Bed Bug Facts

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

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

The Bed Bug problem is a widespread one, as these tiny creatures are understood to have traveled from their origin in the Asian continent to the remainder of the globe.

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

The female Bed Bug will produce eggs any day; as she can survive for considerable lengths of time – over a year – this results in a quick explosion of the Bed Bug population.

The bed bug is alive at night – when we are dormant – and the first clue to the presence of Bed Bugs is the presence of marks on the skin in the morning.

The bed bug will feed during the night, and as it feeds on the blood it leaves behind marks of its existence.

A bed bug feeds by puncturing the skin and feeding in a tube with which it pulls out the required blood, and as such the victim will rarely be aware they are being bitten as they are usually asleep.

After feeding – which could last as long as ten minutes – the Bed Bug leaves behind a red puncture which could swell and will itch continually, bringing irritation and discomfort to the sufferer.

The problem regarding diagnosis is that the signs of Bed Bugs are often similar to a number of other skin infections.

Scabies displays very similar pointers to bed bug infestation, and many insect bites such as mosquito can also leave behind a similar tell tale bite.

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

The Bed Bug is a night feeding mite and it likes to dine on our blood; it also likes to stay out of sight and this is why it is found in our beds and furnishings.

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

Bed Bugs are sometimes introduced into the home by people who have been elsewhere and have possibly slept on a number of varied and frequently used beds.

A Bed Bug case is not always a case of poor hygiene, however, as a lot of hotels and guest houses have also been the source of cases.

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

To get rid of Bed Bugs you initially need to dispose of of the infected mattress and any other items that may be harbouring the creatures.

As bed bugs are very numerous and difficult to find, eradicating all the eggs and mites with off the shelf treatments may not be guaranteed to be successful.
 
During a case 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 in order to kill the bugs.