Bed Bug Facts

Bed Bugs are tiny mites – the adult is smaller than a quarter of an inch in size – that live on the blood of animals and, most disconcertingly humans.

Although not able to fly the bed bug does retain the ability to move very fast and is prone to rapid infestation as a result.

The Bed Bug concern is a widespread one, as these miniature insects are known to have traveled from their natural home in the Asian continent to the rest of the globe.

It is far from unusual to find an infestation of Bed Bugs, but what is vital is that we recognise where they live, how to find them and what to do about them.

The female Bed Bug will give out eggs any day; as she can live for vast lengths of time – over a year – this results in a natural explosion of the Bed Bug population.

The bed bug is in action at night – when we are sleeping – and the initial clue to the infestation of Bed Bugs is the presence of bites on the skin in the morning.

The bed bug will eat during the night, and because it feeds on our blood it leaves behind signs of its existence.

A bed bug feeds by puncturing the skin and inserting a tube with which it sucks out the required blood, and hence the victim will rarely have known they are being bitten as they are usually asleep.

After feeding – which can cover as long as ten minutes – the Bed Bug leaves behind a red mark which may swell and will itch continually, bringing irritation and discomfort to the individual.

The problem regarding diagnosis is that the signs of Bed Bugs are extremely similar to those of other skin infections.

Scabies shows very similar signs to bed bug infestation, and other insect bites such as mosquito can also leave behind a similar tell tale red welt.

Bed bug bites will generally be found on skin that we leave exposed while we sleep – the arms and legs, face and neck are all often bitten – and it is to these areas we should be vigilant when looking for signs of the creatures.

The Bed Bug is a night feeding insect and it likes to dine on our blood; it also likes to hide and this is why it frequents our beds and furnishings.

Though the Bed Bug does not nest like many other insects, it does gravitate to suitable places, hence great numbers will hide together in the crevasses of a mattress, the inside of covers and linings and any dark and secure places.

Bed Bugs are frequently carried into the home by those who have been abroad and have possibly slept on a number of varied and frequently used beds.

A Bed Bug infestation is not necessarily a case of dodgy hygiene, however, as any number of hotels and guest houses have also been the source of the problem.

Bed Bug infestations increase very quickly; with one female bug laying around five eggs every day it is easy to see how rapidly the colony can grow.

To remove Bed Bugs you first need to dispose of of the infested mattress and any other things that may be infested with the creatures.

As bed bugs are very numerous and almost impossible to find, removing all the eggs and creatures with off the shelf routines may not be 100% successful.
 
During an infestation of bed bugs, all clothes, covers and linings that have been near to bugs – or could have been – must be thoroughly washed; if possible this must be done on the hottest setting possible to be certain to kill the bugs.