After the outbreak of bedbugs in Britain and France, it had been reported that bedbugs became out of control in South Korea, a very popular destination for Hong Kong visitors. From what we could see in the news, local citizens were anxious, fearing that they might bring bedbugs home from public places or transportation. Are bedbugs in South Korea as difficult to prevent as the COVID-19 virus? Will it eventually spread to Hong Kong?
There have been certain reports of bedbugs found on the Airport Express and buses in Hong Kong. While we are unsure of the accuracy of these reports, one thing is certain: bedbugs had long been an issue locally. Some old districts like Sham Shui Po and Yau Tsim Mong have long been plagued by bedbug problems, but it has never received much attention from the society.
We talked a bit about bed bugs. Do you actually know what they are? When people hear the word "lice", they often associate it with something that is hard to detect and can jump onto you unnoticed. But in fact, there are many types of lice. The one we often mention recently is bed bug, also known as woodlice or stink bug. They are not just lack of wings and unable to fly. They cannot even jump. Their body length is approximately half a centimeter, about the size of half a red bean. So, when they appear in open spaces, people are not difficult to spot them out. Just in most of the time, people simply don't realize that they are bedbugs.
What is bedbug?
Bedbugs, also known as woodlice or stink bugs, belong to the order Hemiptera and the family Cimicidae. The ones that have the greatest impact on humans are the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) and the tropical bed bug (C. hemipterus). The former is found worldwide, while the latter is primarily found in tropical regions. Both species of bed bugs can be found in Hong Kong.
Bedbugs go through three stages of their life cycle: eggs, nymphs, and adults. Nymphs need to feed on blood in order to molt into the next instar, and adults also require a blood meal to reproduce and lay eggs. Therefore, they are harmful to humans and animals from young to mature. Although there is no research indicating that bed bugs transmit diseases, the wounds of humans can result in red, swollen and itchy if bitten by bedbugs. Some people even develop an allergic reaction to bedbug saliva, leading to a significant outbreak of red rashes on the body. As such, we should not overlook the harm they cause.
Signs and Symptoms of Infestation
Bedbugs are photophobic. In daytime, they typically hide in the seams of beds, sofas, especially in the folds of mattresses, the joints of internal springs and bed frames, headboards, wall sockets, etc. At night, they come out to seek targets by sensing body heat and carbon dioxide exhaled by human or warm blood animals, looking for feed on blood. During the feeding process, victims do not feel anything on the skin as bedbugs release an anesthetic toxin. After feeding, they crawl away slowly. Human often start to feel itchy or develop intensely itchy swellings after some time.
Bedbug bites are different from flea bites. Flea generally bites around the ankles, and the bitten areas appear as red spots. However, if you notice a row or multiple rows of straight or curved red dots, rashes, or swellings on any exposed skin surface such as the face, neck, arms, or legs, it is highly likely that you are a host for bed bugs. As bed bugs typically bite the same area repeatedly, leaving multiple bite marks. Initially, most bed bug bites are painless and itchless, but they will gradually become swollen, red, and itchy wounds. If you are allergic to bed bug saliva, it may lead to more severe itching, pain, and swelling reactions.
Additionally, you may also find blood stains on bedsheets or mattresses due to bedbug bites or when they get crushed. Try to inspect carefully about the seams of mattresses, bedsheets, and folded clothing, as bed bugs may leave behind discarded shells, rust-colored bedbug fecal spots, bed bug eggs, and other stains. If you suspect that you or your family members have been bitten by bedbugs, it is advisable to promptly check for any signs of bed bug infestation in your home.
How to try killing bedbugs by DIY?
The bedbug panic is primarily due to their resilience and difficulty to eradicate.For those whose had suffered from bed bugs would understand how challenging it is to eliminate them. Before seeking help from us, most of our clients had tried using insecticidal powders or sprays to handle the issue themselves. Things however did not turn out the way they wanted, and the situation worsens. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of attempting to handle bedbugs by DIY.
