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Bed bugs are tiny little creature that suck blood off their human prey. Often dismissed as a nuisance, bed bugs are now a serious problem both at home, in the offices and luxury establishments.

Why the infestation? There are two reasons for the increase in the number of bed bugs found in homes and other establishments recently. One of them is the increase in the number travelers and immigrants who stay in motels and unknowingly bring these insects along with them back home.

The second reason is the possibility that bed bugs have now become immune to the pesticides being used. It was in the 1940s and 1950s that the exterminating of bed bugs began. An insecticide called DDT was used and was highly effective in killing the bed bugs population.

However, the exterminating of bed bugs was discontinued when the DDT was banned in the 1960s for its harmful effect to the environment. Since then the bugs have been waiting patiently to return to our homes.

Wholesale spraying of beds, walls, floors, furniture, etc. with DDT was the solution in exterminating bed bugs. However, law does not permit this kind of remedy anymore. Exterminating bed bugs now require the more thoroughness as bed bugs become cleverer.

Bed bugs hide in the cracks of furniture, in the mattresses, throw pillow, beneath the sofa and everywhere else you can think of. This is why exterminating of bed bugs is tedious work. All the possible places for the bed bugs to live in are searched and turned over before beginning the actual process of exterminating of bed bugs. This is to ensure that there will be no more bed bugs left once the treatment is complete.

It is wise not to do the exterminating of bed bugs on your own. You may end up harming yourself rather than taking the problem away. But you can do the following to help in the exterminating of bed bugs:

The clothes, bed sheets, line, pillowcases, blankets and the like must be washed before the treatment begins.

Wrap mattresses in a huge black plastic bag then put it under the sun.

Vacuum all the nooks and crannies visible inside the home.

Seal any gaps in the furniture, floorboards and cracks where the bed bugs can hide.

After that, step side and let the professionals start the exterminating of bed bugs in your home.

The process of exterminating of bed bugs continues with the application of insecticide spray on the furniture. There are different types of spray for every kind of equipment like mattresses or carpets. Some of these chemicals for the exterminating of bed bugs are odorless and has leaves little to no residue on the furniture. A professional does the exterminating of bed bugs with the proper protective gear.

Exterminating of bed bugs infestation is tedious work and requires a lot of patience. These pests live in cracks that are difficult to reach with pest control products and can survive months without food. By making sure that all the areas have been sprayed properly, the exterminating of bed bugs will be more effective.

After the exterminating of bed bugs through spraying of insecticides, the next process is to use insecticide dust. This dusting is very important in exterminating of bed bugs because this is what kills the bed bugs. The insecticide dust reaches for those areas that have the spray has left behind.

The entire process of exterminating of bed bugs can last three days to weeks, depending on the infestation. Normally, the exterminating of bed bugs was quicker with the houses being sprayed with DDT. But now the process is more targeted, meaning slower but thorough.

This doesnt mean that the new procedure for exterminating of bed bugs is less effective. The business has changed over the years and now professionals must be considerate of the clients needs for being careful with their possessions.

Homes are not the only ones fighting for the exterminating of bed bugs. Hotels, vintage shops, motels, dormitories and apartments all have a war with exterminating of bed bugs. Maintaining proper hygiene on these properties can great reduce the bed bug infestation. And if push comes to shove, the pest control number is in the yellow pages.

Do you know who was the person who said this? Wherever it came from, Dont let the bed bugs bite holds a grain of truth to it. It begins with the villain, the bed bugs. Bed bugs are bloodsucking insects that live in warm areas of your furniture like the bed, couch, draperies and carpets.

They are tiny parasites and feeds on a blood meal like a flea. But the bed bugs prefer human blood. The saying Dont let the bed bugs bite is actually a wrong notion of the insect. This is because bed bugs do not bite. They pierce the skin with an elongated beak and uses it like a straw to draw blood from the prey. Think of it as a mosquito, without the dangers of transmitting diseases.

The saying Dont let the bed bugs bite is proven to be a bad warning because people rarely feel the bed bug as it feeds. When bed bugs feed, they release a chemical like a mild anesthesia that numbs the skin. That is why people are surprised to see itchy, swelling welts on their body the next day.

