Where did that phrase come from, anyway. After all, many of us have never experienced bed bugs – or at least not until recent years. In days of old, bed bugs were a common nuisance much like the mosquito – you just dealt with the fact that you’d get a bite occasionally, hence the phrase that accompanied many night time rituals for children (yikes!).
Experts believe that the sudden surge in their commonality in recent years is due to an increase in international travel (they originate in Asia, Africa and Europe). Bed bugs hide in clothing sometimes, and if you travel internationally, you may bring some home with you as carry-ons. Additionally, staying in places with a high turnover rate of occupants, such as hotels, hospitals and homeless shelters, increases the risk for bedbugs to hang around.
Bed Bugs on Skin
What Do Bed Bugs Even Look Like?
Cut open an apple and pull out the seeds – now you have a prime example of the size (and maybe even color) of bed bugs. They are flat and oval shaped, usually with reddish brown coloring, and – you guessed it – the approximate size of an apple seed.
Where Do They Live?
Bed bugs get their name because they make their home in our beds – box springs, bed frames, headboards, mattresses, etc. Bed bugs feed on blood meal – much like the mosquito (again), they bit and suck blood. They are attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide, which is why they live in beds because they’re “prey” lay still, get warm and breathe deeply while sleeping. As mentioned, the mainly live in areas with high turnover rates, such as dormitories, apartment complexes and military barracks.
An important myth that needs to be debunked is that bed bugs only live in unclean homes. This is not at all the case. As long as they have someone to feed on, they can be anywhere – even an immaculately clean home or hospital.
How Do I Know I Have Bed Bugs?
The most common sign of bed bugs are bites. Bed bugs have two tubes protruding from their mouth – one to inject an anesthetic in their victim and the other to feed. Believe it or not, they can go about 18 months without eating (which means you could have them and not really know it), but its usually more like 5-10 days when they have a reliable food source (like you).
The bites are usually in rows or clusters, like the bed bug is just moving along the chosen area. Most commonly affected areas are the upper body or limbs that are usually outside blankets, such as arms, hands, face and neck. Typically you won’t get sick from bed bug bites, just itch red bumps a lot. However, some individuals have been known to have an allergic reaction to the bugs’ anesthetic saliva (in which case, you should see a doctor).
Size of Bed Bug
What is the Life Cycle for Bed Bugs?
Females, which live less than a year, lay about 200 eggs in their lifetime. Newborn bed bugs are colorless, so you’ll be hard pressed to locate any of them. They molt about five times while they grow, needing to feed for each molting.
How Do I Get Rid of Them?
While bed bugs were eradicated pretty effectively with the use of a pesticide called DDT after World War II, the pesticide has since been banned from use because of the pollutants it causes. This makes them rather hard to get rid of now. While there are several products on the market, such as sprays, dusts and other methods, it is highly recommended that you seek the help of a professional to completely eradicate the problem. If you want more information on at home methods, PestMall.com gives detailed information on the options and how to use them so you can make an informed choice.
You can, however, take preventative measures. Sleep at home as much as possible. Use mattress covers, pillow encasements and box spring encasements designed specifically for preventing access for bed bugs to live there. Don’t leave clothes or other items lying on beds or the floor when traveling. Have any pieces of second hand furniture you acquire thoroughly cleaned before bringing it into your home.
Taking these precautions will help you to sleep tight….. you know the rest.
Debi Redricks
Michelle L. Cramer
