WHY TREAT THEM
- Bed bugs are nocturnal parasitic insects which
feed on the blood of humans and other mammals.
- By day they hide in crevices in beds, furniture,
wallpaper and skirting boards etc, emerging when hungry,
usually every few
days, to feed.
- Bed bugs are not regarded as disease carriers but
their blood feeding can cause severe irritation in some people,
resulting
in loss of sleep and lack of energy, particularly in children.
- The bite often gives rise to a hard, whitish swelling
which distinguishes it from the flea bite which leaves a
dark red spot surrounded
by a reddened area.
- Heavily infested rooms may carry a distinctive
and unpleasant almond-like smell which is given off by the
bed bugs 'stink glands'.
- 'Spotting' on bed linen may also indicate activity
as the fully fed bugs excrete excess water before returning
to their narrow
crevices.
BEFORE THE TREATMENT
- All floors and upholstered
furniture should be thoroughly vacuumed
to remove animal hair, debris, eggs and pupae.
Particular attention should be given
to known harbourage areas such as bedrooms
and
other sleeping areas. (The vacuum bag must
then be disposed of in a plastic bag
in an outside waste bin).
- All bed linen and clothing
should be removed from infested areas
and washed on the hottest wash possible.
- Toys, loose articles etc should
be removed from the floor so that as
much of the area can be treated as possible.
- Where possible, beds and other
known harbourages should be dismantled
to allow them to be thoroughly treated.
- Wardrobes, drawers etc should
be emptied and the contents washed on
the hottest wash possible.
- Tiled, concrete, wooden floors
etc should be swept and washed or vacuumed.
- Do not vacuum for at least
10-14 days after the treatment. This
will give the insecticide time to eliminate
all stages of the
bed bug infestation.
- Thoroughly clean all food preparation
surfaces before use.
PLEASE NOTE
Bed bug activity may be observed for several days after
the treatment. This is not
unusual and may be due to newly hatched
bed bugs
which have not yet come into
contact with the insecticide. These insects will eventually
die but
can
be treated
with a normal
insecticidal spray, (aerosol),
which can be purchased from any supermarket, hardware
shop
or chemist.
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