Essential oil against bed bugs in the apartment: tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil and others that repel bed bugs

Reader Question:

Lily

I am temporarily in the countryside without transportation (my husband went to town with the kids for a few days). An unpleasant situation happened - I was bitten by bedbugs. I have antiseptics at home, as well as wound healing agents, but there is nothing that would help to destroy the parasites. The settlement here is very small, there is no choice of drugs, I saw some powders, syringes with gel. I couldn't find anything else.
I have a set of essential oils at home. I remembered that they help get rid of bedbugs. But I don't know the scheme, so I'm not going to treat them. I asked my husband to buy effective preparations in the city, he will bring them, but later. Until then, I need something to save myself. I want to understand whether you can apply essential oils from bed bugs in the apartment at home on their own. Tell me what the effect of this means, whether it is worth it to take in general for the treatment of such substances. I would like to sleep well at night. Thank you in advance.

The author of the portal answers the question:

Opinion of an expert

Irina

Zoology major, Department of Biology, specialization - entomologist. "Be faster than a bedbug, then success will come!"

Essential oils are a controversial remedy. It should be seen as an auxiliary measure, because scented substances do not kill the parasites. They only scare away bed bugs. The mechanism is simple: these insects orient in space with the help of the sense of smell, if there is a new smell, it contributes to disorientation of the insects. They can't find their prey. I would recommend using tea tree oil for bed bugs, lavender oil, cumin oil, wormwood oil, orange oil and others. If you have one of these on hand, prepare a solution. You can even spray it over upholstered furniture. It is even better to use a multi-component solution. To do this, add several essential oils to the water.

In my material below, you will learn about the uses of available essential oils to control bed bugs.

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Essential oils - the power of scent

Such products contain volatile components. They are released when treating the room, and even after airing the room, the concentration remains high. This is due to the fact that the components contained in essential oils (aldehydes, hydrocarbons, organic acids, esters, alcohols, etc.) do not break down immediately in open air. Gradually the oily substance does dry out at room temperature. But until then, the product will help get the insects out. If you renew this layer on surfaces frequently, the essential oils will continue to work.

The strength of the smell of such products is precisely the high concentration of volatile components. Bedbugs do not tolerate exposure to aromatic additives. In this case, they will tend to leave the treated room.

Accordingly, most essential oils have a repellent effect. But among them there are some that have a devastating effect on the body of bedwetting parasites.

10 places where domestic bed bugs live and hide day and night how they look, where to look and how to fight 24 — The smell of essential oils scares away uninvited guests

Why bed bugs are afraid of different smells

We need to understand how smell can affect the pests. Nature has provided for the possibility of transmitting information to fellow insects by means of sensitive antennae. The same method is used by insects to search for sexual partners. In the same way pests look for the source of food - they are guided by the concentration of components of the air environment (a person is detected by the emission of carbon dioxide).

Sensitivity of insects is ensured by the presence of sensillae. This is the name given to the similar hairs (or spines) that are located on the antennae (antennae). Sensillae contain neurons.

It is thanks to them that it is possible to perceive the odors of bed bugs.

Studies have been conducted to assess the importance of fragrances for bedbugs. Using micromanipulators with electrodes connected to sensillae, it was found out that bed parasites react only to some components - those excreted by all vertebrates. Remarkably, the insects did not respond to substances secreted only by the human body. This means that they are attracted to the blood of any warm-blooded animals.

Such features make it clear how important the sensilla function is for the parasites. Thus, if essential oil is sprayed in the room against bed bugs, unacceptable conditions for their existence are created. First, you should consider repelling insects with this product. Such a function is performed by oils perfectly - bedbugs can't find a food source, can't pick up pheromones of their brethren.

If a strongly smelling substance is sprayed over all surfaces in the apartment, then the insects have nowhere to go, and in such conditions they can leave the room.

If we consider essential oils in terms of a remedy for bed bug exterminationsIf you have a pest, you should be prepared for the fact that you will not be able to kill the pests in this way. This does not make substances of this group worse than other similar means (turpentine, kerosene, etc.). However, it does not allow you to put them on a par with insecticides. Essential oils repel but do not kill pests. However, even this action is sufficient if such means are used properly.

10 places where house bed bugs live and hide day and night how they look, where to look and how to fight 03 — Bedbugs recognize odors with their antennae

How essential oils work on insects

It is necessary to choose the most effective substances, which are the strongest repellent insects. Bed bugs do not like lavender oil, tea tree oil, wormwood oil, tussock oil, eucalyptus oil. They also do not like camphor oil or transformer oil.

