Bed Bug Habitat, Diet, and BehaviorBed bugs are parasitic insects that live near their hosts. Since they feed on humans (their hosts) their habitats include houses, hotels, or any property that we frequent. All they require is a protected area in close proximity to a feeding source. Bed bugs bite people when they are sleeping usually on exposed skin.
They prefer to hide in dark, secluded, and narrow spaces where they can avoid light and disturbance. They can be found in cracks and crevices of walls, floors, furniture, mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, nightstands, dressers, sofas, chairs, curtains, carpets, luggage, backpacks, clothing, and any other object that provides shelter. They can also travel through pipes, electrical wires, and ventilation systems to spread from one room to another or from one building to another.
Can survive in a wide range of temperatures and humidity levels, but they are most active and reproduce faster in warm and humid conditions. They can also withstand cold temperatures and go into a dormant state for several months without feeding. However, they cannot survive extreme heat above 113 F or below -13 F.
They feed exclusively on blood, preferably human blood. They are attracted to the warmth, carbon dioxide, and other chemicals emitted by their hosts. They usually feed at night when their hosts are asleep, but they can also feed during the day if they are hungry or disturbed.
Bed bugs do not burrow under the skin to feed, but use piercing, sucking mouthparts to gain access to blood. When they feed, they inject their saliva into the skin, causing allergic reactions and skin irritation, much like mosquitoes. However, their bites are often not felt at the time.
They can feed for about 3 to 10 minutes per meal and consume up to three times their body weight in blood. They can also survive for several months without feeding depending on the temperature and their life stage. Adult bed bugs can live for up to a year without feeding, while nymphs can live for up to three months.
Bed bugs are nocturnal insects that are mostly active at night. They tend to stay close to their feeding sites and hide during the day. However, they can also adapt to the sleeping patterns of their hosts and feed whenever they have the opportunity.
They are social insects that communicate with each other using chemical signals called pheromones. They use pheromones to mark their territory, attract mates, and aggregate in groups. They also use pheromones to detect the presence of other bed bugs and avoid areas that are already infested or treated with pesticides.
Can reproduce by a process called traumatic insemination, where the male pierces the females abdomen with his genitalia and injects his sperm into her body cavity. This causes damage and infection to the females reproductive organs and reduces her lifespan. Females can lay up to five eggs per day and about 500 eggs in their lifetime. The eggs are white and oval shaped (approximately 1/16 of an inch long) and are usually laid in bed bug hiding places such as cracks and crevices.
Bed bugs undergo incomplete metamorphosis, where the immature form or nymph resembles the adult, only smaller and not sexually mature. Nymphs undergo five stages of development called instars, growing larger with each molt. One blood meal is required between instars and it can take about 3 to 10 minutes. Nymphs range in size from 1/16 (first instar) to 1/6 of an inch long (fifth instar) and they are yellowish-white in color.
How Do I Prevent an Infestation?Preventing bed bug infestation is easier than getting rid of them once they are established. There are some steps that you can take to reduce the risk of bringing bed bugs into your home or spreading them to other places. Here are some tips to prevent bed bug infestation :
Be careful about what you bring into your house or buy. Avoid buying or accepting used furniture, mattresses, box springs, or bedding unless you inspect them carefully for bed bugs or signs of infestation. You can use a flashlight and a magnifying glass to look for live or dead bed bugs, eggs, shed skins, fecal spots, or blood stains. You can also use sticky traps or interceptors to catch them. If you find any evidence of bed bugs, do not bring the item into your home or dispose of it properly.
Check your home regularly for bedbugs. Bed bugs can be introduced into your home by visitors, pets, or your own travels. You should check your home for bed bugs at least once a month, especially if you have recently traveled or hosted guests. You should also check your home after any pest control treatment to monitor the results and detect any signs of re-infestation.
Checking a bed for bedbugs. The most common place where bed bugs hide is in and around the bed. You should inspect your mattress, box spring, bed frame, headboard, footboard, and any other furniture near the bed for bed bugs or signs of infestation. You should also check the bedding, pillows, blankets, sheets, and comforters for blood stains or dark spots. You can use a credit card or a knife to scrape along the seams and edges of the mattress and the box spring to dislodge any hidden bed bugs. You can also lift up the mattress and the box spring and look underneath them for bed bugs or signs of infestation.
Checking furniture for bedbugs. Bed bugs can also hide in other furniture items such as sofas, chairs, recliners, ottomans, tables, dressers, nightstands, bookcases, cabinets, closets, and drawers. You should inspect these items for bed bugs or signs of infestation as well. You should look for live or dead bed bugs, eggs, shed skins, fecal spots, or blood stains in the cracks and crevices of the furniture. You should also check the upholstery, cushions, seams, zippers, buttons, tufts, and folds of the furniture for bed bugs or signs of infestation.
How Do I Get Rid of Them ?If you confirm that you have a bed bug infestation in your home, you should act quickly to get rid of them before they spread further. The best way to get rid of bed bugs is to hire a professional pest control operator who can treat your home with appropriate methods. Bed bugs are very hard to get rid of by yourself because they are resistant to some pesticides and can survive for several months without feeding. They can also hide in many places that are difficult to reach or treat.
