Bedbugs and other insects on ferries

[Val_2]

The luggage list is getting longer - now a blowup mattress will be needed as well as a steam cleaner and own food.  Seeing some headlice for the first time when we first moved here and the kids caught them at primaire was bad enough! 

[applicateur3d]

Hello all

I'm new to this site, apologies I've only been in France 5 years before stumbling on it.

Bedbugs are my speciality.

There are lots of myths and mis-truths about bedbugs but, at the end of the day, they need to be eradicated.

They are not a sign of bad hygiene, ore bad luck nowadays.

Luckily they don't jump or fly but they are a difficult critter to control and you should not be tempted to do a DIY treatment. They need to be professionally treated by someone who knows what they are doing.

I am the Director of the Bedbug Foundation (France) which is a non-profit organisation.

If you have been bitten en route to France, the chances are you are bringing them to your destination. Therefore, like a previous comment that the bugs came from America, you will have the same reputation in your village.

Prevention is a lot less expensive and easier than treatment. A competent pest controller should not need to use chemicals, neither should he rely soley on one method.

Bedbugs need to be reported not kept secret.

After the Sydney Olympics, there was a 4,500% increase in bedbug infestations.

Watch out, London's next.

If you are worried, I am happy to help. I can post lots of do's and don't's, on here or you can contact me direct.

Dear Moderators, I've been told off on other forums for sailing "close to the wind". However, I'm the resident Expert on other forums. I am not advertising but we are experiencing a worldwide epidemic of bedbugs at the moment. People need to be aware.

I look forward to contributing to this site and offering free impartial advice.

Bon luck mes friends

Rob

[PaulT]

[quote user="applicateur3d"]Hello all I'm new to this site, apologies I've only been in France 5 years before stumbling on it. Bedbugs are my speciality. There are lots of myths and mis-truths about bedbugs but, at the end of the day, they need to be eradicated. They are not a sign of bad hygiene, ore bad luck nowadays. Luckily they don't jump or fly but they are a difficult critter to control and you should not be tempted to do a DIY treatment. They need to be professionally treated by someone who knows what they are doing. I am the Director of the Bedbug Foundation (France) which is a non-profit organisation. If you have been bitten en route to France, the chances are you are bringing them to your destination. Therefore, like a previous comment that the bugs came from America, you will have the same reputation in your village. Prevention is a lot less expensive and easier than treatment. A competent pest controller should not need to use chemicals, neither should he rely soley on one method. Bedbugs need to be reported not kept secret. After the Sydney Olympics, there was a 4,500% increase in bedbug infestations. Watch out, London's next. If you are worried, I am happy to help. I can post lots of do's and don't's, on here or you can contact me direct. Dear Moderators, I've been told off on other forums for sailing "close to the wind". However, I'm the resident Expert on other forums. I am not advertising but we are experiencing a worldwide epidemic of bedbugs at the moment. People need to be aware. I look forward to contributing to this site and offering free impartial advice. Bon luck mes friends Rob[/quote]

Rob on the basis that you are not actually advertising any services etc are bed bugs interesting? I have carried out research on cockroaches and they are, just wondered if bed bugs were.

[applicateur3d]

I never thought of them as interesting. Interesting!

I guess they are, depending on temperature, an adult female will lay about 5 eggs a day, the eggs can take about 19 days to hatch and it must find food, YOUR BLOOD.

They are 5 nymph stages. The nymph needs a blood meal before each stage before it becomes an adult. Adults can live up to a year without a meal, but is unusual.

They are not nocturnal but don't like direct light, unless they're hungry when inhibitions kick in.

They will eat (blood) for up to 5 minutes then scurry away to their hiding places which can be up to 2 metres away. In order to squeeze into their hiding places, they will often expel some blood, hence the blood spots.

They give off an almondy smell, there are now specialist bedbug detector dogs who can sniff out a single 1mm egg in a room...but the handler needs to positively identify them.

They do not jump or fly. they move from pillar to post by hitch-hiking, often on luggage. If you travel First Class, it doesn't mean your luggage travels in the same luxury.

Most interestingly, the females are inseminated through the skin with a spike. Just 1 insemination will supply enough sperm for the life of the adult female bedbug. It gets better, they inseminate other males but this often kills the recipient!

Phew, anything else? you betcha!

