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The bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a small insect that feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and animals. Bed bugs are reddish brown in color, wingless and small (1 mm to 7 mm). They can survive several months without eating and hide during the day in the folds of mattresses, upholstery, furniture and floor crevices, or behind wallpapers.
Bedbug – characteristics
Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals. The preferred hosts for the two main species (Cimex lectularius i Cimex hemipterus) there are people.
Newborn bed bugs, called nymphs, are tiny (about the size of a poppy seed). Adults grow to about 7 millimeters in length and have an oval and flattened shape when not fed. After feeding, they can double in size. Nymphs, eggs and adults are visible to the naked eye. They are called bedbugs because of them preferred habitat in human homes: sofas, bed mattresses, clothing and other soft furniture. They also prefer darkness.
Bed bugs are a major problem in all types of housing, including private homes, dormitories, cruise ships, military barracks and shelters.
Their color can range from white, light brown to dark brown or burnt orange. When they feed, a dark red or black spot can be seen in their body. In case of anxiety, they seek refuge in dark crevices.
See also: Bedbug – bite symptoms, treatment, prevention. How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?
Why do we have a bedbug problem?
In the case of bedbugs, there are many ways to be invaded by these pests. They can enter their new home as “stowaways” once luggage, furniture and bedding have been moved. Be careful when purchasing used furniture, and you should never buy used mattresses. A careful examination should allow us to detect bedbugs or their faeces.
Even empty and seemingly clean houses can have bedbugs. They can live more than two months without eating. It is also believed that they can move from apartment to apartment through hollows and holes in the walls and pipes through which cables run.
See also: Repellants – effective ways to fight insects and more
Bedbug – signs of living
The most obvious sign of bedbugs in the home is that people complain of bites that have occurred while sleeping. If this happens, it is advisable to check the bedroom for bedbugs and signs of their activity.
You should carefully check bedding, mattresses for insects or eggs. The eggs will look like tiny pale poppy seeds. Signs of bedbug activity may appear under loose wallpaper near beds, in the corners of desks, chests of drawers, and in drawers. Keep an eye out for dark brown or rusty bedbug droppings that stain fabric and mattresses. Bed bug droppings are a liquid that appears light brown or black in color and is usually absorbed by surrounding material. A large population of bedbugs can cause a peculiar smell.
See also: Bedbug bite – the appearance of the parasite, symptoms, diseases
Bedbug – bite symptoms
Most bedbugs feed on their hosts while they sleep. They draw blood in a painless way. During feeding, they inject a small amount of saliva into the host’s skin. If they feed on one particular person for several weeks, that person may become more sensitive to their saliva and the substance it contains. When bitten, it can eventually develop an allergic reaction.
Bed bugs, like fleas, tend to bite several times next to each other. This is likely because the bedbug breaks up while feeding and then comes back about one inch past the previous bite.
The bites may become visible after 14 days, but often appear within a few days. Bedbug bites are larger than those left by fleas. Bed bugs parasite on exposed parts of the skin, most often bites are found on the abdomen, but also on the neck, arms, shoulders, back and chest, very rarely on the legs and feet.
Most bitten people show no symptoms and are often unaware of the bites. This makes it difficult to prevent or identify potential bedbug problems. However, some people may feel sick. It is possible to develop scarring and skin infections from scratching bites.
Very rarely, bitten people may have an anaphylactic reaction to bedbug bites. Even more rarely is an asthmatic reaction to bedbug bites.
See also: Bed bugs can carry dangerous bacteria
Bedbug – treatment
Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and includes:
- topical creams such as cortisone to relieve itching;
- oral antibiotic if the infection occurs due to irritation of the skin around the bites;
- corticosteroids, if a person has a severe allergic reaction;
- antihistamines, relieving allergic reactions;
Most bites heal within one to two weeks of onset.
See also: The most dangerous domestic pests
Bedbug – remedies for bedbugs
It is very difficult to protect yourself from bedbugs.
When traveling, it is recommended that you avoid putting your luggage on the bed to reduce the risk of taking bedbugs home in a suitcase. It is also worth vacuuming the luggage after returning home and getting rid of the contents of the vacuum cleaner in a tightly closed bag. Better to throw this bag in the trash can outside. Small items can be put in a bag and placed in a freezer operating at about -20 degrees C for a minimum of 10 hours, which will definitely destroy bedbugs on the items.
It is also good to separate travel clothes from washing our everyday clothes and immediately wash them in hot water (60 degrees Celsius)which will kill all stages of this worm’s development. Bed bugs are very sensitive to heat and they die if they are exposed to the temperature above 45 degrees Celsius. Particularly effective has been seen with the use of steam, which is able to kill even eggs, which most insecticides have problems with.
If we notice bedbugs in our home, it is recommended to contact a specialist and not try to solve the problem on your own. Bed bugs can move from room to room with your clothes on, and trying to remove them yourself can often make things worse.
While there is no evidence that they transmit disease, bedbugs can affect a person’s quality of life, causing stress, discomfort, embarrassment, and sleep problems.
In theory, blood-sucking insects (such as bedbugs) can transmit hepatitis B virus (HBV), but researchers say more research is needed to confirm this possibility in bedbugs. In turn, Canadian scientists believe that bedbugs may be carriers of enterococci, as well as the superbug MRSA, which is resistant to all available antibiotics. However, the same scientists are not sure whether it was bedbugs that transferred the bacteria to the sick or vice versa.