However, it is a good idea to follow the warning in the saying Dont let the bed bugs bite. The bites may seem harmless but the can be embarrassing to look and you may lose sleep over it. When you dont let the bed bugs bite, you are saving your skin from irritation and possible infections from other insect bites.

But here is the question: How do you dont let the bed bugs bite when you cant even see or feel them? One way is to check your mattress or furniture with a magnifying glass. The best time to do this is at night since bed bugs are nocturnal and hides during the day. Bed bugs look like flat, rounded brownish insects that could be mistake for fleas.

The saying Dont let the bed bugs bite must surely be given as a gentle warning. But actually telling someone, Dont let the bed bugs bite, has a sweet and comical tone to it considering that the facts about it are not all true.

One of the reasons for the childish appeal of the saying Dont let the bed bugs bite is how it rhythms with another quaint greeting, Sleep tight. When joined together, the saying Sleep tight. Dont let the bed bugs bite! becomes a sweet closing phrase to any conversation.

However, the saying Dont let the bed bugs bite is not the most accurate warning as we have proved above. Bed bugs dont bite they suck blood. We cant control bed bugs so not letting them is almost an impossibility. That is unless you wear a steel armor to sleep. This saying, Dont let the bed bugs bite, is being unraveled and exposed for what it really is only a childish rhyme.

Dont let the bed bugs bite, if used to warn people of the parasite, is a shallow. The saying Dont let the bed bugs bite has no real structure but only to state the existence of bed bugs. It is apparent that this sayings real substance is in the strong conviction for people to put it to heart, Dont let the bed bugs bite.

The real way to live this saying, Dont let the bed bugs bite, is by looking for them and killing all the bed bugs that reside in your furniture. When the infestation has gone out of control, one must take this saying, Dont let the bed bugs bite. To heart by contacting the professionals and have them exterminate all the bed bugs inside your home.

Even hotels use this saying, Dont let the bed bugs bite, to proudly boast of their establishments cleanliness and bug-free environment. Though there are instances that hotels may do a discrete extermination from time to time. There is no same in being fastidious about the cleanliness of a surrounding. But remember that even if a mattress or couch is clean. What we dont see can really hurt us.

As the saying goes Dont let the bed bugs bite, it means we should not take it too literally and just take it in the context of a quaint advice to always be aware of the little critters sleeping beside you at night and feeding from your blood.

Sleep tight, everyone. Dont let the bed bugs bite.

Bed bugs are unlikely and unwanted housemates you might have currently. They can never be as gross and scary as other insects and pests like cockroaches, but they can be really annoying.

Bed bugs are insects that thrive on small holes, cracks or crevices in walls and floors. Generally, bed bugs like to live in dark and untidy corners or portions of the house.

Bed bugs suck blood. It is their primary means of making a living. Hence, they go out at night and suck blood from unsuspecting victims, who may be sleeping by that time.

Bed bugs do not transit or carry communicable diseases, bu their bites can get really really itchy. To some people, especially the more sensitive ones, bed bugs bites can pose serious health situations.

Controlling bed bugs

So the basic question you will have in mind for sure (assuming that your house is infested with bed bugs) is, How are bed bugs infestation controlled?

There are a number of measures or means to control bed bugs.

For a start, you may start by preventing the occurrence or existence of bed bugs in your house. If your home is still not infested, be sure to know how to avoid them.

Cleanliness is one key factor in controlling or preventing bed bugs from thriving in your house. Be sure to make your furniture, walls, and floor spic and span.

Bed bugs love to thrive in beds, so, make sure your bed is fully protected. Regularly change your bed sheets and make sure the bed does not contain unnecessary holes or tears.

If your house already has bed bugs on it, a simple way to control infestation is by applying pesticides or insecticides to the infested areas.

A number of commercially available pesticides especially formulated for bed bugs control are available and accessible in the market. In using one, just be sure to carefully read all labels and instructions before use.

Pesticides, of course, are made up of harsh chemicals that can surely knock out insects like bed bugs. These chemicals are so harmful, that aside from controlling bed bugs, they can also pose health hazards or threats to you.

