5 Fun Facts About Bed Bugs

Bed bugs were largely eradicated throughout the developed world during the twentieth century. However, they began to develop resistances to the pesticides used, and this led to the number of infestations growing over the past 25-30 years. Given their increasing presence, it’s a good idea to get to know more about bed bugs.

1. Bed bugs are picky eaters

Bed bugs are members of the insect family Cimicidae, and each type of cimicid prefers a specific type of host. Cimex lectularius, otherwise known as the common bed bug, feeds primarily on human blood. They also prefer to return to the same place and the same host to feed, which is why their nest is usually somewhere close to where they are feeding.

2. Bed bugs are great at travelling

When people discover bed bugs in their home, they may wonder how the pests got there. In many cases, the answer is that they simply hitched a ride. Bed bugs can hide in luggage, a piece of furniture, and even in your clothes. Once they get inside, they can quickly find somewhere to hide and make themselves at home.

3. Bed bugs are great at hiding

If they’re hungry enough, bed bugs may venture out during the day to search for a meal. However, they prefer to come out at night when it’s easier to go unnoticed. Once they’re done feeding, they return to their hiding place where they stay until their next meal. This makes them particularly difficult to detect, which is why it requires someone with special training to discover their nest.

4. Where there’s one, there’s likely more

Bed bugs can live alone, but they usually live in a communal nest. If you find one, there’s probably a nest nearby with more. This is also where they mate, and a female bed bug can lay as many as five eggs a day. Their numbers can grow quickly, so finding them as soon as possible is even more important.

5. Bug-sniffing dogs

Dogs are known for their powerful sense of smell, and they are now being used to sniff out bed bugs. This is useful because bed bugs are so good at hiding. They can be anywhere from under a mattress to in the furniture and even in a wall socket. Fortunately, bed bugs have a distinct scent, which makes bug-sniffing dogs especially effective.

Beds bugs are not know to transmit diseases, but they can cause rashes, blisters, and allergic reactions. They can also reproduce quickly, so the problem will only get worse once they settle in. To put an end to an infestation or to prevent one from happening in the first place, the best option is to contact Eden Advanced Pest Technologies for help.