Cleaning and Dust-removing:
Regularly clean your mattress, bedsheets, blankets, and other bedding items. Vacuum cleaner can be a useful tool for removing some bed bugs. Use a powerful vacuum cleaner with a crevice attachment to clean areas such as mattresses, bed frames, carpets, and other potential hiding spots for bedbugs. After use, remove the vacuum cleaner bag immediately, seal it, and dispose of it properly. If not handled properly, bedbugs can potentially be transported to other areas.
Heat Treatment:
Bedbugs are highly sensitive to high temperatures in all stages of their life cycle, including eggs, nymphs, and adults. You can wash infested bedsheets, blankets, clothing, and other items by water at 60°C or above to kill bedbugs and their eggs. After washing, you can further eliminate them by drying in a high-temperature dryer.
Insecticides:
You can use insecticidal powders or spray insecticides on mattresses, bed frames, carpets, and other areas where bed bugs may be present. However, using such insecticides requires a certain level of knowledge about pest control. Improper use can lead to increased drug resistance for those surviving bedbugs, making it more difficult to tackle in the future. Additionally, if insecticides are used incorrectly, bed bugs may retreat to more hidden areas, making it harder to eradicate them in the long run.
"You can do self-medication for minor ailments, but for major illnesses, please go to the doctor."The same principle applies to pest problems. If the situation is not severe, you can try to address it yourself. However, if the situation becomes out of control, it is important to immediately seek professional pest control services. Otherwise, the situation will only worsen with time.
Then what does it mean for “out of control”? According to our experience, many choose to use bug bombs, insecticide sprays, or other DIY items when people discover bedbugs in their home. However, the general insecticide products available in the market are either ineffective or only effective with proper equipment. This makes the spraying limit to the surface of objects and cannot penetrate deep into crevices. As a result, the bedbugs living on the surface can be killed, but the hidden bed bugs just go to the other area of the house due to the impact of the insecticide. The surviving bedbugs not only develop resistance but also spread to the whole house. An original bedbug issue for a single room, eventually turns out to be an entire house issue. The difficulty and cost of treatment both significantly increase, situations can become out of control.
Our bedbugs control service solution
Different pest control companies have their own bed bug control service procedures. They can be generally divided into two categories. The first category involves using insecticidal powders or sprays alone. The second category also utilizes insecticidal powders or sprays but supplements the treatment with heat. Heat treatment as the name suggests, involves heating the surfaces of objects by temperatures exceeding 60 degrees Celsius. By deploying professional high-pressure steam machines, intense heat is injected deep into crevices of different objects. This heat treatment procedure is crucial as it forces out and kills bedbugs that are deeply hidden. Most low-cost pest control companies do not offer this option, due to the time-consuming nature of heat treatment and the need for skilled manpower and expertise.
At First Clean, we perform heat treatment in key areas where bedbugs are likely to hide and pose a high risk, including bed frames, mattresses, closets, curtains, sofas, etc. Then we spray specialized bed bug insecticides extensively throughout the entire house. In areas where moisture is a concern, such as places near electrical wires, we use bed bug powders to ensure that bed bugs have nowhere to hide.
While we are confident to eliminate over 90% or even all bed bugs in the first treatment,we typically recommend two to three rounds of bed bug control services. The difficulty in dealing with bed bugs lies in the fact that even if a single bed bug survives, it can reproduce within a few weeks, destroying the previous eradication efforts. So, to achieve the best results, we will schedule a follow-up treatment one week after the initial treatment to ensure that all bed bugs are effectively eliminated.
Starting from the completion of the entire bed bug control services,開始計，First Clean 提供90天保養期。保養期內，如發現任何床蝨，我們會免費全屋再做滅蝨，確保床蝨無得留低。
Travel Tips
FIRST CLEAN provides luggage disinfection and bed bug control services for both the interior and exterior of suitcases. Due to high demand, please make a reservation in advance.
If you are planning to travel to the places with outbreak of bedbugs, we recommend not opening your luggage in public places. After accessing your belongings in the hotel room, close the suitcase to minimize the chance of bedbugs crawling inside.
No matter where you return from, it is important to carefully inspect your luggage surface, especially any potential crevices, to ensure there are no bedbugs attached to the exterior of your suitcase. Even if you are not returning from a high-risk bed bug place, your luggage can still potentially attach bedbugs from baggage carousels at airports or transportation areas.