Having bed bugs problem? Want to know if bed
bugs can breed in your upholstery?
Bed bugs are small, wingless parasites that live
off human blood. Scientifically identified as
cimex lectularius, bedbugs are reddish-brown
creatures with a flat oval-shaped body. Most
adult bed bugs are about 1/4 inch in size, but
they may appear larger after feeding.
Are Bed Bugs Dangerous?
Bed bugs usually feed on the blood of their
hosts while they are asleep. These parasites are
attracted by the warmth and carbon dioxide
present on the host's skin. They reach their
host by crawling towards them until they feel
the warmth of their skin. Once they reach the
skin, bed bugs use two hollow tubes (beaks) to
pierce the skin and gain access to the host's
blood. One of the tubes sucks the blood meal in,
while the other injects saliva, which contains
an anticoagulant agent that prevents the blood
from clotting. The bed bug saliva also contains anesthetic effects which reduces pain, allowing
the bugs to feed freely without getting noticed.
Bed bug bites may lead to a number of adverse
health effects such as skin rashes,
psychological disorders and allergic reactions.
Where Do Bed Bugs Live?
Bed bugs are nocturnal insects, and only come
out in the dark, at night or when lights are
out. This is because they don't function well in
direct light. These pests are also extremely
elusive and always avoid open areas that may
expose their presence. Their preferred habitat
is warm areas in homes, especially in beds and
bedding, sofas and other soft furnishings.
Bedbug infestations can occur in any type of
dwelling, including private homes, apartments,
flats, dormitories, army barracks, cruise ships
and shelters.
Can Bed Bugs Breed In My Carpet Or Curtain?
Even though bedding and mattresses are the most
common breeding areas for bed bugs, it's not
uncommon to find bed bugs living and breeding in
other places in a home. Carpets are, in fact,
one of the main breeding grounds for bed bugs.
These parasites many also infest curtains, as
they provide a perfect hiding place - which
makes it hard to locate them for extermination.
Most people in Singapore don't realize that the
carpets and curtains in their homes, apartments
and business premises may be harboring harmful,
blood-sucking pests such as bed bugs. As one of
the most insidious pests, bed bugs often lurk in
carpets and window hangings. They usually crawl
in the tiny cracks and crevices found on
carpeting, making it hard to detect them.
The main reason why bed bugs infest carpets and
curtains is because these two home furnishings
have many small, cozy compartments, creases and
crevices where these pests like to hide. Their
tiny, flat body, which becomes streamlined after
feeding, allows them to slip easily into the
narrow crevices and gaps where the carpet meets
the wall. They can even hide themselves within
the shag of the carpets.
Contrary to what most people think, curtains
provide many hiding areas for bed bugs. The
seams and creases often found on curtains and
other wall hangings are perfect breeding grounds
for bed bugs. These pests usually climb walls
and then climb onto the curtains wherever the
curtains meet the walls. They only leave these
breeding areas at night when they are looking
for fresh human blood. Also, they can stay in
carpets or curtains for many months without
eating, making it very difficult to eliminate
them. In addition, they can lay a large number
of eggs at one time; one female bed bug can
produce up to 300 eggs - which then hatch in as
little as 10 days.
To control bed bugs and prevent the negative
health effects associated with these parasites,
it's important that you ensure your carpets and
curtains are clean and vacuumed. The best way to
go about cleaning your carpets and making sure
they are bedbug-free is to hire a professional
carpet cleaning company. Trained carpets
cleaners from a Singapore professional cleaning
company have the knowhow, equipment and cleaning
products required to exterminate bed bugs
completely.
These experts can perform mattress cleaning,
curtains cleaning, carpet cleaning and
upholstery cleaning to rid your house, or
office, of bed bugs. They'll typically use
heavy-duty commercial cleaning equipment, such
as commercial-grade vacuums, steam cleaners and
pressure washers, to kill the bed bugs and also
suction them out. Additionally, they may apply a
non-toxic bed bug killer to eliminate any
problematic pests that may be spared by the
cleaning. |
