Can you get rid of bed bugs on your own? Treating bed bugs is complex and can take weeks to months, depending on the extent of the infestation. Your likelihood of success depends on many factors, including how many bed bugs you have, how much clutter is
available for hiding places, whether your neighbors have bed bugs, and whether all residents of a house of building will participate To be successful, everyone in the home will need to cooperate and do their part The following steps will help you begin:
You may have to follow these steps more than once to kill all the bugs and their eggs. Identify the Problem
Develop a Plan
Keep the Infestation from Spreading
Prepare for TreatmentPreparing for treatment is very important; it will make it easier to monitor for bed bugs that haven't been eliminated. This preparation should be completed whether you are doing the treatment yourself or hiring a professional. Learn more about preparing for treatment Learn about treatment options (PDF).(4 pp, 480 K, About PDF) Kill the Bed Bugs
If needed, hire a pest management professional or use pesticides carefully according to the label directions:
Carefully look for any evidence of bed bugs every few days after you complete your initial cleanup and control processes. If you see bed bugs, either the initial cleanup missed some bugs or eggs have hatched. Retreatment may be needed.; Consider using different types of pesticides if repeated treatments are needed.
Bed bug interceptor traps can be placed under the legs of furniture to catch bed bugs and keep them from climbing the legs. Both commercial and do-it-yourself interceptors are options. Follow the directions below to create your interceptor traps. Bed bug interceptors (place under furniture legs to catch bed bugs)
Evaluate and Prevent
Bed bugs — National Pesticide Information Center Bed bugs: Do-it-yourself control options -- Texas A & M AgriLife Extension Bed Bug Control in Residences -- University of Minnesota Bed Bugs Integrated Pest Management in and Around the Home -- University of California How long can bed bugs live in the walls?If there was absolutely no host available from which to feed on their blood, a young bed bug could die as quickly as within several weeks, while an adult bed bug could survive as long as 4.5 months under optimal conditions of heat and humidity before dying of starvation1.
Can bed bugs come out of walls?Answer: Bed bugs can move along and through wall voids, use plumbing and electrical chaseways, etc. Although not every apartment has to be treated, those adjacent to the infested ones should be. I would contact your apartment's property managers and request first of all an inspection for your unit.
Why are there bed bugs on my wall?These pests can travel through walls if an infestation gets bad enough. Bed bugs have been known to use pipes and electrical wires as highways into homes. Though this is more common in hotels, apartment complexes and dormitories, it can also be how an infestation spreads from room to room in a single-family home.
How do you draw bed bugs out of hiding?Heat draws bed bugs out of hiding because humans also emit heat. The bugs will think that they are traveling towards a human target. The bugs will likely linger by the target for a few minutes before attaching and feeding. This is why steamers are such popular devices.
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