What are bed bugs?

If you develop red itchy pumps on your skin overnight, then you could have bedbugs.

The bed bug is attracted to your body heat and carbon dioxide (your breath), much like the flea. However, the two are not to be confused - they are different things. While both are blood-sucking parasitic insects, fleas are attracted to furry mammals like cats and dogs. Bed bugs are attracted to humans and they live, as their name suggests, in your bed. Another key difference between the two is that bed bugs cannot jump. They crawl to their victims.

The Latin name for the bed bug is Cimex lectularius. They are nocturnal creatures that survive on human blood. They do not carry or transmit any diseases; however their bite can lead to an allergic reaction in the form of a painful, swollen area.

Bedbug bites are usually found on the face and neck and hands or arms.

I've been bitten. How do I know if it was a bed bug?

Most bites take on the form of a small skin rash or itchy bump just 15 minutes after they are administered. It can take a few days for the bump to settle down. Any unexplained skin rash or itchy bump on your skin that appears overnight should be approached with suspicion.

A tell-tale sign of bed bug bites is the pattern - if the bites are in a straight line, then there is a good chance that the culprit was a bed bug.

However, bites do not always follow this pattern.

The best way to find out if the culprit was a bed bug is to search your bed. Bedbugs are very small (around 5mm in length) so they can fit into the seam of a mattress or hide in your bedding very easily for months without being spotted. We recommend you search your bed with a magnifying glass. Bed bugs can be yellow, red or brown, and they leave behind shells.

What can I do about bed bugs?

You need to kill them all to prevent spreading. Killing bedbugs is notoriously difficult, though; we strongly recommend you contact ourselves for bedbug pest control in Berkshire .

Infestations can be eradicated using insecticide in the form of a gas. However several treatments will be required to rid your home of them completely.

As part of the extermination process, we recommend machine washing all of your bedding at a high heat (above 60 degrees if possible) and steam cleaning your bed frame, mattress and anywhere in your bedroom that bedbugs could hide.

If you think you have a bedbug problem in your home, we can help. Call our team today on 01635 250 852 for a free consultation and quote.

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