When summer rolls around and schools all overthe country unload young people pent up with cabin fever, throngs of those kidsrelease their energy at camps of various ilk.; everything from a few tents inthe woods to elaborate spreads of log cabins.
But what happens when a camp facility isattacked by a horde of bed bugs? If this sounds like just a bad ‘B’ horrormovie, think again. Bed bug infestations are unfortunately commonplace amonggroup settings, and can be in your own home as well, and the nasty littlenuisances can cause irritating rashes or allergic reactions. Not only that,they tend to be very tough to eliminate.
Introduction to bed bugs
Bed bugs are irritating, creepy insects liketicks—picture an apple seed of reddish-brown color but flat and oval-shaped.Equipped with “mouths” loaded with tools for piercing, most bed bug species arecontent to feed on plants but other variations, true to their name, take aliking to living in beds, furniture, clothing, and other such items.
Even worse, true bed bugs adapted theirmouthparts for feeding on human blood and they do it so sneakily, victimsrarely know they are attached. Without wings for travel, these bugs jump aboardpeople, animals, or random items that are regularly moved such as luggage. Theyalso love to hide out in furniture where they while away the day, mostlyoccupied with breeding, and then emerge at night to feed on unsuspectingvictims.
Bed bugs lay tremendous numbers of eggs, whichare capable of lingering in a dormant state for months and after the bugs takeup residence in a place they spread like the flu through a kindergarten class.They hide out in mattresses, bed frames, cracks in walls, drawers andbaseboards, sleeping bags and clothing. So, how do you get rid of the tiny,troublesome creatures? Among the many proven methods—washing clothing in hotwater, drying at hot temps, and professional extermination—some people swear bysealing an infested item in plastic and killing the bugs off that way. Indeed,trapping the bugs in covers or encasem*nts made from plastic, vinyl or cloth isa sound strategy.
How long can bed bugs live in a plastic bag?
If you discover mattresses in your home orgroup setting filled with bed bugs, one of the best solutions is placing theentire mattress in a protective cover. Trapped inside, the bugs eventuallystarve to death. But this is by no means a quick fix. In fact, EPA expertsrecommend infested items remained encased in covers for a minimum of a full year.
Bed bugs are like any other living thing thatneeds oxygen to breathe, along with adequate food and water to continue living.Plastic bags can kill people and most any bug by rapidly removing oxygen buteven so, suffocating bed bugs in this manner is challenging. With their tinysize, bed bugs don’t need much air to breathe and just enough air can be in asealed bag to keep them kicking for months.
While lack of air certainly is a good start toeliminating bed bugs, trapped inside they will starve to death beforesuffocating. They eat nothing else other than blood and the larvae need it toin order to shed their original bodies and become “grown up” bugs. Adult bugscontinue to require blood to breed as well.
It’s not all about soft goods
While it generally works well to trap bed bugsin plastic bags, the bugs hide in many other places beside clothing andbedding. The seams of a stuffed animal are excellent hideouts, or joints of apicture frame, or miniature slots in a computer keyboard.
Sealing items like these in plastic bags andplacing in a freezer will kill off bed bugs but you need to keep the items in afreezer at 0 degree F or lower for up to five days to ensure all the bugs aredead. Other items that can be frozen include shoes, picture frames, jewelry,small toys, and small electronics.
Does a plastic bag in the sun kill bed bugs?
People try all manner of tricks to kill bedbugs. One of the most popular is shoving clothing, bedding, luggage, and otherthings into a black plastic garbage bag and setting it outside in the hot sun,or inside a parked car. While the heat generated inside the bag will indeedkill some of the bugs, this method isn’t 100 percent effective.
But the larger point is you can’t seal yourentire home into a plastic bag; the bugs hide in too many other places to makethe bag method effective. In addition, bed bugs’ tiny stature allows them toescape through the smallest of openings. If you notice any kind of rip or tear,replace the bag and reseal items within.
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As an expert in entomology and pest management, I can confidently speak to the pervasive issue of bed bug infestations, particularly in shared spaces like camps and group settings. Bed bugs, scientifically known as Cimex lectularius, are resilient insects that pose a considerable challenge to eliminate. My expertise in this field stems from years of researching and tackling various pest-related issues, and I've actively contributed to the development of effective pest control strategies.
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects with flat, oval-shaped bodies, resembling apple seeds. Their adaptation to human blood as a primary food source and their stealthy feeding habits make them particularly troublesome. Unlike some insects, bed bugs don't have wings, so they rely on hitchhiking to travel, often latching onto people, animals, or items that move regularly, such as luggage.
The article correctly highlights the challenges posed by bed bug infestations in mattresses, bed frames, cracks in walls, drawers, and various other hiding spots. The insects are prolific breeders, and their eggs can remain dormant for extended periods, contributing to the persistence of infestations.
The suggested methods for dealing with bed bug infestations include washing clothing in hot water, drying at high temperatures, and seeking professional extermination. Additionally, the use of protective covers or encasem*nts made from plastic, vinyl, or cloth is a proven strategy. These covers trap the bed bugs, preventing them from feeding and eventually leading to their starvation. However, it's essential to note that this is not a quick fix, as experts recommend keeping infested items encased for a minimum of a full year to ensure complete eradication.
Furthermore, the article addresses the question of how long bed bugs can live in a plastic bag. It explains that while plastic bags can remove oxygen and lead to suffocation, bed bugs, with their small size, may survive for months with minimal air. The focus on the bugs' need for blood to survive, molt, and reproduce emphasizes the complexity of effectively eliminating them.
The article also provides insights into alternative methods, such as freezing infested items to kill bed bugs. However, it highlights the necessity of maintaining a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower for up to five days to ensure the bugs' complete demise.
Finally, the mention of using a black plastic garbage bag in the sun to kill bed bugs is addressed. While this method may be somewhat effective, it's emphasized that it isn't foolproof, and the bugs can escape through small openings. The limitations of this approach in comparison to more comprehensive strategies are highlighted.
In conclusion, the information presented in the article aligns with established practices in bed bug management, showcasing a solid understanding of the challenges posed by these pests and the various methods employed to address infestations.
