What Are Bed Bugs

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects that measure about a quarter of an inch in length. Their bodies are brownish-red in color and appear flat. Bed bugs have long antennae and a sharp beak that's used to painlessly extract blood from their victims. While the initial bite is painless, the after effects may include red bumps or welts that itch, burn or swell. Fortunately, bed bugs cannot transmit harmful diseases to humans the way various other pests can.

== Family, Health and Bed Bugs Tips == On family health... You can gain a sense of control over your health through alternative health therapies that improves general quality of life by making you feel better about yourself. Reducing and eliminating tension, stress, anxiety, depression and sleeplessness, causes the person to feel a sense of well-being and relaxation. The intensity of some of the side effects of traditional cancer treatment can be made more bearable, other symptoms like breathlessness, diarrhea, lack of appetite, constipation, pain and feeling sick that are greatly reduced.

Bed bugs survive by feeding on people and animals. They can survive anywhere there's a warm blooded host. They cannot fly, and tend to live close to the area where their food is. Most active at night, they frequently feed on sleeping humans and live in mattresses. However, they can also be found in upholstered furniture and even inside of walls.

Bed bugs weren't very prevalent in our society after World War II, due in part to extensive DDT use. However, DDT was soon outlawed after it was found to be hazardous. This, along with an increase in international travel, has led to a reoccurance of bed bug infestations in the United States.

Bed bug infestation can be recognized not only by the bites on your skin, but the appearance of dark spotting on your mattress or furniture. These spots are actually dried bug waste, and may be accompanied by tiny spots of blood. Also present will be eggs and eggshells, although they are too small to see.

Bed bugs can spread quickly from room to room, so it's crucial to treat the problem right away. Vacuum or steam clean all areas of your home, especially where bed bugs are suspected. Remove all infested items and call a professional exterminator. Although it may cost you, a professional is the way to go because they have access to methods that the general public does not. The price will depend on the company you choose, the level of infestation and the methods utilized to get rid of it.

== Family, Health and Bed Bugs Tips == On children's eczema... The exact cause of eczema is still being sought but it is known that the immune system has something to do with it. Sufferers are aware that they have an allergic reaction to an external substance which brings on the condition. Although eczema can occur on many parts of the body, with baby eczema, it is usually first noticed on their face. The situation is relatively serious with figures of anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of babies affected by this condition.

Today's pesticides used by exterminators are effective and often environmentally-friendly. Talk to your pest control professional about ways to get rid of bed bugs that don't involve harmful chemicals. There are ways to get rid of these pests without causing harm to children, pets, or the environment.

See a picture of bed bug here: Picture of Bed Bug

Bed Bug News:

There Are Bed Bugs at Your College, What is a Creeped Out Student to Do?
Bedbugs are spreading like the plaque. No one is safe from this scourge, especially college students...

Myrtle Beach's Street Reach temporarily suspends emergency overnight shelter
A local homeless shelter has temporarily suspended its emergency overnight shelter services as the agency combats bed bugs, according to officials...

Ew! Bedbugs invade the Internet
Back in 2007, when I was writing about the growing "bedbug epidemic" for Consumer Reports , Harvard University entomologist Dr...

US grapples with bedbugs, misuse of pesticides - Forbes

US grapples with bedbugs, misuse of pesticides
Forbes
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A resurgence of bedbugs across the US has homeowners and apartment dwellers taking desperate .

and more »

A sad bed bug story: An 84 year old woman living.
Saturday, August 28, 2010 A sad bed bug story Saturday, August 28, 2010, by Bilal Khan A sad bed bug story An 84 year old woman living in the Roosevelt Houses finally had her bed bugs exterminated after a month of waiting for the New York City Housing Authority to send people over ...

Bedbugs and their bites baffle scientists - Toronto Star

Bedbugs and their bites baffle scientists
Toronto Star
One theory is that domestic bedbugs surged after pest control companies stopped spraying for cockroaches in the 1980s and switched to poisoned baits, .

Be vigilant to avoid the bites of bed bugs
Bed bugs have made their way to the Ozarks. Here's some information on where they're a problem and how you can protect yourself...

TIFF crawling to deal with some uninvited guests EUR” bedbugs - The Province

TIFF crawling to deal with some uninvited guests EUR” bedbugs
The Province
"Torontonian Friend got, yes, bedbugs at the Scotiabank EUR” aka where all press screenings are." He later posted that his information was from a trustworthy .

and more »

Ask the Doctor - Don't let the bed bugs bite
Concerned about your health? Experts from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton are ready to answer readersa TM questions...