Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?
Bed bugs derive their name from their habit of feeding on human hosts in bed. They are known for their excellent hitchhiking ability and are found in many different types of dwellings, which makes them difficult to control.
Bed bugs feed only on blood and must have regular blood meals to survive and develop. Not only do they attack humans, but also other warm-blooded animals, including poultry and other birds Bed bugs have been associated with humans for more than 3,300 years and are found in virtually every place people tend to gather, including residences, schools, hotels, offices, retail stores and even public transit.
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Bed bugs are great “hitchhikers,” allowing them to travel long distances. They latch onto suitcases, linens and clothes and can end up wherever these items are taken. This is why they spread so easily. Moreover, it’s often hard to identify bed bug bites as they can easily be confused with bites from a different pest, making infestations difficult to detect and allowing populations to grow unnoticed.
How to Identify Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are an oval shape and only grow to about 3/16th of an inch in length. Prior to feeding, they are brown and flat. After feeding, bed bugs become redder in colour, swollen, and elongated. Bed bugs have 6 legs and 2 antennae. Despite having reduced “wing pads,” bed bugs do not have wings and cannot fly.
Adult bed bugs are visible to the human eye and can be detected by sight, especially within mattress seams and box springs.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
Bed bugs are most easily identified by small reddish-brown fecal spots on mattresses, upholstery or walls. If these spots are found, it can indicate an infestation. Bites on the arms and legs are also a tell-tale sign of bed bugs. Normally these bites are small, but if they swell and become itchy, they are noticeable. It takes about two to three days for these bites to appear, allowing the infestation to grow. However, bites alone do not indicate an infestation without other bed bug evidence.
Infestations can also be identified by sightings of bed bug moult skins, their eggs and empty eggshells. Although these things are quite small, they are still visible to the human eye. Bed bug moult skins as well as their eggshells appear pale white after moulting or emerging from the eggshell.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are extremely elusive creatures, so professional help should be sought out when dealing with an infestation. Bed bugs are a very difficult pest to control. If you suspect or discover an infestation, contact us at Seaside Pest Control for assistance.