Have you ever wondered where do bed bugs come from? You’re happily going along with your life and out of nowhere these nasty bugs appear in your home. You might even suffer from their itchy bites for a while until you identify and treat the problem.
These bugs are a nuisance that feeds on our blood while we sleep. Not only are they a physical discomfort, psychologically they can cause stress and insomnia. Just the thought of these bugs crawling on you while you are sleeping can be very disconcerting. Many people describe the experience as one of the worst they’ve experienced.
Bed Bugs have been around for thousands of years and can be found most often in places where large numbers of people congregate. This includes places like apartments where an infestation can easily spread from apartment to apartment. But they can also be found in restaurants, libraries, condo buildings, and even in Taxis and on buses.
These bugs are great hitchhikers. They latch onto clothes, suitcases, furniture and linen. They can then travel where ever these items are taken.
What Is A Bed Bug
So, what is a bedbug? A bedbug is a very small (about the size of an apple seed when they are an adult), flat, six-legged bug. It is dark brown in color though it can be red-brown after it eats. They feed on the blood of their hosts through a sort of tube that is thrust into the skin like a straw. BedBugs feed only on blood and must eat regularly to survive and develop.
They will feed in one spot for up to a minute and then move on. Most times you’ll see the BedBug bites in a row as they follow a vein. They are also usually nocturnal bugs that feed in the early hours of the morning when we tend to be in our deepest sleep. Since we are asleep it means that we are moving around less and there is less of a chance that they will get crushed.
Although they stubs on their backs that are a vestige of wings they get around by crawling. They can crawl up to 20 ft a night to get to a host.
They have been around for centuries though DDT used in the sixties eradicated most of them in the civilized world for a time. But since that is no longer used they have made a comeback – big time. These bugs thrive in areas of high density like apartments and condos. But they can also be found in hospitals, theaters, restaurants, and stores. Anywhere there are people you can find these bugs.
How To Check For Bed Bugs
It’s important to learn how to check for these bugs. Many times the first indication that you have an infestation of these bugs will be the itchy bites that they leave behind after they feed. These bugs feed on our blood so any bites that you find will likely be clustered in a line as they follow a vein. How To Treat Bed Bug Bites
Adult bugs can be visible to the naked eye though nymphs (growing bugs) can be harder to see since they are smaller and usually paler in color. The eggs that a female lays can be almost invisible without a magnifying glass. Using a flashlight will also help you spot them.
Another sure sign are small blood stains on your sheets. This is caused when one of the bugs gets crushed as we move around during our sleep.
Once you start actively looking for the bugs your mattress is the first place you should start. They like to cluster together close to where they feed. Look along the seams of your mattress and box springs. Using A Bed Bug Mattress Cover
It’s here that you are likely to find the bugs, discarded shells, blood spots, eggs, and fecal droppings. The bugs grow from eggs, leaving hatched shells behind. They also grow by a process called molting. During this process, they discard old shells and grow into new larger ones. These signs can also be found anywhere that you tend to sleep.
You should also check along the edges of the carpet near your bed, and in the cracks and crevices of any nearby furniture. You can even find them hidden behind picture frames hung near your bed.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs Fast
Whether you hire a professional exterminator or choose to treat DIY style many of the steps are the same.
First – you need to identify that the bug you are having problems with is actually a bed bug. These bugs require a different strategy to treat and kill than other bugs so you need to make sure to identify them.0
Second – SafeRest Mattress Encasements Treating and isolating your bed with a bed bug proof mattress enclosure will give you instant relief if you do it correctly.
Third – Treat the rest of your home. This should include any areas where you have been bitten or sleep. Try finding out where these bugs came from and it can help to know where to treat.
Fourth – Re-treat as needed as the eggs hatch new bugs. This may be the most important step. The eggs of these bugs are hard to kill and take about 7-10 days to hatch. When they do hatch any treatment that you have applied may be gone. The best way to handle this problem is to make sure and retreat as needed or at least once a week until you no longer see any bug activity.
Getting rid of BedBugs can be a problem but the longer that it takes for you to treat – the worse the problem is going to be.