Bed bugs are insects that are parasitic in nature and originate from a family of insects called Cimdae. Bed bugs primarily feed on human blood and can be the cause of sleepless nights if they happen to invade your home. Bed bugs are tiny, wingless insects that are about ¼ inch in length. The bugs usually feed at night and can leave behind multiple red Dots on the skin that resembles mosquito bites.
These bites cause itching, and it is usually advisable for an individual to see a dermatologist. Bed bugs are remarkably resilient and can stay up to one year without feeding. The source of these bugs can be quite puzzling at times since a residence could be undergoing thorough cleaning on a regular basis, but the presence of bed bugs could still be detected.
The most common sign of bedbug infestation are bite marks is the presence of black dots on bedding which is indicative of bed bug waste. Strategies should be put in place to avoid the infestation of your home with these miniature vampires. The following are some of the measures that can go a long way in preventing bed bugs from invading your home.
Countermeasures
Bed bugs do not just walk into your home; there must be some agent responsible for bringing them into your home. Research has shown that one of the most common sources of bed bugs are hotels and lodgings. It is recommended that proper care should be taken when seeking accommodation at these locations so as to ensure you do not bring these pests into your home.
The following are some of the steps that should be taken when booking into a hotel. You should put your luggage on a shelf or rack as opposed to placing it on the bed. This reduces the chance of bed bugs accessing the luggage. Zip lock plastic bags can also be another option as they are usually air tight and can go a long way in preventing the bed bugs from getting to your luggage.
It is highly recommended that an individual should check the bedding and crevices around the bed for tell tale signs of bed bugs. Heat treatment This is another highly effective method that can be highly instrumental in the prevention of bed bug infestation in your home. Bed bugs are acutely sensitive to heat and if they are exposed to high levels of temperature, they tend to die off.
You should expose your clothes to high temperatures after spending the night in a different location so as to eliminate the chance of bed bug infestation.Climb up interceptors These are usually placed under the legs of the bed. Their main purpose is to trap insects and prevent them from climbing up the bed. They can be highly effective against bed bugs.
Hygiene
This is the ultimate key to preventing bed bug infestations and avoiding the high costs of a pest control treatment. Bedding should be washed periodically with hot water; cracks and crevices in the bed should also be checked and sprayed on the slightest suspicion of infestation.