Bed Bugs Extermination Sydney
Don’t doze off just yet; an army of these can attack a person 500 times in one night! In Australia there has been an increase in the number of bed bug infestation by 5000% since the year 1999!
The bedbug is of widespread distribution around the world, but in earlier times it was much more frequently encountered than it is nowadays. Historically, they are associated with the sleeping quarters of hotels, taverns, inns, hostels and other dormitory type facilities. In domestic residences, an infestation is usually located mainly in bedrooms.
Although bedbugs do not seem to be involved with any serious disease transmission, the bites of bedbugs at night can be very irritating, even unbearable at times. They are blood suckers at all stages of their development, so a substantial infestation can lead to much biting and annoyance.
Structure
Adult bedbugs are usually 4-5mm long, rusty red-brown coloured, wingless and oval shaped. Their piercing and sucking mouthparts are normally present as a proboscis that projects along the ventral part of head and thorax. During feeding, the proboscis is swung forward and downward, impaling the skin of the victim. Body shape is normally flattened, but it can be rather expanded and ovoid after blood-sucking. Nymphs (young) resemble adults in general appearance.
Life Cycle
Bedbugs undergo a gradual metamorphosis. The adult female must have a blood meal before egg-laying. Eggs are cemented to surfaces in batches of up to 10 or more, and sites chosen for egg-laying usually include cracks and crevices (eg in furniture) that are within close proximity to the host’s sleeping area. Typically, most cracks and crevices in an infested bedroom are suitable. A female may lay 200-500 eggs in her lifetime. Eggs usually hatch in 7-30 days, and the nymphs must have at least one blood meal between moults. Typically bedbug nymphs undergo about 5 moults before reaching adulthood. The lifecycle of bedbugs can be as short as 45 days, but may be as long as a year or more in less favourable conditions. Adults may live for 50 days to over a year, depending on conditions. They can survive several months without a blood meal.
Habits
Males, females and nymphs are all obligate blood suckers. Most of their time is spent hiding in cracks and crevices in fairly close proximity to their sleeping host. Temperature is very important in host location, and they usually visit their host briefly in the few hours just before dawn. After taking a blood meal they return to their hiding places, where they may be found grouped closely together. Their most important host is humans, but in some cases bats, cats and other animals may serve for feeding.
Bedbug as Pests
The activity of bedbugs in premises is usually detected by the irritation caused to sleepers. In infested premises, evidence of activity can include: live bugs hiding in cracks and crevices in furniture, behind skirting and architraves, among books, behind wallpaper, in bedding (especially under mattress buttons) and in other harbourages; eggs cemented to similar surfaces, hatched or unhatched; cast skins; small dark brown marks on sheets, walls and other surfaces on which they may excrete; and, in the case of heavy infestation, an apparently sickly sweet ‘buggy odour’. This odour is caused by body secretions, but it is often masked by other odours prevalent in unclean premises.
In Melbourne, bedbugs disperse largely by being carried by humans in furniture, luggage, clothes and so on. Well established infestations are usually associated with poor housekeeping and low standards of hygiene. When brought into even the cleanest premises, however, they may find suitable hiding places and hosts and thus commence an infestation. Although their mobility is restricted to crawling within buildings, they may infest adjacent rooms or apartments, and even neighbouring houses can be infested by their crawling habit.
When the bedbug bites its victim, saliva with anticoagulant properties is injected. The bugs have a tendency to ‘test bite’, which often results in a line of bites. For some people the bite is painless and there is no allergic reaction. However many people react with local swelling at the site of the bites, followed by mild to severe irritation. Movements of the bugs or scratching may facilitate infection of wounds. In severe infestation, sleeplessness may result; and in India, cases of iron deficiency have resulted from severe attacks. To date, the bedbug has not been implicated with any serious disease transmission.
Bedbug Control
When a well-established bedbug infestation is troublesome, it is likely that improvement in standards of hygiene will be a necessary backup to any chemical treatment. Where normally hygienic premises have become infested by the importation of bugs in secondhand furniture or by some other means, it is likely that a thorough treatment of the premises with careful attention to cracks and crevices will give total eradication, which may last until any future importation.
