Bedbugs had become a serious issue during medieval and Aristotle times and their number grow so rapidly that 60 out of 100 homes have bed bugs. These tiny creatures often move and attack when their host is sleeping.
Bed bugs are scientifically called “Cimex lectularius”, Bed bugs are about 4 mm in length that cannot be seen with the bare eye. They are brownish in color. They have a very thin body that can squeeze and fit into any crevice and cracks in the home. They do not have wings and are used to crawling. Bed bugs are reported as a fast-moving insect.
It is commonly said that bed bugs originated from Asia and spread all over the world. Bed bugs usually live and breed in warm and dry climates. But they are also present in northern regions of the world because of the abundance of building there as the proliferation of buildings generates heat.
The size and color of bed bugs change during the nymph to young stages. The adult bed bugs are 1/4 to 3/8 cm in length. Size increases significantly after sucking its host’s blood and also nymph became an adult in a month, depending upon the availability of favorable conditions. After the molting stage nymph and adult bed bugs change to yellow color.
Bed bugs do not cause any fatal diseases. They only come out when they are hungry. The warmth of their host also encourages them to come out and have a meal.
Moreover, they also suck blood with the help of their very good developed mouthparts. They suck blood for one to seven minutes leaving itching and swelling in that place. There appears a large wheel at the affected part which ultimately converted into a red spot that will end in three to four days.
An adult has the ability to absorb blood seven times more than their body weight. It is interesting that bed bugs go back to their hiding place to lay eggs as soon as they finished eating.
Bed bugs mostly attack exposed areas of the body like the face, neck, and arms. The wheels produced by bed bugs bite are different from a mosquito bite. In order to avoid infection, it is advised that do not scratch the wound and wash the affected area with antibacterial soap.
To make your life comfortable it is important to get rid of bed bugs. No doubt it is difficult to deal with bed bugs spread in beds, suitcases, second-hand furniture, etc. In past, people used DDT to control bed bugs. But its use was forbidden due to its adverse effects on humans.
Pest control authorities have developed pesticides, aerosols, and many other chemical medications to get rid of bed bugs. Old furniture especially beds should be replaced with a new one. Regular vacuuming of carpets also minimizes bed bugs. Moreover, keeping good hygienic conditions is most vital to discourage bed bugs to spread and distributes.
In short, in order to avoid unwelcome guests, and bed bugs, keep your home neat and clean and use pesticides at regular intervals. All these remedies ensure peaceful life, free of bed bugs.