Marianne, 32 years old

I used to save myself with scent supplements while the insects were scarce. But recently my neighbors were poisoning their house, and no one warned me. The bedbugs came to me, there were a lot of them, and I could tell by the bites in the morning. After that I switched to other, more effective remedies.

Anna, 46

I like to use essential oils against bed bugs because of the smell. It always smells nice in the apartment. Even if they didn't help repel the insects, I would still use them. But as a preventative measure, so far they're good enough for me.

Veronica, 29

I want to use natural products instead of chemicals. But this is still only a dream: I tried for a long time to turn a blind eye to the fact that essential oils do not work on bedbugs, I kept spraying them, but I had to admit - it's time to use chemicals, insecticides. That's when I immediately saw the effect.

The most effective essential oils against bed bugs — There are essential oils that bed bugs can't stand the smell of

Using Wormwood

Consider different ways to use essential oils, but it is just as important to choose the right ones. Mugwort has been used against parasites for many decades. It is a natural toolwhich is characterized by an intense pungent odor (due to the bitterness in its composition), but also exhibits weak insecticidal properties. It is the bitter wormwood and common wormwood that have the most negative effect. Insects are afraid of the smell of these herbs. However, it is necessary to consider the high probability of development of resistance in insects to the active components contained in the plant tissues, which may reduce the effectiveness of treatment.

Anna, 33 years old

I have a private house, and wormwood grows behind the fence. I have already got used to this way of fighting with different insects. I just spread the grass around the rooms in hidden places. I have noticed that now there are far fewer pests living in my house.

Tea tree oil

Such a substance remotely resembles an insecticide in its properties. A concentrated solution is prepared for treatment: 2 tsp. of oil, 50 ml of water. The amount of ingredients can be increased, taking into account the proportions. Tea tree oil from bed bugs helps better than many others. It is characterized by an intense smell that Insects are not tolerated. In addition, antiseptic properties of the oil are noted. It is used against various insects: cockroaches, mosquitoes, fleas.

You should add a few drops when washing clothes, this will not allow the insects to settle in the closet on the shelves with clothes.

Irene, 32 years old

This kind of oil against bed bugs smells so strong that even I find it hard to tolerate, but I like the principle of action. Even gnats and flies are not at home, I constantly spray the oily solution. And there is no residue on the surfaces, since the product contains light fats. My husband is used to the fact that our bed smells of oils (I always treat the frame).

Using Lavender

The principle of action of this plant is similar to the considered varieties. Lavender oil is added to water for room treatment: 10 drops per 200-300 ml of water. But you can take even less liquid. In addition, lavender is also used fresh and dry. The first option is more effective because an intense odor is released into the air.

You can combine different forms of the remedy: the use of fresh herbs and solution based on essential oils.

Sarah, 33 years old

I use lavender for my health - it has a calming effect on my nervous system. It smells very nice, and pleases the eye - beautiful sprigs. I also make woven pouches and put them around the cabinets. But this did not save me from bedbugs, I learned about the infection by accident, when there were already bites on the body. So even as a prophylactic against parasites, the remedy didn't work as well as it should.

10 ways to find and look for bed bugs' nests in your apartment 23 — Lavender essential oil

Camphor

It is a pharmacy drug. It is used as a local irritant. The oil exhibits other properties, but in the fight against bedbugsThe volatile substances in its composition are of interest first of all. This product has a strong odor and therefore helps to expel the parasites from the object. It is recommended to use it together with other substances. For example, a remedy against bed bugs, which includes camphor oil and turpentine ointment, is considered effective. The components are used in a ratio of 1:1.

This mixture should be treated different surfaces, it is applied to a point or over the entire coating, which repeatedly increases the effectiveness.

Alice, 29 years old

I was satisfied with the work of the camphor oil-based product, but the smell was unpleasant. I oiled the bottom of the bed frame quite generously. There were no bedbugs inside (on the mattress), so no one else bit me.

Transformer oil

This product is highly viscous and also has a specific odor. It has many disadvantages, for example, it leaves traces on surfaces, which are difficult to remove, because the substance does not evaporate but is absorbed. In addition, it is quite toxic. It should be used with caution. If there is no possibility to choose another option, if you have oil at home, use it as well.

The product should be applied to the bottom of the bed or sofa frame to prevent pests from getting close to the person

Boris, 33

I have tried a couple of times to apply transformer oil. The effect is there, but the smell is unpleasant, it interferes with sleep in such conditions. I gave up halfway through using this method.