An essential first step in the control of bedbugs in buildings is to determine the extent of infestation. By questioning the occupants and, more importantly, by carefully inspecting the premises, the pest control technician can establish the extent of the infestation and thus be more certain that potential sources of reinfestation are not overlooked during treatment. All possible hiding places should be inspected, including furniture, wall linings, skirtings, architraves, curtain rods, light fittings, picture frames, picture railings, shelves, appliances and bedding, including the mattress.
Non-chemical methods for Prevention and Control
Thoroughness in housekeeping is likely to make rooms less favourable for bedbug infestation. As well, a reduction in potential harbourage areas (eg. cracks behind skirtings, loose wallpaper) may help to make premises less suitable. Thorough inspection of second-hand furniture before it is brought into the house may avert possible infestation. This particularly applies to bedroom furniture such as wardrobes and beds, and especially mattresses.
Bedbugs are very sensitive to heat and are rapidly killed when exposed to temperatures over 45oC.
If heat is used for bedbug control, it is important that the high temperatures are applied suddenly; a gradual rise in temperature will cause the bedbugs to disperse, thereby potentially spreading an infestation. Thus using heaters to heat up a room to a lethal point for bedbugs is inappropriate. Placing infested materials into black plastic bags and putting them in the sun for several hours on a hot day may kill the bugs. However, scientific investigations have shown that this is ineffective with large items such as mattresses.
The most practical method of exploiting extreme heat is through the use of steam. The great advantage is that it will kill all bedbug stages, including the eggs. As steam is composed only of heated water, some people favour this treatment over chemicals, particularly for their mattress and bed. However, control cannot be achieved with steam alone, and studies have shown that a program of steam followed by insecticides provides better long term control than by using steam alone. Like any tool, steam machines are only as effective as the operator. To achieve anywhere near control, an intimate knowledge of the bug and its ecology are essential. Inspections must be diligent, and the treatment process must be meticulous, using the correct type and settings on the steam machine, to avoid dispersing the bugs further. Also, the limitation of using steam is the wetting of items, thereby making it unsuitable for items such as light fittings, electrical sockets and appliances.
An alternative to extreme heat is extreme cold, ie. freezing the bugs. This has the advantage that heat sensitive materials will not be damaged. While this method can not be directly used by pest control technicians, it can be recommended to the home owner for small items. Any item for freezing should be placed loosely into a bag, and as always, this must be done in the infested room prior to removal. The amount of time in the freezer would be dependent on the size of the item; the larger the item, the longer in the freezer. A few hours (>2) would be sufficient to kill bugs in small items, assuming that the freezer is operating at or around -20oC. Dense items may take several days for the centre to cool to kill the bugs and the longer an item is kept frozen, the more likely the bugs will be destroyed.
Chemical control
In Australia, the chemicals mostly used for control of bedbugs are Carbimate products.
The proper and effective application of insecticides to control bedbugs relies on proper inspection and knowledge of harbourage areas. Thus equipped, the pest control technician can ensure contact of the bugs with the insecticides. Careful application to cracks and crevices is usually necessary. Broadly, the methods of application involved may be surface spraying, space spraying and, where appropriate, dusting.
Where possible, particularly in conditions of poor hygiene, a clean up prior to insecticide application can be most beneficial. Follow up inspections are necessary to evaluate effectiveness of initial treatment, and due to the possibility of eggs hatching after the initial treatment, the possibility of re-treatment should be addressed to ensure reinfestation doesn’t occur.
The Problem
Bedbugs are small, wingless insects found all over the world. They are nocturnal parasites, which mean they rest during the day and are active at night. They feed on the blood of humans. Bedbugs prefer to hide in bedding and on mattresses where they have ready access to a source of food.
Bedbugs have highly developed mouth parts that can pierce skin. Their bite is painless but becomes itchy and swells into a reddened wheal. Unlike the random pattern of bites made by mosquitoes, bedbugs tend to leave orderly rows.
