Bed bugs are small wingless insects that feed off of blood, specifically that of warm-blooded animals. They have evolved to move out of the nests of birds and rodents to the human world, infesting our beds and furniture. Currently, the pest control company Terminix has rated New York the number one bed bug city, according to WABC, a CNN affiliate.
Bed Bug bites on a woman's back
Medicinenet.com writes that the rise in bed bugs in the last several years is likely due to the cessation of widespread pesticide spraying and increased travel to the US from underdeveloped countries. Their bites look similar to mosquito bites and they itch badly. Commonly bites are found on the face, neck, hands or arms.
Signs of bed bugs include reddish brown spots of fecal staining on bedding, mattress, or even the walls by the bed. The body of the bug is flat, oval, and about 1/4 inch long. Check for them at night, as they commonly wait until nighttime to crawl out to eat. According to The Doctors, bed bugs like to hide so they'll be in the creases of the sheets, the seams, or even the pleats of the curtains. Check these areas, especially when traveling. They advise that if you are worried about bed bugs having made their way into your suitcase while traveling, when you get home, leave your suitcases and other travel gear in the car with the windows rolled up and let it sit in the sun for a day. It will likely get very hot in your car and if it gets up over 120 degrees, the bugs will die. If not, place the clothes directly into the washer and wash them at the highest temperature that the fabric can withstand in order to kill the bugs.
If your home does become infested, don't feel bad. They can easily live in very clean areas and you could have picked them up at a friends house, hotel or even at work. You can treat the bedding and carpets by vacuum carefully, making sure to toss the vacuum bags far away from your home. Your best bet though is to hire a pest control service to come out and spray the home regularly to kill the current infestation and prevent future problems. There are eco-friendly pesticide options so check with the company if that's a concern.