However, there are some steps that you can take to prepare your home for treatment and help the pest control operator eliminate the bed bugs more effectively. Here are some tips to get rid of bed bugs:
Find a professional pest control operator who has experience with bed bug control. You should ask them about their methods, costs, guarantees, and references before hiring them. You should also follow their instructions carefully and cooperate with them throughout the treatment process.
Prepare your home for treatment by washing and drying your clothes and bedding at high temperatures (at least 120 F) and sealing them in plastic bags until the treatment is over. You should also vacuum and steam clean your furniture and carpets and dispose of the vacuum contents in a sealed plastic bag outside your home. You should also seal and dispose of any infested items that cannot be treated such as books, papers, magazines, stuffed animals, etc.
Move your furniture away from the walls and remove any clutter that could provide hiding places for bed bugs. You should also remove any items that could interfere with the treatment such as paintings, mirrors, curtains, etc.
Use physical control methods such as heat treatment (above 113 F), cold treatment (below -13 F), or steam treatment (above 160 F) to kill bed bugs and their eggs in certain items such as mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, footboards, sofas, chairs, recliners, ottomans, tables, dressers, nightstands, bookcases, cabinets, closets, and drawers. You can use portable heaters, fans, air conditioners, or steam cleaners to apply these methods. However, you should be careful not to damage your items or cause fire hazards. You should also monitor the temperature and duration of the treatment and follow the manufacturers instructions carefully.
Use pesticides and pest control products that are registered and labeled for bed bug control. You should read and follow the label directions carefully and wear protective clothing and equipment when applying them. You should also avoid using foggers, bombs, or aerosols that are not effective against bed bugs and can cause health and safety risks. You should also avoid using products that are not intended for bed bug control such as bleach, alcohol, kerosene, etc.
Do not use ozone generators to kill bed bugs. Ozone generators are devices that produce ozone gas that can kill bed bugs and their eggs. However, ozone gas can also be harmful to humans, animals, and plants. Ozone gas can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation, headaches, nausea, and other health effects. Ozone gas can also damage rubber, plastic, metal, and other materials. Ozone generators are not recommended for bed bug control by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How Do I Make Sure They Dont Come Back ?After the pest control treatment is over, you should monitor the results and follow up with additional treatments if needed. Bed bugs can be resistant to some pesticides and can survive for several months without feeding, so it may take more than one treatment to eliminate them completely. You should also check for bed bugs regularly and report any signs of re-infestation to the pest control operator.
To prevent bed bugs from coming back, you should continue to follow the prevention tips that I have mentioned earlier. You should also use mattress covers or encasements that are designed to prevent bed bugs from entering or escaping your mattress. You should check them regularly for tears or holes. You should also reduce clutter in your home that could provide hiding places for bed bugs. You should store items in sealed plastic bags or containers. You should vacuum your floors, carpets, furniture, and mattresses regularly and dispose of the vacuum contents in a sealed plastic bag outside your home.
How Do I Avoid Them When Traveling ?Traveling can increase the risk of encountering bed bugs or bringing them into your home. Bed bugs can be found in hotels, motels, hostels, dormitories, apartments, houses, trains, buses, planes, cars, or any other place where people sleep or rest . Here are some tips to avoid bed bugs when traveling :
Inspect your hotel room for bed bugs before unpacking your luggage. Use a flashlight and a magnifying glass to look for live or dead bed bugs, eggs, shed skins, fecal spots, or blood stains in the cracks and crevices of the walls, floors, furniture, mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, footboards, nightstands, dressers, sofas, chairs, curtains, carpets, etc. You can also use sticky traps or interceptors to catch them.
Use luggage racks or place your bags on hard surfaces away from the bed. Do not store your clothes in dressers or closets. Keep your luggage closed and zipped when not in use.
When you return home, inspect your luggage and wash and dry your clothes at high temperatures (at least 120 F). You can also place your luggage in a large plastic bag and seal it tightly until you can treat it with heat or cold methods.
If you find any evidence of bed bugs in your hotel room or in your luggage, report it to the hotel staff or management immediately. You can also contact the local health department or consumer protection agency to file a complaint.
Commonly Asked Questions About BedbugsHere are some commonly asked questions about bed bugs that you may have :
Are bed bugs dangerous? Bed bugs are not known to transmit any diseases to humans or animals. However, their bites can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation that can lead to secondary infections if scratched. Some people may also experience psychological distress such as anxiety, insomnia, stress, or depression due to bed bug infestation.
How do I know if I have been bitten by bed bugs? Bed bug bites are small, red, itchy bumps that often occur in a line or a cluster on the skin. They can be confused with other insect bites or skin conditions such as mosquito bites, flea bites, lice bites, scabies, hives, eczema, etc. The only way to confirm that you have been bitten by bed bugs is to find them or their signs in your sleeping area or other possible hiding places.
When to call an bed bug exterminator ?The best is to call us as soon as possible. We service the Greater Toronto Area, call us now 647 849 4441
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