Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that live by feeding on blood from humans or other warm-blooded animals. Their name comes from their preferred habit of living in bed or other areas where humans sleep. While they are technically nocturnal insects, they are active in the night, making it easy for them to feed unnoticed while their hosts sleep.
Bed bugs were mostly eliminated in the U.S. in the 1940s, but they have experienced a resurgence in the past decade, reaching nearly epidemic numbers. These bugs are a reddish-brown colour, and they have tiny hairs which give a banded appearance to their bodies. They are flat, oval shaped, and wingless. While many people think bed bugs are too small to be seen by the naked eye, they actually grow to approximately 4 to 5 millimetres in length, or almost 2 inches. They also don't move quickly enough to avoid being seen. Nymphs, the name for newly hatched bed bugs, are translucent, becoming browner as they reach maturity.
Bed bugs normally feed about an hour before sunrise, but they can feed at other times if the opportunity arises. They are attracted by the warmth and carbon dioxide surrounding their hosts. They pierce the host's skin with two hollow feeding tubes. One tube injects saliva which contains anaesthetics and anticoagulants. The other tube is used to withdraw blood. It feeds for about five minutes and then returns to its hiding place. Their bites are not usually felt until hours later, when the hose may experience a reaction to the injected saliva, causing the bite area to itch.
These bites may cause different problems for people. Some people experience anxiety or insomnia, as it's difficult to sleep when you imagine your bed filled with bugs. You can also develop infections or experience scarring if you scratch the bites. Surprisingly, however, there is no indication that bed bugs pass disease, unlike many other common insects. Of course that doesn't mean you don't want to eliminate these pests from your home! Some people can experience anaphylactic reactions to bed bug bites, and prolonged feedings can lead to anaemia. Numerous bites can create systemic poisoning.
Bed bugs can be difficult to eliminate, as they can go dormant and refrain from feeding for up to 18 months. Common methods of eradication include the use of pesticides. A sanitation method, such as steam cleaning bedding or wiping furniture with rubbing alcohol, is a helpful supplementary method of elimination.
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