A bed bug infestation can be difficult to treat. These nocturnal insects are small and hard to see without magnification, but can be spotted by fecal spots, blood streaks, shed skins (exuviae) and other evidence.
The bites of bed bugs can cause itching, secondary skin infections and loss of sleep. Some people have severe allergic reactions to the bites. For professional help, contact Bed Bug Control Boise.
The most common symptom of a Bed Bug infestation is the presence of red, itchy bite marks on the skin. Bites are caused by the bugs inserting their mouthparts into the skin to feed. Once the insect locates a suitable blood vessel, it injects saliva and bites. Depending on the individual’s immune system, the bites may appear as small red dots or a raised, red welt with a dark center that resembles a hive. Some people do not react at all to bed bug bites, while others may have an allergic reaction resulting in swollen, squished, bitten areas of the skin.
Bites are usually found in rows, with two or more bites per row. This is because the insect is attempting to find a vein to access blood. Once it finds a good vein, it will move on to other parts of the body in search of more blood vessels. In some cases, it may take more than one attempt to successfully feed.
Because of their size, bed bugs are able to hide in small spaces that other insects cannot. These hiding spots include piping, seams and tags on mattresses and box springs; in the folds of upholstery; behind loose wallpaper or wall hangings; under the head of a screw; and in cracks around the joints of furniture.
Bed bugs are able to transfer between homes and other locations where they have been, such as schools, colleges and day care centers, by attaching themselves to clothes, bags or sheets that have been brought home. Infestations may also spread through the purchase of used furniture, especially if the buyer is unaware of the infestation.
The best way to prevent spreading bed bugs is to limit the number of items that are brought back and forth between a home and other locations. In addition, it is important to inspect and treat all furniture when buying it new or used, especially if it has been moved from another location. When removing infested furniture, wrap it in plastic prior to moving. This will keep the bed bugs from transferring to other objects on their journey to the curb or garbage.
Bites
A bite from a bed bug is usually itchy, but the bugs do not carry diseases that can infect people. The bugs pierce the skin with their long beaks to extract blood from sleeping hosts. They feed for 3 to 10 minutes, then crawl away. Bed bugs are most active at night, but can also be found in other places that are not bedrooms. They can be in the seams of mattresses and box springs, between cushions on bedroom chairs or couches, in cracks and crevices around furniture, inside loose wallpaper or along edges of walls. They can even hitchhike rides on luggage, bags and clothes.
They lay whitish eggs that are sticky and adhere to surfaces, typically in secluded locations. Eggs hatch in about a week, and the newly emerged insects are called nymphs. They molt five times before reaching maturity and must feed between each molt.
Adult females can produce hundreds of eggs during their lifetime. When a nymph is ready to feed, it pierces the skin with its mouthparts and injects saliva that contains an anesthetic and an anticoagulant to prevent blood loss as it sucks up the blood. The bites are similar to fleabites, but larger. They appear reddish on lighter skin tones and pink or purple on darker skin. A bright red dot often appears in the center of each bite. Some people may have an allergic reaction to the bites, resulting in itchy bumps that can be difficult to distinguish from other types of skin conditions such as eczema or hives.
Hives are a more serious medical concern, as they can be life-threatening. If you have a sudden onset of hives that causes difficulty breathing, mouth and throat swelling, confusion or rapid heart rate, seek medical assistance immediately.
To avoid getting bed bugs, keep clothes and linens washed at hot temperatures and dry them on high settings. Use a bed bug interceptor (a special plastic dish sold online) under each bedpost to catch the insects as they climb up from the floor. Invest in a cover for your mattress and box spring that zips shut, and consider adding covers to your pillows as well. Train housekeeping and maintenance staff to inspect beds for signs of infestation, and contact a professional pest control company if necessary.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of a Bed Bug can be quite lengthy and if not dealt with properly, they are likely to reproduce quickly causing an infestation that is very difficult to eradicate. They are able to remain dormant without a host for up to a year, depending on temperature and other environmental factors.
After a female bed bug mates, it will seek out a hidden crack or crevice to lay its eggs. Once it has found a suitable spot, the eggs will hatch within 7 to 15 days and produce the 1st stage of nymphs.
These nymphs are translucent and very small, approximately 1.5 millimeters in length. They will require blood in order to molt into the next stage. After molting they will appear darker in color and they are now known as second instar nymphs. Following their second blood meal, nymphs will molt again and this time they will appear much larger in size and darken further in color. This third nymphal stage is now referred to as a fourth instar nymph and after another blood meal they will molt yet again, becoming darker again in color and now appearing similar in appearance to an adult.
Once a fourth instar nymph reaches its final molt, it will become a fifth instar nymph and will be the closest in appearance to a fully grown, mature bed bug. After this, it will finally be able to breed. A single female can lay hundreds of eggs which will take only a few weeks to reach maturity.
Once a nymph reaches the final stage of its life it will begin producing offspring that will eventually grow to be adult Bed Bugs. These Bed Bugs will be a reddish brown in color and have flat bodies. They can grow to be about the size of an apple seed and have no wings. They will require regular blood meals in order to continue to reproduce and can live for up to a year under optimal conditions.
Prevention
The best preventative measures are to avoid sleeping in second-hand furniture; to carefully inspect all used upholstered items (especially mattresses and box springs) before purchasing them; and to thoroughly clean and launder clothes, shoes and bags before returning home from vacation or work. Vacuuming is important, especially in the bedroom where bed bugs often hide.
It is also recommended to remove the covers from beds and box springs, and to vacuum these surfaces as well. Vacuuming may not be enough to kill the insects, so the use of traps or pesticides should be considered.
A professional pest management company should be consulted for treatment options. Some treatments include heat, which works by raising the temperature in a room to levels that are lethal to bed bugs and their eggs. This method is generally more expensive than chemical treatments, but can be very effective.
Other methods for eliminating bed bugs in the house include vacuuming, using traps or pesticides, and sealing cracks and crevices where the insects can hide. It is also advised to check clothes and luggage when returning from a trip, and to store suitcases on a suitcase stand or on the bed rather than on the floor. Clothes should be washed in hot water and dried in a dryer when coming home from a trip, to kill any hidden bed bugs or eggs.
Some people also find that a tightly woven, zippered mattress and box spring encasement helps to prevent bed bug infestations, and this is much less expensive than replacing the mattress or buying a new box spring. It is also possible to treat furniture with liquid or dust formulations of pesticides, but it is usually more cost-effective to have a professional pest control company do this. Lastly, whole-room fumigation* of a house or apartment building is sometimes performed to eliminate bed bugs. This method is typically less expensive than a complete replacement of the household contents, but it requires a great deal of advance preparation, and can be dangerous for those who have asthma or other respiratory conditions.