Bed Bugs
You’ve probably read or heard about the horror stories associated with
the small insects that feed on human blood in the night. They attack when you
are sleeping and are quite adaptable in most of the environments catering to
humans. This is the life of a bed bug and contrary to popular belief – they
surround themselves beyond unsanitary and unkempt conditions – even striking
the ritziest of five-star hotels. While professional extermination is almost
always the only way to eliminate the problem, there are a few home remedies
associated with the dreaded bed bug.
What are Bed Bugs?
Waiting until the night to attack their victims, the small nocturnal
insect known as the bed bug belongs to the family Cimicidae, which is known to
feed on blood. While humans are commonly referred to as the main sufferers of
this pest, the bed bug also seeks out other warm-blooded hosts for their meals.
With a past that traces back to ancient history, the common bed bug (Cimex
lectularius) has learned to successfully adapt to the same living spaces as
humans [1].
With a preference to temperate climates, the bed bug is often found in
warm temperatures, especially in locales such as Florida and the tropics of
West Africa and South America. It is there that various species of the bed bug
infest poultry, bats, humans, and other types of birds.
When the bed bug reaches maturity, it is reddish brown in color with a
flattened, oval appearance. On their body, microscopic hairs give off a banded
appearance. They possess no wings. Some people believe that bed bugs are so
small that they cannot be seen by the naked eye. This is not the case, as some
adults reach length of 4 to 5 millimeters (which translates into 1/8 to 3/16 of
an inch). Their size is comparable to that of an apple seed. Since bed bugs are
extremely shy and wary of others, an infestation of the insect is quite hard to
pinpoint [2].
When feeding, the bed bug is typically active only at night with the most
activity taking place an hour before dawn. Using two hollow tubes, the bed bug
pierces the skin of their host and draws blood. One tube injects an
anticoagulant into their victim, while the other tube is used for blood
extraction. Average feeding times are about five minutes, where the bug then
returns to their place of hiding. At the time of the bite, a victim is unaware,
although late reactions come minutes to hours later.
In the home, the bed bug seeks many different places to hide during the
day, including linens, drapery, headboards, desks, nightstands, artwork frames,
mattresses, and clothing [3]. With the use of a flashlight, you may find a bed
bug crawling about at night. Additional signs, such as blood spots help detect
an infestation.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation [4]
The best way to detect a bed bug infestation is to call upon a
professional, who will complete an inspection of your home. In case you wish to
analyze your surroundings before hiring someone out of the Yellow Pages, some
of the signs to seek out include:
a) Bug Bites:
Even though you may display bed bug bites on your body that occur during
the night, this is not a sure sign that a bed bug was the culprit.
b) Blood:
The sight of dried blood (referred to as fecal spots) may appear on the
box spring, behind the headboard, as well as about the seams of a mattress.
c) Bed Bug Skins:
A bed bug sheds skin during their nymphal stage, which looks like a
hollowed-out bug.
d) Bed Bug Eggs:
About 1 millimeter in length, the eggs of the bed bug are rather
difficult to pinpoint, but are still visible – resembling the shape of rice.
Risk Factors
Bed bugs do not feed on dirt, debris, or crumbs, meaning an unclean
environment is not the primary target for the insect to dwell. Bed bugs feed on
blood and it is advantageous for them to seek out places where warm-blooded
individuals are present. This is why places, such as hospitals, hotels, motels,
inns, and cruise ships are perfect living quarters for a bed bug.
When bed bugs find their way into a home, there are plenty of different
methods to their madness. When guests of a hotel settle in for the night, bed
bugs may climb into their luggage, where they are then transported to a new
environment. Bed bugs also travel by way of used furniture purchased at a
garage sale or thrift shop. The same is true with used clothing, as bed bugs
are known to hide in the crevices and folds of material.
In multi-unit dwellings, such as condominiums and apartment buildings,
bed bugs find their way throughout the premises by moving about the walls,
cracks, pipes, and wires. New residents may bring bed bugs into a living space
through their moving boxes, mattresses, pillows, and other belongings.
Negative Effects of Bed Bugs
The pathogens found in the bodies of bed bugs have been connected to
plague and hepatitis B, yet no conclusions have been made as to whether or not
the insect is able to pass on disease to humans. While the threat of disease is
of no consequence, the bed bug is seen as a rather unclean visitor that affects
the sanitation of a household. One is embarrassed to admit they have bed bugs
in their home. Additional negative outcomes associated with bed bugs include:
a) Infection:
Those who scratch their bed bug bites may develop skin infections, which
may leave behinds scars.
b) Red, Itchy Welts:
The sight of a cluster of bed bug bites is quite alarming, especially
when they claim large stretches of visible skin. The back, legs, and arms are
common places that bed bugs attack.
c) Stress:
A bed bug infestation is rather stressful with the potential to cause
delusional parasitosis or even post-traumatic stress disorder in extreme cases.
d) Poor Reaction to Saliva:
A handful of people may experience anaphylactic shock, as they suffer an
allergic reaction to bed bug saliva.
e) Extermination Costs:
Since bed bugs are very difficult to remove from a home or hotel,
professional means of extermination creates extra bills for a family or
business.
f) Offensive Odor:
A strong scent comes with the presence of bed bugs, as they emit an
oil-like liquid from their bodies.
Home Remedies for Bed Bugs
When it comes to bed bugs, there isn’t much a homeowner can do to get rid
of these pesky intrusions on their own. Before calling professional help, some
have found slight success with the following home remedies for bed bugs:
a) Rubbing Alcohol:
While not a definite fix, spraying rubbing alcohol where bed bugs thrive
may contain the problem by killing some on contact.
b) Fruit and Vegetable Insecticides:
Some insecticides comprised of pyrethrins and canola oil are sometimes
used by those who wish to lay down a home remedy that is safe for children and
pets.
c) Steam Treatments:
It is not uncommon to see some pest control companies use steam
treatments to deal with mattresses and other pieces of upholstered furniture.
While very limited effectiveness is associated with this type of remedy, it
shows great promise in treating items with less than ½ inch of penetration. At
home, one may use small steam cleaners to care for their mattresses and other
bedding selections.
d) Dry Heat [5]:
Placing clothing, footwear, rugs, toys, stuffed animals, backpacks and
other non-launderable items in the dryer for a certain length of time can
conveniently remove bed bugs. When an average clothes dryer is run for five
minutes at low, medium or high heat, they generate temperatures of about 140,
150 and 180 degrees (respectively) . It is believed that when drying a bundle
of infected clothes, high temperatures are able to kill bed bugs. It is
suggested to run the dryer for more than 20 minutes.
e) Hot Sun:
Since temperatures over 113 degrees are said to kill bed bugs, it is
suggested to wash and dry clothing and linens at high temperatures. When living
in a hot desert climate, you may hang your bedding and clothes in the beaming
sun to destroy lingering bed bugs.
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