The Truth Behind Articles On Bed Bugs – Be Careful Of What Your Read

There are many written articles on bed bugs either in science journals or online. The growing interest in finding out what these creatures are, how they affect our lives and how we can stop them from spreading has lead to numerous articles on bed bugs. It seems that the internet is filled with information, some of it is very good, some of it is misinformation.

Articles on bed bugs may tackle many areas concerning bed bug biology, and just what a bed bug is and does. A physical description of the parasite can help give us differentiate it from other parasites.

Adult bed bugs are 1/4 inch long and are reddish brown in color, with oval and flat bodies. Often these articles on bed bugs provide photographs that make it easier for us to identify the insect. Actually all you have to do is to go to Google Images and use the search term “bedbug images” or pictures, and you will find all the pictures you will ever want to see.

There are a few different types of bed bugs. Aside from the common bed bug that preys on human blood, there are bed bugs that prefer animal blood like birds or bats. We are concerned only with the bedbugs that prefer human blood here.

Female bed bugs lay in hidden areas. They can give birth to 500 eggs during a lifetime that could be 10 -12 months. The eggs are very small, whitish, and may need magnification to be identified.

These eggs are sticky when first laid; making them stick to whatever surface or crack they are placed in. When they hatch, they are no bigger that a pinhead. As these bed bugs grow, they shed their skins. Some articles on bed bugs say that this shedding can happen five times before becoming adults. Five stages of bedbugs before they reach adult. Ouch!

Articles on bed bugs suggest that the speed of bed bug’s development rely on the right temperature, about 70 – 90° F. At that rate they can complete their transition from eggs to adult bugs in a month.

Cool temperatures and limited access to a prey can delay the full maturity of the bed bugs. Immature Bed bugs can survive months at a time, even though they are not feeding. They do need a blood meal to change from one stage to another. Adult bedbugs can even stay alive for a year or more without a blood meal. Some suggest up to 18 months but I haven’t seen any science on that.

Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures. As parasites, they move unnoticeably within our homes, furniture, carpets, bed, etc. mostly at night.

Bed bugs are very patient parasites. When the bed bugs feed, they pierce the human skin with their beaks and suck the blood through. They get engorged after three to ten minutes. Most people do not wake up from a bed bug bite. There is a numbing agent used by the bedbugs so we do not feel the initial piercing.

The most helpful articles on bed bugs are the ones that show us how to detect these pests in our homes. One sure sign that there are bed bugs under the sheets are dark brownish stains and spotting on the mattress. This is their excrement, droppings, or is otherwise known as their poop.

The physical manifestations of a bed bug bite can be mistaken for other types of insects, such as fleas, or mosquitoes. But if tiny drops of blood on the sheets, pillowcases or walls accompany the itchy, swelling welt on your exposed skin, then you just may be sleeping with this pest in your bed.

Once you have confirmed that bed bugs do exist in your mattress, many articles on bed bugs strongly suggest that you throw your bed away. This is not always necessary!

There are many options that are less expensive than discarding you mattress and box springs. We will get into these in more detail as some of these descriptions will take a whole article to discuss the alternatives.

Where one bed bug lives usually there are hundreds more. It always depends on the length of time you have had this issue. You may want to hire professional pest control to check your entire home for any infestation if you are not sure.

It pays to get the right information just like reading the right articles on bed bugs. Be careful where you get your information. We will investigate this pest further and in greater detail in future articles.