All About Bed Bugs

By Author: Raymond Batson
Total Articles: 4777

Bed bugs are tiny little things about the size of a poppy seed that live off the blood of both animals and people. They do not have wings but can get around very easily by crawling and climbing. Their bodies are oval shaped and are very flat making them hard to detect. They can be white or tan or even a dark brown bordering on red or orange. These bugs shed their skin periodically and when you are looking for them you usually find the skin they do not need anymore. It is hard to find an actual live bug because they are so good at hiding.

When a bug bites you usually will not feel it mostly because you are asleep in bed. They do introduce some of their saliva into the skin when they feed and this can sometimes cause bites or rashes to develop on the skin. The bite may look like you have a mosquito or flea bite. These bites may itch but try not to itch because they can become infected if you do.

Bed bugs are not specific to any area of the world; they are everywhere. Not long ago they were nearly irradiated but today there has been a bed bug population explosion and they are once more a pest world wide. They like to hide in bed frames, or inside a mattress or box springs. Clutter seems to attract the little bugs even more. They can hide in small places because of the flat nature of their bodies. They do most of their feeding during the night but will venture out in the day if they need to. Once you get a colony it is very hard to get rid of them.

Bed bugs can come into your life by hitching a ride. If you visit out of town and take your pillow they can come home with you in the pillow or they may crawl inside your suitcase and return home. If you purchase used furniture or mattresses you need to inspect them well before bringing them into your house. They can crawl through walls and ceilings so if you live in an apartment they can easily move in after they outgrow the neighbor's apartment.

A good indication that you need to inspect for bugs is if you see raised bites on your body. Make sure to inspect even the smallest fold in the bedding because they will hide in the smallest places. If you find an opening in the mattress you will have to go in and make sure they are not making themselves comfortable inside the mattress. They can look like a small spot so you need to search hard to find them. They can hide in the curtains and if there is one little flap of loose wall paper they can get underneath it and breed to their hearts content. Look in dresser drawers and inside clothing. Some people say that big infestations can give off the smell of coriander.

Do not assume you have an infestation even if you see bugs that are not moving. You need to find one that is crawling and when you do the best thing is to call an exterminator who knows what they are doing. It is possible to use substances yourself to kill them but it is much safer when done using a professional.

It is not necessary to throw away beds or bedding. Just use a stiff brush to scrub in all the corners and edges in order to dislodge any eggs that might be left. Vacuum the debris and get rid of it immediately. Bed bugs can set up housekeeping inside dressers and in clothing so make sure to check that as well.

Pesticides and other chemicals should never be applied directly to a mattress because it can cause harm to anyone that is going to use it afterwards. Understand any directions that come with chemical applications and follow the specifics. Quilts and sheets should be washed in hot water and then placed in a hot drier. You can dry clean those items that can not be washed. Heat is what will kill the live bed bugs. A professional exterminator will know what is safe and how to do the best job to get rid of these pests.
About Author:
Getting rid of bed bugs can seem like an impossible task - but it's not! learn how to kill bed bugs, discover the best bed bug spray, and more at http://www.killbedbugs101.com