Although bedbugs can harbor diseases in their bodies, transmission to humans is considered highly unlikely. For this reason they are not considered dangerous, unless a person is allergic to them. However, their presence can be distressing and their bites can be highly irritating.
Solving the Problem
A Pestfree technician can determine the extent of the infestation, then use registered insecticides to kill the bedbugs. Repeat visits may be necessary to ensure all bedbugs at various stages of the lifecycle have been eradicated. Good hygiene practices, such as frequent house cleaning, should help to prevent any further infestations. However, vacuuming immediately after treatment should be avoided to ensure that the residual insecticide is not removed. For more information we’re just a phone call away.
Re-locating your home and family is an enormous undertaking and coming into contact with bedbugs is probably the last thing on your mind. But bedbugs can be lurking in some of the most unexpected places, especially when you are moving into brand new territory.
Bedbug Clearance Inspection
By scheduling a certified bedbug detecting canine inspection of the home or apartment you are going to be moving into, you can ease the moving process along with added peace of mind. Our certified bedbug technicsions, have has been fully trained in the detection of live bedbugs and viable eggs. Contrary to their name, bedbugs can harbor in most types of furniture and also in the piping and behind walls. If an infestation is detected prior to moving into a new home or apartment, the responsibility to deal with the problem will most likely not be yours. Prior to scheduling a pre-moving inspection with Pestfree, we’ll need you to follow our checklist fully to ensure that we receive the proper history on your future home or apartment. We’ll also need an adequate amount of lead time to make absolutely sure that your transition will be bedbug free.
Another likely hotspot for bedbugs is the interior cab of moving trucks and vans. Frequent turnover increases the likelihood for these spaces to come into contact with bedbugs. Scheduling Pestfree to inspect your contents after unloading is another way to decrease the chance of a possible encounter with bedbugs while moving.
If you suspect, or already know, that you have bedbugs, we can refer you to a moving service or a truck fumigation service that can fumigate the contents of your home before you move into your new one.
Bedbug Facts
Bedbugs are nocturnal insects, generally active at dawn, that feed only on blood, usually that of mammals or birds. The most common bedbug, Cimex lectularius, is the species most adapted to living with humans. Adult bedbugs are about 3/16-inch (5mm) long, 1/8-inch (3mm) wide, brown to reddish-brown, with oval, flat bodies not too small to see, which is a common misconception. The newly-hatched nymphs resemble the adults, but are smaller and somewhat lighter in color and appear translucent. These insects can squeeze into very small openings.One male can fertilize several females within 24 hours. Once fertilized, the female bug will typically deposit one to five eggs a day. One female may lay 200 to 500 eggs in her lifetime. Eggs usually take six to 10 days to hatch. Under normal room temperatures and with an adequate food supply, bedbugs will typically live up to a total of 316 days.
Often the first sign of bedbugs is not an actual sighting of the insects but of the symptoms, specifically bites. Unlike flea bites that occur mainly around the ankles, bedbugs feed on any skin exposed while sleeping (face, neck, shoulders, back, arms, legs, etc.). The welts and itching are often blamed on other causes, such as mosquitoes. For these reasons, infestations may go unnoticed for a while, and can become quite severe before being detected.The likelihood of bedbugs increases if the affected individual has been traveling, or has acquired used beds or furnishings, before symptoms started to appear. Bedbugs are also a suspect if you wake up with itchy bites you did not have when you went to sleep.
