March 31st, 2010 by Shaun Day

Bed Bugs Until recent years, the common bed bug, or Cimex lectularius, was only known from nursery rhymes in most parts of Western society as they had been nearly eradicated in North America and most of Europe. However, the elusive and parasitic insects have been increasing in numbers in many parts of the civilized world so quickly in recent years that some experts believe major cities may be on the verge of facing an epidemic of bed bug infestations. In order to understand the scope of this problem, let's take a look at the life-cycle of bed bugs and the causes of this recent resurgence in the West, as well as the most effective treatments for bed bug infestations. Bed Bug Biology While there is a popular misconception that bed bugs cannot be seen with the naked eye, an adult bed bug is approximately 4.5 mm long and can be readily seen with anyone with healthy vision. Adult bed bugs are flat wingless insects with a large oval abdomen and very small thorax. A network of fine hairs running perpendicular along the bed bug's abdomen gives this insect a ridged appearance. A bed bug's colour varies based on how recently it has fed. A well fed bed bug will have a mahogany appearance, while a bed bug that has not fed recently will look rusty orange. Bed bugs have fairly pronounced antennae and move relatively slowly compared to other household insects. Bed Bug Life-Cycle Once a male and female bed bug have mated, the female lays between 250 to 500 eggs in discreet groups of 10 to 50 eggs each. The female then secrets a type of adhesive glue over the eggs and leaves them to develop. After approximately 10 days, young nymph bed bugs emerge. Nymph bed bugs must go through five individual stages before reaching adulthood, each of which requires the nymph to have a full meal of blood. After a blood meal, the nymph molts into the next stage until it reaches maturity. Depending on the availability of food, this process can take from one to five months. The average lifespan of an adult bed bug is between twelve to eighteen months, and a healthy nest of bed bugs can easily create three generations of young per year. Bed Bug Feeding Practices Bed bugs feed exclusively on the blood of mammals and have adapted to live parasitically within human habitats. They typically emerge to feed during the early morning hours of between 2-5 am, but bed bugs can feed nearly anytime of the day or night. Bed bugs are able to feed off of sleeping humans without waking their host by injecting a small dose of natural anaesthetic that renders their prey unable to sense the bug bite until the bed bug has finished feeding. Although bed bugs feed heavily when prey is present, they do not need to eat regularly in order to survive. Immature bed bugs can live for a number of months without food, while adult bed bugs can survive for over a year between meals. Bed Bug Nesting Locations Bed bugs choose a wide variety of nesting locations that are often difficult for home owners to locate. Frequently, bed bugs will start off by making nests in the floor boards and under carpets, especially where the floor meets the wall in a bedroom. If left undetected, they may migrate to the upholstery of furniture and mattresses to make sizable nests there. However, bed bugs only need a very small amount of space to hide they eggs and rest during the day, and even a tiny hole in a wall or crevice in the frame of a piece of furniture is adequate for a few bed bugs to survive. Bed bug nests can be identified by the presence husks of molted nymphs, rust coloured residue, bed bug eggs and, if the nest is sizable, a very foul odour. Bed Bug Distribution and the Sudden Resurgence of Bed Bugs While bed bugs can be found in some quantity in nearly any urban area, the distribution of these parasites was largely limited to Central Asia and Eastern Europe until quite recently. Although bed bugs were a common problem through most of the history of the United States and modern Europe, they were thought to have been completely eradicated by the middle of the 20th century thanks to modern hygiene and the use of some very effective pesticides. Unfortunately, bed bugs gradually became resistant to these pesticides to the point that home infestations began appearing on an exponential scale starting in the late 1990s. Today, bed bugs have become a problem that people of an every lifestyle and social class are struggling with, particular in major centres of commerce like New York City. Bed Bug Bites and Health Concerns The typical bed bug bite results in an allergic reaction that appears as a red welt fairly similar to that of a mosquito bite. The classic formation of bed bug bites on a person's body comes in a line of three separate bites that exterminators often refer to as "breakfast, lunch and dinner." An individual's reaction to a bed bug bite can vary from a barely perceptible bump to severe itching and weeping welts. However, the emotional and mental toll of living with bed bugs is considerably more disrupting in most cases than the bed bug bites themselves. Many residents become overwhelmingly preoccupied with the presence of bed bugs in their home and become fixated on constantly checking their body or belongings for the presence of the insects. The most common psychological repercussions of a bed bug infestation are insomnia, stress and compulsive behaviours, all of which stem from a victim's general anxiety regarding the pests. Avoiding Bed Bug Infestations There are a few easy things that every person can do to avoid a bed bug infestation. First and foremost, good housekeeping is crucial. Regular vacuuming and keeping piles of linens or clothing off the floor will keep bed bugs from moving in undetected. If a resident observes the signs of a bed bug infestation, it is important to begin treating the infestation immediately. However, the most common cause of bed bug infestations in most buildings is second hand furniture or rugs that were not been well inspected before they were brought into a home. Regardless of whether a resident finds a piece of used furniture in an alley or an antique store, it is important to closely examine a piece of second hand furniture for signs of a bed bug nest. Treating Bed Bug Infestations Few people realise just how frustrating a bed bug infestation is until they have dealt with these insects first hand. There are some cheap and simple techniques to help with an infestation along with many specialised products available to buy. An easy method is to wrap tape which is folded lengthways around the feet of an infected bed to trap the bugs that are attempting to climb up the bed legs. This is known as the barrier strategy and is useful once the bed has been fully cleansed. Products to exterminate bed bugs can be highly effective and exist in a variety of forms. There are insecticide sprays which are applied to infected areas and commonly have residual properties for up to a month. There are also dusting powders which are used is areas where using liquid would not be practical as well as insecticide fumers which create a fog that can eliminate bed bugs from an entire room. Bed bug resistant mattress protectors are popular products to accompany insecticides as they immediately protect from bed bug entry, exit and bites. Professionals are sometimes brought in and use similar products to those intended for amateur use. Alongside the use of products are some basic codes of practice when tackling a bed bug infestation. In most cases, all dressers and closets in the infected rooms must be emptied with drawers set aside so that every crevice can be treated. All linens and clothing will have to be washed with hot water and stored in plastic bags until the treatment is complete, and severe infestations may require the disposal of rugs and certain items of furniture. Preventing Re-Infestations While it can be a great relief to finally have a bed bug infestation completely exterminated, it is necessary to exercise some general precaution in order to avoid another outbreak. Many people choose to wash all of their linens and clothing at a hot temperature for a second time just to be sure that there are no remaining eggs or insects in their belongings before they are returned to their closets and drawers. In the weeks and months to come, regular inspection of upholstery, bedding and flooring for the telltale signs of a bed bug nest are a very useful was to prevent a re-infestation, but keeping a clean and tidy home is the number one way to keep a home completely bed bug free.