Bed bugs are parasitic generally nocturnal insects that live by sucking blood from warm blooded animals like humans, rodents, birds, and bats. In order to do so, they inhabit the nests and homes of their hosts. The most common species that infest human homes is known as Cimex lectularius. It can be found in all five continents of the world. There are also several other species of bed bugs.
In less developed parts of the world, crowded conditions as well as birds and bats living near homes, can increase the incidence and severity of bed bug infestations. Primitive sanitation does have some indirect connection with the severity of the infestations. However it must be borne in mind that bed bugs feed on blood and not dirt, and that any connection between cleanliness and bed bug infestations is only indirect.
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There was a significant lowering of bed bug infestations after DDT was introduced as an insecticide, mainly for controlling mosquitoes, throughout the world during the middle of the last century. In the developed world, bed bug infestations became quite rare in the latter quarter of that century. However recently there has been a revival in bed bug infestations in the developed world.
This may be due to the effect of globalization and the huge increase in number of people who have started to travel. It is conjectured that now bed bugs spread mainly through the medium of infested hotels and other places of accommodation. Bed bugs can be carried home by travelers in their luggage as stowaways. They are also likely to spread to other hotels through the same method.
Another common method of infestation is exchange of clothes and furniture, some of which may have been infested. Apartment buildings and condominiums can be affected as a whole due to spreading of bed bugs through it, once one housing unit has been infested. Bugs travel through holes and crevices in the walls and through the medium of common areas in such buildings.
It is difficult to detect the infestation for some time because of the way the bed bug operates. It usually attacks the host only at night while the host is sleeping. Its bite is not painful due to the saliva being injected to the host while sucking blood. Bite marks only appear after the body becomes sensitized after repeated attacks. Even then, they are difficult to distinguish from other insect bites. Due to these reasons it is quite possible to end up with a severe case of infestation without being aware of it. However it must be borne in mind that bed bugs are not considered a disease carrier.
Once detected, prompt and comprehensive actions by the householder will totally eliminate the bed bugs. These actions are multifaceted and include thorough cleaning, laundering or heating, of infested garments and furniture, as well as application of insecticides to kill the bed bugs directly. There are also several other methods that can be used to control the infestation till a more comprehensive elimination program can be embarked on.
So while spread and infestation cannot be completely prevented, highly effective treatment methods are available to eliminate bed bugs completely from the home.
How Do You Get Bed Bugs And Tips On How To Get Rid Of Them
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