ABC’s of Bed Bug Treatment
Most people would rather not have Bed bugs or Cimex lectularius more formally, for houseguests. These parasites are usually no more than one fourth of an inch in length in their adult state and can stuff themselves with human blood in less than fifteen minutes. This causes their bodies to fill to as much as three times its usual size. When stuffed to the max, bed bugs bear little resemblance to their original state. They are often mistaken for a different insect altogether.
Bed bugs are not newcomers and have been around for centuries. Records going back well into the 17th century have documented infestations of bed bugs and bed bug treatment. In the United States, bed bugs were very commonplace until the Second World War. With the introduction of such pesticides as DDT there was a decrease in infestations. It was not until the last decade that reported cases gave an indication of a possible rise in bed bug infestations.
Experts believe that the growing number of reports can be attributed to the tactics used to kill Bed bugs by the pest control companies today. Baiting tactics by pest control experts are used for home infestations of such things as ants, roaches, and spiders. These tricks with baiting work well for this type of pest, but since bed bugs are blood feeders you can’t get rid of Bed bugs this way. This change in exterminating technique has contributed to the rise in reported bed bug infestations.
Bed bugs are able to lay between one and five eggs per day with an incubation period of ten days in warm weather. This period is slightly longer when the weather is cool. These newly hatched bed bugs will need five significant feedings of blood to become adult size. Bed bugs shed their exoskeleton during a molting process in between feedings. Once they reach maturity they will start the process over and lay new eggs. Adult female Bed bugs can lay more than 200 eggs during their lifetime. The newly hatched young will immediately look for their first meal. When they are finished eating they leave tiny itchy sores. The good news is Bed bugs do not carry pathogens like mosquitoes or ticks do.
Furniture, neighbors, and even your pets can be unwitting transferees of Bed bugs. One common way that homes are infested is by bringing used furniture home that has been left on the sidewalk, bought from a neighbor or even bought from a secondhand furniture store. If someone has an infestation, they will more than likely toss out any suspect items. Keep in mind that Bed bugs can survive a year or more without feeding. Check the item carefully and use a Bed bug spray to prevent Bed bugs from access to your home.
Bed bugs can bum a ride home on your clothes or in anything you bring back with you from travels, like a suitcase, or even a visit to the neighbors down the street. A neighbor can bring the bugs into your home on their clothes, in even boxes or bags they bring over. Apartment dwellers that are close to another that has an infestation, beware. Take note that the Bed bug can crawl along pipes, on wires, through heating and cooling vents or just through the dead spaces between walls. Laundry rooms are another area where it is common for a transfer to occur. One of the first things that a person is urged to do when they have a Bed bug infestation is wash bed linens and clothes. Make sure bags are tightly closed when transporting infested linens. Wash with hot water, above 97 degrees is considered best when trying to get rid of Bed bugs. It is also important to use a Bed bug spray of high quality for frequent treatment in any hotels, motels, personal dwellings and anywhere Bed bugs could pose a potential problem to kill Bed bugs.
How to Suffocate Head Lice
How to Suffocate Head Lice
With so many different methods of eliminating head lice recommended it is difficult to know which will be successful and which won’t, but attention is being drawn more and more to the suffocation methods, which use a very vital part of the louses anatomy and biology to help kill it.
There are many substances used to suffocate head lice, and all are readily available household goods. This explains part of the popularity of the method as it does not need the use of dangerous insecticides and chemicals, and is entirely safe – unless you happen to be a head louse!
While the process itself makes sense the substances used sound rather bizarre: mayonnaise, Vaseline and olive oil are frequently cited as the best at smothering head lice, and the choice is yours as to which to use first. All three, it must be said, will result in a mess, but that is little price to pay if the lice are eliminated.
It works like this: the patient’s head is smothered with the chosen substance – liberally and in full quantity – and it is left on the head for several hours. It works its way into the holes through which the louse breathes, effectively suffocating it on the spot.
It is simple and very straightforward, but is not without problems. One problem is that the louse has breathing holes that it can close, albeit only for a set length of time. The several hours spent waiting are so that this time elapses and the breathing holes are successfully filled. Indeed, this waiting time is another downside, as it severely limits the times at which the treatment can be carried out. Going to bed with a head covered in mayonnaise, no matter how well covered, is not recommended hence it is best carried out during the day.
The major downside is the aforementioned mess, as getting congealed olive oil from the hair involves a serious wash, although it will leave the hair fresh and clean afterwards.
It will also, inevitably, leave some lice as survivors, and it does not necessarily kill the nits, the head louse eggs. This means that repeating the routine again in around a week’s time is absolutely essential if complete eradication is to be achieved, and that another day wasted will be necessary.
Nevertheless, the suffocating method is one that is said to work, and is absolutely and utterly risk free – all good reason to give it a go.
The Head Lice Petroleum Jelly Removal Technique
The Head Lice Petroleum Jelly removal technique
With millions of children in the USA suffering from an infestation of head lice every year it is little surprise that a surfeit of remedies is available, and the internet is awash with suggestions and forums that are full of excellent, and often weird, ideas. While there will be those who are happy to use a prescription insecticide lotion or spray, others may be wary of doing so thanks to the chemicals involved and will therefore seek alternative methods of treatment.
It has been suggested that in removing head lice petroleum jelly is a very useful substance, so let’s have a look at how it works, and whether it is a genuine alternative to the medically proven remedies.
To understand why coating the head in petroleum jelly kills head lice a little knowledge of the creatures biological make up is necessary, specifically in the area of its respiration. A head louse breathes through a series of holes down the sides of its body, and these holes can be closed to prevent against drowning when in water (which explains why they do not drown when we wash our hair) and it is these holes that we target when using the petroleum jelly.
Smearing the jelly across the head will undoubtedly have the lice shutting down their breathing holes, so the patient is obliged to wait – sometimes for several hours – before the holes reopen and are filled with the jelly. It is a simple remedy, and essentially suffocates the lice. However, it does have its drawbacks – it is very messy, extremely time consuming and is not guaranteed to rid you of all of the lice as some are more than likely to survive. Furthermore, it will not kill the nits – eggs waiting to hatch – and thus it requires repeating a few days later, when they are likely to have hatched into young lice.
While the technique is messy and takes up chunks of time it does have the distinct advantage of being absolutely safe; the insecticide lotions that the doctor prescribed all have possible side effects – although minor, such as irritation and a rash – and the use of petroleum jelly does not, other than the need to thoroughly wash the hair after each treatment.
The medical community will look down on such treatments in favor of scientifically proven methods, yet if something is absolutely harmless – and has been reported to work – costs nothing and is at hand, then there is no reason not to have a go.
