Bed Bugs: What They Are and Where They're Found

Le bedbugs are progressing, and bed bug infestations are on the rise. In France, for example, there is a real health alarm, with one in ten homes infested by bedbugsAttracted by heat, bed bugs, or mattress bugs, feed on human blood and can cause various damage to our health. So, the first thing to do is to identify them.

Index of topics

What are

Bed bugs are annoying pests that can infest homes and cause numerous problems. Finding them in your bed is common, but getting rid of them requires a well-planned strategy. To detect bed bugs, it's important to carefully examine the mattress, especially at edges, seams and corners.

Bed bugs are usually

flat
brown
similar in size to a freckle, but become larger after feeding on blood
with a sweetish, pungent odor

They can also hide in furniture near the bed, such as bedside tables and headboardsSome signs of a bed bug infestation include blood stains or dark feces on the sheets, small black spots, which are eggs. If bed bugs are suspected, a thorough inspection and appropriate treatment are recommended. It's also important to maintain good household hygiene, reduce clutter, and seal any cracks or crevices in the walls to prevent future infestations.

Where do they come from?

Bed bugs can enter homes for a variety of reasons, primarily through accidental transport and migration, or simply because they find opportunities to hide and breed in certain environments. These parasitic insects are known for their ability to hide in small cracks and crevices Near beds, where they can easily escape sight and wait for an opportunity to feed on human blood. Let's look at the main reasons bed bugs can enter homes.

Bed bugs can attach themselves to clothes, suitcases, or people's personal belongings, thus moving from one place to another. This often happens while traveling or when visiting a haunted location.
These insects can migrate from one home to another through cracks in walls, pipes, wiring, and even air ducts. If a neighbor has an infestation, bed bugs can easily spread to other nearby homes.
Hotels, hostels and other temporary accommodations are often places where bed bugs can be picked up and transported to new locations by unsuspecting hosts. These insects hide well, waiting for a new host to arrive to feed on.
Bed bugs can be brought into homes through used furniture or bedding purchased at flea markets.
Bed bugs may be driven to seek new shelters by climate changes in the environment in which they find themselves. These changes can force them to seek new hiding places, often inside human dwellings.

How to keep them away

There are several natural methods and precautions that can help keep bed bugs away.

First of all, you need to keep the house clean and tidy It can help reduce potential hiding places for bed bugs. Regularly washing bedding, clothing, and curtains at high temperatures can kill any bed bugs or eggs.
Inspect frequently, if you have any doubts, the bed, the mattress, bed frame, and surrounding furnishings can help detect bed bugs early before they spread significantly.
Mattress and pillow covers designed to prevent access by dust mites and bed bugs can be helpful in protecting your mattress and other furnishings.
You should avoid purchasing used furniture From unreliable sources, especially if they've been thrown away or left outside. These pieces of furniture can harbor bed bugs and bring them into your home. In any case, they should be thoroughly inspected and cleaned before entering your home.
After travelling or being in public places, it is advisable to wash and dry clothes at high temperatures to kill any bed bugs that may have attached.
Sealing any cracks or crevices in walls, floors, and furniture can prevent bed bugs from hiding in these areas.
To pass the vacuum cleaner Regularly applying it to mattresses, carpets, sofas, and other surfaces can help remove bed bugs and their eggs.
Essential oils such aslavender oil, the oil Peppermint and tea tree oil have a scent that repels bedbugs. One solution is to mix a few drops of these oils with water and spray the solution where bedbugs might hide.
Diatomaceous earth is a natural powder made from the remains of Seaweed fossilized. This powder is abrasive to soft-bodied insects such as bed bugs and can help control their spread.
Bed bugs hate the smell of the cedarUsing cedar blocks, balls, or essential oil in drawers, closets, or under the bed can keep them away.
Items that can be frozen without being damaged, such as stuffed animals and clothing, can be placed in the freezer for several hours to kill bed bugs.
Storing infested items in vacuum-sealed bags can help isolate bed bugs until they are eliminated.
Some people use the Scotch tape To catch bed bugs. By placing tape around beds or mattress corners, the tape will hopefully catch them when they try to reach the host.
Some believe that the pungent odor of garlic It can keep bed bugs away. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. Some people place garlic cloves around beds or near infested areas, but this practice is not universally recognized as effective.

pest control

Getting rid of a bed bug infestation requires a comprehensive and well-planned approach. Here's how to exterminate an area affected by these pesky pests. insects.

