Bed Bugs -Most Frequently Asked Questions

What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of mammals and
birds. Adult bed bugs are oval, wingless and rusty red colored, and
have flat bodies, antennae and small eyes. They are visible to the
naked eye, but often hide in cracks and crevices. When bed bugs
feed, their bodies swell and become a brighter red. In homes, bed
bugs feed primarily on the blood of humans, usually at night when
people are sleeping.

What does a bed bug bite feel and look like?
Typically, the bite is painless and rarely awakens a
sleeping person. However, it can produce large, itchy
welts on the skin. Welts from bed bug bites do not have a
red spot in the center – those welts are more characteristic
of flea bites.


Are bed bugs dangerous?

Although bed bugs may be a nuisance to people, they are not known to spread
disease. They are known to cause allergic reactions from their saliva in sensitive
people.

How long do bed bugs live?
The typical life span of a bed bug is about 10 months. They can survive for
weeks to months without feeding.

How does a home become infested with bed bugs?
In most cases, bed bugs are transported from infested areas to non-infested
areas when they cling onto someone’s clothing, or crawl into luggage, furniture or
bedding that is then brought into homes.

Bed Bug Bites- What To Look For

Bed bug bites usually occur on the legs and upper body area; the arms, neck and shoulders. Many times bed bug bites are not recognized because they are thought to be something else. Bed bug bites are generally small bumps that are very itchy. They are normally red, with centralized inflammation and swelling. Some may have a red scab or look like pimples. Some bed bugs bites may be larger or smaller than the average, but usually they are just small red marks that look like bad mosquito bites and are mistaken for flea or mosquito bites or other common skin conditions.

Everyone can react differently to bed bug bites. As many as 70% of people may not react to bed bugs bites at all while many others can have an allergic reaction. Although bed bug bites are not dangerous, they can cause severe itching in humans who are allergic to bed bug's saliva. Bed bug bite irritation is actually an allergic reaction to chemicals injected by bed bugs when they bite a person. When a bed bug bites it injects its saliva into the skin through one tube, numbing the area, and sucks the blood out through another.

People who have an allergic reaction to the anesthetic in bedbugs saliva will develop raised red bumps or flat welts. These are very itchy and usually cause great discomfort. The painful and itchy sensations that come from bed bugs bites are caused by this allergic reaction to the insect's saliva. These bites can become inflamed, itchy, red, and sore. The worst results from bed bug bites are when they swell, form blisters or result in small loss of skin tissue.

There really is no standard treatment for bed bug bites. They won't make you sick unless they are allowed to get infected. It's best to cleanse the area so that your skin stays free from infection. Bed bug bites can become infected and inflamed easily. Cleaning with cool water and soap will help to reduce the itchiness and the swelling of the bites. Apply ice and use an antihistamine cream or no itch cream.

Conversely, the application of heat either from a hair dryer or heated cloth can help to relieve an area of irritation. Antihistamines help relieve itching but have no further effect on the actual bites. Systemic corticosteroids also relieve the itching, burning sensation but also have no other effect on the bites. Oral or topical steroids like prednisone or hydrocortisone are effective for treating bed bug bites. But treatment of bed bugs bites only tackles a small part of the problem. The most effective treatment is to actually get rid of these unwanted visitors.

Bed Bugs- All About Bed Bugs and How To Get Rid Of Them

About Bed Bugs 

 

 

Description and Habits

Bed bugs are small, brownish, flattened insects that feed solely on the blood of animals. The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is the species most adapted to living with humans. It has done so since ancient times. Bed bugs are mentioned in medieval European texts and in classical Greek writings back to the time of Aristotle. Other bed bug species prefer to feed on wild hosts, especially bats and birds.

Bed bugs are active mainly at night. During the daytime, they prefer to hide close to where people sleep. Their flattened bodies enable them to fit into tiny crevices — especially those associated with mattresses, box springs, bed frames and headboards. Bed bugs do not have nests like ants or bees, but do tend to congregate in habitual hiding places. Characteristically, these areas are marked by dark spotting and staining, which is the dried excrement of the bugs. Also present will be eggs and eggshells, the brownish molted skins of maturing nymphs and the bugs themselves. Another telltale though less frequent sign is rusty or reddish blood smears on bed sheets or mattresses from crushing an engorged bed bug. Heavy infestations may have a “buggy” smell, but the odor is seldom apparent and should not be relied upon for detection.

