Difference between revisions of "Bed Bugs are not Bed Buddies"
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Revision as of 18:44, 6 October 2009
Bed Bugs are not Bed Buddies
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