move much faster, the back part of their abdomen is wider;
- Fleas: The body is oval, flattened on the sides, not on top, as in bedbugs, the color is darker, and the hind legs are longer, fleas look somewhat different, so they only remotely resemble bedbugs;
- mites: these are small spider-like creatures, the body length varies from 0.5 to 3 mm, the color can be gray, brown, the mite has 8 limbs;
- human louse (dress louse): body length up to 4 mm, transparent, light brown outer coat, body narrow, oblong, louse only vaguely resembles a linen louse bedbug.
Bites. Symptoms
The main attribute attacks of the parasite - the appearance of 2-3 bites, forming a similar stripe. At the same time, the puncture points themselves can vary greatly from person to person, which is determined by the different level of sensitivity of the organism to foreign substances:
- redness;
- swelling;
- itching;
- painful sensations;
- a red dot in the center of the hyperemic area.
Less often develops allergic reaction with stronger manifestations.
There are signs of anaphylactoid reactions, Quincke's edema (in particular, disturbed breathing).
How to treat bed bug bites
Appointment after examination by a doctor is made taking into account the degree of damage to the outer skin. Preparationswhich are used to relieve the patient's condition:
- anti-inflammatory (non-steroidal and glucocorticosteroids);
- antipruritic;
- antihistamines;
- painkillers.
Hormones of the first group are universal.
They simultaneously eliminate different symptoms: swelling, pain, inflammation, allergies. You can consider local and systemic remedies in different forms: pills, ointments, cream, gel. Also use folk remedies, such as baking soda pulp. However, this will only eliminate the symptoms, but not the cause of the negative manifestations.
Where do they live and where do they come from
Linen bedbugs reproduce very quickly, so they spread to neighboring apartments that are not yet infested. This is caused by overcrowding and lack of food. Other factors contributing to bed bugs entering an apartment:
- large-scale treatment of neighbors' homes with insecticides, with some of the individuals spreading into neighbors' dwellings;
- accidental penetration: inside a bag, suitcase, together with equipment, clothes, furniture;
- on the hair of pets.
The main ways of penetration of bed parasites into the territory of the neighboring apartment:
- cracks in the floor, walls;
- communications (sections of the floor, where the pipes are brought in), ventilation ducts;
- leaks between the door frame and the supporting structures of the opening.
Insects enter private homes through belongings, as bed bugs are not in the habit of crawling outdoors in search of food.
Their body is designed so that pests can remain without blood for a long time, waiting for the host.
We need to know how to get rid of laundry bedbugs: the first step is to look for parasite nests. They are found in different areas:
- first of all, bedbugs looking near the man's sleeping place;
- outlets;
- baseboards (on the surface, from the inside);
- carpeting (on the underside);
- frame and upholstered furniture;
- light fixtures and other appliances near the bed;
- wall decor elements;
- cabinets, drawers, chests of drawers.
How to get rid of bed bugs at home
Measures that can be carried out independently, without the involvement of the sanitary and epidemiological station:
- performed spring-cleaningThis is the initial step in the process of getting rid of bed bugs, and the nests of pests are found, and traces of insects are removed;
- treat surfaces with a vinegar solution (vinegar to water ratio of 1:1);
- An alternative method to scare away vermin is based on the use of ammonia (add 1 tbsp. to a bucket of water), wash the floor with this solution;
- When deciding how to get rid of bed bugs, you must not forget to move furniture away from the walls, which will facilitate the search for nests and cleaning, as well as the procedure for applying bed bug repellent.
How to treat bedding
Insecticidal preparations is not recommended for this task, it can have a negative effect on the health of the occupants of the apartment/house. Recommendations for treating bed linen:
- washing at high temperature (from +60°C and above);
- drying by selecting a special program in the machine (duration - at least 20 minutes);
- Ironing, with the iron in any mode will help destroy the eggs that could not be destroyed by the first methods.
What and how do bed bugs eat in the apartment
Such parasites prefer to attack humans. Their only food source is the blood of warm-blooded creatures. This group also includes birds and animals. However, they are the last to be considered by the bedbug.
There is enough food for insects of this species at home, but this is only if a person sleeps in his apartment every day.
