Bed bugs are small, flattened insects that have lived with the human population since the start of time. They vanished completely during the 1940s and 50s but have made their return in the past decade. This revival of bed bugs is the worst ever, as scientists say. They are large in numbers and more resistant to pesticides than ever.
For bed bugs, there is no on or off-season. They are found in homes throughout the year. They are also spreading rapidly, mainly because of the misinformation about their behavior and biology. If you are dealing with a bed bug infestation in your home, Pointe Pest, a Belleville Pest Control company, can help eradicate the problem.
Top myths about bed bugs
Bedbugs are flying insects.
Bedbugs neither crawl nor jump, but they do crawl pretty fast. Stephen Kells, a bedbug researcher from the University of Minnesota, said that bedbugs can crawl up to a meter in less than a minute. However, they do not have wings to fly.
Bedbugs are too tiny to be seen with the naked eye.
Bedbugs are indeed tiny, but they are not microscopic. They are about the size of an apple seed and appear dark red (ever darker after a bloody meal). Adult bedbugs can easily be seen crawling around, but the younger ones and the eggs can be hard to spot. Although, they are also possible to view with the naked eye!
Bedbugs only live in your bed.
Bedbugs are everywhere. They are everywhere where they can get access to humans and animals and anything with blood in them. Since these insects feed on blood, you can find them in your bed, sofa, carpet, school desks, bus stop benches, etc. Most people think they are only found in beds because that is where they peacefully feast on your blood when you sleep.
Bedbugs reproduce quickly.
Bedbugs are considered very slow in the aspect of reproduction, especially when compared with other insects. A female bug only lays one egg per day, while a fly lays about 500 eggs in the course of 3 to 4 days. Each egg takes about 10 days to hatch and then five to six weeks to become an adult.
Bedbugs can live a year without eating.
It is true that bedbugs can go quite a long time without eating, but they won’t make it for up to a year. In a residence with normal room temperature and moisture conditions, they can survive for about three months without access to food. Adults do not need much food, but younger ones do. So they are likely to die.
Additional myths about bed bugs that people believe:
- They only bite you at night and cannot bite you during the day.
- Bed bugs can travel through people, which means they can go from one house to another just through people.
- Bed bugs do not prefer hygienic conditions. To break this myth, bed bugs can be found in people who are cleanest, too.
If you are trying to get rid of bed bugs at your home, make sure to seek professional help. A pest control company can help you get rid of them permanently, so you can sleep peacefully.
