Bed
Bug Problem
Bed bugs are one of the
most common insects in America. However it is only in
the recent years that bed bugs are categorized as pests and
we are faced with a bed bug problem. With increasing number
of immigrants and travellers from different places, bed bugs
thrive in hotels, restaurants, shelters, homes, apartments
and motels.
Bed bugs are tiny, brown, flattened insects that feed on an
animal’s blood. There are certain types of bed bugs that have a
preference for humans. The common one, classified as Cimex
lectularius, found in our homes is the insect adapted to living
with humans.
Another bed bug problem is that they can be mistaken for
ticks in their adult stage. They do not fly like cockroaches
but they are agile and can move really fast over walls, floors
and other types of surfaces. What makes them a pest is that bed
bugs are very resilient. They can live without food (blood)
from their host for up to a year. This means these parasites
can lie dormant, just waiting for an unsuspecting victim to
arrive.
The bed bug’s nocturnal behaviour makes it hard for people to
identify if they have one on their furniture. Eliminating them
is also a problem. If people cannot see where the bed bugs are,
it can be hard to determine if they were all killed when
pesticide is applied.
Bed bugs are great hiders and usually come out to feed on a
blood meal in the middle of the night. It is not confirmed if
bed bugs are aware that their hosts are asleep when they feed.
But their habits suggest that they can more or less sense if
the host is in a relaxed state.
Symptoms of being bitten by bed bugs are different from one
person to another. There are people who have no reaction to
bites from these bed bugs. Some experience an itchy, swelling
bump on the skin where the bed bugs had their fill. Others
leave inflamed welt marks on their victims.
Bed bugs feed on their hosts by piercing the human skin with a
long beak, which they use to suck the blood. Much like fleas
and mosquitoes, their bodies become engorged in three to ten
minutes without the victim noticing. Perhaps it is their
patience in getting the blood meal that makes it hard for
humans to realize what is happening to them
A major bed bug problem and concern is the possibility of
transmitting disease. There has been no documented case of a
disease passed on by bed bugs so it is dismissed by science.
The extent of their damage to their hosts is limited to
itchiness and swelling from their bites.
The real bed bug problem is infestation. They can produce three
generations in a year. Female bed bugs place their eggs in very
secluded areas like the folds in the mattress, and deposits
eggs of up to five a day. Because of this their numbers
continue to grow without the human’s knowledge. Soon they
spread around the house and an infestation occurs. These
infestations can cause anxiety and loss of sleep.
How do you know if you have a bed bug problem and
if your bed is infested with bed bugs? Answer
three simple questions to find out:
 Do you wake up to find an itchy and swelling
welt on your neck, face, arms, shoulders, etc when you had
none before sleeping?
Does your mattress have dark stains and
spotting?
Do you wake up to see small reddish brown spots
on the sheets, pillowcases or walls?
If you answered, “yes” to two out of three questions above,
then it is likely that you are lying in a mattress full of bed
bugs.
The best way to get rid of them is to
throw away your mattress. Bed bugs can live in wait for a long
period of time so even if you try to wash it, they may
resurface. Using pesticides on the bed can be dangerous for the
owner. So only a new mattress is the solution.
Eliminating and entire home from bed bugs can be tedious. So if
you can afford it, make sure you get your home pre-treated
against these parasites. And since these insects also live in
carpets and sofas, the best defence is
prevention.
For
more information about bed bugs infestation visit http://www.bedbugsuncovered.com
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