I try treating different areas of the apartment, but the bites keep reappearing on the body. I need a different tactic, because mine is not working. And I want to ask for advice on the use of improvised means. After repairs, my budget is full of holes, I can not afford to call exterminators. I suspect that the ill-fated sofa played the role of a Trojan horse. I won't be considering any more second-hand items. In the meantime, explain to me how to deal with bed bugs in the couch, what to do at home, with folk remedies of what type can weed them out. Thank you.
The author of the portal answers the question:
In my material below, you will learn about all the reasons why bed bugs can appear in the couch and what to do in this case.
Couch bug: close-up photos of adults and their larvae
It is advisable to control the insects, provided that their species has been accurately identified. Bed bugs are characterized by a number of characteristics:
- brown coloration of oval segmented oval-shaped body;
- length parasites that have reached the last stage of development is 6-8 mm, sometimes less (4-5 mm), but not more than the specified upper limit;
- 1 pair of tendrils;
- the outer covers are moderately transparent, causing the coloration of the outer covers to vary from brown to burgundy-black with brown undertones;
- 6 limbs;
- wings are missing.
You can tell if a bedbug larva has bitten by the main feature - this insect is much smaller than an adult parasite (body length - 1 mm after emergence from the egg).
The coloring of the outer covers is almost white (milky), but gradually becomes darker. If you wonder what a couch bug looks like at the initial stage of development, you should look at the adult. The rest of the signs (except coloration and size) are unchanged.
What causes bed bugs in the couch
The insects are attracted to the food source. To prevent reinfestation, you need to understand what causes bed bugs to infest your couch.
Such insects seek their host (man) because they depend on him.
They need a regular supply of blood in order to develop and reproduce. But bed bugs only bite people at night. This allows them to appear as well as to disappear without being detected, because in this case the risk of death is much higher because the body enlarges after receiving a portion of blood.
If you need to know how the bedbugs in the couch, it is important to remember that they crawl slowly. To save the resources of the body, to ensure their own safety, the parasites settle inside the couch, where the host sleeps at night. At the same time, the insects move around the dwelling, if the person suddenly decides to move to another place to sleep.
Where do bed bugs in the couch come from
If there are signs of infestation in the apartment or bites The parasites, inspect the object in order to find the path of entry of the insects. You need to understand where bed bugs are coming from in the couch to eliminate all probable causes:
- escape from the neighbors through the ventilation shaft;
- accidental ingress into neighboring areas along with belongings, equipment, and furniture;
- moving inside a suitcase, which is possible during travel when insects end up among the clothes;
- seldom small individuals or their eggs are brought by animals, as the pets constantly show interest in unexplored places.
How to prevent proliferation. Quick responses
At home, you can handle it yourself to stop the infestation of the apartment/house. Recommendations:
- We need to find the nests pestsThen they are destroyed, which will kill most of the parasites, reduce the rate of new individuals (the next generation);
- create conditions in which the insects will be uncomfortable (use strong smelling agents, substances), this can make them leave their hiding places, then it will become clear where the insects live;
- close the ways of penetration into the territory of the dwelling for other vermin: ventilation, deformed areas of supporting structures;
- immediately choose a way to remove bed bugs from the sofa on their own, as well as to carry out disinfestation of the entire room.
How to detect bed bugs in a sofa. What to look out for
It is recommended to look for insects after studying the peculiarities of their life activity. For example, parasites prefer rough, not perfectly smooth surfaces, so they are found less often on leather sofas. They will hide in the base of the wooden structure, sometimes - on the folds inside the product.
If it forms socket bed bugs in the couch, signs of this phenomenon appear. Some of them make the infestation of the apartment obvious immediately, others appear weakly, which does not allow you to notice the problem in time. If you are wondering how to find out if there are bed bugs in the couch, it is enough to stay here overnight.
The first signs of couch bed bugs
When an infestation occurs in an apartment or home, very quickly there are marks on the skin - red spots that itch.
If they are not detected during the day, we can assume that it is the bed parasites.
They are representatives of the only species of pests that prefer to rest during the day and be active at night, biting humans at the same time.
