Bed bugs
Overview:
Bed
bugs are small, flat, oval shaped, wingless
insects around 4-5mm long. They are reddish
brown in colour & approximately 4-5mm long.
bed bugs feed on the blood of warm blooded
mammals. Humans are their preferred host, but
they will also feed on the blood of pets if
necessary. They can survive up to 12 months
without feeding. Each female bedbug can lay up
to 500 eggs.
Once a common pest, the incidence of bed bugs
declined though the mid 20th century.
However, there has been a recent wordwide
resurgence of them. An increase in worldwide
travel & the withdrawal of the pesticide DDT are
believed to be the cause.
Bed
bugs are most active at night, seeking
shelter in small crevices when inactive. Typical
hiding places are cracks between floorboards,
bedding, mattresses, wall cracks, carpets etc.
Bed bug bites:
Bed bugs pierce the skin of their host using
their proboscis (feeding organ) into the skin.
Saliva is then injected, which contains an
anticoagulant to stop the blood from clotting &
an anesthetic to numb the area & then feeds on
the blood. Engorgement takes approximately 10
minutes. Bites from bed bugs can cause localised
irritation & inflammation. Repeated exposure can
cause some people to become sensitised,
resulting in mild to severe allergic reactions.
Severe itching may need to be relieved by a
topical cream, either over the counter or
prescribed by your doctor.
How do I know if I have bed bugs?
bed bugs tend to be quite secretive, hiding in
nooks & crannies when not feeding. So you may
have an infestation & not be aware. Signs of
bed bugs may include:
-
Symptoms of bites such as raised, red spots,
itching etc., especially around the arms &
shoulders. Bites are typically observed in
orderly rows on the body. It should be noted
though that many people will show no
reaction to a bite whatsoever.
-
You may notice small spots of blood on your
bedding & reddish brown feces.
-
You may notice a sweet/sickly smell in heavy
infestations.
How did bed bugs invade my home?
There
are many possible ways for bed bugs to get into
your home. They may hitch a ride on somebody's
luggage, or in/on newly acquired furniture, they
may travel from apartment to apartment in high
density areas.
Unlike other common household pests such as
cockroaches & rodents, bed bugs don't feed on
food debris. And they aren't a sign of an
unclean house!
How do I get rid of bed bugs?
Unlike other common household pests such as
cockroaches, bed bugs are resistant to most
insect sprays. They are also very hard to find.
Therefore it is best consult a licensed pest
controller.
Carefully
inspecting any new/second hand furniture you
bring into the house may help.
Do bed bugs cause any health problems?
It is not believed that bed bugs spread disease.
As has already been mentioned, some people can
develop allergic reactions to bites.
Further reading:
Bed Bug Bites
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