Bed bugs are small, non-flying insects that live in the cracks and crevices of homes, apartments, motels, and hotels. Because bed bugs feed by sucking blood from humans or animals, these places of abode provide bed bugs with plentiful food sources. Humans are these pests preferred food source, but they will also feed on other animals such as dogs, cats, and poultry. Bed bugs, as their name implies, typically concentrate in mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. They feed at night when their host is immobile, and their bites are usually painless. In the day time, they hide in spaces such as tiny cracks in furniture, corners of furniture, curtains, cracks in wallpaper, and upholstery of chairs.
How To Identify Bed Bugs
There are three stages in the life cycle of a bed bug: egg, nymph, and adult. Bed bug eggs can be found in the same places where the adult bed bugs live during the day time hours, such as cracks and crevices. Their eggs are white and will be approximately 1mm in length. The female will lay approximately 200 eggs. The nymph will be small and colourless until its first feeding. Upon its first feeding the nymph will appear red or purple in colour. Once the nymph reaches the adult stage, it will be about 5-7 mm in length and appear reddish-brown. They have an oval shaped, flat, shiny body, and these pests emit a distinct odour.
Problems Associated with Bed Bugs
While bed bug bites are not painful, they can cause irritation and allergic reactions. Bed bugs will feed on exposed areas of skin while humans are asleep. The most common places affected by bed bugs include the face, neck, hands, and arms. Bed bugs bites result in bumps on the skin that will be small and flat or raised. These bumps typically are accompanied by redness, swelling, and itching. They can become infected if scratched.
Not only do bed bugs effect individuals physically, but there is a stigma associated with bed bugs. For businesses, bed bugs can result in a loss of income. Bed bugs can give a business a bad reputation, and businesses may also be forced to quarantine rooms infested with bed bugs.
Treatment of Bed Bugs
A pest inspection will be crucial to determine the extent of the bed bug infestation. There are two types of pest services that may be utilized: chemical and non-chemical. A pest control expert can help property owners determine the method of treatment that will be best for them. Extermination and complete eradication of bed bugs is a team effort, and a pest exterminator will work with property owners to correct their bed bug problem.
