Bedbugs are small, parasitic insects that have existed for thousands of years. These bugs feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, but humans are their preferred hosts. Bedbugs don’t usually spread disease to humans, but some can develop an allergic reaction when bitten. Let’s look at what bedbugs look like, how to treat bedbug bites and straightforward steps to avoid bringing bedbugs home with you.
Identifying bedbugs
The scientific name of bedbugs is Cimex lectularius. They share close genetic ties with bat bugs and pirate bugs. Originally believed to have origins in Europe, the Middle East, or India, bedbugs have, over time, spread across the globe in parallel with human migrations, as the Center for Invasive Species Research noted.
Characteristically small, flat, and wingless, these wingless insects can range from red to light brown. They measure approximately one-quarter inch long before feeding (roughly the size and shape of a tiny apple seed).
Bedbugs remain in hiding during the day on beds (bed frames, headboards, mattress seams, box springs). They also choose cracks and crevices on floors, furniture, and walls as their hiding places. They creep out at night. Bedbugs don’t fly or jump but are rapid crawlers.
What are bedbugs attracted to?
Humans attract bedbugs with a combination of warmth, carbon dioxide, and body odours. They are drawn to the heat we emit, which signals a warm-blooded host is nearby. The air we breathe out is a major attractant, guiding bed bugs to their sleeping prey. Plus, specific chemicals and pheromones from our skin, like lactic acid, also lure bed bugs.
These factors allow bed bugs to find their hosts in the dark, making them perfect nocturnal feeders. That’s why bedbugs tend to infest sleeping areas, like beds and mattresses, where they can quickly get to a blood meal.
How quickly do bedbugs multiply?
Bedbugs can spread and multiply so fast that it’s like they have a sixth sense, turning what seems like a small problem into a full-blown infestation before you know it. They aren’t picky about cleanliness; they’ll thrive anywhere they can get to their favourite food: human blood.
Bed bugs can lay eggs and multiply at an alarming rate, laying 1-12 eggs a day and 200-500 in a lifetime, so it doesn’t take long for a problem to get out of hand.
How to tell if bedbugs are in your clothes
Physical signs of a potential bedbug infestation include:
- Blood Spots: Small blood stains on bedding are an obvious sign of bedbugs. These stains may result from bedbug bites or inadvertently crushing the bugs during sleep.
- Tiny Brown Specks: Discovering minuscule, dark brown spots resembling grains of sand. These marks could be bed bug excrement.
- You might find bedbugs hiding places like the furniture cupboard. Bedbugs can be dark yellow, red, or brown. Adults are around 5mm long and look a bit like apple seeds.
What do bedbug bites look like?
Before bedbugs feed, they excrete an anaesthetic. People sleep through being bitten by bed bugs because you don’t always feel it when they bite you. A few days can go by before visible symptoms develop.
Statistics by Pest Control Technology state that approximately 30 to 60% of people are asymptomatic of a bedbug bite. The remaining 40 per cent experience the following:
- Most bites appear with a dark spot at the center of each bite, with the area usually red and swollen. The most obvious sign that it is a bed bug bite is if it appears in lines or clusters, with multiple bites grouped.
- Often in places like your arms or face – exposed areas at night where bed bugs are active
- They can look like fluid-filled blisters
- The area might be itchy, or you might experience a burning sensation
- On darker skin tones, they can appear purple / less noticeable
Bed bug, mosquito or flea bites?
Bed bug bites, flea bites and mosquito bites are all insect bites that cause itchy red welts, but they have different characteristics.
Bites from bedbugs show up in clusters or lines on exposed skin like the face, neck, arms and hands and can take a few days to develop. Flea bites are on the lower legs and ankles, and small red, itchy bumps have red rings around them. Mosquito bites are usually solitary, raised and itchy and can be anywhere on the body, often immediately after the bite.
Knowing these differences will help you identify the bad guy and what to do.
Bed bug bites vs Chigger bites
Chigger bites and bed bug bites can both be itchy and uncomfortable, but they are different in appearance and behaviour. Bed bug bites appear in clusters or lines on exposed skin like the face, neck, arms and hands. These bites take a few days to develop and are red, raised and itchy. Bed bugs feed at night, and the bites are painless at first but become itchy later.
Larvae of mites cause chigger bites. These bites are found where clothing fits tightly against the skin, like around the waist, ankles or behind the knees. Chigger bites are intensely itchy, red bump,s often with a central blister or abscess. The itching starts a few hours after the bite, and chiggers are usually not noticed until the itching starts. Unlike bed bugs, chiggers don’t stay on the host after feeding.
