Fascinating Facts About Bed Bugs

You may think that you have a good idea of what bed bugs are and how they can infiltrate your home and your life. Read on to find out about some basic bed bug facts and some interesting things about bed bugs you may not have known about!

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small, nocturnal, parasitic insects whose sole food source is the blood of humans and other animals. Bed bugs come out to feed at night, but like to hide in warm spaces, including cracks or crevices of mattresses, furniture, bedding, walls, and any other space near where humans might sleep. Bites caused by bed bugs can cause rashes and irritating welts or bumps. Some people have no reaction to bug bites and though bed bugs may be feeding from them, they will show no signs of having been bitten. Bed bugs are notoriously hard to detect and their identification is vitally important. Treatments for bugs that look similar to the bed bug are vastly different and require a different treatment plan.

Where In The World Are Bed Bugs Found?

Bed bugs live around the world on almost every continent. Bed bugs are traditionally associated with unclean areas and facilities, but recently, the presence of bed bugs has risen everywhere. Five-star hotels and resorts aren’t immune to these pests and cleanliness has nothing to do with where they are found. Bed bugs are opportunistic and will find a way to survive in the cracks and crevices of furnishings, walls and floorboards near where humans sleep or rest. No matter how much you clean, bed bugs will find a way to hide.

Do Bed Bugs Really Live In Beds?

Because bed bugs feed on animals and humans while they sleep, bed bugs get their name from the fact that infestations generally occur near the areas where people sleep. This means that bed bugs are typically found in those places where humans sleep such as apartments, shelters, hotels, cruise ships and dorm rooms, but they can also be found in other places like buses and trains. As their name suggests, within these areas that humans typically choose to snooze, bed bugs are commonly found closest to where people actually do the sleeping, like mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, headboards, bedside tables, behind wall paneling or wallpaper or in any other personal objects or possessions that may reside around a bed. Though bed bugs can travel over 100 feet in one night, they tend to live within 8 feet of where people sleep.

Do Bed Bugs Spread Disease? Do They Pose A Health Risk?

Bed bugs are not known to spread disease, however, their bites can become a health risk. Each person responds differently to a bed bug bite. Some have no reaction at all while others may have such an intense reaction that the resulting excessive scratching may cause a secondary skin infection.

If you have a bed bug infestation don’t try to treat it yourself. Contact a licensed pest professional with the right knowledge to check for bed bugs and properly treat any issue that might arise.