Bed bugs are parasites and for comparative purposes they can be likened to mythical vampires. They are small, brown in color, and oval in shape.
After feeding, and sucking the blood of a mammal, their bodies become round and reddish. Like other parasites, they depend on a host to survive, and any mammal will provide a good host. Scientifically they belong to small parasitic insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals known as Cimicidae. Bat Bugs are also part of the same insect line. In fact, bed bugs are believed to have evolved from bat bugs. Since the time of cave men, they have plagued man. While no longer restricted to caves, they have adapted to the environments that man lives in today.
How do you know if you have Bud Bugs?
Many times it is difficult to know if you have a bed bug infestation. Only 50% of humans have an obvious allergic reaction to bed bug bites so it is quite possible that you are being used as a host without your knowledge. Normally what happens is that either someone in the family is sensitive to the bites and shows a reaction or the insect population grows to the point where feeding is occurring every night and rashes or skin lesions will start to show even on those normally not sensitive to a single bite. At this point other signs will start to present themselves, For example so many insect can be present that you will notice insect excrement on your bed sheets or mattresses, by looking in the seams and corners of the bed frame. Also you may find caste skins left behind as the insects grow. For small or new infestations it may be necessary to confirm the presence of bed bugs by using a trained dog to sniff out these pests.
Where do Bed bugs come from?
Bed bugs can be compared to a hitchhiker. They see anything as a ride; i.e. luggage, bags, furniture, clothes, and any upholstered surfaces. A bed bug infestation spreads rapidly through out hotels, and apartment complexes. So when looking for a hotel, or living in an apartment be sure to make sure they have a regulatory extermination inspection.
How to prevent Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can be prevented to a certain degree just by being aware of the risk factors. Many times they are acquired during travel. Bed bugs are a difficult one to prevent because it requires vigilance, and persistence. The difficult aspect of bed bug control is not knowing if an outside party is bringing the pest into your home. It could be a family member or friend visiting and staying in the guest room for the weekend, or your maid (that perhaps has a relative visiting them from another country).
However there are ways to prevent infestations. Most importantly be aware of the common sources of infestations such as travel or visitors from other counties. Be sensitive to the possibility of acquiring the infestation while on vacation and while in areas that are frequented by other travelers. Remember that bed bugs are hitch hikers and opportunists. At the first sign of infestation, it is possible for a home owner to localize the problem and contain it to a single room. From that point any and all clutter needs to be removed and bedding material washed. Items that can’t be washed should be placed in a dryer (check for heat sensitivity first or risk damage) for about 60 minutes. Bed bugs are very sensitive to heat and will quickly dehydrate. http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/2/3/412/pdf.
Next the room needs to be isolated so that contents are not placed in another room without first checking for an infestation. Bed bugs can hide behind picture frames, furniture, alarm clocks, packaging material, wall paper, and moldings and more. The room should then be treated with multiple methods of eradication. This would typically include insecticides, diatomaceous earth (drys out and shreds the skins of the bedbugs) and also using prophylactics (bed bug mattress covers) to quarantine the mattress and box spring areas. This will help isolate the areas where the bedbugs can hide.
Remember that using multiple techniques will dramatically increase the odds of success because the bed bugs will merely move to a new location or farther away from the host victim if the preventive measures are too easily defeated. Should you wish to have a pest control professional help with this situation, call the top exterminator nyc has to offer. Call Positive Pest Management.
Pest control is the need of the hour, especially during the summer and early fall seasons. This is because these are the seasons when stinging insects like yellow jackets, fire ants, hornets, bees, and wasps are found in abundance. Even if you have never been stung by these pests, it is most likely that you have seen them around, and heard stories about how painful a sting can be.
Take a walk around your property to find out of there are any hives or nests. If you do find them, do not try to remove them on your own. The colony of insects will most like attack en masse if under threat. Call licensed pest control professional services at once.