Hiring professionals

The best and probably the most intelligent solution to controlling bed bugs infestation is through seeking the professional help and services of experts—pest control companies.

Controlling bed bugs is not a spur of the moment thing. A lot and thorough planning has to be conducted beforehand. Before seeking the expert help, be prepared to discard several materials and furniture, if ever the experts will advise you to.

There are a number of pest control companies in your locality. All you have to do is to pick up the phone, and wait for a few hours.

If you are living in an apartment, coordinate with your land lord or land lady. It is their responsibility to make all the necessary arrangements for pest control measures.

State and civil laws mandate them to make sure that their building is safe and pest-free. Talk to them and know the arrangements for pest control service fee payments.

When you plan to control bed bugs infestation in your home with the help of professionals, also be sure to inform or notify your neighbors.

It is because some residues or stink of the pest control chemicals might reach their homes. If ever, that will post serious health risks for them.

Because bed bugs are so persistent, expect the process of controlling them to be really tedious. Insects have that general characteristics—they are so resilient and their systems are so strong.

Normally, controlling bed bugs the professionals way can take a few hours, because the experts have to check for any crevices, small cracks or holes where bed bugs might be hiding.

Furniture and home accessories will also have to be checked to make sure the treatment will not miss on any single bug.

At times, pest control experts might advise you to discard several furniture, especially beds. Is because, most beds are made up foams or materials that have tiny holes on it, which is very ideal for bed bugs to hide in.

In disposing or discarding beds, be sure that it can never be used by other people again. Otherwise, bed bugs will transfer from your house to anothers.

Because environmental concerns will rule out burning, you will surely have to put the bed into a special encasing or bug, to make sure all bed bugs on it are trapped inside.

Under everyones mattress may hide a parasite. Bed bugs are one of the most common insects in America. However it is only in the recent years that bed bugs are categorized as pests. With increase of immigrant and travelers from different places, bed bugs thrive in hotels, restaurants, shelters, homes, apartments and motels.

What are bed bugs? These are tiny, brown, flattened insects that feed on an animals blood. There are certain types of bed bugs that have a preference for humans. The common one, classified as Cimex lectularius, found in our homes is the insect adapted to living with humans.

Bed bugs can be mistaken for ticks in their adult stage. They do not fly like cockroaches but they are agile and can move really fast over walls, floors and other types of surfaces. What makes them a pest is that bed bugs are very resilient. They can live without food (blood) from their host for up to a year. This means these parasites can lie dormant, just waiting for an unsuspecting victim to arrive.

The bed bugs nocturnal behavior makes it hard for people to identify if they have one on their furniture. Eliminating them is also a problem. If people cannot see where the bed bugs are, it can be hard to determine if they were all killed when pesticide is applied.

Bed bugs are great hiders and usually come out to feed on a blood meal in the middle of the night. It is not confirmed if bed bugs are aware that their hosts are asleep when they feed. But their habits suggest that they can more or less sense if the host is in a relaxed state.

Symptoms of being bitten by bed bugs are different from one person to another. There are people who have no reaction to bites from these bed bugs. Some experience an itchy, swelling bump on the skin where the bed bugs had their fill. Others have leave inflamed welt marks on their victims.

Bed bugs feed on their hosts by piercing the human skin with long beak, which they use to suck the blood. Much like fleas and mosquitoes, their bodies become engorged in three to ten minutes without the victim noticing. Perhaps it is their patience in getting the blood meal that makes it hard for human to realize what is happening to them

A major concern is the possibility of transmitting disease. There has been no documented case of a disease passed on by bed bugs so it is dismissed by science. The extent of their damage to their hosts is limited to itchiness and swelling from their bites.

The real problem on bed bugs is infestation. They can produce three generations in a year. Female bed bugs place their eggs in very secluded areas like the folds in the mattress, and deposits eggs of up to five a day. Because of this their numbers continue to grow without the humans knowledge. Soon they spread around the house and an infestation occurs. These infestations can cause anxiety and loss of sleep.

