What causes bed bugs to die?
Bed bugs can die from various factors including, Exposure to high temperatures, lack of food, chemical treatments, desiccation, and Natural predators.
- Exposure to high temperatures – Temperatures above 113°F (45°C) will kill bed bugs and their eggs.
- Lack of food – Bed bugs feed on the blood of humans and animals, so if they are unable to find a food source, they will eventually die.
- Chemical treatments – Certain insecticides are effective at killing bed bugs.
- Desiccation – Bed bugs are susceptible to desiccation, or drying out, so exposure to dry environments can cause them to die.
- Natural predators – Some species of birds and other insects feed on bed bugs and can help control their populations.
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, including humans. They are typically found in beds, sofas, and other furniture, and can be difficult to get rid of once they infest a home. Let’s find out what causes bed bugs to die and how to get rid of them in detail.
What causes bed bugs to die?
Here are a few more factors that can cause bed bugs to die:
- Exposure to extreme cold – Bed bugs are not able to survive in extremely cold temperatures for extended periods of time.
- Vacuum cleaning – Vacuuming can remove bed bugs from a surface, but the vacuum itself will not kill them.
- Starvation – If bed bugs are unable to find a food source for an extended period of time, they will eventually die from starvation.
- Dehydration – Similar to desiccation, bed bugs can die from dehydration if they are unable to access a source of moisture for an extended period of time.
- Physical squashing – Squashing bed bugs manually can kill them, but this method is not recommended as it is difficult to eliminate a large population of bed bugs using this method.
How can you tell if you have bed bugs?
- Check for bites – Bed bug bites are usually grouped together in a line or cluster and can be red and itchy.
- Inspect your bed – Look for fecal spots, shed skins, and live bed bugs in and around your bed. Check seams, folds, and crevices of the mattress, box spring, and bed frame.
- Check other furniture – Bed bugs can hide in other furniture, such as couches, chairs, and dressers. Check the seams, folds, and crevices of these items for signs of bed bugs.
- Look for evidence of travel – Bed bugs can move from place to place, so check suitcases, backpacks, and other items that you take with you when traveling.
- Use a flashlight – Bed bugs are difficult to spot, so use a flashlight to help you see into cracks and crevices where they may be hiding.
If you suspect that you have bed bugs, it’s important to seek help from a professional pest control service to confirm the infestation and to determine the best course of action for elimination.
How to get rid of bed bugs? follow these steps:
- Clean and declutter: Thoroughly clean your home and get rid of clutter to eliminate hiding places for bed bugs.
- Vacuum: Use a vacuum cleaner to remove bed bugs and their eggs from your furniture, carpets, and other infested areas.
- Steam: Use a steam cleaner to kill bed bugs on contact. This is a good option for killing bed bugs on mattresses, sofas, and other furniture.
- Wash and dry: Wash all bedding, clothing, and curtains in hot water and dry on high heat to kill any bed bugs and eggs.
- Use insecticides: Apply a bed bug insecticide to infested areas, following the instructions carefully.
- Hire a professional: If the infestation is severe, it may be necessary to hire a professional pest control company to eliminate the bed bugs.
- Encase mattresses and box springs: Encasing mattresses and box springs in bed bug-proof covers can prevent bed bugs from accessing you while you sleep.
- Seal cracks and crevices: Use silicone caulk or other sealants to close any cracks or crevices in your home, which can prevent bed bugs from entering or escaping.
- Check second-hand items: Before bringing second-hand items such as furniture or clothing into your home, inspect them for signs of bed bug infestations.
- Use active monitors: Place bed bug monitors, such as sticky traps or passive monitors, in and around your home to detect any new infestations.
- Be vigilant: Regularly inspect your home for signs of bed bug activity, such as live bugs, shed skins, and eggs.
Note:
Bed bug infestations can be difficult to eliminate and often require a combination of these methods for success.
Check out the best product to buy from Amazon to get rid of bed bugs.
what bed bugs look like
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown, oval-shaped insects. They are about the size of an apple seed (5-7 mm long) and have a flat, segmented body. After feeding, their body becomes swollen and elongated, and they turn a reddish-brown color. Bed bugs have six legs and two antennae, and they do not have wings. They can be difficult to spot, as they are good at hiding in cracks and crevices. To help identify bed bugs, look for the following signs:
- Live bed bugs: Check for live bed bugs in and around your bed, including in seams, folds, and crevices.
- Shed skins: Bed bugs shed their skins as they grow, so look for tiny white or translucent shells in and around your bed.
- Eggs: Bed bugs lay small, white, cigar-shaped eggs in clusters, which can be difficult to spot.
- Fecal spots: Bed bugs leave tiny black or brown fecal spots on sheets, mattresses, and furniture.
- Odor: Bed bugs produce a musty, sweet odor, which may indicate their presence in an area.
How bed bugs spread
Bed bugs can spread easily from place to place through various methods, including:
- Hitchhiking: Bed bugs can hide in luggage, clothing, or furniture, and they can easily spread from one place to another through travel.
- Infested objects: Bed bugs can infest objects such as books, electronics, and appliances, and they can spread from one home to another through shared objects.
- Wall voids and electrical conduit: Bed bugs can travel through wall voids and electrical conduits, spreading from one apartment to another or from one floor to another in multi-unit buildings.
- Direct contact: Bed bugs can spread through direct contact between infested and non-infested areas, such as when an infested person visits a non-infested home.
- Reside: Bed bugs can also spread to new areas within a building by crawling or through the transportation of infested items.
Bed bugs are highly mobile, and they can quickly spread from one location to another, making it important to detect and treat infestations as soon as possible to prevent their spread.
