If some insects are harmless, others are best in seriously complicating life—and absolutely one on the list are bedbugs. After quite some time of absence, these pests have returned to Singapore to infest homes, accommodations, and public facilities, among others.
The thought of these intrepid little insects alone is enough to give you goosebumps and succeeding sleepless nights. But, beyond your fears, what actually are bed bugs?
In this pest profile series, discover everything you need to know about the pest that could be sharing your bed.
What are Bedbugs?
Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) are insects that are typically 6mm in length and feed exclusively on blood. They have great sensory capabilities that allow them to prey on their victim even in total darkness. The pest’s biology reflects the primary characteristics of a parasite such as:
High fertility – Female bedbugs can lay up to 500 eggs over a lifetime.
Ability to resist deprivation – They can survive three months without feeding, at the minimum.
High mobility – While bedbugs don’t fly, they’re perfectly adapted to move from one host to another.
Another peculiarity that defines bedbugs is their ability to locate and regroup using an effective chemical ecology, which includes an odour they give off and which humans can smell. Under favourable conditions, bedbugs can develop fully in a month’s time and produce three or more generations every year.
Although bedbugs are a nuisance, they’re not thought to carry and transmit diseases.
Where do Bedbugs Hide?
As earlier mentioned, bedbugs can be easily spread and transported. They may enter your home undetected through luggage, beds, carpets, secondhand furniture, and other favourable items found in shared places such as hotels and car sears.
While these insects don’t have nests like ants, they tend to live in groups in dark, warm areas, where they have easy access to humans to bite in the night. Such habit explains why they’re typically found in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards.
Over time, however, bedbugs may scatter through the bedroom, moving into other upholstered furniture and basically any cracks or crevices you can fit a credit card into. In contrast to the popular belief, having bedbugs at home isn’t a sign of filthiness as they’re likely to infest an immaculate bed as they are a dirty one.
ALSO READ: Pest Profile Series: Termites in Your Home
How do You Get Rid of Bedbugs?
Eliminating bedbugs is quite time-consuming and complicated, and will require a total overhaul. Some of the steps include:
Reducing the clutter. Anything that doesn’t permanently stay in the room will have to be removed and checked for bedbugs.
Laundering infested items – Infested garments and other household items such as bedding, curtains, carpets, and stuffed toys will have to be washed in hot water at 120°F minimum.
Inspecting hiding places – Checking and cleaning all potential hiding spots is also necessary, and these may involve dismantling bed frames and pulling away furniture from the walls.
Keep in mind that while you can control bedbugs yourself, it will not always be 100% effective. Hence, you’ll have to call for a professional bed bug treatment in Singapore.
Our qualified specialist team offers effective bedbug control services in Singapore using only the premium range of NEA-approved chemicals which is safe, odourless and doesn’t stain any surfaces. Our team will inspect every corner and area where bedbugs could possibly be hiding and employ techniques to effectively treat the infested space.
Seeking professional help early is essential to avoiding a time-consuming battle against bedbugs. With Pest Off, you can rest assured that your home is free from infestation.
Get in touch with us at Pest Off! Contact us at +65 6280 0777 or visit our website today.
[…] we go into the details of how you can get rid of them, we need to understand what are bed bugs and what causes the bed bugs in the first place. We will also describe how you can be sure that […]