The process of getting food is realized by means of a stabbing-sucking mouthpiece. The tick inserts its proboscis under a person's skin and injects saliva containing a substance similar to an anesthetic. Through another channel inside the mouthpiece, the victim's blood enters the parasite's body.
The proboscis works instead of the pump.
What are the dangers of bed bugs?
First of all, there is a high risk of allergies. Bed bug bites do not infect people with dangerous diseases. Insects of this species are known to carry disease-causing agents, but bacteria and viruses are not transmitted when attacking humans, because they enter the digestive tract. From there they have no way back to the salivary ducts.
There is also a deterioration in the sanitary condition of the apartment.
As parasites live in a person's home, they leave large amounts of feces, shell husks, and empty egg shells. There is an unpleasant smell at home. The reason for this condition of the apartment is that the insects multiply rapidly. A room can become completely infested in a few months. And the parasites themselves will be overcrowded, some of the individuals may go in search of a new home.
Effective remedies for exterminating bed bugs
The most effective methods are hot and cold fogging. However, they can only be implemented if professional equipment is available (sprayers delivering a fine mist of insecticide solution to the nozzle outlet).
You can consider more real methods of controlling parasites at home: household chemicals, temperature exposure.
The Great Power of Boiling Water
The insects die in heat as well as in contact with hot water. They do not like to be in a room where the air temperature has risen to +39°C. However, although the pests are afraid, they still bite people under such conditions. Death occurs when the temperature rises to +45 ° C, but not earlier than 45-60 minutes. If you are wondering how to get rid of bed bugs, you need to remember to increase the temperature to +55 ° C, with the death comes in a few minutes.
You can achieve such a result by using a steam generator or the boiling method.
The best chemical insect killers
Preparations to help get rid of blood-sucking pests:
- Hector - powder, gaining popularity, it does not contain insecticides, safe for humans, but contributes to the death of pests, because the particles are delayed on the chitinous shell of parasites, violate its integrity, provoke the loss of fluid, rapid death;
- Get - emulsion containing microscopic capsules with insecticide inside, this drug disrupts the function of the nervous system, against which the pests die;
- The Executioner - one-component product, is effective (kills different insects), it is also characterized by the ability to affect the nervous system of bed bugs, which causes paralysis and then death.
Question and answer section
If it is not completely clear how to deal with bed bugs, where they come from and what they are dangerous, you can check with a specialist.
Are bed bugs afraid of laundry?
Is a louse or bedbug different?
How do you distinguish between bed bugs and mites?
Prevention, how to prevent bed bugs from reappearing
After completing the disinfestation of the apartment, it is necessary to take measures that will help avoid encounters with insects in the future:
- regular inspection of the condition of upholstered furniture;
- periodically treat the floor and hard surfaces with folk remedies (vinegar solution, denatured alcohol, ammonia), alternating them with household insecticide-based preparations;
- Fight parasites with essential oils, which repel insects and leave a pleasant smell;
- You need mortar or silicone to fill gaps in the floor, walls, window and door unit;
- block the ventilation, for this use a fine mesh mesh.
Reviews
Tips from the experts
- if there are many bites, and the spots are large, antihistamines (tablets) are taken, in addition treat the affected areas with hormonal ointment, but such treatment is allowed to spend a short time, so as not to cause a negative reaction of the body;
- If possible, it is necessary to fight the pests as safely as possible, because you will soon have to return to this room and live, for example, using the method of freezing or boiling.
Conclusion
Bed bugs can be brought home in different ways: with furniture, clothes. But often these parasites themselves crawl in search of food. You can get rid of them if you know the peculiarities:
- The larvae are much lighter than the adults, but they look very similar, even though they are smaller. To remove bed bugs, you need to destroy not only adults (sexually mature insects), but also offspring and nests.
- You can get rid of parasites with the help of folk remedies, household products based on insecticides, physical effects (temperature method). If you have allergies at home, the latter method will do.
To prevent re-infestation of the apartment in the future, resort to methods: treat the floors, furniture with a vinegar solution, block the access of pests to the apartment (through cracks in the floor, walls, ventilation shaft).
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