Home or bed bugs are dangerous and unpleasant neighbors. Their appearance in the house is completely independent of the cleanliness or lifestyle of the residents. Just a few larvae of this insect that got into the apartment on the hair of a pet or on acquired furniture are enough for a colony of ticks to settle firmly next to a person. Irritation, redness, characteristic traces of insect bites on the skin of the inhabitants of the house are the first sign of this dangerous neighborhood. And the heavy rotten smell of raspberries, small blobs of blood and black dots on bedding and furniture, white eggs resembling rice grains in nooks and crannies - all this may be a sign that one of the most indestructible parasites lives in the house - home bugs. How to get these uninvited guests? Are there any means and methods of disinfestation safe for people and pets? What are home bugs afraid of, and what methods of dealing with these insects are just a waste of money and time?
Where are homemade bugs found and why are they so dangerous?
The optimal habitat for domestic bugs is a darkened dry place and consistently warm, room temperature . Under such conditions, the family of these blood-sucking insects is rapidly growing. Bed bugs can settle in any suitable place, but they prefer to live in mattresses, sofas, armchairs, bedding or pet houses - wherever there is access to the main source of food - human or pet blood.
The bites of these insects are painless, but very dangerous. In addition to causing an allergic reaction and skin irritation, bed bugs tolerate various diseases. An expanded family of such parasites can cause asthma attacks, hopelessly spoil furniture, wallpaper, household items. Therefore, the faster you start fighting with such neighbors, the better. The most effective way, of course, is to turn to professional pest control. Especially if a bedbug colony started up in several neighboring apartments: in this case, the entire infected area should be treated. If it is impossible to invite SES employees or a company specializing in the destruction of ticks for some reason, you can use for disinfestation something that bed bugs are afraid of: folk remedies or special chemicals from the store.
Chemical method: how to choose insecticides?
When choosing means for the chemical destruction of bugs, it is best to use the recommendations of a professional pest control or an experienced consultant. Use a remedy for bedbugs according to the attached instructions, carefully observing the dosage. Violation of pest control technology can lead to disastrous consequences. Like many parasitic insects, bedbugs have high vitality and the ability to adapt to chemicals. Surviving one or two disinsection bugs and their larvae get used to the components of the substance used. This makes the further use of insecticides of this group useless, and also allows the colony of bugs to grow rapidly.
Means for the destruction of bugs can be produced in various forms: in the form of powder, sprays, pencils, liquid solutions. Most often, chemicals for the preparation of aqueous solutions are recommended for control: malathion, chlorophos, microphos and others. Piretrum dry powder insecticide, which is applied to the surface in dry form, as well as the imported Tetrix liquid insecticide, collected a lot of good reviews. Today there is a large selection of drugs in the form of sprays, their main advantage is that when sprayed, the insecticide almost does not get on clothes or skin.
It is important to take care of the protective equipment for yourself along with insecticides: gloves, glasses, a waterproof (oilcloth) apron.
Chemical stepping
Regardless of the selected insecticide, there are general rules for processing, after which the house bugs will leave the house forever. How to remove these insects at home using insecticides?
- Before starting treatment, it is imperative to prepare the home to protect people and pets from the harmful effects of insecticide components: pack dishes, clothing and personal hygiene items in a film, after checking for the presence of insects or their larvae. The same applies to children's things.
- If necessary, dilute the chemical. Thoroughly treat all surfaces in the house, and not just the places where bugs accumulate.
- If possible, within a day after treatment, it is better not to be in the house.
- Do not forget that each insect repellent has a different duration of action. During this time, do not ventilate or wet.
- Chemical treatment must be completed by thorough cleaning and ventilation. You will need to wash all surfaces, knock out or vacuum the carpets and furniture well. It is important to minimize the likelihood that bedbug eggs will remain in the apartment, so it’s better to dry all objects that can serve as a “cache” for larvae: pillows, blankets, soft toys, fur, sintepon and other things. If possible, it is best to replace with new items such as pet bedding, furniture covers, filters and a vacuum cleaner dust bag. Bed linen, textiles, towels should be washed at 90 ° C or boiled.
