Bed bugs thrive in warm, dark spaces, so they can hide in hotel rooms, old furniture, and pretty much anything that gives them shelter. These pests can feast on human blood, and because they like to feed at night, they may not be noticed until they’ve spread and multiplied. Bed bugs are considered an urban pest, which means they are most common in urban areas, but they can be found in urban and suburban areas as well.
Bed bugs—or Cimex lectularius, as they’re officially known—have become a common problem around the world. In fact, with the rise in international travel, bed bugs are being reported in more places than ever before. While bed bug infestations aren’t nearly as common in homes as they are in hotels, there’s no doubt that they’re a growing problem. They live in beds and feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Bed bugs aren’t known for spreading disease, but they do bite us, which can result in painful and unsightly welts (called “breakfast” marks).
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are parasites. Also called “cimex lectularius,” these parasites are most active at night. Their bites can leave marks and rashes but are not usually serious. They breed quickly and feed on your blood at night. They hide in tiny cracks and crevices, like in your bed. Bed bugs can live up to a year without feeding. Bed bugs infest all types of furniture but prefer mattresses and box springs. Bed bugs don’t spread diseases.
Bed bugs are not normally present in the environment. However, sometimes bed bugs come to homes on clothing or in secondhand items. Bed bugs may leave small reddish marks at the bite site. The pest does look like a giant caterpillar that likes to burrow in bedding and mattresses. Although people usually associate bed bugs with bed-ridden travelers, they can live anywhere, including offices, hotels, schools, and homes. They like to hide in dark furniture, baseboards, carpet, and cracks and crevices. Bed bugs are most active at night when they feed on blood.
Life Cycle of Bed Bugs
During the adult stage of its life, an adult bed bug completes its entire life cycle in 6 months. The eggs are laid on or near the area to be infested and hatch after about 7 days. Then nymphs go through 5 stages, all of which are complete after 4 weeks. After 2 months, the nymphs become adults and can live up to one year. The bed bugs’ life cycle is from egg to larva to nymph to adult. Bed bugs like to hide in different places to hide from lights. Bed bugs can survive from 1 to 5 years.
Bed bugs aren’t a pest that will go away without professional help. The signs may not be obvious, but they’ll be easy to recognize if you know where to look. The bed bug life cycle goes from eggs to adult bed bugs, and each stage requires a different environment. During the egg stage, you’ll need to look for dark areas near baseboards. Also, the eggs may resemble tiny grains of rice and can be found on mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. The bed bug life cycle continues as adults, who feed on blood, feed and lay eggs. Adult bed bugs found in beds or on mattresses are usually female. The females may be light brown or reddish-brown. They are about 1⁄4 inch long and are oval-shaped. They feed by biting into the skin. The life cycle continues as nymphs, which are reddish-brown and about 3⁄4 inch long. They look like small adults, but they don’t have wings. They feed on blood, but they can’t feed as adults.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs” are flat, oval-shaped insects that are reddish-brown to dark brown. They look more like insects than ticks and are typically more oval than long. Bed bugs have four limbs. Bed bug bites usually appear as small, red bumps or red streaks. Bed bugs are nocturnal, meaning they come out at night to feed. They hide in cracks and crevices during the day. Bed bugs are not tied to one particular place but prefer sleeping in beds. They can live off of blood for about three months.
How Big Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs cannot be accurately measured using traditional methods. Bed bugs are small insects, measuring about 5-7 mm, and may not leave behind any visible signs. So, the bugs may be left behind without detection. The bugs feed on human blood, and while there are over 1,500 known species, only 11 species are found in North America.
Bed bugs have flat bodies which are similar to an apple seed, a walnut seed, or a coconut. They lay their eggs in cracks and crevices, so these are often the best places for them to hide. With only a few exceptions, bed bugs do not fly or jump, so they are generally harmless if they crawl onto your bed. They leave behind brown stains or “bite marks,” which can be hard to see, especially on light-colored mattresses. Since bed bugs prefer blood, they are able to survive longer without food than most insects.
What Are the Signs of Bed Bugs Infestation?
Some of the signs of bed bugs infestation include the following:
- Skin Bites
- Rashes
- Red Bumps
- Swelling And Itching
- Blood Stains
- Itching In The Throat
- Itching In The Chest
- Itching In Genital
- Itching In Eye
If bed bugs are left untreated, they multiply rapidly and can become a nuisance. Bed bug bites can cause itching, redness, and swelling. Some may even develop into blisters. Bedbug bites can lead to several serious complications, such as allergic reactions, asthma, anemia, and anaphylactic shock. The best way to avoid these health problems is to call in a professional such as Synergy Pest Control to take care of the bed bug infestation.
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