Understanding these differences can help identify the type of pest responsible and choose the appropriate treatment and preventive measures.
🚫 If you have a bug bite, remember never to scratch! Scratching bug bites can lead to bleeding or the area becoming infected 🚫
Treating bedbug bites
Ann’s Top Tips
If you have bedbug bites, here are a few tips to provide immediate relief/care. You need to get rid of the cause – the actual bugs or more bites will keep coming!
- Apply a cool, clean, damp cloth to the affected area to relieve itching and reduce swelling.
- Maintain proper hygiene by keeping the affected skin area clean.
- Refrain from scratching the bites to prevent potential infections.
You can consult with a pharmacist for the following options:
1. Mild Steroid Cream: You may use a mild steroid cream like hydrocortisone to alleviate discomfort from bedbug bites. However, it’s important to note that children under 10 and pregnant women should seek advice from a doctor before using hydrocortisone cream.
2. Antihistamines: If the bedbug bites are highly itchy and cause sleep disturbances, antihistamines recommended by the pharmacist will help alleviate these symptoms.
These are best used short-term, a maximum of 2 weeks, and then seen by a doctor in case further treatment is needed.
How long does it take for bedbug bites to heal?
Bites from bedbugs typically resolve naturally within about a week. But if you have repeated instances, meaning you keep finding yourself with new clusters of bedbug bites, then there is probably an infestation that you’ll want to get rid of urgently.
How to get rid of a bed bug infestation
It would be best if you got specialist advice. The chemicals can be dangerous and strong! You may need a combination of treatments. You get respiratory and skin irritation if you use them without proper advice!
Permethrin spray is a common insecticide used by pest control companies to treat bed bug infestations. When used correctly, it kills bedbugs on contact and provides residual protection, killing bedbugs that come into contact with treated surfaces for a period of time. This treatment is good for mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and other furniture.
One issue with permethrin is that bed bugs can develop resistance. Over time, bed bug populations can become less sensitive to permethrin and other similar insecticides. To combat resistance, it is often recommended to use permethrin as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, combining chemical treatments with non-chemical methods such as heat treatments, vacuuming, and encasing mattresses.
Bed bugs have developed a high resistance to harsh chemicals. Over time, these critters have grown resilient to most insecticides. They have also learnt how to avoid being sprayed with such chemicals. Mostly, they just hide until the insecticide dries up and is rendered ineffective. At times, they move on to nearby spaces to avoid insecticides, ending up in adjacent rooms or apartments.
Bed bugs can be hard to get rid of, which is why calling a specialist Pest Control Service is the best action. Let the specialists deal with the bedbugs for good.
Contact your local council or pest control service if you suspect an infestation.
How to combat bedbug infestations at home
Some practical dos and don’ts to effectively manage bed bugs:
Do:
- Launder any affected bedding and clothing in a hot wash at 60°C and tumble dry them in a hot setting for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Place all affected clothing and bedding inside plastic bags. Then, store it in the freezer for 3 to 4 days.
- Maintain a consistent cleaning regimen and regular vacuuming. Bedbugs can be found in clean and dirty environments, but routine cleaning aids in early detection.
Don’t:
- Avoid clutter accumulation around your bed, as it can provide hiding spots for bedbugs.
- Exercise caution when introducing secondhand furniture indoors, and conduct a thorough inspection to prevent potential infestations.
- When returning from an area with bedbugs, scrutinize your luggage and clothing before bringing them indoors.
How to avoid bedbugs
Ultimately, it’s easier to prevent bed bugs from entering your home than trying to get rid of them from your home. Try taking these simple steps to avoid bringing bedbugs home with you.
Avoiding bedbugs when travelling
- Exercise more careful hotel selection based on past experiences.
- Inspect new lodgings for signs of bed bugs before settling in.
- Keep your luggage sealed and elevated off the floor to minimize the risk of exposure to bed bugs.
- Place any soiled clothing directly into a separate plastic bag to prevent contamination.
Avoiding bedbugs at home
Heat
Getting rid of bed bugs naturally involves cleaning, heat treatment, and prevention. One of the best natural ways is heat. Bed bugs hate heat. Washing all bedding, clothing, and other fabrics in the infested area in hot water (at least 120°F or 49°C) and then drying on the highest heat setting will kill all life stages of bed bugs.
