Bed bugs have existed for countless years. While they are known not to transmit any diseases to people, they are known to feed on blood. They can cause allergic reactions in some people. There are steps you can take to control the issue, but getting rid of a bed bug infestation is not simple. Additionally, there are precautions you can take to prevent bringing bed bugs home.
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What Is A Bed Bug?
Since they frequently hide out in beds and feed on people while they are sleeping, bed bugs probably got their name from this behavior. Bed bugs feed only on blood and must have regular blood meals to survive and develop. Humans are not bed bugs’ only targets, they also will attack many warm-blooded animals, including poultry and other birds. Bed bugs have been associated with humans for more than 3,300 years and are found in virtually every place people tend to gather, including residences, hotels, schools, offices, retail stores and even public transportation.
Bed bugs are great “hitch hikers,” allowing them to travel long distances. They latch onto suitcases, clothes, and linens and canend up wherever these items are taken. Bed bug transmission is made possible by this. Furthermore, it’s often hard to identify bed bug bites, and theycan easily be confused with bitesfrom a different pest, making infestations difficult to detect and allowingpopulationsto grow unnoticed.
- Before feeding, bed bugs are tiny, wingless, flat insects that are reddish-brown in color and about one-quarter inch long (similar in size and shape to a small apple seed).
- They hide during the day in cracks and crevices of walls, floors, and furniture, as well as on beds (mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, and headboards). After dark, they emerge.
- Although they cannot fly or jump, they can move quickly.
How To Identify Bed Bugs
Approximately 3/16th of an inch in length, bed bugs have an oval shape. They are flat and brown before feeding. After feeding, bed bugs swell, lengthen, and develop a deeper red color. There are two antennae and six legs on bed bugs. Despite having reduced “wing pads,” bed bugs do not have wings and cannot fly.
In particular, in the seams of mattresses and box springs, adult bed bugs are visible to the human eye and can be found by sight. Bed bug nymphs can be more difficult to spot because they are smaller and have a paler color.
Signs Of A Bed Bug Infestation
The smallest reddish-brown fecal spots on mattresses, furniture, or walls are the easiest way to spot bed bugs. Infestation may be present if these spots are discovered. Another indication of bed bugs are bites on the arms and legs. Even though these bites may be small, they become noticeable if they swell and start to itch. These bites can take up to three days to manifest, which gives the infestation time to spread. Without additional bed bug proof, bites do not, by themselves, indicate an infestation.
Bed bug molt skins, their eggs, empty eggshells, or the bugs themselves can all be used to detect infestations. Despite their small size, everything on this list is still clearly visible to the naked eye. After molting or emerging from the eggshell, bed bug skins and their eggshells both have a pale white appearance.
How Are Bed Bugs Able To Enter My House?
- They might originate in used furniture or other infected areas. They can travel in bags, backpacks, purses, and other objects that are placed on padded or soft surfaces.
- They are able to move between rooms in multi-unit structures like hotels and apartment buildings.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs
- When staying at a hotel, put your bag on a suitcase stand rather than the bed or floor. Away from any furniture or walls, keep the rack. Wash your travel attire and dry it in a hot dryer when you get home.
- Before bringing it inside, look over both new and used furniture. Examine tufts, seams, and the space beneath cushions.
Bed bugs are extremely elusive creatures so professional help should be sought out when dealing with an infestation. Bed bugs are a very difficult pest to treat. In fact, 76 percent of pest professionals say they are the hardest bug to eradicate according to a recent NPMA survey. If you suspect or discover an infestation, contact a licensed professional to address the issue
To completely eradicate bed bugs, patience and perseverance are required, as well as, occasionally, the cooperation of landlords, neighbors, and other people. It might make you feel emotionally and physically exhausted. The cost of hiring pest control companies can also be high. Just keep in mind that bed bugs are more of a nuisance than a health risk, and that you can prevent or manage infestations by being vigilant.
Ddt: Initial Advantages And Major Downsides
In the 1940s, a pesticide called DDT was developed to decrease the transmission of:
- Malaria
- Typhus
- And other insect-borne illnesses to troops and civilians
DDT became popular in the US., and for a long time, it proved to be a powerful agent against bed bug infestations, which were extremely common up to that point.
The use of DDT was regrettably associated with some serious drawbacks. While it endangered wildlife populations, particularly bird populations, it was categorized as a potential carcinogen and started to lose its effectiveness as a pesticide. DDT was thus outlawed in 1972. Bed bug infestations in the United States were becoming less common by that point.
Return Of The Bed Bugs
Numerous nations, including the United States, have seen an increase in bed bug populations since the 1980s.
Experts point to various factors affecting the rising number of infestations:
- Increased international travel
- A rising trend in buying vintage and second-hand furniture
- A change in pest control application practices in hotels
- Bed bugs’ increasing resistance to multiple types of pesticides (even DDT)
How Do I Determine Whether I Have A Bed Bug Issue?
- In mattress seams and other items in the bedroom, bed bugs can be seen as well as their shed skins or feces.
- Furthermore, the sheets may have blood stains.
How Can I Manage My Home’s Bed Bug Problem?
It can be done, but it usually requires what is called an “integrated pest management” (The least harmful methods for the environment and your health are combined in the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Try these strategies:
- In particular, purge and organize your bedroom of any clutter.
- Away from any furniture or walls, move your bed.
- Every day, vacuum the floors, windows, and molding. Mattress sides, box spring edges, and furniture seams should all be vacuumed. As soon as possible, empty the vacuum or bag, and then throw it away outside in a bag or sealed container.
- Sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and bed skirts should all be washed before being dried for at least 30 minutes in a hot dryer. Use dust mite control mattress and box spring covers and cover the zippers with duct tape.
- Fill in cracks and crevices as well as any openings where wires or pipes enter the house.
Should I Also Try Pesticides?
Incorrect use of pesticides can make them dangerous and less effective. If you decide to use pesticides, follow these rules:
- Utilize only pesticides with U.S. registration. Search for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Verify that they are labeled to control bed bugs (EPA Registration Number on the label).
- Applying pesticides directly to your body is not advised (there are no repellents approved for use on humans to control bed bugs).
- Avoid using outdoor pesticides indoors.
- Make sure a pest control company you hire has experience dealing with bed bugs. Along with any pesticide application, they should adhere to IPM principles. Use a business that is registered and uses authorized applicators. A list of registered businesses can be found at the Department of Environmental Conservation.