Folk ways
The so-called folk methods of killing bugs are not as fast and effective as chemical treatment, and for the most part they are preventive in nature. But they can also help in the fight against such an enemy as home bugs. What are these insects afraid of?
- Too high or too low temperatures.
- Strong odors of certain substances or certain plants.
How to apply for non-chemical disinfestation what domestic bugs are afraid of?
Temperature method
Temperature extremes, too hot air or frost are conditions that house bugs cannot tolerate. What are these insects afraid of? The ideal temperature for the rapid growth of a colony of domestic bugs is considered + 20 ... + 30 ° C. Any long-term deviations from this level make the bugs feel uncomfortable, slow down reproduction. But in order to destroy or make parasites migrate, it is necessary for several days to create a temperature for them either below -20 ° C, or above 35-40 ° C. How can this be applied at home?
- To combat bugs with the help of low temperatures, winter frosty weather is perfect. It is enough to cool the apartment, leaving all the windows open for at least two to three days.
- It is not easy to raise the air temperature to a level that is uncomfortable for home bugs. In this way, it is easier to process mattresses, blankets, pillows and other items, frying them in the sun in hot, calm weather. Steaming, boiling is also possible.
Smells against parasites
The fact that bed bugs do not tolerate harsh strong odors has been known for a long time. Substances and herbs that exude bright persistent aromas have a preventive effect and help prevent the re-settlement of bedbugs after disinfestation. What smell are bed bugs afraid of?
- Table vinegar.
- Acetone.
- Perfume with a strong aroma.
- Ammonia.
- Denatured alcohol.
- Kerosene.
- Turpentine.
A general rule applies to the use of all of these substances: only a thick concentrated odor can affect bugs. Therefore, the treatment with odorous substances will have to be carried out regularly.
It is immediately worth noting that all of the above substances, unlike insecticides, do not destroy domestic bugs. However, a pungent smell (something that home bugs are afraid of) can scare away blood-sucking parasites and make insects change their place of residence.
Herbs: which plants repel insects, how to apply herbal preparations
The fact that home bugs are afraid of strong smells of herbs and flowers has been known to people for centuries. The ethereal aromas of certain plants, spread out around the house in places where parasites accumulate, act on these insects as a powerful repellent. You can use both herbs, harvested independently, and bought in a pharmacy. To combat domestic parasites, you can use the following herbal preparations:
- Chamomile. It is used in dried form.
- Sagebrush. The most recommended herbal remedy for bedbugs. It is best to spread out fresh grass, but dried wormwood is also suitable.
- Valerian (tincture from the pharmacy).
- Ledum (dried and chopped).
- A mixture of calamus and tansy. Fresh or dried herbs are used in powdered form. The only minus of this option is that the aroma of tansy can cause a strong reaction in a person or his pets, so you should not forget about daily airing.
Lighting: are bedbugs afraid of bright light?
There is a widespread opinion that house bugs are afraid not only of pungent smells, but also of bright light. But professional pest control insists that fighting these insects with the help of light is ineffective, or even simply useless. If you sleep with the electric light on, raise mattresses and bedding, these measures will only make the bedbug colony look for a more secluded place in the apartment.
Useless ways: what are bedbugs not afraid of?
Trying to scare away home bugs with bright lighting is not the only useless way to get rid of these parasites. What does not help from home bugs?
- Magnetic and ultrasonic insect and pest repellers , widely advertised today, are not at all what home bugs are afraid of. In practice, gadgets do not work on them. This is often told on network forums by people who tried to rid their housing of bedbugs in this way.
- Disinfecting solutions: soap-soda, chlorine, saline.
- Get rid of furniture or a mattress. The advice is simply to throw away a bug-infected sofa or mattress is useless, as insects live and lay larvae in all secluded corners of the housing. Without additional disinfestation, bedbugs very quickly wound up on sleeping furniture purchased instead of discarded ones.