Bed Bug Repellent

Bed bugs are tiny, wingless insects belonging to family Cimicidae and species Cimex. They solely feed on blood of humans and other warm blooded animals. The term 'bed bug' is derived from the insect's most preferred habitat i.e. beds. They can also be found thriving in other house places like furniture, mattress, luggage, bags, etc. Hence these are the places which commonly shows tell tale bed bug signs. These bugs live in places where they have easy access to unsuspecting hosts. Bed bugs are very small in size about 5 - 7 mm in length and have mouth parts modified for piercing and sucking. Hence, when they pierce into human skin, bed bugs inject anticoagulant and anesthetic containing saliva, and later lay their eggs in the bed which hatch in 4 - 5 days.

Bed bugs usually get attracted to the carbon dioxide you exhale while sleeping and with their antenna they can feel the heat your body is expelling. Though their bites, called bed bug bites are so small that they cause no pain, the bites can eventually lead to skin irritations, itchiness, redness, etc. Bed bugs are not strictly nocturnal but are highly active at night especially, around 3 and 5 am, several hours after you sleep. Once infested, it becomes very difficult to get rid of them and a lot of time and efforts are required to eliminate them thoroughly. Though there are different home remedies for bed bug removal, the most effective and quick way to eliminate them is to use repellents.

Best Bed Bug Repellents

A thorough vacuuming of cracks, crevices and other areas where these insects hide is an important part of a bed bug eradication program. A combination of odorless insecticide spray and insecticide dust is required to remove bed bugs, along with dusting all bug hiding places. Insecticide dust spray can be used on carpets, furniture and baseboards to cut down on some of the bed bug population. However, for stubborn or re-occurring bed bug infestations, a strong fogging solution like BP100-Plus can be used for best results. It contains a high amount of natural pyrethrins (1.00%) and an IGR called hydroprene, which is extremely effective in killing bed bugs.

Bed bug repellent spray, called Suspend SC which is water safe for fabrics and is commonly used for elimination of bed bug populations. You can use spray on carpets, flooring, rugs and baseboards, but avoid spraying on bedding, mattresses, pillows, etc. Other commercial beg bud repellent sprays are Tempo SC and Demand CS, which are as good as Suspend SC and have little to no odor. After spraying, it is essential to apply insecticide dust in the cracks and crevices where these bugs usually hide. Drione dust is one such product which is very effective in killing hidden bed bugs by penetrating into their body as poison.

Besides these commercial sprays, you can also prepare some strong smelling herbal repellent lotions or creams that will work to repel bed bugs. Homemade repellent creams or lotions containing herbs like rosemary, lavender, thyme and eucalyptus and some essential oils and water can be used to drive away bed bugs. Alcohol is another bed bug repellent for skin, that can be applied all over the body before sleeping at night. Petroleum jelly can also be used for the same purpose.

In case of severe infestation by bed bugs, wherein the aforementioned repellents are not helpful, seek assistance form professional pest control service providers for complete bed bug eradication. However, by keeping your house clean and hygienic one can surely stop the attractiveness of your bedroom to the bed bugs and future bed bugs infestation.