Steam cleaning is the best option for items that can’t be washed. Steam can reach cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide and kill them.
Vacuuming
In addition to heat treatment, thorough cleaning and vacuuming is vital to natural bed bug control. Regularly vacuuming carpets, floors, bed frames, furniture, and mattresses can help remove bed bugs and their eggs.
After vacuuming, seal and throw away the vacuum bag outside to prevent re-infestation. Decluttering the home, especially around sleeping areas, reduces the number of hiding places for bed bugs, making detection and treatment easier.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth, a natural powder from fossilized aquatic organisms, can also be used as a non-toxic bed bug treatment. Sprinkle a thin layer of diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of the room, in cracks and crevices, and on mattresses to kill bed bugs by dehydrating them. Make sure to use food-grade diatomaceous earth and handle it carefully to avoid inhaling it.
Essential oils
This is not recommended, but some people try to use oils with insecticidal properties, such as tea tree oil, lavender oil, or eucalyptus oil. These oils are not as effective as professional treatments but can be used as part of a multi-faceted approach. Infestations may still need professional pest control services for total eradication.
The Jacksons’ bedbug infestation
Mike, Sarah Jackson, and their two kids just moved into a new apartment. They were so excited to be in their new home, but soon, they ran into a problem when the whole family woke up with itchy red bumps on their arms, legs and torsos.
Initial Response
Sarah was the first to notice the bites; they looked like small clusters or lines. The kids were so itchy they couldn’t focus at school. Mike thought maybe mosquitoes but found none in the apartment. The couple noticed that the bites lasted several days and that new ones would appear every morning. Worried that the problem was not going away on its own, Mike and Sarah paid me a visit, bringing the kids and photos of the bites along with them.
Professional Intervention
Mike and Sarah described their experience and showed me photographs of the bites. I was also able to see a few bites on the kids that hadn’t yet healed. After seeing the bites, I felt fairly certain that the couple was dealing with bed bugs. I advised them to check around the house for any signs of bed bugs and to call a pest control company if they do.
The Jacksons checked their home’s mattresses and bed frames and found small rust-colored spots and tiny live bugs hiding in the crevices. They called a pest control company, and a technician came to inspect their apartment. The technician confirmed bed bugs in several areas, including the bedrooms and living room. The technician outlines the treatment plan to get rid of the bed bugs:
- Preparation:
- Decluttering: The family is told to remove all unnecessary items from the bedrooms to reduce hiding spots for bed bugs.
- Laundry: To kill bed bugs and eggs, all bedding, clothing, and soft toys should be washed in hot water and dried on high heat.
- Chemical Treatment:
- The technician applies insecticides to the infested areas, focusing on bed frames, mattresses, baseboards and other hiding spots.
- Follow-up treatments are scheduled to eliminate any remaining bed bugs and newly hatched eggs.
- Encasements and Monitors:
- The family is told to use bedbug-proof mattresses and pillow encasements to prevent future infestations.
- Bed bug monitors are placed under the bed legs to detect any remaining activity and to give them peace of mind.
Follow-Up and Outcome
The Jacksons followed the technician’s instructions. They stayed at a friend’s house during the process with their kids. A few weeks later, they noticed a big decrease in bites and visible signs of bed bugs. The follow-up treatments made sure the infestation was totally gone. The pest control company provides ongoing support and monitoring to prevent future infestations.
Summary
Bedbugs are resilient pests attracted to carbon dioxide and warmth. Their bites may lead to discomfort or allergic reactions. For effective treatment, I recommend professional pest control. Bedbugs are resistant to certain chemicals, and strong sprays can create serious reactions, like breathing problems.
Prevention is vital. Choose hotels carefully, manage luggage well, and maintain cleanliness to avoid infestations.
As a social message, stay informed, seek professional help for infestations, and refrain from self-treatment. Proactively, we can create bedbug-free, comfortable living spaces.
Want to learn more? Watch my video down below:
References
- Center for Invasive Species Research (CISR). Bed Bugs, Cimex lectularius, Cimex hemipterus and Leptocimex boueti (Heteroptera: Cimicidae). Available here.
- Choosing an insecticide for bedbugs. Available here.
- Ralph, N and Jones, H. Does sugar consumption attract bedbugs and/or increase bedbug fertility? International Journal of Entomological Research. Available here.
- New York State Department of Health. Bed Bugs – What They Are and How to Control Them. Available here.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article and the attached video is for educational purposes only, and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always get advice from your doctor if you are worried or have symptoms.
