Holistic Approach to Bed Bugs and other crawlies

by Todd Alan | Aug 27, 2010

Responding to the nationwide scare of the recent rash of bedbugs, for the conscious minded who do not want to resort to harmful chemicals and sprays that have residual toxic affects, here are a few natural alternatives to use to rid your home of bed bugs and prevent them from feeling at home in your home.

Bed bugs, the nighttime worry instilled by our parents are actually real.
Bed bugs are parasites that prefer to feed on humans. In lieu of human meals, bed bugs will feed on other warm-blooded animals, including birds, rodents, and our pets.

Types of Bed Bugs

There are two primary types of bed bug populations. One species Cimex lectularius, prefers colder climates and is most frequently found in the northern climates of North America, Europe, and Central Asia, although it occurs sporadically in southern temperate regions. The second species known as the tropical bed bug, C. hemipterus, prefers semitropical to tropical climates and is widespread in the warmer areas of Africa, Asia, and the tropics of North America and South America. In the United States.

The spreading of bed bug populations

Bed bug populations tend to rise in late summer, thought to be a result of moe travel and vacationing in hotels. Bed bugs hitch rides in luggage, clothing and bedding. Bed bugs have been known to  infest airplanes, ships, trains, and buses. Bed bugs are most frequently found in dwellings with a high rate of occupant turnover, such as hotels, motels, hostels, dormitories, shelters, apartment complexes, tenements, and prisons. Such infestations usually are not a reflection of poor hygiene or bad housekeeping, but instead of great living conditions for this parasite that reproduces daily and lives an average 12 – 18 months.

How to tell if you have bed bugs

Bed bugs hide in the crevasses and folds on the edges of mattresses, furniture, luggage and drawers of clothing. The tell tale bites swell slightly, and are usually in rows of 2 – 3 bites. Some bite mark form patterns on the skin e=revealing the travel of the bed bug along the skin. Nocturnal eaters, they have earned there fierce reputation by only coming out for 2 – 3 hours at night while their hosts are in deep sleep. A bed bug infestation can be recognized by blood stains from crushed bugs or by dark rusty looking spots of feces on sheets and mattresses, bed clothes, and walls. Fecal spots, eggshells, and shed skins may be found in the vicinity of their hiding places. These bugs move fast, so catching them in the process is rare, but seeing the marks left behind are proof enough of their presence.

Travel precautions

Do not unpack your luggage into the drawers offered by your hotel room furniture. Keep your luggage up on the suitcase racks and zipped tight at night. Bring protective mattress covers that encase the entire mattress with a strong zipper. Bring your own zipper pillow covers too, even if you do not suspect bed bugs, protective covers also help with allergies to dust mites and pet dander. Carry a container of black walnut oil and sprinkle it on the edges of the mattress before your sleep. Carefully inspect your bags and items before you bring them back into your home. You can also use the large, and even giant size now, zip lock bags to store your items in.

Ridding your home of bed bugs

Sticky traps and glue boards tarp the critters as the travel. Place them under your bed toward the headboard. Covering your mattress in a tight zippered cover that encases the whole mattress (a holistic approach) and leaving it on for a year’s time frame prevents them from surviving in your mattress as they are not able to go for more than a year without blood meal.

The use of Boric Acid powder, a natural dehydrating agent – used in between mattresses, on the floor, in carpet, closets and drawers. Do not allow to come in contact with the surface you would lay on for it is a caustic product. Follow directions on the label provided by the manufacturer.

Diatomaceous Earth powder is another natural alternative to pesticides. The product we recommend is Mother Earth D an all natural product that is harmless to you. Mother Earth D is odorless and is most used when controlling bed bugs. Works well in cracks and crevices, useful in any area. Mother Earth D can be used indoors and outdoors. Mother Earth D’s mildness is safe for pets and children. When using Mother Earth D it is recommended if used with a Dusting Tool such as bellow bulb to get an even spread through out.

Other Sources to consider

Second hand furniture is another common source of bed bugs. Before bringing in the items to your home, be sure to inspect them throughly. Using the holistic approach to kill off any potential bed bugs is also prudent.

Remember these points

It is much easier to prevent bed bugs by following these easy steps:

• Wash all bedding, including pillows regularly in hot water.
• Vacuum regularly. Use the brush tool of your vacuum to vacuum your mattress. Use the crevice tool to vacuum crevices in the mattress and your baseboards periodically.
• If you purchase used furniture, examine it for bed bugs.
• Pay special attention to used mattresses and bed frames.
• Check your own bed for bed bugs from time to time. Catching them early will make getting rid of bed bugs easier.
• Keep natural products on that will help prevent the occurrence or recurrence of bed bugs.

And remember to not let the bed bugs bite.

Tina Marie, The Evokateur
www.tinamarie.com