Don’t Let Them Bite: 14 Facts about Bedbugs

sleepy itchy

At the end of the day, the one thing each person can’t wait to get to is their own bed. Our comfy beds provide a sense of security and allow us to sleep soundly. Then there are times when all of a sudden, we wake up. Due to an itchy sensation, perhaps? But from where? Mosquitoes? Roaches?

Often times, it’s bedbugs. Bedbugs are one of the nastiest pests there are, lurking in the nooks of your room. Call a pest control services company to eradicate bedbugs so you can have your sought-after sleep. In the meantime, take this time to learn more about these sleep robbers.

  • Bedbugs are small and oval insects, about the size of an apple seed, that feed by sucking blood from humans or animals.
  • Adult bedbugs often reach a length of 5 to 7 millimeters, while nymphs (also called juveniles) are as small as 1.5 millimeters.
  • They have flat bodies and because of their small size, they are sometimes mistaken for ticks or small cockroaches.
  • Adult bedbugs are reddish brown in color. They will turn more reddish after feeding off blood from their hosts.
  • Bedbugs have wings, but these wings are vestigial – meaning that they are small and have lost their actual functions because of biological evolutions. Therefore, they don’t have the ability to fly.

 

scratching

 

  • Despite not being able to fly, they can still move quickly.
  • Bedbugs can live anywhere in your home, since it provides coolness and shade to them. They can live in cracks in furniture or in any type of textile.
  • They are more commonly found in beds, including carpets, mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. Don’t worry, though; you can easily get rid of them through carpet cleaning, upholstery, and laundry services by visiting their website at www.zeroreztampabay.com/.
  • Bedbugs are most active at night. They bite any exposed areas of the skin while its prey (a human) is sleeping. The common body parts that a bedbug bites are the face, neck, hands, and arms.
  • A bedbug’s bite is apparently painless and is generally not noticed. The bites are often mistaken for a rash of another cause (e.g. dust).
  • The common signs of bedbug bites include small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin, redness, swelling, and itching.

 

sleepy

 

  • Typically, there are no treatments required for bedbug bites. It is said that if itching got severe, steroid creams or oral antihistamines may be used to relief bedbug bite symptoms. But if it worsened some more, it is perhaps better to have an expert look at it.
  • There are signs that bedbugs are present in an area. Signs often include fecal stains, egg cases, and shed skins (also known as exuviae) of bedbugs in crevices and cracks on or near beds. Even though these are actual signs, it is better to observe the presence of the bugs themselves to confirm an active infestation.
  • Temperatures between 70 to 80 Fahrenheit (21.11 to 26.67 degree Celsius) is most favorable for bedbugs since it allows them to develop into adults more quickly. Having this temperature also allows bedbugs to produce up to three generations per year.

Now that you have an idea of what bedbugs are, be more alert! If there really are bedbugs in your residence, better call a pest controller before it’s too late!