Bedbugs
Bedbugs are small insects, but they present large problems and are troublesome. Bedbugs can be the carriers of diseases such as kala-azar and tularemia. Kala-azar is a parasitic disease that causes fever, anemia, an enlargement in the spleen and liver, and can cause swelling (edema).
The plague which killed millions of people in Asia and Europe were because of bedbugs. Known as the plague or black death in the middle ages caused high fevers, chills, headaches, vomiting, swollen lymph glands, and spots covering the entire body known as hemorrhaging spots. It is stated by experts that a plague such as this could happen again if pests, including bedbugs are not controlled.
Adult bedbugs are approximately 3/16-inch long, oval, flat and rusty red or mahogany colored. They look like a small lentil. Bedbugs are flat and thin when unfed, but become more elongated, plump and red in color when they are full of blood. They have four-segmented antennae that are attached to the head between the prominent compound eyes. The two-segmented beak is located beneath the head passing back between the front legs. Bedbugs cannot fly.
Bedbugs are nocturnal coming out of their hiding places at night. They will travel whatever distance it takes to feed. If you have a wooden bed frame they can hide in the frame however if you have a metal bed frame they will hide somewhere else. They will also hide in mattresses and box springs favoring the seams and underneath the buttons. They will hide en mass in crevices, behind posters on a wall, under rugs, behind loose wallpaper, and anywhere they can squeeze in. They can get behind molding, electrical plates, under carpet, crown molding etc. Bedbugs will nest at any level. Inspect anything which is mounted on the wall. Inspect all furniture in the room including dressers and night tables. It goes without saying they are hard to find and masters at hiding.
They “glue” their eggs in the hiding places. The nymphs hatch in about ten days and molt five times, taking a blood meal between each molt. The life cycle from egg to adult has a variance between 36 and 120 days. The variance depends on conditions as the nymphs can survive long periods of starvation so the life cycle may be extended considerably.
Cleaning the Bedding and Mattress
The first line of attack against bedbugs is to thoroughly clean the bedding and the mattress. Launder bedding in water that is 120 degrees or hotter. Heating garments and bedding in a very hot clothes dryer also works. Vacuum the room and all personal items in it thoroughly. Discard the used vacuum bag immediately in a sealed bag. The book “Taking Care of Your Child” recommends exposing bedding and mattresses to fresh air and sunlight for several days to eliminate bedbugs.
Orange Oil Treatment
Spray or wipe orange oil on crevices, bed springs, door casings, picture frames, in cracks, under furniture upholstery and behind electrical switch plates, all the areas where bedbugs hide. You can use this oil straight from the bottle. Apply it with a brush or a spray bottle. Orange oil is obtained from orange rinds and has the active ingredient d-limonene, a broad-range insecticide that kills bedbugs on contact. Many household pest control products contain this natural chemical due to its effectiveness and low toxicity to mammals.
Essential Oil Spray
Essential oils are an effective natural way to deter bedbugs. In a fine-mist spray bottle mix 1 cup water, 10 drops lavender essential oil, 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil, 10 drops rosemary essential oil and 3 drops essential oil of clove (optional). Shake well and spray the solution on mattresses, furniture and other items in the bedbug-infested room. Essential oils are highly concentrated in their undiluted form, so take care with their use. Wear gloves when mixing the bedbug solution and remove your pets from the room before you use the spray.
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