Bed Bugs at a Glance
Bed bugs are old and new again, but still a mystery.
It is true that this tiny parasite visible to the naked eye is on a worldwide upswing for reasons that continue to baffle experts.
They were problematic for hundreds of years all over the planet in both urban and rural settings.
In the early twentieth century, they reached their last peak.
By 1960, they were almost wiped out, probably through the prolific use worldwide of pesticides.
There is a great deal more we do not understand about these parasites than what we do know.
The Center for Disease Control and Environmental Protection Agency recently issued advice about how to cope with the epidemic but lacked any definitive treatment or prevention.
It was more an acknowledgment of how little we know.
Although bedbugs can cause an intensely itchy rash of fine bumps, you do not typically feel the bite.
It usually happens during sleep.
They are one of those creepy sounding parasites that feed on human blood like lice or ticks.
However, they carry no known diseases.
Researchers around the world have looked at this only to find that bed bugs do not and cannot be induced to transmit any dreaded illness or disease.
This conversation alone may induce some itching.
Yet, it remains a mystery why they virtually disappeared and are now enjoying resurgence.
Most of the chemicals that do kill them are very toxic or have been banned outright like DDT.
So coping with them is challenging.
They are visible to the naked eye as a flat red insect only a few millimeters in length.
They are most likely found in bedding or old clothes as they typically feed on humans or animals during sleep.
They molt so you may discover their shed exoskeleton or the live bug.
They can live for a month or more without feeding on the host.
They hide in cracks or crevices during they day so it can be tough to find them.
They usually are found within a few feet of the sleeping area but can travel on their own up to 100 feet.
Typically, they hitch a ride on a person or object like clothing or luggage.
Exterminating them should be limited to vacuuming, possible heat treatment by washing and drying at high heat if it is something washable.
Some have recommended direct heat of mattresses.
The effectiveness remains unclear and has potential to start a fire.
Other objects can be tightly sealed in large plastic bags 1-2 months to let the natural life cycle die off.
Use of any chemicals is questionably effective as the ones that do work are not available for good reason.
If you travel inspect the sleeping area and bedding closely upon arrival.
It is your best and only chance to avoid some obvious problems.
Given the difficulty of discovering them, there is only so much you can do for prevention.
If you do have an infestation, options remain limited.
Doing the common sense things and understanding the problem in perspective may help your peace of mind.
Dangerous? No.
Inconvenient and frustrating? Yes! As they used to say, "Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite!"
It is true that this tiny parasite visible to the naked eye is on a worldwide upswing for reasons that continue to baffle experts.
They were problematic for hundreds of years all over the planet in both urban and rural settings.
In the early twentieth century, they reached their last peak.
By 1960, they were almost wiped out, probably through the prolific use worldwide of pesticides.
There is a great deal more we do not understand about these parasites than what we do know.
The Center for Disease Control and Environmental Protection Agency recently issued advice about how to cope with the epidemic but lacked any definitive treatment or prevention.
It was more an acknowledgment of how little we know.
Although bedbugs can cause an intensely itchy rash of fine bumps, you do not typically feel the bite.
It usually happens during sleep.
They are one of those creepy sounding parasites that feed on human blood like lice or ticks.
However, they carry no known diseases.
Researchers around the world have looked at this only to find that bed bugs do not and cannot be induced to transmit any dreaded illness or disease.
This conversation alone may induce some itching.
Yet, it remains a mystery why they virtually disappeared and are now enjoying resurgence.
Most of the chemicals that do kill them are very toxic or have been banned outright like DDT.
So coping with them is challenging.
They are visible to the naked eye as a flat red insect only a few millimeters in length.
They are most likely found in bedding or old clothes as they typically feed on humans or animals during sleep.
They molt so you may discover their shed exoskeleton or the live bug.
They can live for a month or more without feeding on the host.
They hide in cracks or crevices during they day so it can be tough to find them.
They usually are found within a few feet of the sleeping area but can travel on their own up to 100 feet.
Typically, they hitch a ride on a person or object like clothing or luggage.
Exterminating them should be limited to vacuuming, possible heat treatment by washing and drying at high heat if it is something washable.
Some have recommended direct heat of mattresses.
The effectiveness remains unclear and has potential to start a fire.
Other objects can be tightly sealed in large plastic bags 1-2 months to let the natural life cycle die off.
Use of any chemicals is questionably effective as the ones that do work are not available for good reason.
If you travel inspect the sleeping area and bedding closely upon arrival.
It is your best and only chance to avoid some obvious problems.
Given the difficulty of discovering them, there is only so much you can do for prevention.
If you do have an infestation, options remain limited.
Doing the common sense things and understanding the problem in perspective may help your peace of mind.
Dangerous? No.
Inconvenient and frustrating? Yes! As they used to say, "Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite!"
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