Bed Bugs Facts - Information About Bed Bugs

Worried about bed bugs? Get information and facts about bed bugs, including tips on how to get rid of them.

Cimex lectularius or commonly known as bed bugs are tiny pest that is causing major problems in fast growing urban countries. They are small, wingless insects that will feed on the blood of any warm-blooded animals or mammals.

Though not strictly nocturnal, they are mainly active at night and like to feed between midnight to the early morning wee hours when their host is still asleep. They are known as "bed bugs" because of their preferred feeding habits and infestations near beds where their hosts may sleep. Bed bugs find their hosts by the body heat and the carbon dioxide that the host exhale. Their bites are painless so the host is unaware when they are being bitten.

Additional Key Information About Bed Bugs

The typical lifespan of a bed bug is approximately 12 to 18 months.

A bed bug female can produce up to 5 eggs per day and can lay a total of 300 eggs during her lifetime.

The newly hatched nymph is white or pale yellow in color and will take 21 to 56 days to reach sexual maturity under favorable environment conditions.

Adult bed bugs are ¼ inch long (or about the size of an apple seed) and have a flattened, reddish brown, oval shape body when unfed.

Bed bugs don't spread disease, but their bites can cause redness and itching.

bed bugs

Growing Populations

The spread of bed bugs has been largely attributed to the increase in international travel where they embed themselves in your clothing or luggage when you are staying in a infested hotel room.

Their growing populations can also be attributed to a decrease in the use of powerful pest-killing products such as DDT, that was banned in the 1980s for environmental and health concerns.

Symptoms of Bed Bugs

Usually the first symptoms that you may have bed bugs are waking up to find red, itchy bumps on your skin. The unique characteristic of bed bug bites are the bites are always reported in a row or clustered pattern.

You may also find tiny bloodstains on your bed sheets from crushed bugs, or dark spots from their droppings around your mattresses.

In severe infestations, the room will carry a distinctive and unpleasant almond-like smell.

How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Proper housekeeping such as deep vacuuming mattresses, upholstered furniture and floors can help remove the bugs. Pay particular attention to any cracks, crevices and open spaces on the walls, floors or upholstered furniture.

Repairing and sealing any cracks and crevices with caulking will help to stop any new infestations.

Laundered linens and clothes in hot water for at least 20 minutes at temperature above 120°F will kill the bugs. For bigger items, use the dryer or get a bed bug steamer.

Applying diatomaceous earth powder to possible infested areas will kill bed bugs when the bugs come into contact with the powder.

In addition, sealing your mattress with allergy proof mattress covers will help prevent bed bug bites and eventually kill any bed bugs and eggs that are trapped within.

Get Rid of bed Bugs With Professional Exterminators

Getting rid of bed bugs will unquestionably be a long-winded and demanding task. If you feel that you do not have the time or the energy to execute the extermination well on your own, it is advisable to hire a pest control expert who have invested in the knowledge, training and equipment to do the job well and guarantee the success of the extermination operation.

Click Here To Get A Free Quote From Your Local Bed Bug Exterminator!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Bedbugs Making A Comeback

During World War II, many governments used DDT to exterminate parasites in troops. DDT was effective against malaria-spreading mosquitoes, lice that transmitted typhus, and several species of arthropods. After the war, DDT was used as an agricultural insecticide but was banned in the US in 1972 due to its toxic nature. Its use continues in limited use to control the spread of disease.

DDT was also effective in controlling bed bugs. Once the most common parasite in the world, bedbugs were eradicated in America and many developed nations thanks to the toxic nature of DDT. However bedbugs survived in third world countries and are making their way back to developed nations due to increased world travel, immigration, and pesticide resistance. Many cities are discovering outbreaks of bedbugs, and bedbugs are now found in some of the finest hotels in the world. As well as hotels, they are often found in places with high turnover, such as dorms, barracks and apartments. College kids frequently bring them home for the holidays.

Bedbugs are wingless creatures that feed on human, poultry, and bat blood. They are approximately ¼ inch and are often mistaken for ticks. The bite is painless but results in small bumps that may itch. The bites are often lined up in a row known as the breakfast, lunch, dinner sign. They can be written off as other insect bites or a skin condition. There are no diseases associated with bedbug, and unless an allergic reaction occurs there is no need to seek treatment.

Infestations can be difficult to spot. Since they hide during the day, come out to feed at night, and can go for months without feeding, they may go unnoticed until they start feeding. During daylight hours look for their molted exoskeletons and small, black excrement. Bedbugs can hide in very small spaces in the home, and are very fond of mattresses. Excess clutter also makes great hiding spots for bedbugs.

Like all parasites, bedbug infestation can be difficult to control. Over the counter bug sprays are not effective and experts may need to be called in. CleanAir Treatments LLC out of Michigan recommends ozone as a green treatment for bedbugs. According to their website at http://cleanairtreatments.com/index.html, ozone is safer, more effective and faster than conventional disinfectants. Also known as activated oxygen, ozone is also effective against toxic mold, mildew and viruses without leaving behind a dangerous chemical residue.

Source: http://www.examiner.com

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