subject: Need Bed Bug Pictures [print this page] Lately, bed bugs have been given a lot of publicity, and are a hot topic of conversation in many cities. New York, as well as other cities, has recently experienced an epidemic of the pesky creatures. News channels have done reports on bed bug infested motels. A internet search for bed bug pictures will produce hundreds of results, images of bed bugs themselves and of the bites you get from them.
Since bed bugs have received so much attention, there is a lot of fear surrounding the contracting of them. There is good reason for this anxiety. Bed bugs are difficult to get rid of, and getting rid of them can be cost money and property.
Most people are embarrassed when they have bed bugs, because they feel that people will think they are dirty. The truth is that anyone can end up with bed bugs, no matter how clean they are. There are lots of ways they can be contracted. Here are a few.
Picking up furniture from the curb
If you need a mattress, and you see what looks like a perfectly good one sitting on the curb, you might be tempted to pick it up. Before you do, however, consider the fact that it was thrown out for a reason. That reason could have been bed bugs.
Sleeping somewhere unfamiliar
The term "fleabag" motel could just as soon be changed to "bed bug motel." So before you accompany a shady character to a one night stand in a motel (or apartment, for that matter), with dingy curtains and stained sheets, think twice. At the very least, do a thorough check of the sheets before you lie down, looking for any little blood spots (an indication of bed bugs) or the bugs themselves. They come out around two or three a. M., and some of them are visible to the naked eye.
Secondhand Clothes
Although most thrift stores launder clothes before selling them, there is no guarantee that this has happened. Also, a wash cycle alone will not necessarily kill the bugs. Heat is needed to ensure that they have been killed. Therefore, before wearing second hand clothes, you should dry them for a least 40 minutes on the highest temperature cycle on your dryer.
Bed bugs in the building
This is one way that many apartment dwellers contract the bugs. Even if you yourself have taken precautions and have not brought them in from anywhere else, it is possible that your building could be infested. Through no fault of your own, the bugs could find their way to your apartment through the walls.
If you suspect that you are being bitten by bed bugs, look for bed bug pictures. Compare your bites to the ones in the images. Also, try to wait up at night and see if you spot any of the critters. If you catch the problem early, you can minimize your costs and losses. Finding out if you have them is the first step.
