Summer is leaving and temperatures are dropping in France. If you want to bundle up at home, know that a little six-legged inhabitant shares exactly the same goal: finding a cozy home for the fall and winter.
THE evil bugs are preparing to colonize our interiors. But don’t panic, simple solutions exist.
Who is the evil bug that invites itself into our home?
Like spiders, evil bugs need warmth to survive. With the unpredictable weather over the next few weeks, they risk invading our homes. From its scientific name
Halyomorpha halysthe evil bug is distinguished from classic bedbugs by two white marks visible on its antennae.
She particularly likes areas under roofs and near windows.
Is it dangerous for health?
Despite a name that may be worrying, this insect does not represent any direct threat. Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of True Medical, wants to be reassuring.
“No, the evil bug does not pose a direct risk to human health and it does not bite! It also does not bite, does not suck blood or transmit any disease to humans. Its digestive system is designed to bite plants, not humans.”
The specialist specifies that apart from rare cases of mild allergies (redness or small irritations in the event of massive contact with their odorous secretion), the real danger lies elsewhere:
“The real risk is agricultural. It is a formidable pest for orchards and vegetable gardens, hence its nickname ‘diabolical'”.
Should prevention measures be put in place?
There is no need to anticipate health risks for the family or pets: prevention responds above all to a concern for comfort and cleanliness.
“Prevention simply aims to prevent them from settling en masse in your house to spend the winter, because their smell is very unpleasant and persistent” calls back the doctor.
If your home is subject to too much presence, you can turn to specific traps available commercially. Also remember to close the windows: they like to take refuge in homes, which are warmer than outside.
How to get these critters out of the house or out of your laundry?
When you come across a bedbug inside or attached to your laundry hanging out to dry, choose a gentle method. Absolutely avoid trampling or crushing it: crushing a bedbug immediately releases a very unpleasant odor throughout the room. It will be better to use other means, such as:
- The manual method: take a sheet of paper, gently lift the insect onto it then release it outside;
- The vacuum cleaner technique: attach a nylon stocking to the end of your vacuum cleaner hose, suck up the bug, then close the stocking to quickly throw it outside;
- On linen: Shake the laundry vigorously outside before bringing it inside. If one of them remains attached, catch it using a tissue or paper without crushing it.
You now know how to get rid of this insect, without being bothered by its smell.