How do you know if your bed is infested with bed bugs? Answer three simple questions to find out:

Do you wake up to find an itchy and swelling welt on your neck, face, arms, shoulders, etc when you had none before sleeping?
Does your mattress have dark stains and spotting?
Do you wake up to see small reddish brown spots on the sheets, pillowcases or walls?

If you answered, yes to two out of three questions above, then it is likely that you are lying in a mattress full of bed bugs.

The best way to get rid of them is to throw away your mattress. Bed bugs can live in wait for a long period of time so even if you try to wash it, they may resurface. Using pesticides on the bed can be dangerous for the owner. So only a new mattress is the solution.

Eliminating and entire home for bed bugs can be tedious. So if you can afford it, make sure you get your home pre-treated against these parasites. And since these insects also live in carpets and sofas, the best defense is prevention.

Bed bugs were rarely seen because of the widespread use of DDT during the 1940’s and 50’s to exterminate all sorts of pests in the United States.

However, bed bugs are making a comeback. Hotels and motels are among the places that suffer from bed bugs infestation.

According to studies, bed bugs’ comeback may be attributed to international travelling of Americans to countries with bed bugs infestation on hotels and motels and the immigration to the States by people from countries with bed bugs infestation.

You will not be even sure if your own household is bed bugs free. If you haven’t seen one but suspects that a bed bug hitched on your clothes and has started a colony on your home, try to know the basic things about bed bugs so that you would know if you need to treat your home from infestation.

– Genera and species of bed bugs

Bed bugs are small, brownish in color, flat, nocturnal insects. Bed bugs belong to the family Cimicidae that live by feeding on human and animal blood.

Bed bugs with scientific name Cimex lectularius are the common household bed bugs. They are the species of bed bugs that feed on humans and have adapted to human environments. These type of bed bugs are found in temperate climates. Believe it our not, they are the same bed bugs that torment people from the ancient times.

There are other bed bugs species such as Cimex hemipterus which are found in tropical regions like Florida. These type of bed bugs also infests poultry and bats. Another bed bugs species, the Leptocimex boueti which are found in the tropics of South America and West Africa infest not just humans but bats as well. Bed bugs species with scientific namen Cimex pilosellus and C. pipistrella primarily infest bats. A bed bug species of North America, the Haematosiphon inodora, primarily infests poultry.

– Physical characteristics of bed bugs

Adult bed bugs are small, oval, flattened, reddish brown, and wingless. Many people think that bed bugs are so small and move so quick that they are not anymore visible to the naked eye. Adult bed bugs grow to 4 to 5 mm in length and although they move fast, they are not as fast as other perceive them to be. People do not see bed bugs because bed bugs stay still on bed, sofa or matress crevices and bite people only when they are still (such as when we are sleeping).

Newly hatched bed bugs nymphs are translucent. Their color become become browner as they reach maturity. Their size are often compared to appleseeds.

– Feeding habits of bed bugs

Bed bugs can live more than a year without feeding. But when a host is present, they feed regularly every five to ten days.

Although bed bugs may attempt to feed on human blood anytime of the day, they are generally active and feed only at night. An hour before dawn is bed bugs peak attack.

Bed bugs, like any other insect that feed on human blood such as leeches, inject anesthetics on the skin of their hosts so that piercing and blood sucking won’t be felt by the human host.

This is made possible with the two hollow tube of bed bugs. One of their hollow tube releases saliva that contains an anticoagulant and anesthetics while the other tube withdraws the blood.

Bed bugs feed for about five minutes and immediately return to their hiding place such as the bed matresses and pillows.

– Health effects of bed bugs bite on humans

Unlike other blood sucking insects such as mosquitoes that carries Malaria and Dengue Fever (Yellow Fever), bed bugs are not known to have to cause transmission of any diseases that are transmitted through blood, such as Hepatitis B, HIV, and other diseases.

They are not regarded by scientists as a medical threat, although they may cause severe itching and skin marks on the bitten part of the skin. Skin infections and scars may precipitate due to scratching a bitten part and this may require medical attention by a dermatologist.

A calamine lotion may subside redness and itch of the bitten part. Wash with warm water and germicidal soap first before you apply a calamine lotion.