Everything You Need to Know about Pesky Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are one of the most maligned insects on the planet. They are among the most loathed creatures in the household, and no one wants them within a mile of their home. However, these little critters have many fascinating aspects about them. They are survivors of the highest caliber, and their lifestyles and habits can be quite intriguing.

Although most of us do not want to bring them into our homes, knowing what you’re dealing with will give you a better understanding of the urgency of dealing with these pests.

Listed below is an overivew of everything you need to know about pesky bed bugs.

1. They Only Feed on Fresh Blood

Bed bugs can survive only by eating blood from a living host. They are not interested in feeding on blood from other sources, such as spilled blood or blood outside of the body. Instead, they want to bite a mammal or a bird and then use their long, sharp proboscis to suck fresh blood as much as they can handle. It is disturbing to consider how much blood they can ingest in one feeding, which is about seven times their body weight.

2. You Won’t Feel Their Bite

Bed bugs inject a small dose of anesthetic into their victims to prevent them from feeling any pain as they drink their fill. Bed bugs also inject an antihistamine so that the victim does not swell up with an allergic reaction as it does its work.

After they feeding, it quickly runs away to hide in the cracks and crevices of your mattress until the next night. In addition, not everyone reacts to bed bug bites in the same way. One person in the household may not seem to have bites while the other does.

3. They Do Not Transfer Diseases

Most people are horrified by the idea that bed bugs can spread diseases, but that is simply not the case. They are not disease-carrying parasites. The way a bed bug’s anatomy is designed prevents them from spreading diseases. All they do is bite you and reproduce. You may experience skin irritation, but thankfully, that’s as far as it goes.

4. They Can Come from Anywhere

These pests can migrate from a neighboring apartment or from a friend’s house. They are nocturnal creatures that like dark places with a high level of human activity. That is why you will find them so often in hotels, movie theaters, and buses. In many cases, they are brought into the home from a victim’s suitcase or their clothing.

5. You Can Find Them through Their Eggs

Bed bug eggs are quite interesting. They have a sticky substance on them that allows them to adhere to the fabric. They are about the size of a pinhead and are a deep red in color. You can find them inside small cracks or crevices in your mattress or box springs or in the seams of the headboard. If you are looking to get rid of bed bugs, keep an eye out for their eggs, or hire professionals to spot them for you.

Conclusion

Bed bugs are not the plague that they are commonly made out to be. They are simply small insects that want a good meal. They are fascinating creatures, and they are the most resilient pests that exist on earth.

Bed bugs have survived the test of time, and they will continue to thrive on the blood of humans and other mammals. They are not a pleasant parasite that you want around, but they can be eradicated with the right knowledge and products.

If you feel as though you may have bed bugs or other pests at home, try our residential pest control services! Our exterminators can deal with whatever’s bugging you and help you keep your household around Fresno safe. Let us know what the problem is, and get a quote today!