Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on blood. They are difficult to control because they hide in narrow cracks, furniture joints, mattress seams, bed frames and other sheltered areas close to where people rest.
Bed bugs do not fly or jump. Instead, they crawl and can be transported between properties in luggage, clothing, furniture and other belongings. Finding bed bugs does not mean a property is dirty because they can affect clean and cluttered premises.
You usually do not need to discard your mattress, bed or furniture immediately. Many affected items can be inspected and treated. However, successful control requires careful handling, thorough inspection and, in many cases, more than one treatment or follow-up visit.
What Do Bed Bugs Eat?
Bed bugs feed on blood from humans and other warm-blooded animals. The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, frequently feeds on people, although other hosts may also be used.
Bed bug bites may cause itching, redness or swelling, but reactions vary considerably. Some people develop noticeable marks, while others show little or no reaction. Bite marks alone cannot confirm an infestation because mosquitoes, fleas and skin conditions can produce similar symptoms.
Look for physical evidence such as:
- Live or dead bed bugs
- Dark faecal spotting
- Pale eggs and eggshells
- Shed skins
- Small blood marks on bedding
- Activity around mattress seams and bed-frame joints
Read our comparison of fleas and bed bugs if you are uncertain which pest may be present.
How Do Bed Bugs Enter a Property?
Bed bugs commonly spread by hiding in:
- Luggage and travel bags
- Clothing and bedding
- Second-hand beds and furniture
- Backpacks and personal belongings
- Furniture moved between rooms or properties
Despite their name, bed bugs do not live only in beds. They may hide in lounges, chairs, bedside furniture, skirting boards, carpet edges, curtain folds and cracks around sleeping or resting areas.
In apartments and strata buildings, they may also spread between adjoining rooms or units. Nearby rooms should be inspected when the infestation or building layout indicates a risk. The Australian bed bug management code emphasises inspecting adjoining areas and preventing the movement of infested belongings.
Learn more about bed bug control in apartments and strata properties.
What to Do if You Find Bed Bugs
1. Do Not Move Items Between Rooms
Moving bedding, furniture or clothing through the property can spread bed bugs. Keep suspected items in the affected room unless your pest management technician provides different instructions.
Bag clothing and washable items before moving them to a laundry. Seal the bags and avoid carrying loose items through unaffected areas.
2. Arrange a Bed Bug Inspection
Correct identification is essential. Carpet beetles, fleas and other insects are sometimes mistaken for bed bugs.
A professional inspection should examine the bed, mattress seams, bed frame, nearby furniture, skirting boards and other likely harbourages. Depending on the property, adjoining rooms or units may also need inspection.
Our guide explains what happens during a bed bug inspection.
3. Launder Suitable Items Carefully
Where fabric-care instructions allow, wash affected linen and clothing in water at or above 60°C. Alternatively, appropriate tumble-dryer heat can help kill bed bugs at all life stages.
Australian guidance states that dry clothes should remain in a tumble dryer on the hot setting for at least 30 minutes. Wet items should remain in the dryer until completely dry. Not every fabric can tolerate these temperatures, so always check its care instructions. health.vic.gov.au
Place treated items into clean, sealed bags or containers so they do not become infested again.
4. Vacuum Accessible Areas
Vacuum mattress seams, bed frames, carpet edges and nearby cracks carefully. Immediately seal and dispose of the vacuum contents according to professional instructions.
Vacuuming can remove some bed bugs and debris, but it will not reliably remove every egg because eggs are attached firmly to surfaces. It should form part of a broader treatment plan rather than act as the only control method. aepma.com.au
5. Use Steam Only Where Appropriate
Professional steam treatment can kill bed bugs and eggs on direct contact. However, the steam must reach the correct temperature and move across surfaces at an appropriate rate.
Domestic carpet cleaners and low-temperature garment steamers may not provide reliable control. Incorrect use can also disperse bed bugs or damage furniture, finishes and electrical items. Whole-room heat treatment requires specialised equipment, temperature monitoring and trained operators. AEPMA
6. Avoid Foggers and Unapproved Products
Do not use garden pesticides, homemade chemical mixtures or products that are not registered for indoor bed bug treatment. Total-release foggers generally fail to reach the narrow harbourages where bed bugs hide and may cause them to move into new areas.
Applying unsuitable insecticides may also interfere with professional treatment and increase unnecessary pesticide exposure.
Why Follow-Up May Be Required
A female common bed bug may lay approximately 200 to 500 eggs during its lifetime, not 3,500. Eggs can remain hidden in areas that are difficult to inspect or treat.
Some insecticides do not kill bed bug eggs. Consequently, surviving eggs may hatch after the initial treatment. Follow-up inspections help determine whether activity remains and whether further treatment is required.
The Australian Industry Code of Best Practice for Bed Bug Management recommends an integrated approach involving inspection, preparation, physical control, appropriate pesticides and follow-up monitoring. AEPMA
Bed Bug Treatment in Newcastle
Bed bug treatment should match the extent of the infestation, property layout and affected belongings. Newcastle Pest Exterminators can inspect the property, confirm the pest and recommend a treatment plan.
The process may include vacuuming, targeted steam treatment, registered insecticides, monitoring and follow-up visits. Customer preparation and cooperation are also important parts of a successful bed bug management program.
Learn more about bed bug treatment in Newcastle or contact the team to arrange an inspection.
