How to deal with household bugs

Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals. Humans are the preferred hosts for the two main species.

There are two species of bedbugs that are known to feed on human blood. They are known scientifically as Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus. They have been found in the tombs of ancient Egyptians from 3,500 years ago.Over millions of years, bedbugs have evolved as nest parasites, inhabiting the nests of birds and the roosts of bats. Some of them have learned to adapt to the human environment.

Newborn bedbugs, called hatchlings or nymphs, are tiny but visible and about the size of a poppy seed. Adults grow to about 0.25 inches long with an oval and flattened shape when they are not feeding. After feeding, they can double in size. Nymphs, eggs, and adults are visible to the naked eye.

They are called bedbugs because of their preferred habitat in human homes: Sofas, bed mattresses, clothing, and other soft furnishings. They also prefer the dark.When seen close up, their color may range from a white, light tan to a deep brown or burnt orange color. When they have fed, a dark red or black blob may be observed within their body. They seek shelter in dark cracks and crevices when disturbed.

The most obvious sign of bedbugs in the home is that people complain of bites that occurred while they were asleep. If this happens, examine the bedrooms for bedbugs and signs of bedbug activity.

Look carefully in bed linen and the seams and tufts of mattresses and box springs for bugs or eggs. The eggs will look like tiny, pale poppy seeds.Signs of bedbug activity may occur beneath loose areas of wallpaper near beds, in the corner of desks and dressers, in the laundry, and in drawers.

Keep an eye out for dark brown or rust-colored bedbug droppings that stain material and mattresses. Bedbug excrement is a liquid that looks either light brown or black, and it usually either beads up or is absorbed by the material around it.A large population of bedbugs may produce a coriander-like odor.

Bed bugs can bite anywhere on the body where there is skin. Typically, bites tend to occur on areas exposed during sleeping, such as:neck、face、hands、shoulders、arms、legs..

Many people do not feel the bite itself or develop clear symptoms other than the dots where the bug bit and some minor, surrounding inflammation and irritation. Others are considered hypersensitive to bites and develop more severe symptoms.

In most cases symptoms occur more or less immediately after the bite, but they can develop or progress over the following days as well. Without further irritation, symptoms typically resolve after a week or so.

Almost all bed bug bites will produce some degree of discomfort, typically itchiness and inflammation. Other signs and symptoms of bed bug bites include:

1. a burning painful sensation
2. a raised itchy bump with a clear center
3. a red itchy bump with a dark center and lighter swollen surrounding area
4. small red bumps or welts in a zigzag pattern or a line
5. small red bumps surrounded by blisters or hives
6. papular eruptions or areas of skin with raised or flat patches that may be inflamed
7. small spots of blood from bites often dried or stained onto sheets or bed clothing
8. reddish or reddish-brown dried stains on fabrics due to bed bug droppings
9. white or clear skins, shed by the nymphs as they mature

Individual characteristics of the bug’s bite and the person who is bitten also influence the resulting sore.

There are relatively few treatments options when it comes to uncomplicated bed bug bites.

The first recommended line of treatment involves cleaning the wound, ideally with soap and water.For itchy bites, the following may relieve minor symptoms:

1. over-the-counter hydrocortisone, which can be purchased online.
2. anti-itch creams
3. Antihistamines

Most wounds heal on their own within a week, sometimes two.If severe swelling, inflammation, or itchiness occurs or persists, a person should seek medical attention.A dramatic immune response may be a sign of an allergic reaction. If this is the case, one of the following may need to be administered:

1. an injectable corticosteroid
2. Antihistamine
3. epinephrine medication

If infection occurs, antibiotics may be prescribed.Severe itchiness may result in further complications, such as infection or scarring. If severe itching is experienced, people may be prescribed corticosteroid creams and antihistamine pills or liquid.

Home tips for preventing, controlling, and clearing bed bug infestations include:

1. Avoid furniture or items from infested areas or environments commonly impacted by bed bugs, such as apartment buildings.
2. Pick furniture or items made out of materials that do not typically contain cracks, crevices or seams, including plastic, stone, metal, plaster, and high-weave textiles.
3. Use bed bug control products.Petsman Bed Bug Killer is a highly effective bed bug control product that kills both adult bed bugs, worm and eggs quickly on contact. Once in contact with the powder bed bugs lose their ability to crawl. It contains 1% of the active ingredient ivermectin, when bed bug touches the powder, it destroys the bed bug’s motor nerves and the bed bug immediately stops moving and cannot suck humans’blood any longer. The active ingredient was originally used to treat parasites in animals and is widely used to kill parasites in cattle, sheep, horses and pigs. It is virtually non-toxic to humans and can be used safely in the living environment. The effect is fast-acting and kills bed bugs in as little as 3 days.        As bed bugs have a range of up to 1.5m around the bed and 95% of them stay in the bed, we only need to use bed bug powder on and around the bed. As a first step we need to clean the bed sheets, pillowcases and duvet. Next, treat the joints between the bed board and the bed frame, the side seams of the mattress, the seams between the mattress and the bed board, as well as the seams between the back side of the bed frame and the wall, the seams inside the cabinet and the skirt around the bed with bed bug powder. Sprinkle bed bug powder evenly over the above areas, don’t use too small an amount, and the next thing you know you can wait for the powder to do its job and eliminate the bed bugs!