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Bed Bug Control - Cimex Lectularius
Non-toxic control
Bed bug bites generally cause the victim irritation and can lead to sleepless nights, some pain and swelling, although some individuals experience next to no allergic reaction at all. Bed bugs do not transmit any known disease. The bites often leave a hard whitish swelling and evidence of a heavy infestation will be the unpleasant smell created by the bugs ?stink glands?. Further evidence of infestation is finding eggs, blood and faecal material on sheets and pillows. Strategies for ridding a bed bug infestation depend on which species is present. If it is a bat, pigeon or swallow bug then the source of the infestation may be a nearby nest or bat roost in the roof or under eaves. Removal of this source and blocking ways back into the house will help to prevent future infestations. However, it must be remembered that all species of bats are protected and it is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to remove or even block access to any bat roosting site. English Nature can give further advice on this issue.
For the common bed bug it is wise to check possible harbourages in cracks in the bed frame, around door and window frames, behind pictures, fittings and loose wallpaper and in light fittings. Any holes, cracks or crevices must be washed to eliminate any eggs or waste that has accumulated and then caulked, painted or sealed. Bed bugs can easily climb surfaces like wood so to prevent them from gaining access to a sleeping host, barriers can be put in their way. Examples of this are the use of petroleum jelly on the legs of the bed, putting the legs inside smooth metal jars and moving the bed away from any surfaces such as walls. Mattresses should either be replaced or steam-cleaned and bedding washed at a high temperature, making sure to transport bedding in an enclosed plastic bag to stop contamination of other areas. Exposure to hot and cold temperatures is a useful part of an infestation reduction policy, and raising temperatures to between 36ºC and 37ºC for an hour or so will probably eliminate an infestation, and prolonged exposure to temperatures of 0ºC to 9ºC will also kill off adults in a matter of hours.
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