subject: Bed Bugs - Some Info And Their Increasing Population [print this page] Bedbugs can be a pain as they infest the environment and make the morning after an itchy process. They leave bite marks that can be incredibly itchy and for those allergic or those that suffer more severe reactions to the bites, it can be very painful as well as unsightly having swollen bites. On the whole, bed bugs are undesirable to have in the bedroom and as such, they need to be dealt with. They're parasitic insects that favor the bedroom due to the inactivity of people there, meaning they're easier 'prey'. The variety often to referred to is the kind that feeds off human blood and their activity increases during the night. This creates the perfect scenario for them to feed and over the years, they've grown more and more resistant to certain pesticides, such as DDT.
General Information About Bed bugs
Reddish-brown, they're also flat, oval and wingless. Difficult to spot at only 5mm in length, the newly hatched bedbugs are even more so with their translucent and lighter shell. The species, feeding habits and other things in the environment affect the lifespan of a bed bug.
A bed bug finds its host by searching out the carbon dioxide living creatures breathe out. Second to this, they seek out the warmth, then chemicals emitted. Once they find a host, they pierce the skin and numb the area to prevent the host from interfering. After ingesting the blood for five minutes, they return to their hidden location.
Able to live for a year without feeding, the bedbug has shown a high level of resistance. This is also affected by the weather and temperature, where colder temperatures see less activity and warmer temperatures see more. When warmer, bedbugs may only live as long as five months.
America has seen somewhat of a boom in the population of bed bugs, perhaps down to the warm summers and their resistance to pesticides, such as DDT. Their return has ushered in a few problems as to how to remove them, since even with DDT, they can survive up to two months. Alternative pesticides are unfavored due to the possible hazards against humans.
For individuals who suffer from the bites and maybe have allergic or severe reactions, bed bugs can be a very difficult vermin to get rid of. Besides getting in exterminators and even trained dogs who can root out the nests, there are various anti-bedbug materials and bedding that will aid in the prevention, though it will not remove the bed bug infestation. Dealing with the bedbugs quickly and efficiently is the best course of action.
