THE BED BUG PROBLEM:
Bed bugs have made a comeback... All over the world, People are waking up with itchy red welts all over their bodies. The bad news is that they are extremely hard to get rid of, they can live for a year without food, and they are very mobile.
History of bed bugs: bed bugs first appeared in the 1700s, many sailors used to complain about them, sail boats returning from Europe were found to be infested with bed bugs.This led to some countries experiencing epidemic problems. Beginning of the 19th century we started seeing a rise in the number of bed bug infestation of epidemic Levels it was estimated that 75% of British houses were infested. in the mid 1900s the introduction of a New pesticide marked the decrease in the numbers of bed bugs. by the 1970s this pesticide was banned. So today the level of bed bug infestations continue to rise.
As a child our grandmother use to say to us, Good night sleep tight, dont let the bed bugs bite. This was more than just a nursery rhyme.
What do they Look like: bed bugs are oval, flattened, brown, and wingless insects approximately 1/4" to 3/8" long (5-9 mm). They are similar in appearance to a wood tick.
ABOVE: the bed bug
Can bed bugs fly or Jump:
The Good news is bed bugs do not have wings and are not capable of flight or jump. The Bad news is they can free fall. Some studies show that they climb great heights in order to drop themselves down to lower surfaces that were otherwise inaccessible to them.
How do i know if i have them.
You may not even know if you have them. Most people bitten do not show a reaction. Only about 30% of people experience reactions to a bed bug bite. But, if you get bedbugs, or suspect you have bed bugs where you sleep, don’t begin sleeping in another bed, or on the sofa. Do not go to stay with someone else. The bugs may follow you to your guest room or sofa, and then it will be much harder to get rid of them. They may hitch a ride to your relative’s home, and you can cause them to become infested. Bedbugs are exellent hitchhikers..
What time do they come out at night:
There is no set time for the bed bugs.They are active Day and night, although they prefer to feed at night time "between 3am - 6am" when we are in Deep sleep.
Where do i find them. Bedbugs aren’t found just in beds and mattresses. They can be found in furniture, clothing, luggage, and more. And, they spread rapidly. First place to Look is the seams of the mattress and pillow cases.Then each sides of the bed frame, including underneath, Headboards, followed by furniture, hanging pictures, walls, cracks and crevices, plug sockets, cupboards, clocks, curtains,.Remember these insects are small (1/16” to 1/4”) and very flat, so they can move into very tight corners and cracks. In some infestations they have been known to hide in speakers and Desktop computers.
Bedbugs are nocturnal, They only come out at night. (Not true) They can even be seen During the day folks! its True, Depending on the Infestation level, some have been noted on walls, sofa`s, bathrooms, window ledges, cots, and desk top computers. and thats in the day-time.
Why is it that I get bit but my husband does not!
It is possible that you are on the “bed bug side” of the bed. Bed bugs don’t switch back and forth from one host to another so if they find you first, you may be the only one bitten. It is also possible that your husband is getting bitten but does not have a significant reaction to the bed bug bites.
how does one treat bedbug bites? Just like mosquito bites, scratching makes the reaction much worse. Instead wash the area with warm soapy water and then apply an anti-itch cream.
ABOVE: Bedbug Bites
Can mattress covers, prevent bed bugs. Yes & No. Bed bugs can still get on top of the mattress cover or harbor in the bed frame. The advantage of the mattress cover is that if you already have bed bugs, you can trap them inside the cover and they cannot bite through. If you don’t have bed bugs the cover saves you from having to throw out the mattress if you ever get bed bugs.
Will a bed bug ever bite a reproductive body part.
Yes. They do not discriminate; any body part that is accessible and with good blood flow is fair game to a bed bug.
bed bugs in the kitchen: for reasons unknown, and in most cases bed bugs have never been sighted in kitchens.
Once a person has been bitten by a bed bug, how does one treat it. First, do not scratch it. Just like mosquito bites, scratching makes the reaction much worse. Instead wash the area with warm soapy water and then apply an anti-itch cream.
Bed Bugs Life Cycles:If a blood host is available, One female bed bug may produce up to 400 offspring during its lifetime. Theoretically the female bed bug can lay up to twelve eggs a day with the average being around five.Once the eggs have been laid, they can take from six to seventeen days for them to hatch with the average being eleven days.
Staying in Hotels.
If you are traveling, always inspect your mattress for bed bugs by
pulling back the covers and looking carefully at the seams and tufts
for bed bugs or bed bug evidences. Look for Redish Dark fecal spots. If you find bed bugs, contact the hotel management and inform them of the bugs and ask for another room immediately.
bed bugs psychological effects: A bed bug infestation can cause sleeping problems and anxiety for weeks or months. Bed bugs aren’t considered life threatening by any means, but the damages could be considered just as bad if not worse. The physical and psychological effects are reason enough to declare them a health hazard.
Bed bugs bleed you Dry: Not including the trauma and nightmare of having bed bugs, They even cost you your hard earned cash. A bed bug infestation in your home can be a costly one, You could be Looking at something up to $1000 dollars. This is roughly what it might cost you. $250 for an Exterminator ( 2 visits), $60 for washing every piece of clothing in your home, $300 for a new kingsize bed and mattress. $200 for replacing items from the home you have thrown away.
Hotels with bed bug problems could be looking at paying something like $60,000 - $100,000 dollars to treat all the rooms.
Bed bug Treatments:
Bed Bugs are a very complex problem to deal with and experience is essential for safely, efficient and rapid elimination. There are bed bug treatment and sprays available from several vendors online, including mattress cover Protectors for the bed which helps keep them off. but if you have an infestation that you think you cannot handle on your own, we recommend contacting a professional extermination service that can specifically address the issue of bed bugs.
