Beware Of Bed Bugs All Year Round

Bed bugs are parasitic insects of the cimicid family that feed exclusively on blood. Cimex lectularius, the common bed bug, is the best known of the species as it prefers to feed on human blood.

Bed bugs get their name from their preferred habitat: warm houses and especially beds, bedding and other sleeping areas. Bed bugs are mainly active at night but are not exclusively nocturnal. They usually feed on their hosts (i.e. you or me) without being noticed.  A number of adverse health effects may result from bed-bug bites, including skin rashes, psychological effects and allergic reactions (see image 1, below).

Contrary to popular perception, bed bugs are a problem all year round, not just in the warmer summer months.

We were recently called out to a suspected bed-bug infestation in a customer’s home in South County Dublin.  Upon arrival, a quick inspection confirmed the customer’s fears were well founded: inside the headboard of their bed, we located a family of breeding bed bugs (see image 2).

The eradication of bed bugs frequently requires a combination of non-pesticide approaches and the occasional use of pesticides. A combination of heat and drying treatments has been found to be the most effective method of managing an infestation.

An hour at 45°C or over, or two hours at less than −17 °C, will usually kill all bed bugs. Starving them is difficult as they can survive without eating for up to 300 days, depending on the ambient temperature.

At Central Pest Control, we are specialists in the field of bed-bug identification and eradication.  If you suspect a bed-bug infestation, contact us today on LoCall 1890 906 195 or email info@centralpestcontrol.flywheelsites.com.