Controlling bedbug infestations requires several steps

Bedbugs have become a common problem across the country with infestations showing up in residences, hotels, college campuses and other places. Many people associate bedbugs with unsanitary conditions, as often is the case with pests such as cockroaches. However, bedbug infestations occur across the spectrum of social and economic settings. Experts have speculated that the increase is more likely due to a number of factors such as increased travel and tourism, changes in tactics used for controlling pests such as cockroaches, and an increasing resistance by bedbugs to the most commonly used insecticides. Heavy infestations may require a professional pest control company.

Some people prefer to dispose of infested mattresses and other furniture rather than deal with treating them. It is important to dispose of these items properly. First, you must wrap the items in plastic sheeting before carrying it outdoors so your bedbugs do not crawl onto you or drop off indoors unseen which may further spread the infestation. Second, whether you live in a house or an apartment building, never put infested furniture or clothing at the curb or next to a dumpster (if allowed) without first rendering it unusable. Otherwise, someone may take the items which only spreads the bedbug problem further. If you replace infested items, do not bring them into the house until you know you have the problem under control or else these new items will become infested. Clothing and some other items that are infested (or suspected of being infested) can be washed in hot water (or follow the tag on the article); however, washing alone will not always kill bedbugs and their eggs. Heat (drying in clothes dryer on “high” for about 30 minutes or until dry) will kill them. Other items may require dry cleaning which can become an expensive option. Simply isolating clothing or other infested items in trash bags may work but remember that bedbugs can survive for more than six months without feeding.

Physical barriers such as double-sided tape on the legs of beds can help keep bedbugs from crawling onto the frame. There are also commercial traps available online that claim to stop bedbugs from migrating onto beds from surrounding areas. However, none of these barriers will help unless you keep bedspreads, blankets, etc. from touching the floor and providing bedbugs with an “alternate route” onto the bed. Keep in mind that these physical barriers help but they are not a fix for bedbug infestation.

Many pest control companies now offer freezing and/ or steam treatments for some types of infested furniture such as mattresses and box springs. Another control method that has proved to be effective is heat treatment. This requires that all of the suspected items or in many cases the entire living area be sealed and heated for several hours to greater than 120 degrees. Heat treatments are not simply a matter of raising the air temperature. The heated air must penetrate all areas of the room/ house in order to kill bedbugs that are hiding in household articles, in furniture or clothing, or even in walls. Excessive heating can damage furniture, electronics, and other items and may even start a fire if not done properly.

The best approach to dealing with bedbugs combines both chemical and nonchemical methods in order to provide a greater likelihood of control. However, even with the use of fumigation, heat and/or conventional insecticides, there is currently no treatment method that can prevent bedbugs from being reintroduced into and re-infesting a home or any other building.

The Garland County Cooperative Extension Office is located at 236 Woodbine in Hot Springs and the office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you have questions, you may call Alex Dykes, county extension agent-horticulture, at 501-6236841.

4-H information

There are several 4-H Clubs for Garland county youths who are 5 to 19 years old. For more information on all the fun 4-H activities that are available, call Carol Ann McAfee at the Extension office at 623-6841 or email her at cmafee@uaex.edu.

Master Gardener information

Master Gardener meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month online. The meetings are open to the public and guests are welcome. Call the Extension office at 623-6841 or email Alex Dykes at adykes@ uaex.edu for more information.

EHC information

Are you interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information on EHC, call Alison Crane at 6236841 or email her at acrane@ uaex.edu.