Which bed bugs are we dealing with?
Common bed bugCimex lectularius
Flat, apple-seed sized, reddish-brown. Feeds at night and hides within a few metres of where people sleep.
Signs to look for
- Itchy bites in lines or clusters, often on arms and shoulders
- Small blood spots on sheets
- Dark spots along mattress seams and bed-frame joints
- Shed skins and pale eggs in crevices
Bed bugs around Sydney
We treat a lot of bed bug jobs in units and share houses around Fairfield, Cabramatta and Liverpool, and after families get back from overseas trips. Units may need neighbouring units checked too.
What you can do yourself
- Check hotel beds before unpacking and keep luggage off the floor
- Inspect second-hand beds and couches before bringing them home
- Don't move furniture or sleep in another room, as it spreads them
How we treat bed bugs
We inspect the bed, frame, bedhead, nearby furniture, skirting and power points to find every harbourage, then treat with a residual spray and dust into cracks and voids. We come back about 14 days later, after the surviving eggs have hatched but before those bugs can breed, and treat again.
How to prepare
- Wash all bedding and clothing from the room on hot (60°C) and dry on hot
- Bag clean items until after the second treatment
- Strip the bed and clear the floor and under the bed
- Don't throw out the mattress until we've seen it; most can be treated