Bedbugs Pest Control

What are bedbugs?

Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed on human blood by piercing the skin. They usually seek out blood meals at night. They do not live on humans and do not burrow into the skin. Bed bugs are very mobile, but only move short distances to feed, so are commonly found near food (blood) sources i.e. human skin.  Their appearance is small with a dark, rusty colour and quite often they are confused with fleas however there are differences between the two as the following chart indicates:

Habits of Bedbugs

Bed bugs tend to be nocturnal creatures that hide during the day and come out to feed at night. Their hiding places tend to be small cracks and crevices such as:
• bedside furniture
• bed frames
• in picture frames
• behind wall paper
• in cracks and crevices or other areas of a room that will provide them with protection, such as edges of rugs, behind skirting boards, in wooden slats or springs of a bed and between wooden floor boards

When they come to feed off their host (humans) the feeding time is generally three to five minutes and usually goes unnoticed by the victim. Bed bugs can spread to adjoining rooms not so much by crawling, but by being transported by human movement.

Control of Bedbugs

The eradication of bed bugs in your house can be quite detailed and not just a case of vacuuming bedding and furniture. Doing these may remove visible offenders however, as mentioned earlier, bed bugs and bed bug eggs will be hidden in many areas . . . not just in bedding. Tahmoor Pest Control steam cleaning services is well versed in locating and eliminating bed bugs and we follow a proven protocol in the control of these pests and adhere to Australian standards and best practice
• Isolation – we ask you, prior to our visit, to bag all clothing, bed linen etc. All these items will need to be washed in hot water with a non-enzyme detergent immediately followed and dried on the hot cycle of the clothes drier by doing all this the bed bug threat will assist to be contained. Contact us for more details on this step or alternatively local laundromat can provide this service.
• Inspection – we will then make an inspection of the area and this involves checking not just the bedding, but also surrounding furniture, carpet edges, skirting boards, power points etc.

• Non-chemical treatment – once the existence of bed bugs has been confirmed, our technician will provide a steam vapour treatment to all parts of the infected room and can also provide steam cleaning to surrounding areas using the latest in technology .
• Chemical treatments – it needs to noted firstly that normal pesticides don’t work with bed bug eggs and its imperative that the eggs be destroyed, as well as the adults, to prevent further infestation. We have and use specialized commercial steam vapour machines to kill all stages of their lifecycle.

FAQ – Bed Bugs

I’ve found bed bugs under my mattress and yet I’m fanatical about cleaning . . . why have I got them?

This is not an uncommon occurrence and one that seems to be on the increase. Bed bugs can be bought into a home unnoticed via suitcases (If you’ve been travelling), flowers purchased at a local florist may harbour bed bugs, second hand furniture can be a vehicle for bed bug transportation or they may have even been bought in to your home on a painting you’ve just hung on your wall. Spotless hygiene habits doesn’t preclude bed bugs appearing but it does help. If you have evidence of bed bugs, contact Tahmoor Pest Control Steam Cleaning Services and we can detail the strict protocol we follow in bed bug elimination.

I’ve found some unusual bites on my children’s arms and legs and am worried they are form bed bugs. What does a bed bug bite look like?

A bed bug bite consists of a small, raised red bump or a flat welt often accompanied by very intense itching. A bed bug bite may appear similar to a mosquito bite however they tend to last longer than a mosquito bite. Bed bug bites tend not to have a red dot in the centre as flea bite would have and also, bed bug bites tend to appear on shoulders and arms and present as lines of bites. Please contact our office if you wish to discuss this issue further.

A bed bug bite consists of a small, raised red bump or a flat welt often accompanied by very intense itching. A bed bug bite may appear similar to a mosquito bite however they tend to last longer than a mosquito bite. Bed bug bites tend not to have a red dot in the centre as flea bite would have and also, bed bug bites tend to appear on shoulders and arms and present as lines of bites. Please contact our office if you wish to discuss this issue further.

Will vacuuming my room and washing my linen in hot water get rid of all bed bugs?

This is a very good start. As well, all nearby clothes should be washed and shoes cleaned thoroughly. Unfortunately bed bugs, and their eggs, can be located in small cracks (in a cupboard or bed head for example) so whilst the washing may kill the obvious bed bugs, the infestation may still be present so a more aggressive approach may need to be taken which would involve a specialist treatment from Tahmoor Pest Control

Will your bed bug treatment kill ALL the bed bugs present in my bedroom?

The treatment we use will be effective very quickly however it will not kill the bed bug eggs. These eggs may hatch over the ensuing weeks. To make sure we eliminate all the bed bug infestation, Tahmoor pest control technicians use a residual spray and natural powder in conjunction with steam vapour treatment and optional protective encasements that should assist to kill the bed bugs once they hatch. In most situations a second treatment will be implemented and this can be discussed with the technician at the time of treatment.

After your treatment, can I sleep in the bedroom that night?

This shouldn’t be a problem. Our treatments involve the use of low risk pesticides but if one has a propensity for allergies, it may be wise to sleep in another room for 1 night.

Why can’t I use a “bed bug repellent” bought from a supermarket?

Bed bugs are extremely difficult to treat. At Tahmoor pest control we are licensed to use products that cannot be bought at the supermarket or hardware store. The products we use whilst they are very efficacious in the elimination of bed bugs, are also safe to use and are designed to target bed bugs specifically which is not necessarily the case for store bought pesticides which tend to be aimed at a wide range of pests. Our products also have a residual effect meaning that any bed bug eggs present at the time of treatment will die when they hatch over the ensuing weeks and again, this is not necessarily a feature of store bought products

Do you offer warranty and after care service?

Yes we do, 3 month warranty on all bed bug treatments however generally a second treatment will be implemented due to breeding cycle and adhering to Australian standards. We also offer a discounted rate for follow up treatments as required throughout process.

Tahmoor Pest Control  – 0412286180

Bed Bug Management

Industry Codes of Practice

Following changes at Standards Australia, AEPMA has developed the Codes of Practice to better reflect the needs of the pest management industry.  We will continue to work with Standards Australia where possible and endeavour to assist in producing relevant, practical standards that are meaningful, technically sound and based on industry best practice.

A Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestations in Australia (complete)

http://medent.usyd.edu.au/bedbug/bedbug_cop.htm

For more information on Bed Bug Control, please see www.bedbug.org.au

A Code of Practice for Pest Management in the Food Industry

Click here to view the Code of Practice for Pest Management in the Food Industry

This version of the Code of Practice for Pest Management in the Food Industry is intended as a guide and reference for pest managers and managers in the food industry in Australia and New Zealand. It contains an outline of best practice for pest management in the food industry.