Bed Bugs: How to Identify, Treat and Prevent Them Fast

What Are Bed Bugs?

Adult bed bugs are flat, small (5-7mm), oval-shaped, dark brown insects.

They hide in cracks and crevices in and around your bed, especially in the mattress and bed frame, but they can also live in other areas like carpets and walls.

They don’t fly or jump but are great at crawling and hitchhiking into your home.

These pests can live for over one year without a blood meal. They need blood to grow to the next stage of their life cycle.

Video: What are Bed Bugs, the Life Cycle, Bites, Treatments and Prevention

The Bed Bug Life Cycle

Knowing the life cycle is key to wiping them out for good. Here’s what you’re dealing with:

• Eggs: Tiny, white, oval-shaped eggs about the size of a pinhead. A female can lay up to 7 eggs per day and up to 500 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs hatch within 6-10 days.
• Nymphs: Nymphs are smaller versions of adults but are not quite as dark in colour. They need to feed on blood to grow, and they go through five stages of moulting (shedding their skin) before becoming full-grown adults. This takes about 5-6 weeks, depending on the environment.
• Adults: Once they’ve moulted five times, they become adult bed bugs, reddish-brown and about the size of an apple seed. Adults can live for several months, and they’re ready to reproduce right away, continuing the cycle.

Now, here’s the catch: These blood-sucking vampires can survive for months without feeding, so even if you think you’ve gotten rid of them, they could still be lurking, waiting for the right moment to come out.

Bed Bug Signs & Symptoms

You’re probably dealing with these creepy crawlers if you have these bed bug signs and symptoms:

• You wake up with bites, particularly in clusters, straight lines or a zigzag pattern.
• You notice tiny blood stains on your sheets.
• You see black faecal spots on your sheets, mattress or bed frame.
• You find exoskeletons (shell castings) on your mattress or bed frame.
• You see bed bugs crawling on your bed or furniture (yes, they come out at night, but sometimes you’ll spot them in daylight).
• You might smell a musty odour if you have a large infestation.

Don’t wait until it gets worse. Early signs are your best chance to eliminate them before they get out of control.

Bed Bug Bites

Bed bug bites are red and itchy and appear in clusters, straight lines or a zigzag pattern. They often show up on exposed skin like your arms, legs, neck, or face. Unlike mosquito bites, these don’t come with a single bump but more like a series of tiny bites.

And here’s the annoying part: you might not even feel them biting you because they inject a mild aesthetic into your skin while they feed. You could wake up in the morning, unaware that you’ve been their midnight snack.

But bites alone aren’t a sure sign of an infestation. You need to look for other evidence.

Treatment For Bites

 Bites usually clear up on their own, and you can handle them with basic first aid. If you’re worried about the bites, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. They might suggest steroid creams or antihistamines if the itching is really bad. If the bites get infected from scratching, your doctor could prescribe antibiotics to clear it up.

How To Check For Bed Bugs

Here’s how you can check if they have moved in:

• Look for blood stains on your sheets or mattress. This could be blood from squashing a bug after it fed.
• Check for dark poo spots that are about the size of a pen tip. That’s faeces, and yes, it’s as gross as it sounds.
• Search for tiny white eggs or eggshells. They lay eggs in clusters, usually in crevices or corners of your bed frame or mattress.
• Inspect your mattress and bedding. Bed bugs can hide in the seams, tags, and folds of mattresses and bedding.
• Dead or alive bugs are the only sure sign you have an infestation.

If you spot any of these signs, it’s time to act fast.

Bed Bug Sprays

Now, let’s talk sprays. There are tons of sprays out there that claim to kill bedbugs. But, spoiler alert: they only kill on contact, and that’s not enough. You don’t just want to kill the bugs you see—you need to wipe out the whole infestation.

Sprays from supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths don’t work. They only offer some temporary relief by killing them on contact.

Bed Bug Treatment

So, how do you treat these nasty pests?

Many people try over-the-counter sprays, but here’s the deal: those sprays often need repeated applications. You’ll be reapplying every few weeks, hoping for the best.

With our Isolation System, you won’t have to worry about that. It’s a DIY solution that kills them instantly using steam and offers long-term protection with Diatomaceous Earth (DE) powder. Just one application is all you need for years of peace of mind. No need for professionals, no toxic chemicals, and no reapplying.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Steam: Treat the bed frame with a steamer to kill any bed bugs instantly.
2. Use Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Dust Bed Bug Killer powder around the bed frame. It kills them over time by dehydrating them.
3. Mattress Covers: Use mattress covers to instantly trap them inside.
4. Barriers Traps To Isolate the Bed: Keep your bed away from walls and furniture to force them to walk into the traps and across the DE powder if they want to reach the bed.

That’s it—one treatment and you’re done. Plus, it’s organic, so it’s safe for your kids, pets, and the environment.

With one application, you eliminate eggs, nymphs, and adults, ensuring they don’t come back. That’s why our isolation system is the best choice for lasting peace of mind.

No repeat applications. No more infestations.

Video: How To Get Rid Of Bedbugs Instantly and Forever

How To Prevent Bed Bugs From Returning

Prevention is key.

• Check your luggage after travelling, especially if you’ve stayed in a hotel.
• Inspect second-hand furniture before taking it home, make sure no bed bugs are hiding in any cracks and crevices.
• Dust Diatomaceous Earth on your bed frame.
• Install bed bug traps under the legs of your bed. These traps stop bed bugs from climbing up onto your bed, effectively isolating them and giving you peace of mind while you sleep.
• Use mattress covers. A mattress cover can prevent them from getting into your mattress.
• Isolate your bed. Keeping your bed away from walls and furniture will force them to cross your traps.

Most importantly, using our isolation system will provide you with long-term protection. Apply it once, and you won’t need to worry about these nightmare-making insects again.