Seen as a
pest, bed bugs are small, oval insects that feed on humans or other
warm-blooded animals by sucking on their blood. Known to be parasitic insects,
they can be commonly found in places such as beds, pillows, seats, and pretty
much anything that has bedding. Bed bugs can cause bites that can be anywhere
on the body, typically on exposed areas such as the face, neck, arms, and legs.
Such bites can cause skin rashes or allergy symptoms to some. It can also lead
to a variety of skin manifestations such as blisters forming. Although these
bugs are small, they can manifest quickly to cause an infestation that can be
really hard to manage. Where did the source of these bugs originate from and
how do they end up in our homes? In this piece, we will look at how Bed bugs
became one of the most hated pests that ever exist.
General History
It is not
known where exactly bed bugs originated from, but they may have originated from
the middle east in caves more than 3,500 years ago. Bugs were used by humans
back than to cure common ailments. With the evolvement of civilization and the
formation of villages and cities, the bugs multiplied and spread all over Asia
and Europe. Bed Bugs became well known in Italy in 100 AD, China in 600 AD,
Germany in the 1200s and 1400s in France.
England
first reported having discovered bed bugs in 1583. Soon after, they ended up
in America. In Ancient Greece, bed bugs were reported in 400 BC and were said
to have used these bugs as ailments for ear infections and snake bites since 77AD.
This belief was continued until the 18th century when they were recommended for
treating hysteria.
In The 1700s, bed bugs were brought together with the Europeans who travelled to
America. The spread caused North America to be greatly impacted by the number
of bed bugs present in the 1800s. Before the middle of the 20th century, bed
bugs grew increasingly common due to the presence of electric heating systems
that allowed bugs to stay alive year-round in warmth, especially in countries
that experience colder weather. Since then, bed bugs are common around the
world, with some countries, especially developing countries that have a higher
number of bed bug infestations.
Types & Characteristics
There are 92
different recognized species of such bugs in the world. They belong to the
Hemiptera includes a variety of different forms including scorpions and
aphids. The majority of them feed on plant saps and are carriers of important plant
diseases. Only a few species in the family known as Cimicidae and those related
to it will feed on birds and mammalian species for blood.
The most
common type of Cimicidae will be Cimex lectularius, a bug that infests and
feeds on poultry, bats, and humans. It is very well adapted to human
environments and various climates around the world. There is also Cimex
hemipterus, that feeds on humans and bats, found in tropical regions in the
world.
These bugs
are hematophagous insects that feed for blood. They only feed on humans when
no other prey is available. Nymph bed bugs can be as small as 1.5mm, while
adult bed bugs reach 5mm – 7mm in length. They have flat bodies and can
sometimes be mistaken as ticks or tiny cockroaches. Nymph bed bugs are light in
color and appear bright red after feeding. Adult bed bugs are reddish in
color, which appear more swelled up and reddish after feeding. They have small
wings that do not enable them to fly but are able to crawl around quickly.
How do they enter homes?
Bed bugs
tend to spread by traveling, attaching itself to items such as clothing,
luggage, furniture, boxes, and bedding. They dwell mostly with humans but can be
found in places such as:
- Buses, Trains, Taxis, Planes
- Office Buildings
- Schools
- Nursing Homes
- Daycares
- Homes
And these
are just some to name. They can be found anywhere, as long as there are people
traveling around and have contact with various surfaces. The presence of bed
bugs in a location does not mean that the place is dirty. All they need is a
warm area with places to hide in dark corners or spots. Bites caused by bed
bugs tend to appear as a row of bites on an exposed area of the body while
sleeping. The bite is painless and can go unnoticed, but signs will start to
develop up to 14 days after being bitten. This can cause the bed bugs removal
of bed bugs to be difficult as bed bugs only take up to 5-10 minutes before
moving away to a dark area to hide and over the next 5-10 days, digest their
meal, mate and lay eggs to multiply.
Conclusion
It can be
difficult to totally eliminate carrying bed bugs as traveling to many places
and coming in contact with multiple surfaces outside is inevitable. Hence, it
is important to maintain strict hygiene practices at home, by inspecting items
brought from outside, and washing clothes immediately instead of sitting around
the house in those clothes. It is good to clean places that are hotspots for
bed bugs to manifest, such as dark areas and corners. If the bed bug infestation
gets out of hand, it is good to contract the services of a pest control
company that can help you with solving the issue. As with all things, if all
fails, just contact your friendly bed bugs Singapore
company in your area.