The first thing to do is to limit access to the infested area to prevent the bed bugs from spreading to other parts of the home or building.
It is then necessary to carry out a deep and thorough cleaning of the infested area. It is necessary, for example, to remove the bedding, clothes, tends and any items that might be infested and wash everything at high temperatures or put things in a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes.
Afterwards, it is a good idea to vacuum all the carpets, floors, furniture, and corners of the room. After use, it's a good idea to immediately empty the vacuum cleaner bag into a sealed garbage bag and throw it away.
The use of the steam On mattresses, sofas, and carpets, it can kill bedbugs and their eggs. The steam must reach temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius.
If you decide to use chemical treatments, it is best to consult a professional rather than using pesticides yourself, as some can be dangerous to human health if used improperly.
There are also specialized companies that use devices of warm-up Portable or heated rooms to raise the temperature inside a room to levels lethal to bedbugs (usually above 45-50°C). These treatments can take several hours and require careful monitoring to ensure all areas reach the required temperature.

Symptoms and signs of bed bug bites

The symptoms and signs of bed bug bites can vary from person to person, but there are some common characteristics. These bites can cause intense itching and, in some cases, can develop an allergic reaction, causing swelling and redness more extensive around the affected area.

The bites are usually not painful, but the itching can be very uncomfortable, leading to scratching. This can cause further irritation and potentially cause skin infections if the skin is damaged.

A distinctive feature of bed bug bites is their distribution pattern. Bed bugs tend to feed sequentially, moving from one spot to another to feed. As a result, bites often appear in a row or in clusters arranged in a line, especially on parts of the body exposed during sleep, such as the face, neck, hands, and arms.

Risks of the sting

Bed bug bites, while generally not medically dangerous, can cause significant discomfort and discomfort. Some people may experience allergic reactions that can lead to more serious symptoms such as swelling, redness, and intense itching. Scratching the bites can also cause skin lesions, increasing the risk of bacterial infections. In addition to skin reactions, emotional distress is a significant risk. People who experience a bed bug infestation often experience anxiety, stress, and difficulty sleeping due to the physical discomfort and the concerns related to the infestation itself. Therefore, bed bug infestation can have a negative impact on the quality of life and overall well-being of those affected.

How long do they take to suck blood?

Bed bugs usually take between 3 and 10 minutes to feed on human bloodDuring this time, they can drink, in just three sucks, an amount of blood equal to several times their body weight. Once they're full, they retreat to their hiding place to digest their meal. After feeding, bed bugs can remain hidden for several days or even weeks before seeking another meal. The frequency of these feedings depends on the ambient temperature and the availability of human or animal hosts. In general, in areas with a stable temperature and a constant presence of hosts, bed bugs may feed once a week or even more frequently.

How many eggs do they lay in beds?

Bed bugs are notoriously prolific in breeding. A female bed bug can lay 200 to 500 eggs during her lifetime, which can last from several months to over a year, depending on environmental conditions and food availability. On average, the female bed bug lays two to eight eggs per day. The eggs are generally laid in small clusters, often in cracks, crevices or hiding places near their feeding site. After being laid, bed bug eggs take about a week or two to hatch into tiny nymphs that will go through five stages, called moults, before becoming adults.

Resistance

Bed bugs are considered among the most resilient insects in nature, for a number of reasons.

Bed bugs can survive without food for up to a year. This means they can hide and wait patiently until a food source (such as a human) becomes available again.
These insects are capable of hibernating at a temperature less than 13 degrees.
Bed bugs are nocturnal, preferring to feed during the hours of darkness when people are asleep. This stealthy behavior makes them difficult to detect and treat.
Bed bugs have developed resistance to common pesticides, such as pyrethroids, used for their control. This is the result of natural selection, where only the most resistant bedbugs survive exposure to pesticides and pass on their genes to subsequent generations.

How to prevent them

Bed bug prevention involves both measures to avoid an infestation and precautions to reduce the risk of being bitten.

Prevent Infestations

Before staying in hotels, hostels or renting an apartment, it is a good idea to carefully examine the bed, the mattress and the cracks in the furniture.
It is advisable to avoid purchasing used furniture from unreliable sources, especially if it has been thrown away or left on the street.
When traveling, it's best to use suitcase covers to protect your luggage. It's also advisable to inspect both your suitcases and your belongings. clothes before bringing them home after a trip.
It is recommended that you apply the insecticide permethrin (used for lice and scabies) to the bed frame because it is said to keep bed bugs away.
Inspect the bed regularly, the mattress and surrounding furniture is one thing to do to spot any signs of bed bugs and proceed immediately with a complete infestation.

Prevent stings

We recommend wearing pajamas that cover the entire body if a bedbug infestation is suspected, because bedbugs cannot attack the skin through tissue.
Use specially designed mattress and pillow covers to prevent bed bugs from entering.
Avoid leaving bags, clothes or other objects on the surface of the bed when not in use.
If you've been bitten by a bedbug, avoid scratching the bites to prevent infection. It's best to use a cream. anti-itch if necessary.
Some essential oils, such as lavender and peppermint oil, are known to repel bed bugs. They can be used in diffusers or made into sprays.
It is always good to maintain good personal hygiene by regularly changing sheets and clothes.
If you suspect a bed bug infestation, you can call a professional pest control company for proper treatment.

Cover image source: Wikipedia

Bed Bugs: What They Are and Where They Are Found