 Bedbugs were a common pest in home about 60 years ago but since then were rarely seen outside of prisons and unsanitary living conditions. Today, however, the problem of bedbugs has increased so rapidly that even five-star hotels have been suffering from infestations.
Bedbugs are insects that feed on blood. They are a light tan color, but turn dark-reddish brown once they have fed on blood. Before feeding, the adult bed bug is about 5-7mm long
and flattened. Once engorged with blood, it swells in size. Bed bugs can be easily seen with the naked eye, but it's not easy to find bed bugs in a room.
Despite not being able to fly, they crawl from place to place and can travel easily on clothing or suitcases. Visiting other countries where bedbugs are common increases the risk of transporting them back home. The offspring of one bedbug can infest a whole house. Bed bugs feed at night and spend the day hidden.
Their flat shape allows them squeeze behind bed frames, bedside furniture, in mattresses and in other holes and cracks. They often leave specks of blood where they have hidden. Bedbugs feed at night, on the skin of sleeping people.
The feeds last usually for 7-12 minutes and they inject a anti-coagulant and anesthetic alive making their bites almost painless. However they often leave a scab with a white center that is irritating.
There can also be stronger reactions to their bites. Although they live on human and animal blood, there is no evidence that they spread diseases and they can live for several months to a year on one blood meal. Bedbugs can be treated by a professional pest controller, and good housekeeping practices will reduce infestations. |
