All
About Bed Bugs
Until a few years ago bed
bugs were rarely seen because of the widespread use of DDT
during the 1940's and 50's to exterminate all sorts of pests
in the United States and Europe. However, bed bugs are
making a comeback. Hotels and motels are among the places
that suffer most from bed bugs infestation.
The bed bug comeback is mainly attributed to people travelling
from country to country, from place to place or staying in bed
bugs infested hotels and motels.
As a matter of fact if you use any form of public transport or
stay in hotels or motels or any other form of lodging you
cannot even be sure if your own house is bed bug free.
Therefore it is important to know the basic things about bed
bugs in case you need to treat your home from infestation.
Species of bed bugs
Bed bugs are small, flat, brownish colored, nocturnal insects.
They belong to the family Cimicidae that live by feeding on
human and animal blood.
Cimex lectularius, the scientific name, are the common
household bed bugs. They are the species of bed bugs that feed
on humans and have adapted to human environments. This type of
bed bug is found in temperate climates. Believe it our not,
they are the same bed bugs that tormented people in ancient
times.
There are other bed bugs species with the following scientific
names:
 Cimex hemipterus which are found in tropical
regions like Florida also infests poultry and bats.
Leptocimex boueti which is found in the tropics
of South America and West Africa infest not just humans
but bats as well.
Cimex pilosellus and Cpipistrella primarily
infest bats.
Haematosiphon inodora found in North America
primarily infests poultry.
Physical characteristics of bed bugs
Adult bed bugs are small, oval, flattened, reddish brown, and
wingless. Many people think that bed bugs are so small and move
so quick that they are not visible to the naked eye. Adult bed
bugs grow to 4 - 5 mm in length and although they move fast,
they are not as fast as some perceive them to be. People do not
see bed bugs because bed bugs hide during daytime in bed, sofa
or mattress crevices and bite people only when they are still
(such as when we are sleeping).
Newly hatched bed bugs nymphs are translucent. Their color
becomes browner as they reach maturity. Their size is often
compared to appleseeds.
Feeding habits of bed bugs
Bed bugs can live more than a year without feeding. But when a
host is present, they feed regularly every five to ten
days.
Although bed bugs may attempt to feed on human blood anytime of
the day, they are generally active and feed only at night. An
hour before dawn is bed bugs peak attack.
Bed bugs, like any other insect that feed on human blood such
as leeches, inject anaesthetics on the skin of their hosts so
that piercing and blood sucking won't be felt by the human
host.
This is made possible with the two hollow tubes of bed bugs.
One of their hollow tube releases saliva that contains an
anticoagulant and anaesthetics while the other tube withdraws
the blood.
Bed bugs feed for about five minutes and immediately return to
their hiding place such as the bed mattresses and pillows.
Health effects of bed bugs bite on
humans
Unlike other blood sucking insects such as mosquitoes that
carry Malaria and Dengue Fever (Yellow Fever), bed bugs are not
known to have caused transmission of any diseases that are
transmitted through blood, such as Hepatitis B, HIV, and other
diseases.
They are not regarded by scientists as a
medical threat, although they may cause severe itching and skin
marks on the bitten part of the skin. Skin infections and scars
may precipitate due to scratching and this may require medical
attention by a dermatologist.
The redness and itch of the bitten part may subside with the
use of a calamine lotion. Wash with warm water and germicidal
soap first before applying calamine lotion.
by
Gretha Filak
For
more information visit http://www.bedbugsuncovered.com
| 
