Article updated: July 12, 2022
Bed bugs can become a nightmare when they come into your home. We will answer the question by providing you with information moving from detection to processing.
Description
A bed bug has an oval shape, is very flat and is reddish-brown. They are parasites that can cause great inconvenience to people. They pierce the skin with their beaks and suck blood. Some people are not very sensitive to bedbug bites, while in others their bites can cause swelling, inflammation and itching.
How to detect them
Bed bugs can be detected mainly by the presence of bites on the skin, as well as the presence of black spots (excrement) on the seams of the mattress, or blood stains on the sheets or pillows.
Their habits
They are active at night when the person is inactive. If you use the bedroom or living room during the day, bed bugs will not hesitate to bite you during these hours.
They hide in the seams of mattresses and in the slits in the base of the bed, the headboard and the foot of the bed. They can also be found behind baseboards, frames, and sockets, as well as in the various pieces of furniture in the bedroom and living room.
How are bed bugs spread?
These house insects are not limited to residences and apartment buildings. They can be spread by different means:
- Through contact with infected people
- From neighbouring apartments
- By purchasing used furniture
- It can also be found in cinemas, theatres, hospitals, libraries, schools, buses and taxis, hotels, etc.
How to get rid of bed bugs?
Regarding their treatment, it is important to treat the seams of mattresses and box springs and to spray the cracks and crevices where bedbugs can hide, for example:
- Cracks along the baseboards
- Every corner of furniture and wardrobe
- Armchairs and sofas
The most common mistake made by people with this type of pest is to treat the premises with an insecticide without knowing the insect’s life habits. Better to call its owner or an exterminator as soon as you notice a bed bug problem. Contrary to what one might think, these parasites have no relation to the unsanitary conditions of housing or residence. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help from an exterminator. For more information on how to get rid of bed bugs, see the section on bed bug extermination or our Slideshare below.
