Bed Bugs are not Bed Buddies

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If you wake up itchy small red spots on your body one morning you may have acquired a bed bug buddy. There are millions of categories in the insect family and the bed bug is one. Their official name is Cimex lectularius. It has been reported that in the 1970s and 1980s these pests were only a minor problem seen only once in a while. Other parts of the world like Africa, Asia, and Europe in particular were still fighting these pests. Common perception is that with the increase in world travel these bugs hitched rides all over the globe. So, now in the 21st century the world is battling infestations of bed bugs.

Bed bugs are parasites. Their source of nourishment is warm blooded people and animals. Many people have the perception that bed bugs only feast on the blood of people, but that is not true. Any animal having warm blood, dogs, cats, birds, etc., can be infected by bed bugs.

Bed bugs are very tiny and can hardly be seen by the naked eye. An adult bed bug can grow to ¼ inch in length. They are oval in shape but their color varies from brown to harvest orange. After their dining experience which consists of blood, they may appear red.

Once bed bugs have engorged their entire bodies with blood they can wait a whole year for another meal. Young bed bugs need their bodies nourished with blood about every three months. So, be warned; if a room has been infested with bed bugs and some are missed in the annihilation process, you could see a new phase of bed bugs a few months later when you least expect it.

There is a bright side though, bed bugs can be gotten rid of by a natural substance referred to as diatomaceous earth or DE. It works by severing the exoskeleton of a bed bug, leaving it to dehydrate and wither away.

By: Bradley Skierkowski