Just about each house had bed bugs before the Second World War, which meant that lots of people were bitten each night and hence the popularity of that rhyme. The Baby Boomers never saw bed bugs whilst they were children and so were the first generation for 400 years not to experience from bed bug problems.
Fifty years on and the bed bugs are back and some big cities are in dismal straights because the insecticide that works best on bed bugs, DDT, is banned in most countries in the world. This means that the situation will get worse until researchers come up with something to replace DDT.
So, how would you know if your household has become prey to the spread of this superbug? It is not as easy as you would think, because bed bugs are quite shy for insects. not only that, but they shun daylight and their dark skins mix into the darkness.
The first thing is to look for bites. The bites are normally a quarter of an inch in diameter, round and pink to red, if they show up, because they do not show up on some people. Similarly, some feel an itch but others do not; some will get a swelling, others will not. Not just that, but some people have an immediate reaction and others suffer a delayed reaction.
There is no mixing up a bed bug bite with a mosquito bite although it can look like a flea bite. There are often five or six of these bites in a line, nut not necessarily a straight line. If you see these marks at shower time, it is time to check the bed for conclusive evidence.
Pull the bed clothes back and look at the sheets and the mattress. It will be easier there because thy are usually light in colour. Look for red and brown smears. The red smears are blood, where the insect has eaten too much and vomitted up a bit and the brown is faeces of digested blood.
If you see those marks, you have got them, so now you have to get rid of them and that is not an easy job. If you rent your place tell the landlord instantly, because he might be responsible for eradicating them. If you have money, call in the exterminators. Otherwise, you have a lot of work to do.
If you may not move out while you are debugging the place at least you can clean the bed so that you may have a decent night's sleep.. Remove the bedding and mattress and steam clean the bed (you can hire a steam cleaner). Then sew up any rents in the mattress and steam clean that.
Put the legs of the bed in small bowls of oil and put the mattress and pillows in bed bug proof mattress covers. Boil the sheets and blankets and replace, but do not let them drape on the floor at night. Put a mosquito net about your bed for further protection.. Then you need advice on cleaning the house.
Fifty years on and the bed bugs are back and some big cities are in dismal straights because the insecticide that works best on bed bugs, DDT, is banned in most countries in the world. This means that the situation will get worse until researchers come up with something to replace DDT.
So, how would you know if your household has become prey to the spread of this superbug? It is not as easy as you would think, because bed bugs are quite shy for insects. not only that, but they shun daylight and their dark skins mix into the darkness.
The first thing is to look for bites. The bites are normally a quarter of an inch in diameter, round and pink to red, if they show up, because they do not show up on some people. Similarly, some feel an itch but others do not; some will get a swelling, others will not. Not just that, but some people have an immediate reaction and others suffer a delayed reaction.
There is no mixing up a bed bug bite with a mosquito bite although it can look like a flea bite. There are often five or six of these bites in a line, nut not necessarily a straight line. If you see these marks at shower time, it is time to check the bed for conclusive evidence.
Pull the bed clothes back and look at the sheets and the mattress. It will be easier there because thy are usually light in colour. Look for red and brown smears. The red smears are blood, where the insect has eaten too much and vomitted up a bit and the brown is faeces of digested blood.
If you see those marks, you have got them, so now you have to get rid of them and that is not an easy job. If you rent your place tell the landlord instantly, because he might be responsible for eradicating them. If you have money, call in the exterminators. Otherwise, you have a lot of work to do.
If you may not move out while you are debugging the place at least you can clean the bed so that you may have a decent night's sleep.. Remove the bedding and mattress and steam clean the bed (you can hire a steam cleaner). Then sew up any rents in the mattress and steam clean that.
Put the legs of the bed in small bowls of oil and put the mattress and pillows in bed bug proof mattress covers. Boil the sheets and blankets and replace, but do not let them drape on the floor at night. Put a mosquito net about your bed for further protection.. Then you need advice on cleaning the house.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on numerous subjects, but is currently involved with Bed Bugs Treatment. If you want to know more, visit our website now at Pest Management at Home.
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