BEDBUG BITES CAN SOMETIMES BE DESCRIBED AS RAISED RED BUMPS OR FLAT WELTS AND ARE OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY INTENSE ITCHING.THE RED BUMPS OR WELTS ARE THE RESULT OF AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO THE ANESTHETIC CONTAINED IN THE BEDBUG’S SALIVA, WHICH IS INJECTED INTO THE BLOOD OF ITS VICTIM WHILE BLOOD IS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHDRAWN.THOUGH BEDBUG BITES CAN HAPPEN SINGLY, THEY OFTEN FOLLOW A PATTERN OF A GROUPING OF THREE TO FOUR BITES.THESE PATTERNS OF BITES ARE CAUSED WHEN A BED BUG IS DISTURBED IN FEEDING BY MOVEMENT AND THEN RESUMES FEEDING AT A LATER TIME.ON THE OTHER HAND, IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT NOT ALL BITES OR BITE-LIKE REACTIONS ARE DUE TO BEDBUGS. IF YOU SUSPECT BEDBUGS, SEEK CONSULTATION WITH AN HOW TO INSPECT
Bedbugs can often be found by looking for small black stains, which are the bedbug droppings. These marks are easily seen on light-colored bedding.Sometimes an engorged bedbug is killed or disgorged by accidental crushing, resulting in a visible blood stain. Crushing them will produce a unique sickly sweet scent, which can also be detected in the air in a severe infestation situation.
An effective technique for finding bedbugs is to turn on a light at about an hour before dawn, which is usually the time when bedbugs are most active. Bedbugs can also often be seen during the day in normal sunlight if the infestation is moderate to severe.
You can look to see if you can identify the fecal stains, egg cases, and exuviae (shed skins) in crevices and cracks on or near beds. Inspect all the seams, creases, tufts and folds of mattresses and box springs. You should also look at other areas such as under wallpaper, behind picture frames, in sofas and other furniture, in bed springs, and even in articles of clothing. While fecal stains and skin casts suggest that bedbugs have been present, these do not confirm that the infestation is still active. Identifying the bedbugs themselves is definitive confirmation that your home is infested. You may require professional assistance in determining whether your premise contains bedbugs.
Bedbug Signs Outside the Home
• Discarded mattresses and furniture outside the building
• Neighbors or friends with multiple insect bites
• Unusually high frequency of laundering by neighbors
• Complaints of biting insects Pestfree specialists.
The Problem
Bedbugs have made a comeback in the U.S.
Infestations are growing in homes, apartments, hotels, motels, school, dormitories, shelters and even in planes, trains, buses and cars.As people come together and travel more and more, the potential for spreading and getting bedbugs has dramatically increased.This pest is carried from one place to another in luggage and on clothing.Hotel and motel room occupants run a greater risk of contact with bedbugs and may eventually bring these bedbugs home with them.With people living and working closer together in urban areas, there is a greater opportunity for bedbugs to find their preferred hosts (i.e. people) and flourish.
In sydney City, reports of bedbugs continue to grow in double digits annually. According to a December 2007 article in the Daily News, the city Department of Housing, Preservation & Development says Sydney residences in 2004 placed 537 calls to local council about bedbugs in their homes; the city slapped 82 landlords with bedbug violations.In the fiscal year that ended in June 2007, 1783 infestation complaints were logged and 604 building owners were hit with summonses.These landlords were ordered to exterminate the pests within 30 days or face possible action in Housing Court.
Common Causes
• Carry-on bags and luggage
• Sleepover guests
• Hotel Furniture
• Used furniture (i.e. mattresses or sofas)
• Infested trucks used for moving
• Neighboring units with bedbugs
How to Avoid
• Inspect carry-on bags regularly
• Upon return from travel, wash clothes
• Minimize clutter in homes
• Become aware of neighboring units
• Minimize contact with those infested
• Avoid all used furniture
• Avoid refurbished mattresses
• Avoid low-end hotels and motels
• Avoid unmaintained trucks used for moving
INDUSTRY TREATMENT PRACTICES
In Australia., the majority of commercial companies use a Passive Residual Approach to treating bedbugs. This passive approach is widely used because it requires less cooperation and preparation from the affected occupants. Another attractive feature of the passive approach is the significantly lower initial treatment cost. The concept behind the passive approach is to spray the infected premises with residual pesticide that lingers for several weeks, creating poisonous traps for the bedbugs. When the bedbugs come out for feeding during the early morning hours, they come in contact with the residual pesticides and will be poisoned by them.
While this approach can be significantly cheaper from the onset, it requires several treatments and visits for complete elimination.