Aroma oils

Substances containing aromatic additives are also used (perfume is one of them). It is known that previously the nobles generously "poured" themselves with perfume to protect themselves from bedbugs. At that time, there were no effective insecticides and no studies were conducted to find out how and why bed bugs attacked. As a result, people were saved by superficial knowledge.

The use of perfume is a temporary measure that allows you to spend the night in an infested apartment. In addition, it will not stop hungry insects. It is better to combine it with others. It is also noted that the strong smell of perfume causes negative manifestations in a person: pain and dizziness, nausea.

This is a consequence of exposure to concentrated volatile substances.

Preparing the room for oil treatment

When planning to use any remedy for parasites, it is necessary to take into account the rules of processing. In this case, a special role is given to preparation. Basic measures:

The bedclothes are removed and should be washed at a high temperature;
things are taken out of the closets, some of them are put in plastic bags - in the freezer, which is an excellent prevention of infection (eggs are destroyed), the rest woven items are washed or taken out into the heat (in summer);
The carpet is rolled up and also left in the sun (if the temperature is above +45 ° C), but you can not touch it, in this case, unroll the edges, which will open access to the habitats of vermin at home;

Interior items are removed from the walls, which will allow the rear surfaces to be treated;
check the apartment for nests (floors, baseboards, mattress, pictures, rosettes, wallpaper) - these areas will have to be treated harder with eucalyptus, lavender or other effective oil, which furniture cops are afraid of;
prepare a solution according to the recipe: 25 drops of remedy, 5 liters of water, but you can reduce the amount of liquid, if there are a lot of insects, and also have the opportunity to leave the apartment for a while, because the smell of some plants is not too pleasant (eg, wormwood).

Help of essential oils after a bedbug bite

Most varieties of such substances exhibit a number of useful properties: anti-inflammatory, anti-itching, moderately analgesic, cooling. This helps to stop the signs of stings: pain, redness, itching, swelling. It is important to know what essential oils repel bedbugsbut you should also choose a product based on its effect on the skin. As a result, you can solve several serious problems at once. Recipes based on essential oils:

Tea tree (3 drops), lavender (2 drops) - add to the base (any vegetable-based oil, for example, apricot, almond, grape seed), the oil is smeared on the affected areas;
take tea tree oil, mix it with eucalyptus oil (1 tsp. each) - it is a mixture that eliminates irritation on the skin.

Bed bugs and their bites photos of what they look like and how to get rid of them at home 07 — Essential oils can be used to treat places bites

Video tip (photo + video): repellent essential oils, how to make bed bugs run away

Reviews

Sofia, 33

It took me a long time to decide which option to choose, based on the conditions: my son is allergic, there are animals at home. In this case, chemicals would not work, so I settled on natural remedies. I ended up using lavender from bed bugs. It helped for a little while. When the parasites got hungry, they literally became "fierce" and started attacking more often, and nothing could stop them until I called the exterminators.

Sarah, 40 years old

I chose by price. Essential oils were the cheapest - I already had a supply at home. I decided to treat the apartment so that the bedbugs themselves wanted to go somewhere else. But I also left myself for three days, because I felt dizzy from the strong smell.

Expert advice

Anna

Entomologist, researcher. Work experience of 16 years.

Ask a question

- essential oils work well in pure and diluted form, but in the first case, positive changes can be noticed sooner, but a person can not stay in the apartment for a long time until the smell wears off;
- The means on the basis of essential oils are the only ones that do not require compliance with the formulation, an increase in the dose of the components will enhance the effect of the solution, but a decrease is possible only if the lack of one of the oils is compensated by an increase in the content of the other;
- To protect against bed bugs, regularly apply an oily solution with a sponge or spray it with a sprayer, and it is important to treat the following areas: ventilation holes, baseboards, door frames, windows, all cracks in the floor: bed bugs, once in such an apartment, may go on to find a suitable place to live.

Conclusion

For prevention essential oils can be used for infestation. Their features:

The smell of such products provides the desired effect due to the high susceptibility of insects. The principle of their life activity is based on the ability to sense scents and distribute pheromones so that individuals find each other to mate or, conversely, can warn others of danger.
Concentrated or diluted substances can be used. Combination products - based on several strongly smelling substances: lavender oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, mugwort oil - are considered more effective (according to reviews).
Such remedies can be used on a regular basis for prophylaxis. However, they are not used for the purpose of eradication or combined with more effective analogues.

All bed bug remedies

What essential oils repel bed bugs in the apartment or private house: tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil