Bedbugs: how to recognize and get rid of them?

The Bedbugs have a detrimental effect on the health of residents and their quality of life. In addition to stinging them, they give them a lot of concern. You have any doubts about the presence of these insects at your house ? Here are some criteria to properly recognize these small animals:

• a bed bug is visible at theeye naked. In adulthood, it measures between 4 and 7 millimeters, that is to say, it is about the size of an apple seed;
• bed bugs are color red to brown, from the blood they absorb;
• they do not jump, do not fly, and move a bit like ants ;
• active at night, bed bugs are often present in bedrooms, at the level of mattress and box springs. But if there are many in the home, they can gain other rooms and other “hiding places”: clothes, chairs, rugs, sofas, cracks … or plinths;
• if your bed is infested, you may have stings ;
• small black spots on the sheets can be droppings left by bedbugs;
• bedbugs also leave eggs, white, arranged in clusters.

To prevent bed bugs from entering your lodging, you can take some precautionary measures. For example, if you buy used clothing or furniture, inspect it for bedbugs. Be vigilant when traveling: avoid putting your clothes on the bed or in hotel drawers; check your suitcase and its contents on your return. If you live in collective housing, fill in the cracks in the walls.

The consequences of bed bug bites

The bedbug is a stinging insect of thespecies Cimex lectularius which feeds on human blood, as explained by the Quebec government website. While they were frequent in housing at the beginning of the twentieth^e century, bedbugs lost ground after the Second World War, thanks to the improvement of hygiene but also because of the use of insecticides. However, since the 1990s, bed bugs have made a comeback in homes, regardless of their hygiene, in developed countries.

Bed bugs bite you while you sleep. Depending on the person, these bites give rise to more or less significant reactions: small red pimples, itching, redness, even allergic reactions. Be careful not to confuse them with bites of fleas or from mosquitoes. Do not hesitate to consult your doctor who can prescribe a treatment to avoid itching. Try not to scratch yourself to avoid infecting yourself. The presence of bedbugs can also cause anxiety and problems with sleep, hence the importance of dealing with this problem effectively.

How to get rid of bed bugs

To get rid of bed bugs, you can call on a certified professional who will ensure that your home is treated according to the standards in force. If you treat your home with insecticides yourself, you risk exposing yourself to dangerous products. In addition, bed bugs are sometimes resistant to certain products. If you are a tenant of your accommodation, let your landlord know.

First, eliminate these animals mechanically: vacuum and clean your vacuum then, wash your clothes and sheets at over 60 ° C and pass them to tumble dryer. Getting rid of infested furniture can be a solution … For the remaining bedbugs, you can call on a company specializing in disinfection, which will use chemical control.

In general, before bed bug treatment, you will have to prepare your accommodation according to the instructions given by the specialized company. You will be asked to leave the premises with your pets during the treatment. Once the intervention of the company has passed, you will have to respect a certain time limit to return to your accommodation. This period is more important for children, pregnant women, people with respiratory problems. Ventilate treated rooms and do not walk barefoot on the floor for the first few days after chemical treatment.