The Habitat of Bed Bugs
Like miniature vampires, bed bugs seek out tender human flesh to feed their lust for blood. Normally attacking under the cover of darkness, they bite the host and sip a few drops. While feeding, bedbugs inject their saliva into the skin, causing an itchy irritation similar to the bite of a flea or mosquito. In most instances, evidence of red and painful bites is the first sign of a bed bug infestation. Does this Spark an idea?
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Bed Bug Bites
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Bed bug infestations affect homes, hotels, hostels, homeless shelters, dormitories and other communal living habitats. The University of Harvard School of Public Medicine reports, "A physician should be consulted to rule out other causes for the lesions and to offer treatment, as needed. The affected person should resist the urge to scratch the bites, as this may intensify the irritation and itching, and may lead to secondary infection. Physicians often treat patients with antihistamines and corticosteroids to reduce allergic reactions and inflammation. Despite what you may have heard or read elsewhere, bed bugs are not known to transmit any infectious agents."
Bed Bug Habitat
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Bed bugs make their home in beds and blankets. Bed bugs like to live where people sleep. They can be found in sleeping bags, blankets, mattresses, pillows and comforters. Avoid purchasing used bedding that may bring bed bugs into your home. Bed bugs can live for several months without food, becoming active only when they find a human host (or warm blooded animal) to feed upon. They can live up to a year without a single drop of blood to nourish their existence.
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Family Pets May Transmit Bed Bugs
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Bed bugs are tiny, parasitic insects of the family Cimicidae. They are brown and oval in shape, about the size of an apple seed. Cimex lectularius, the common bed bug, is the species most likely to be found living with humans. Other types of bed bug species feed on wildlife such as bats and birds. If your home harbors bird's nests, bats, squirrels or mice these types of bed bugs may infest the home.
Bed bugs may enter a home hidden in the hair of family pets. Pet beds, rugs and carpet may harbor these nasty little insects. Largely eliminated in the United States in the 1940's, bed bugs have recently resurfaced. If your profession requires you to enter other people's home, you may bring bed bugs back to yours. Carpet installers, furniture movers, carpenters and plumbers that have to come in contact with the floors, bedding or furniture of others may transport bed bugs.
Bed Bug Detection
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Bed bugs are rarely seen as they are most active under the cover of darkness. Tiny blood red, dark spots on sheets or a mattress may be the only visible sign of a bed bug infestation. (Bed bugs pierce skin with a long beak with which they withdraw blood.) Bed bugs may be encountered in any situation with a turn over of overnight guests. Travelers visiting international destinations may unwittingly transport bed bugs in their luggage. A strong, repulsive odor may be evident if there is a large population of bed bugs living in a structure. However, the odor is only noticeable from massive infestations and should not be counted on as a method of detection.
Bed Bug Eradication
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Place mothballs in all stored bedding, camping gear or clothing to prevent bed bugs from nesting. Store bedding and blankets in sealed, airtight plastic bags or containers. Once bed bugs have invaded your home they can travel from room to room on clothing, pets or shoes. They can live in the walls of buildings, traveling from room to room or apartment to apartment by traveling through cracks and crevices.
Vacuum all upholstered furniture to remove both active bugs and eggs. Immediately empty the vacuum and place the debris in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of properly.
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References
- Photo Credit mosquito bites image by Vanessa van Rensburg from Fotolia.com colorful bed linen on a wooden bed image by ann triling from Fotolia.com
