People nowadays only hear about bed bugs but rarely do they get to see these creepy crawlers. Bed bug infestations were common in the United States before the World War II when there was still a lack of outdoor pest control remedies. But with the great improvements in people’s overall hygiene and the use of numerous chemical insecticides like DDT in the 1940’s and the 1950’s, the population of the bugs in the United States almost vanished. However these insects were still a common sight in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.
Bed bugs are making a big comeback in the United States during the recent years. They are making their way not only through homes but also in other public facilities like hotels, schools, even in cars and other modes of transportation! Immigration, international travel, the various changes in modern organic pest control practices are seen to be the major causes of the reappearance of these pests.
Description and Habits
Bed bugs are small, brown, flat insects which feed mainly on the blood of mammals. The common bed bug, Cimex lectularis, is the species most often plaguing humans. They are so comfortable in human dwellings, that they have been living with humans since ancient times. Evidences of their co-existence with humans are discussed in medieval European texts and classical Greek writings dating back to the time of Aristotle.
Adult bed bugs usually measure about 3/16 inches long and are reddish brown in color. They are typically mistaken for ticks and cockroaches. Young bed bugs are quite similar to adults but are smaller and lighter in color. These bugs do not fly but they move fast over floors, walls, and other surfaces. Female bed bugs like to lay their eggs in isolated areas. They usually lay 1 to 2 eggs per day which add up to hundreds during their lifetime. The eggs are just about as small as a dust speck which makes it difficult to see them without magnification. They are quite sticky when first laid, which is why the eggs stick to most surfaces. Newly hatched bugs are straw-colored and shed their skin five times before reaching maturity. With favorable conditions, bed bugs can develop in a month’s time producing three or more generations per year. Cooler temperatures or limited supply of blood could extend their development time. Bed bugs are tough and could actually survive months without feeding as nymphs and years as adults. Infestations are therefore unlikely to end even if you leave a premise for a long time.
Bed bugs are active during the night and gather together in routine hiding places. Their flattened bodies enable them to fit in tiny gaps in mattresses, box springs, bed frames and headboards. These areas are marked by dark stains, which are from the dried excrement of the bugs. Bed bugs prefer to hide close to where they feed but will crawl several feet to obtain a meal, if necessary.
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