Evidence of Bed Bugs

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The scientific name that none of us are familiar with is cimex lectularius. For awhile they seemed to go underground and weren’t seen for a number of decades, but this past decade they seemed to resurface with a vengeance. I’m talking about bed bugs. They may be tiny and hard to see and they don’t even carry disease to humans, but they are big time pests with a capital P. These bugs are from the family of insects called cimicidae. They have no wings and only grow to be about ¼ inch as an adult. They feed off of either warm blooded people or animals. They are really quite remarkable because they can actually live almost 18 months with no food before they expire. This may be good for the bugs but it is a disaster for us. A dormancy of 18 months means the bugs can be carried from place to place by travelers and the bugs will be dropping off with them and their luggage, spreading to many places.

It is important to be able to recognize early evidence of bed bugs. They leave behind a rust color blood stain which can be very hard to remove from sheets. You might also find shedded skin. In this dried skin you may find dead bugs, larvae or even some bed bug eggs. You will recognize the bug shedding as it looks exactly like a bed bug dried up. You can find shedding any place these pests travel.

Mattresses and beds of animals or humans are this pests’ favorite hiding place. The really frightening thing is where else you can find these bugs. If they are not found very early it can turn into an infestation. You’ll be able to find them all over your home, clothes, on ceilings, in carpets, virtually anywhere. It is even possible to find them in food. Bed bugs usually can be found no further than approximately 100 feet from their prey.

Bed bugs can barely be seen because of their small size. They look as small as a tiny sesame seed. They have small bodies and are oval shape. They don’t move very fast and they do not jump but crawl on their victim. Once they find their blood source they typically live about nine months. Up to five eggs can be layed everyday by every bug. Just imagine how fast they multiply. That is why it is essential to identify them and treat them before an infestation occurs. Catching a bed bug infestation before it happens is essential to a swift bed bug eradication.

By: Bradley Skierkowski