Rob

[applicateur3d]

For your info, here's a French article. Google translate will [amusingly] translate it for you.

http://www.lepoint.fr/chroniqueurs-du-point/cecile-david-weill/la-guerre-des-punaises-est-declaree-18-02-2012-1432677_507.php

I posted a comment at the end of the article because it was old news and badly written. Even more amusing though, translate the other comments and you'll be amazed by the ignorance on BB's.

[Chancer]

Welcome to the forum Bedbug.

I nearly used Bedbug as my forum ID as it used to be my CB radio handle (name), why? Because at the time I drove a split screen Veedub kombi!

My question for the expert is can one build up an immunity to these bêtes or like mosquitos do they prefer some bodies to others?

The people that I have known that have suffered were the most obsessive about cleanliness and hygiene whereas my good self and my dwellings cannot really be described in those terms, I have also slept in some very rough places and if anyone was likely to have brought them home with them its me yet I have never been bitten.

Finally does cold weather kill them, both my places are left unheated when unoccupied.

Thankyou!

[Théière]

Cold they can take, steam they can't

[Rabbie]

[quote user="Chancer"]

Finally does cold weather kill them, both my places are left unheated when unoccupied.

Thankyou!

[/quote]They can survive cold but lack of food(blood) may help to kill them off

[applicateur3d]

Hey, that's my line...well, almost.

Constant cold of approx -17 for 48 hours they can't cope with. Steam applied properly they can't.

A low-pressure steamer at a rate of 3cm per second. Not a wall paper stripper, the temperature needs to be rapid enough to kill the critters but not too powerful to disperse them.

Unfortunately an unheated house will not kill the bedbug, they just go dormant...until their next meal tempts them out. ("tempts them out" refers to your Co2 in your breath and body temperature).

Like all bites, ones reactions are different to another person's. An earlier post refers to one getting bitten but the other showing no bites. The chances are you are both are being bitten but one reacts more than the other.

Cleanliness doesn't always mean bug free neither does unkempt. Knowing what to do, when to do it, does.

ooh, I was about to sign off...Rabbie if you leave your house unoccupied for at least a year, you might get away with it.

However there are ways to stop getting eaten. "On that bombshell, goodnight" don't let the critters bite bite bite.

back tomorrow!

[Rabbie]

[quote user="applicateur3d"]Rabbie if you leave your house unoccupied for at least a year, you might get away with it. However there are ways to stop getting eaten. "On that bombshell, goodnight" don't let the critters bite bite bite. back tomorrow![/quote]That's why I don't put my suitcase on hotel beds and always iron my bed linen.

[mint]

Applicateur, this is what they did with my rucksack in one of the refuges on the Camino.

They took all my things (apart from medicines and my journal) and sprayed them with I suppose anti-bb "stuff".  They put everything into a plastic bin bag, then they put everything out in the sun (very hot sun) for several hours.

I got everything washed as soon as I could after that and I was not troubled by any further bites for the rest of walk (walk lasting about 3 weeks after 2 episodes of being bitten).

I bought something from the chemist and sprayed everything around me, bunk, mattress, floor, etc before going to bed and I also prayed very hard that I wouldn't get bitten again!

Not sure which or all of the above worked but I and my luggage were indeed completely free after that.

[applicateur3d]

Rabbie, that is the No. 1 rule to adhere to. Never, ever put your cases/rucksacks on beds, likewise if you are in the accommodation industry, tell your guests to do the same. Best place for luggage is in the bathroom until you've checked the room. Don't put things away until you are sure it's clear.

Sweet17, Almost correct, you were lucky, the temperature needs to be over 43 degrees constantly for an hour or so. Bin bag in the sun will still have cool spots, that's where they'll congregate.

Be careful about spraying mattresses, pillows or sheets, don't forget, you will be breathing the stuff in.

When you get back from your travels, wash ALL the clothes you've taken in a minimum 60 degree wash, then tumble dry on hot for at least half an hour. Dry cleaning doesn't always kill them.

43 degrees is will kill all stages of the bedbug.

A steam vac is excellent for mattresses but low pressure and slowly (3cm per sec).

Diatomaceous Earth is a natural way of killing them. DE is 100% effective on all insects, but that's another story.

Mattress covers are available but make sure they're BB proof.

Got them? Don't throw furniture or mattresses out, you'll only spread them. Don't change rooms for the same reason. You'll have to live with them until they're treated.

Second hand furniture. Be careful, check before you install furniture in your house.

Rob