Bed Bug Facts

Bed Bugs are miniature pest – the adult is less than a quarter of an inch in size – that live on the blood of animals and, most worryingly humans.

Although not a flying insect the bed bug does have the ability to move very fast and is prone to rapid multiplication as a result.

The Bed Bug spread is a common one, as these minuscule mites are believed to have spread from their origin in the Asian continent to the rest of the globe.

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

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

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

The bed bug will eat during the night, and as it feeds on our blood it leaves behind indications of its presence.

A bed bug feeds by spearing the skin and feeding in a tube with which it sucks out the required blood, and therefore the victim will rarely know they are being bitten as they are normally asleep.

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

The problem with diagnosis is that the signs of Bed Bugs are often similar to many other skin conditions.

Scabies displays very similar signs to bed bug infestation, and many insect bites such as mosquito can also result in a similar tell tale red welt.

Bed bug bites will usually be found on skin that remains exposed while we sleep – the arms and legs, face and neck are all frequently bitten – and it is to these areas we should turn 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 stay out of sight and this is why it is found in our beds and furnishings.

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

Bed Bugs are often carried into the home by people who have been abroad and have usually slept on a number of different and frequently used beds.

A Bed Bug infestation is not usually 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 rapidly; with one female creature laying around five eggs per day it is easy to see how quickly the colony can grow.

To get rid of Bed Bugs you first need to get rid of the affected mattress and any other items that may be infested with the creatures.

As bed bugs are very prolific and difficult to find, eradicating all the eggs and creatures with off the shelf treatments may not be 100% successful.
 
During an affliction of bed bugs, all clothes, covers and linings that have been in contact with bugs – or you think may have been – have to be be thoroughly washed; if possible this should be done on the hottest setting possible to be sure to kill the bugs.