Bed Bugs
Frequently Asked Questions
Bed bugs are wingless insects that move around by crawling or riding from place to place in clothing, luggage and furniture, or anything that provides them harbourage.
Infestations frequently occur in hotels, hostels and motels where there is a high density and turnover of occupants.
What do they look like?
The adult bed bug is an oval insect, 5mm long by about 3mm wide. If the bed bug has not recently fed it is flat and red-brown in colour. Once it has taken a feed it changes to a dark mahogany colour and becomes more rounded.
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How do I know I have Bedbugs?
A bed bug generally pierces the skin of humans as they sleep. It injects an anti-coagulant fluid under the skin to help it obtain the blood. Often this fluid causes a welt on the skin that becomes irritated, inflamed and itchy. If left undisturbed, a full-grown bedbug becomes engorged with blood in 3 to 5 minutes. It then crawls into hiding, remaining there for several days to digest its meal. The bedbug will only emerge again when hungry to seek another blood meal.
Bedbugs feed mainly on human blood but will also feed on dogs, cats or rodents.
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Are there any other signs?
Heavily used hiding places are evident by black or brown spots of dried blood excrement on the surfaces where the bugs rest, like your bed. Eggs, eggshells and cast skins may be found near these places. Usually there is an offensive sickly sweet odour where bedbugs are numerous.
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Where do they hide?
Mattress piping, bed bases, door or window architraves, woodwork, behind light and plug plates, in old books and papers, behind wallpaper, in clothing, dresser drawers, behind curtains and drapes, any crack and crevice in floor or wall, wallpaper joints, upholstered furniture, pictures, covers and bedspreads.
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How many could I have?
Under favourable conditions the female bedbug lays about 200 eggs at the rate of 3 or 4 per day. Eggs have a sticky coating and stick to objects where they are laid. It usually takes the eggs 6 to 17 days to hatch, and the newly emerged nymphs are ready to feed immediately.
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How did I get them?
Bedbugs can unwittingly be carried into clean well-kept properties, just by the movement of second hand furniture from an infested property.
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Do they carry diseases?
Bed bugs are not known to carry disease, however, recent research has highlighted the possibility that they MAY be carriers of hepatitis B.
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Should I leave them?
No - In early infestations the bedbugs are found only about the seams and folds of mattresses and covers, later they spread to cracks and crevices in the bedsteads. If allowed to multiply, they establish themselves behind skirtings, window and door architraves, pictures and mouldings, and in furniture, loosened wallpaper and cracks in plaster and partitions.
And
Their blood feeding:
- Causes severe irritation to some people
- May result in lack of sleep and energy
- Can cause anaemia in children
- May leave blackish spots on furnishings from their excreta
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What can I do to prevent bedbugs?
- Maintain high levels of hygiene and house keeping
- Wash all bedding, curtains and clothing in hot water on a regular basis
- Vacuum and steam clean carpets
- Remove dust, fluff and debris from cracks, crevices, seams on mattress etc.
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Can I treat them myself?
No - To eradicate the problem completely you will need professional help; they must be treated with a suitable insecticide. It may be necessary to remove carpets and furniture, architraves and ceiling roses and in severe cases wallpaper and skirting to ensure the insecticide reaches all areas. If possible, bedding materials including the mattress should be disposed of, or heat sterilised. Some populations of bedbugs can be resistant to insecticides even after a thorough treatment.
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Are these insecticides dangerous?
Insecticides are applied by qualified staff, which will ensure the safety of both the public and the environment.
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Will the Council Help?
Yes - Arrangements can be made with the Call Centre on 020 8303 7777 Option 2.
For cost of this service please see pricing table
The treatment of bedbugs consist of 2 visits. The second visit shall be carried between 21 to 28 days after the first visit.
For Commercial properties please see pricing table
Alternatively, you can contact a private pest control company and arrange your own treatment. Numbers for these companies can be found in the Yellow Pages. |