What to look for when inspecting a sofa
The intensity of the signs of infestation changes. When bed bugs appear in the couch, pay attention to the changes:
- a specific smell in the room - where the owner sleeps, it is associated with the aroma of old cognac;
- dark dots, spots - they can be seen on woven materials, wood, but metal often remains clean, this is how the excrement of bed bugs look, they remain in the habitat, because here the parasites feel comfortable, bring their offspring;
- drops of blood on the bedclothes;
- The shells are brown in color and are lost by larvae/nymphs during the molting process.
How to find nests
It is necessary to inspect the dwelling. External signs of bed bugs are most often found on the interior surfaces of the frame and base.
If there are gaps, looseness, it is in these areas that the parasites will be found.
All such constructions should be inspected. It happens that the nest is just beginning to form, in which case there will be few parasites, but then you will find egg shells without embryos inside, as well as a small amount of excrement.
An older nest looks different: there is no room for new parasites because of the increased number of bed bugs, large dark spots are formed - excrement is accumulated. It is easier to find, because there is always contamination (dark spots or other) nearby.
Sofa bed bug bites. Close-up photos of bites
You can treat the apartment as soon as the existence of parasites. Characteristic signs of pests on the host body:
- redness of the place where the puncture was made, and its size can be different, which depends on the sensitivity of the human body;
- the intensity of itching increases in the area where the bite was made - this is a sign of allergy;
- Secondary infection is caused by skin trauma and poor wound care;
- bites form a similar line, which is explained by the peculiarities of bed bugs' movement: the insects make several punctures next to each other.
How to get bed bugs out of the couch at home?
It is advisable to prepare for the procedure by moving the furniture as far away from the wall as possible, closer to the center. This will allow access to the infested upholstered furniture. Then choose a means of exterminating the insects. It is better to consider different methods: exposure to temperature or chemical means. Both are considered effective.
There are some other ways to etch the parasitesbut it is not recommended to go straight to the store to buy them.
It is important to determine whether the product is suitable for the infected piece of furniture (take into account the properties of the upholstery fabric).
Preparing the sofa for treatment
When all areas where parasites can be found have already been examined, it is necessary to study the rules of preparation of furniture for disinfestation. Their violation leads to an increase in the number of colonies. Open access to the hidden areas of the base.
If possible, the sofa is unfolded, in other cases, it is necessary to partially dismantle the structure.
Vacuum cleaner
This is one of the fastest ways to remove bed bugs on your own. Vacuuming helps to collect all individuals (larvae, adults, eggs, shell hulls) from the surface of upholstery. After that, it is recommended to check the seams of the upholstery additionally (egg cartridges could remain).
The last step is to poison the parasites with an insecticide, but the treatment in this case is carried out only on hard surfaces (elements of wooden construction). But eggs and bed bugs remain inside the vacuum cleaner, so it is no longer recommended to use a vacuum cleaner if you choose this method.
Steam generator or heat gun
A heat source (hot steam or heated air) helps clean the surface of the sofa without the use of harsh chemicals. As a result, the sofa bed bugs die instantly. Temperature airflow when using a steam generator exceeds +150°C. The thermowave is even more effective. The temperature of the air stream reaches +560 ° C. This leaves not a single chance for parasites.
However, there is a risk of ruining the upholstery.
Iron
The temperature of the soleplate reaches +200°C when heated. The iron can be used to iron the woven material, this will destroy the parasites (their eggs).
The disadvantage of this method is the high risk of damaging the upholstery material.
Often in the manufacture of upholstered furniture are used synthetic fabrics, they are easily damaged by heat.
Ultrasonic repellents
Such devices are effective against mosquitoes and many other insects. However, they do not provide the desired result if you need to get rid of bed bugs. This is explained by the fact that ultrasound can scare away only those pests whose life activity is somehow related to sound waves of high frequency. For example, mosquitoes transmit and perceive signals with these parameters.
In addition, the devices affect children and small pets.
Insecticides. Chemicals
Bed bugs can be eliminated with household remedies based on poisonous substances. There are different kinds:
- intestinal action;
- contact;
- combined remedies.
