Bed Bugs

Considered one of the most disagreeable of all "houseguest" pests, once a bed bug problem develops attempts to manage the dilemma are best left to a bed bug exterminator using commercial pest control measures. The reason is simple.

Unlike other types of household pests such as roaches, ants, spiders, rats and mice, bed bugs don't infest households for human food. Instead, they seek a ready supply of warm blooded resources from which to gorge at mealtime.

Standard pest control measures may include such things as bait stations - which can be effective when used for their intended purpose. But, bed bug removal requires special elimination efforts familiar to a pest control expert.

Bed Bug Type; the Common Bed Bug

The most familiar type of bed bug is also the one most adapted to the human environment. It is the common bed bug (Cimex letularius).

Although infestation is often associated with clutter and inadequate housekeeping practices, this is not always the case. Bed bugs can be carried into households on pets, luggage, furniture, bedding, clothing - even humans.

• Bed bug identification - adult bed bugs grow from 1/8 to 3/16th of an inch long; about the size of an apple seed. Bodies are oval-shaped, flattened, and reddish brown; turning a darker red and nearly 3-times its usual size after feeding. They have non-functional wing pads and are slow-moving; microscopic hairs give them a banded appearance.
• Bed bug life cycle - laying up to five eggs daily, a female bed bug can parent 500 nymph young during a lifetime. A bed bug egg is milky white; so small it is invisible to the naked eye. Hatching within 7 to 14 days, young immediately begin to feed - one feast for each of their five molting stages until they reach maturity. A process that takes approximately 5 weeks in warm conditions.
• Bed bug behavior pattern - preferring to hide during daylight hours, they are drawn by warmth and the presence of carbon dioxide; typically, just before dawn. Bed bugs usually feed on victims during the night while they sleep; bite marks are caused by two hollow tubes that pierce the skin. One tube injects saliva containing an anesthetic that numbs pain, and an anticoagulant that helps keep blood flowing. Blood is drawn up into the second tube; feeding takes about five minutes. One common bed bug bite symptom is itching; caused by the saliva. The person's skin may develop a rash or become swollen. Scratching a bed bug bite often leads to infection. Although typically seeking blood every 5 to 10 days, bed bugs have been known to live up to 18 months without feeding.
• Additional information - widespread for centuries and still common up until around World War II, there was a dramatic bed bug population decline after the introduction of such toxic pesticide chemicals as DDT. Again on the rise, small quantities of bugs can be difficult to detect without proper knowledge of what to look for. A pungent odor, however, is commonly noticed when bed bug infestation is excessive. The cause of bed bug bad odor is an oil-like substance emitted through their bodies. Although not regarded as carriers of transmittable diseases, bed bugs can harbor pathogens; including plague and hepatitis B.

The Bat Bug

The bat bug is so named because they prefer feeding on bats; humans and other warm-blooded mammals nevertheless also fall victim. Thankfully, bat bugs have not been found to transmit disease.

• Bat bug identification - A species of the Cimicidae family, bat bugs are so closely related to the bed bug that examination by microscope is necessary to differentiate the two. Bat bugs are commonly found in bat-harboring houses in the Midwest - one distinguishing trait that separates them from other cimicids.
• Bat bug life cycle - like the common bed bug, bat bugs can survive for a year or more in cool climates without eating. However, blood feeding is required by the female in order to lay eggs. Rough surfaces in cracks are favored nursery spots. Nymphs are nearly colorless, except for a visible dark spot in their digestive tract after eating; exoskeletons become darker as they mature.
• Bat bug behavior pattern - preferring dark, tight, narrow retreats, they are usually found in cracks and crevices in bat roosting areas. Especially those of big and little brown bats, which typically reside in large colonies. Their preference for bats makes this type bed bug control unique. The best pest control tip if you want to effectively remove the bug problem is to eliminate the bat population. Weatherproofing your home, for instance, can prevent bats from entering and creating roosting colonies - drastically reducing the likelihood of bat bug infestation.
• Additional information - persons bitten by bat bugs experience a variety of immunological reactions. Some develop an allergic reaction to the proteins in the bug's saliva, creating a bed bug rash. Other common reactions include the development of a welt or lump at bite sites; often occurring in a series of two or three welts close together. Severe itching and discomfort are also common reactions, both of which can last a week or more.

Other species of blood-sucking bugs closely related to bed bugs include the chimney swift bug, and the swallow bug; both of which prefer the type birds for which they are named as food sources.

Knowledge is Power; More Information & Bed Bug Treatment Tips

It may surprise you to know that although bed bugs are not considered carriers of disease, it is possible for them to have a direct effect on a person's health. This is especially true of young children.

An anemic child could indicate bed bug activity. A child's system is more delicate than that of an adult; their bodies and blood supply much smaller. Hiding by day and coming out at night to gorge on blood from any available source, sleeping children often fall prey to bed bugs.

If a child develops anemia and tiny bite marks, colorless welts, or a rash is also present, bed bugs could be the culprit. The possibility of which bears looking into.

To help determine whether or not there is bed bug activity in your house, look for any of the following telltale signs: bed bug bite marks on family members and/or pets; a bed bug rash; welts that itch. Note: while mosquito and flea-bites develop dark red centers, bug bites make colorless welts that may or may not become inflamed.

Check mattresses and bedding at night using a flashlight. Bed bugs are slow moving; if present they can often be spotted. Look for blood spots on bedding, bug excrement and cast skins.

Also, contact a bed bug pest control expert for advice in bed bug prevention, bed bug treatment, or other effective bed bug removal information.