8 Things You Need to Know about Bed Bugs

One of the most prevailing pest problems in many American homes is bed bug infestation. It does not matter whether a household is clean or dirty. It seems clear that bed bugs can invade any household simply because they are good at hitchhiking and with that ability, they can travel anywhere along with people.

Having these pests at home is never a good experience. Aside from the irritation, you feel due to itchy bed bug bites, you can suffer from sleep loss and extreme anxiety whenever you have bed bugs crawling on your bed. Worse, when left unnoticed and untreated, this creepy crawlies may also infect other areas besides your bedroom.

The reason that most bed bug problems are not easily undetected is the fact that most people do not know much about the signs of bed bugs. Most of the time, people think mosquitos are the culprits behind bites they get after waking up from sleep. Not many of us can distinguish mosquito bites from bed bug bites and so we tend to neglect the one possible sign of bed bug activity.

What is a bed bug?

As the name suggests, bed bugs are small, brownish insects that tend to bite their victims during the night. Some people are more susceptible to bed bug bites than others, but when they do strike, it is usually pretty bad. And it can happen to you too.

Bed bugs are parasitic insects of the cimicidae family, known for feeding on human blood. Though they are not known to spread disease, their saliva can cause skin rashes and they may even transmit a form of meningitis, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Bed bugs are flat and straw-colored, about the size of an apple seed, and can be hard to spot. They feed on human blood, mostly at night when you’re sleeping. Once it finds a home in your home, it’ll stay there. They’re not going anywhere any time soon. Thankfully, if you have a bed bug problem, there are effective treatments to remove them before they multiply.

The Truth About Bed Bugs

It would be in our best interests if we possess knowledge of bed bugs including their nature and because it’s easier for us to find a solution to the problem as soon as possible. One of the services we need to deal with them is bed bug removal, which may be in the form of chemical treatment or heat treatment. When it comes to pesky pests, here are eight things we should be aware of:

• Bed bugs are ancient creatures. 

They have been dwelling on this planet for millions of years. In the past, they had been recognized to be nest parasites since they would usually inhabit the nests of bats and birds. At present, bed bugs have evolved into ectoparasites because they now prefer dwelling in the human environment where they can stay close to their warm-blooded hosts—humans.

• Bloodsuckers Pests. 

Like mosquitos and other bloodsucking insects, bed bugs depend on human blood to survive and fully grow. For this reason, they prefer hiding in areas like mattresses or beds where they have easy access to their blood meal. Also, they get attracted to heat, sweat, and carbon dioxide emitted by the human body and the bedroom is the perfect spot where they have access to these things.

• Bed bugs are nocturnal. 

They are particularly active at night or during people’s sleeping hours. Typically, bed bugs begin their activity during the wee hours after midnight when people are fast asleep. By then, they would gorge on blood discreetly and return to their hiding spots just before sunrise.

• Exceptional hitchhikers. 

Usually, bed bugs get into your home because you or someone else brought them in. People who constantly travel can get bed bugs from hotels. These sneaky critters would effortlessly lodge into your luggage or clothes and you would unknowingly bring them back home with you.

• They are very tiny. 

Young bed bugs are about the size of a poppy seed (0.04 inches) while the adult ones are about the size of an apple seed (0.25 inches). Their bodies are flat and oval-shaped. However, after feeding, they become rounder and larger. Their size is an utter advantage as it allows them to effortlessly tuck their bodies into very thin cracks or gaps to hide.

• Bed bugs’ color varies from light brown to dark brown or reddish-brown. 

When they haven’t sucked blood yet, their bodies appear like a light tan. After feeding, they turn into burnt orange and you will notice a dark red or black globule appearing within the bug’s translucent body.

• They reproduce fast and become visible after two weeks of infesting your home. 

These sneaky critters are rarely seen by the naked eye. When you finally spot even just two or three bed bugs, then that only means one thing—you already have a serious bed bug infestation. If this is the case, it’s time you consider professional methods of bed bug removal.

• Bed bugs aren’t easy to eliminate.

Their hitchhiking abilities and their minute size allow them to hide into remote crevices on walls, objects, and areas that are difficult to reach by humans. That is why asking for professional assistance from a pest control company is advised. For treating heavy infestations, bed bug heat treatment and chemical treatment are the best options to consider.

Bed bugs are one of the worst pests!

When it comes to pests, bed bugs are among the most tenacious and annoying ones. They may be less harmful as compared to disease-carrying pests but they still can cause so much stress to people in the household. It is always best to take action immediately after the very first subtle signs of bed bug activity which include black colored droppings, persistent moldy odor, bed bug shells, bloodstains on bedding and mattress, and extremely itchy bites marks in clusters. Consult a pest control expert right away once you suspect a bed bug problem.