The classic nursery rhyme "Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite" is wise practical advice, considering how bedbugs can be a dreadful nightmare! These pesky little blood-sucking bugs can notoriously squeeze themselves to hide in nooks and crannies, making them difficult not only to locate but also eradicate! Moreover, Singapore’s tropical climate offers a conducive environment for bedbugs to thrive and grow making the bedbug exterminating measures particularly challenging.
Furthermore, with the rising trend of bedbug infestation in Singapore, only with the right knowledge and precaution can you keep these persistent invaders away from your property. This bedbug exterminator guide will help you explore every detail to keep these bugs away from your home. Let’s get started.
An insight into bedbugs in Singapore
Identifying these troublesome pests is crucial to spot and stop the looming bedbug infestation. They are reddish-brown coloured oval-shaped insects with flat bodies. Their size is similar to an apple seed and measures around four to five millimetres in length. These bugs cannot fly but they have extraordinary abilities to run and crawl, they can scale walls, ceilings, and even floors effortlessly. Plus, their swift hitch-hiking skills get them travelling quickly and easily from one place to another.
Like other Singaporean pests, bedbugs don’t transmit diseases but the dangerous part is, they feed on human blood and when they don’t find a human host, they suck the blood of any other mammal! Their bites can cause severe allergies, itching, and irritation. Moreover, knowing that bedbugs latch on you to feed as you sleep can cause anxiety and insomnia.
Another distressing concern with bedbugs is that the female insect can lay thousands of eggs throughout her lifetime. This is particularly why it is important to detect a bedbug infestation early on to prevent the problem from becoming worse.
Identifying bedbug infestation
Bedbugs are commonly mistaken with other insects; therefore, it is important to identify a bedbug infestation correctly. Below are some distinct characteristics that set these pests apart:
- Signs of bedbug bites: Bedbug bites are like small red welts and itchy bumps. They are generally found along exposed skin areas like the face, neck, arms, and legs.
- Visible bedbugs: Bedbugs can hide in plain sight! However, you can find them in areas they start infesting, such as bed frames, mattress seams, headboards, carpet seams, behind the wallpaper, and furniture cracks.
- Faecal stains: Look for dark, small, and speck-like marks on bedsheets, furniture sets, mattresses, and furniture. These marks are faecal stains of the insects, which highlights bedbug infestation. Watch for these stains on areas where the bugs hide, like, on the walls or floor near the furniture.
- Eggs and shells: These bugs have eggs similar to grains of rice; tiny and white and can be easily spotted in areas where insects live. As the bedbugs grow and moult, they shed skin or shells that can be spotted easily.
- Strong-musty odour: Bedbugs release pheromones (chemical substances) that have a distinctive musty odour. As their population grows the stench becomes stronger.
How bedbugs spread in Singapore
These insects are excellent hitchhikers and can easily transfer from one place to another through various means. Singapore’s climatic conditions offer the perfect environment for them to breed and thrive. Therefore, it is important to know how these pests enter your home or business and lead to full-blown infestation:
- Travel: Singapore is a bustling metropolis with a flourishing tourism industry, therefore, the city’s hotels and tourist spots become common entry points for these pests. Bedbugs hide in luggage, bags, clothing, or other items and infest new environments.
- Used furniture: With the rising living costs, its no wonder that increasingly many people, from expats, foreign students and locals alike don’t want to invest in new furniture and purchase secondhand pieces. Contrary to common misconceptions,bedbug infestations are not limited to second-hand mattresses or upholstered furniture, they can be found in a whole range of furniture like bedframes, desks, tables and in non-fabric funiture. Before bringing them home, you must carefully inspect them for visible signs of bedbugs.
- Closed living spaces: From HDB flats and shared accommodations to condos and cluster housing, Singapore caters to several living spaces. These densely populated buildings make it easier for bedbugs to travel through electrical outlets, plumbing channels, floors, ceilings, and cracks over the walls.
- Public spaces: Bedbugs easily spread through libraries, malls, cinemas, and public transportation. We have even come across them in some park benches and benches in shopping malls! They get a host or any item to hitch a ride, thus spreading the infestation without you even realising it!
Dealing with Bedbugs in Singapore
Dealing with a bedbug infestation is not only difficult but expensive too. Even professional bedbugs exterminator highlight the importance of preventive measures to avoid bringing these pests into your home. By following these practical steps, you can stop bedbugs from entering your homes:
Seal all entry points:
Bedbugs can enter through the minute gaps and cracks around doors, windows, walls, and even floors. You can use caulk to seal the gaps and cracks or install door sweeps to block the pests.
Be careful in hotel rooms:
Whenever you travel and check into a hotel, inspect the room for bedbugs. Scan the headboard, mattress seam, and every piece of furniture for faecal stains, eggs, or bedbugs! To avoid giving bed bugs a hitchhike, avoid keeping your luggage or belongings on the floor; rather, stack them on the cupboard or shelf.
Give a second thought to second-hand items:
If you can, avoid buying any second-hand furniture, mattresses, or upholstered furniture. But if you do not have any option, ensure that you’ve inspected and treated them appropriately before placing them in your homes.
Use high-quality mattress and pillow covers:
Several sellers offer innovative, high-quality pillow and mattress encasements perfectly designed to keep bedbugs away. These covers prevent bugs from entering and infesting your pillow and mattress.
Vacuum your bedroom multiple times:
Vacuum your bedroom more than the rest of your house to get rid of bedbugs. While doing so, avoid using the brush, as the bugs can shelter in the bristles. Use the hose and focus on vacuuming areas near the bed and crevices in your mattress. Remember to dispose of the vacuum’s contents outside in a trash can.
Disassemble the bedframe for cleaning:
For thorough cleaning, consider taking the bedframe apart and dusting meticulously through crevices that might be missed otherwise. If you have a wooden bedframe, check and seal any cracks that can be their potential hideout.
Be watchful:
Indulge in a regular check-up regime for signs of bed bugs; especially in the bedroom. Look for the signs of bedbug activity like blood spots, faecal stains, or live bugs.
How can ORIGIN Bedbugs Exterminator help
When the above-mentioned DIY methods fail, it’s essential to act quickly! If you suspect a bedbug infestation, every hour counts, and the longer you wait, eliminating these pests will become tougher. When you hire a licensed pest control expert like ORIGIN for the job, here’s how we can help:
Chemical Treatments
When the infestation intensifies, bedbugs exterminator resort to chemical use (insecticides) to treat the infected area. The chemical treatment is carried out by trained professionals with a guarantee of safety and effectiveness.
Ultra-low volume (ULV) spraying
ORIGIN’s experts are trained to meticulously search for bed bugs and signs of their presence. To eradicate them, we use advanced methods like ultra-low volume (ULV) spraying to release the formula in a fine mist that penetrates all cracks and crevices effectively.
Comprehensive treatment and follow-up inspections
Bedbugs are persistent pests and that’s exactly why ORIGIN offers comprehensive treatment with ongoing monitoring and follow-up. We ensure the complete removal of bed bugs from your property.
Conclusion
Singapore’s climatic conditions support the growth of several pests and managing a bedbug infestation here can be tiresome, stressful, and frustrating. However, if you follow the prevention strategies promptly you can maintain a bedbug-free home and business. But whenever you see the visible signs of these pests, seek help from a professional bedbugs exterminator.
By following our comprehensive guide and seeking help from bedbugs exterminator at ORIGIN, you can ensure your space is bug-free, safe, and comfortable for you and your family.
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