Bed bugs prefer to hide close to where they feed. However, if necessary, they will crawl several feet to obtain a blood meal. Initial infestations tend to be around beds, but the bugs eventually may become scattered throughout the bedroom, occupying any crevice or protected location. They also may spread to adjacent rooms or apartments.


Adult bed bugs are about 3/16-inch long and reddish-brown, with oval, flattened bodies. They are sometimes mistaken for ticks or cockroaches. The immatures (nymphs) resemble the adults, but are smaller and lighter in color. Bed bugs do not fly, but can move rapidly over floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces. Female bed bugs lay their eggs in secluded areas, depositing 1, 2 or more eggs per day and hundreds during a lifetime. The eggs are tiny, whitish, and hard to see on most surfaces without magnification (individual eggs are about the size of a dust speck). When first laid, the eggs are sticky, causing them to adhere to surfaces. Newly hatched nymphs are straw-colored and no bigger than a pinhead. As they grow, they molt (shed their skin) five times before reaching maturity. A blood meal is needed between each successive molt. Under favorable conditions (70-80°F), the bugs can complete development in as little as a month, producing three or more generations per year. Cooler temperatures or limited access to blood extends the development time. Bed bugs are resilient. Nymphs can survive months without feeding and the adults for more than a year. Infestations therefore are unlikely to diminish by leaving premises unoccupied. Although C. lectularius prefers feeding on humans, it will also bite other warm-blooded animals, including dogs, cats, birds and rodents.

Bed bugs are active mainly at night. During the daytime, they prefer to hide close to where people sleep. Their flattened bodies enable them to fit into tiny crevices — especially those associated with mattresses, box springs, bed frames and headboards. Bed bugs do not have nests like ants or bees, but do tend to congregate in habitual hiding places. Characteristically, these areas are marked by dark spotting and staining, which is the dried excrement of the bugs. Also present will be eggs and eggshells, the brownish molted skins of maturing nymphs and the bugs themselves. Another telltale though less frequent sign is rusty or reddish blood smears on bed sheets or mattresses from crushing an engorged bed bug. Heavy infestations may have a “buggy” smell, but the odor is seldom apparent and should not be relied upon for detection.

Bed bugs prefer to hide close to where they feed. However, if necessary, they will crawl several feet to obtain a blood meal. Initial infestations tend to be around beds, but the bugs eventually may become scattered throughout the bedroom, occupying any crevice or protected location. They also may spread to adjacent rooms or apartments.

Bites and Concerns

Bed bugs usually bite people at night while they are sleeping. They feed on your blood in the same fashion as a mosquito does. Engorgement takes about three to 10 minutes, yet the person seldom knows they are being bitten. Bed bugs normally do not reside on people like head or body lice. Immediately after feeding they crawl off and reside elsewhere to digest their meal. Symptoms after being bitten vary with the individual. Many develop an itchy red welt or localized swelling within a day or so of the bite. Others have little or no reaction, and in some people the reaction is delayed. Unlike flea bites that occur mainly around the ankles, bed bugs feed on any skin exposed while sleeping (face, neck, shoulders, back, arms, legs, etc.). The welts and itching are often wrongly attributed to other causes, such as mosquitoes. For these reasons, infestations may go a long time unnoticed, and can become quite large before being detected. The likelihood of bed bugs increases if the affected individual has been traveling, or had acquired used beds or furnishings before symptoms started to appear. Bed bugs also are suspect if you wake up with itchy bites you did not have when you went to sleep. Conversely, it is important to recognize that not all bites or bite-like reactions are due to bed bugs. Confirmation requires finding and identifying the bugs themselves, which often requires the help of a professional.


A common concern with bed bugs is whether they transmit diseases. Although bed bugs can harbor pathogens in and on their bodies, transmission to humans is considered unlikely. Their medical significance is chiefly limited to the itching and inflammation from their bites. Antihistamines and corticosteroids may be prescribed to reduce allergic reactions, and antiseptic or antibiotic ointments to prevent infection. Though not known to carry diseases, bed bugs can severely reduce quality of life by causing discomfort, sleeplessness, anxiety, and embarrassment.


Conventional insect repellents, like those used to deter ticks and mosquitoes, do not appear to be effective against bed bugs. Attempting to avoid being bitten by applying insect repellent at bedtime is not recommended. Sleeping with the lights on is not likely to deter hungry bed bugs either.

If you would like to learn more about Bed Bugs, their prevention and how to remove them, please read more here:
Bed Bugs