What are Bedbugs?

Bedbugs are small insects that are found in furniture or bedding. Bedbug bites can leave the victim feeling very itchy and there may be painful swelling. Adult bedbugs are oval, wingless insects, which are about 5-7 mm long.

They have a flattened body which allows them to hide in cracks and crevices. Unfed, they’re pale yellow / brown in colour, but after biting a host and full of blood, they become larger in size and red / brown colour.

Bedbugs have biting mouthparts that form an elongated sucking tube used to pierce the host’s skin. With three pairs of skinny legs that have tarsal claws for clinging on during feeding.

How can I check if it’s bedbugs?

Adult Bedbugs are around 5mm long and are dark yellow, red or brown in appearance. Common symptoms of an Bedbug infestation include:

• • • Bites – on exposed areas like the face, neck and arms
    • Blood spots – from the bites, droppings or from squishing a bedbug

What is the life cycle of a Bedbug?

• • • Lifespan usually 4-6 months
    • Females lay average of 2-3 eggs per day in cracks and crevices.
    • Eggs hatch after about 12 – 14 days at >23˚C
    • Newly hatched bedbugs feed on the blood of vertebrates and during each change.
    • There is a total of 6 life stages.
      • Egg > 1^st instar > 2^nd instar > 3^rd instar > 4^th instar > Adult

Do they spread disease?

No evidence exists of bedbugs being vectors of infections or diseases to people. However, Bedbug activity can cause considerable distress. Reaction to their bites varies from little or no reaction to severe reactions or sleepless nights.

What do they eat?

Bedbugs bite to take blood meals hence why we see them as pests. Blood provides them with the nutrients necessary for life and reproduction. Commonly they prefer human hosts, but in their absence, bedbugs will feed on a variety of rodents and birds.

Where do bedbugs live?

During the daytime, bedbugs hide in dark and dry places found around household furniture. floorboards and between mattresses and beds. At night, bedbugs crawl from their hiding places to feed, after which they return to digest their blood meal.

How much of a nuisance are Bedbugs?

Their preference for human hosts, leads bedbugs to live in close proximity to people. Consequently, causing substantial nuisance through their blood-feeding habits. These bites cause itching and redness for most people.

How do you treat bedbug bites?

Bedbug bites can be very itchy and there may be red painful swelling locally. A severe allergic reaction known commonly as anaphylactic shock is also possible but rare.

“Bedbug bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so.”

You can reduce itching and any swelling by covering with a cold compress. Ensure the affected area is kept clean. Avoid getting an infection by not scratching the bites

If the discomfort worsens, speak to a pharmacist about using a mild steroid cream. Although, antihistamines may help if the bites are very itchy and you’re unable to sleep.

Speak to a GP if the bites are still very painful, swollen or itchy after trying treatments from a pharmacist and / or the redness around the bites is spreading. You may have an infection and need treatment with antibiotics.

How can the infestation be treated?

Inspection –

• • • Determine the extent and source of infestation.
    • Bed frame, bedside furniture and other furniture, electrical fittings and appliances, underneath carpet edges and skirting, wallpaper and paint if loose, curtains and any wall hangings.
    • Signs include the presence of live bedbugs, cast off nymphal cuticle, and hatched or unhatched eggs.
    • Small dark brown or black marks on the bed sheets or mattress.

Chemical Treatment –

• • • A residual spray application to the floors, walls and furniture.
    • Targeted treatment of cracks and crevices.

The suggested treatment routine, shown below, utilises a mixture of insecticide groups and formulations, ensuring an integrated approach to control and resistance management.

• • • 1st Treatment – initial treatment
    • 2nd Treatment – after 2 weeks
    • 3rd Treatment – after 4 weeks

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to get rid of bedbugs yourself. They show some resistance to some insecticides so it’s always best to contact your Standish Pest Control.

Do’s

• • • Wash affected bedding and clothing – using a 60deg and tumble dry on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes.
    • As an alternative to hot washing put affected clothing and bedding in a plastic bag in the freezer for 4 days.
    • Vacuum regularly – regular cleaning will help you spot and remove them.

Don’t

• • • Keep clutter around your bed.
    • Bring second hand furniture indoors without carefully checking it first.
    • Take luggage or clothing indoors without checking it carefully if you’ve come from somewhere where you know there were bedbugs
      

Standish Pest Control in Wigan have the tools to treat the bedbug infestation in the safest way possible.

Our application of control measures in line with current best practices. We have Public Liability insurance, qualifications and experience that cover us to treat pest infestations accurately and efficiently.

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Quite often, we find our customers feel nothing short of overwhelmed by some of the work they need doing. We stop at nothing to explain thoroughly what needs doing. Describing what we will do it and ultimately what it will cost. We want to help you feel confident in us and the value of our work.

Rest assured that your problem won’t be the biggest we’ve seen or the smallest we’ve treated. We will be able to help, just need you to get in touch.

Call us on 07920001980 or use our contact page and tell us what the problem is.

Joke: When does a pregnant bed bug give birth? In the Spring.