To remove parasites from the house is realistic only through the last two varieties.
Intestinal preparations have no effect on bed bugs because these insects do not eat anything else, only the blood of warm-blooded creatures.
Cucaracha
Two-part the drug contains substances of different types: pyrethroids and FOS. This reduces the risk that bed bugs will develop resistance to the poisons. In addition, the negative effect on the pests' nervous system is doubled and death occurs faster.
Combat
This is a two-part the drugbut contains agents of the same class - pyrethroids. The risk of developing resistance in insects remains, but death comes quickly due to the high concentration of poisonous substances.
Get
The active ingredient is chlorpyrifos. The drug is available in the form of a microencapsulated emulsion. As a result, the poison will have a longer effect on the pests.
They die because of irreversible changes in the body.
Clean House
If you choose a way to get rid of bed bugs in the couch, consider this option. It is suitable for self-treatment, it is effective. "Clean House. contains cypermethrin. This substance provokes disturbances in the transmission of nerve impulses, which leads to paralysis.
Bed Bug Raptor
If blood-sucking insects appear, special means are used against them. Raptor contains substances of the same class. One of them (neopinamine-forte) is a tetramethrin derivative (pyrethroid), considered more effective.
Diatomite (or diatomaceous earth)
You can treat the room with preparations in powder form without poisonous substances in its composition. Diatomite contains crushed rock, which means that this bedbug repellent has a traumatic effect, which leads to the violation of the integrity of the chitinous shell of insects, along with dehydration occurs.
Question and answer section
To kill parasites living in a person's home, it is necessary to follow a number of rules, violation of which leads to a decrease in effectiveness. It is possible to avoid such consequences, if you clarify all the points of interest with a specialist. Entomologist Anna Kiryukhina (experience of work - 13 years) answers the question.
Bed bugs in the couch, what to do?
How to know and understand that there are bed bugs in the couch
Bought a new sofa with bedbugs, is this possible?
Found a bedbug nest in the couch, what to do?
If there are insects, do you need to throw out the couch?
Where do bed bugs live in an apartment besides the couch?
Do couch bugs smell?
Video tip (photo + video): couch bugs, what they look like and how to get rid of them quickly
Bed bug extermination by a professional SES service
In this case, use certified products that do not leave traces on furniture, coatings, and are considered conditionally safe for people and animals. Different possibilities for treatment are being considered:
The principle of the work is the same: a fine mist is sprayed, which is distributed throughout the apartment.
The insecticide will remain on the surfaces for a long time to kill pests that later get out of the hiding places.
Reviews of the SES service
Prevention. How to prevent re-infestation of furniture
So that the couch bug did not penetrate into the apartment, you need to eliminate all the passages - gaps in the walls and floor. The vent hole is closed with fine mesh mesh. The sofa is protected from the inside - spread over the frame cotton disks with essential oilsBut it is better to store here herbs with bitterness (wormwood).
Expert tips
- inside the sofa accumulates a lot of debris from parasites (excrement, chitinous shells), so it is not difficult to detect insects, it is more important to completely clean the frame, for this often have to invite professionals from cleaning companies;
- To kill bed bugs inside a sofa, I recommend combining preparations and methods (soft, non-hazardous agents are sprayed over the upholstery and aggressive preparations are sprayed inside the frame).
Conclusion
The main cause of sofa bed bugs on upholstered furniture is human blood. To eliminate the parasites immediately upon detection of the first signs, it is recommended to study the peculiarities:
- Bed bugs are detected by the smell in the room, the presence of empty brown (shells) and light-colored shells. Gradually there are too many of them, it is difficult not to notice such changes.
- The treatment is carried out with insecticide-based preparations, and for sofas it is recommended to use powders or sprays/aerosols. Liquid products are applied to certain areas of the frame, but it is important to ventilate the room thoroughly afterwards.
- Steam generators are effective in destroying bed bugs. Such a device can be used to treat all surfaces of the product, including upholstery, as a result even the eggs of the pests will be killed.
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