Online Reporter
Michelle Musandinyoze [email protected]
WITH the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) dismissing reports that the city has been infested by bed bugs as advertised on social media through a fake statement that was making rounds on social media, Zimpapers gives a few tips on how to detect bed bugs.
Bedbugs infest their surroundings when someone unknowingly brings them. They feed on the blood of mammals, usually humans. They can find their way to your bed as they look for places to hide where people spend a lot of time.
Bed bugs can hide almost in any space where people gather, including homes, hotels, schools, office buildings, stores, and public transportation. Their small size and hiding ability allow them to spread to new locations easily.
They are mostly found in areas which include single-family homes, apartments and condominiums, short-stay rentals like hotels and motels while common sites of infection are nursing homes, schools and daycare centres, office buildings, college dorms and hospitals.
Bed bug bites can resemble other types of insect bites, but there are other clues to look for if someone may have bedbugs such as;
Itchy red or discolored bite marks on the skin that may form a cluster or line. They may appear on parts of the body that are uncovered while you sleep, live insects are reddish-brown, with six legs, and about 1/4 inch in size.
Bedbug eggs are white oval-shaped objects about the size of a pinhead or a grain of rice and are usually found in clusters, bedbug shells, which they shed as they grow, are translucent or light brown ovals, bedbug excrement appears as black spots on bedding or furniture.
Spots of blood on bedding or soft furniture can be left from bedbugs as they feed. You may detect a sweet, musty smell in the room as a result of the release of pheromones (Chemicals that attract others of the same species) by the bedbugs.
How to check for infestations?
When you arrive at a hotel or other short-term lodging, check the mattress, bed frame, and headboard before unpacking your suitcase before bringing used furniture, clothing, and other items home, check them closely for signs of insects.
Use a light-color mattress cover to make bugs or their detritus easier to spot. Also, consider using protective mattress covers and pillow covers, reduce clutter so there are fewer hiding spaces for bed bugs. If you have traveled or been in a place with many people, put your clothes in a dryer and run them on high heat for at least 20 minutes.
