Almost for as long as people have been sleeping in beds, people have been sleeping with bed bugs. These pesky pests have been document in history as far back as the Medieval times in Europe, and can be traced in Greek history to the time of Aristotle. Throughout the ages, there have been countless tales of hapless victims of bed bugs, all of them bad.
Known to scientists as "Cimex lectularius", bedbugs are small, wingless creatures with a brownish, ultra thin body. Various studies indicate these creatures originated in Asia, but they are now found in all parts of the world. Bed bugs thrive in areas with a warm, climate but they have adapted to northern regions where heated buildings are available.
Adult bed bugs measure ¼" to 3/8" in length when unfed. After a hearty meal, their size can expand considerably. A hungry bed bug looks much different compared to one that is well fed. Young bed bugs, called nymphs, resemble adults but have a yellowish color after molting. Depending on how much they have to eat, nymphs can develop into fully-grown bed bugs is as fast as one month.
Pesty Bed Bugs
The trouble with bed bugs starts when these little beasts get hungry for blood. They typically stay in their nests, and are only forced to go out when they are starving. Bed bugs are initially attracted by body warmth, and cannot detect a food source that is more than five centimeters to ten centimeters away.
The mouth of a bed bug is a highly developed piece of blood sucking equipment. The specialized beaklike protrusion provides two-way action, injecting an analgesic and sucking blood at the same time. The bed bug feeds on its unsuspecting victim as he or she sleeps, for as few as one minute or as many as seven minutes. An adult bed bug can absorb about seven times its own body weight in blood. Immediate after feeding, the bed bug will retreat to its hiding place.
Most people won't realize that they have bed bugs until they've been bitten. They'll wake in the morning to find red, itchy marks or swollen welts on their bodies. The red marks resemble mosquito bites, and will last for two or three days. Bed bug bites can be distinguished by the orderly way the welts are formed. The bite marks appear in an orderly fashion, unlike the random pattern of mosquito bites. Although the bites will be itchy, they should only be washed with soap and water and never scratched, as this can cause infection. Bed bugs are not selective as to where they feed on the human body, and will choose any area with good blood flow, including the genitalia.
Bug Off!
Treating an infestation of bed bugs is not enough. These tiny creatures can hide in the smallest of places and reproduce at an alarming rate, so the only way to deal with bed bugs is through total extermination.
Many people acquire bed bugs through their travels. Sleeping in an infested hotel room, particularly in a tropical climate, leaves travelers vulnerable to these unwanted pests. The insects will crawl, undetected, into luggage and belongings and then hitch a ride home. Once safely in the house, these bed bugs will thrive, breed and begin a new infestation. Homes not yet infested can also inherit this problem through the use of second hand beds, couches and other furnishings.
Getting rid of bed bugs is an incredibly difficult task. Fabrics with holes and tears create the perfect locations for the insects to lay eggs. During the 1940s and 1950s the use of a pesticide called DDT was popular, as it helped minimize the spread of bed bug infestations. These chemicals were eventually outlawed due to growing concerns over their dangerous effect on humans.
Professional pest control companies have an artillery of potions and instruments to help get rid of beg bugs. These experts use specially formulated pesticides, aerosols and other chemical agents to get the job done quickly and more safely. Any beds or furnishings that are found to be in poor condition or badly infested should be discarded immediately. Those who choose to keep the bed should encase the mattress and box spring in plastic covers, in order to trap and eventually smother any remaining bugs.
Vacuuming is an effective means of getting rid of bed bugs and some pest control experts even use portable steam machines in their treatment of beds.
Whether you're dealing with a minor or major infestation, bed bugs are a big problem. This is particularly true when the lights go out. Prevention through regular and thorough house cleaning is a good way to help prevent a bed bug infestation.
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