Some Fascinating Things You Need to Know About Bedbugs

Bedbugs are also known as Cimex lectularius, or Cimicidae. It is suspected that bedbugs originated in caves located in the Middle East. Unfortunately, they have plagued humans for thousands of years, and have spread throughout the world. Bedbugs are usually reddish brown colored insects, ranging in size from 4 - 5 millimeters. They are nocturnal insects that feed on the blood of both humans and animal hosts. In some cases, bedbugs can be confused with carpet beetles and book lice during the early stages of life.

Problems for Humans and Animals

Bedbugs can pose a number of problems to both humans and animals. Both humans and animals can develop an allergy to bedbug saliva. This will cause a rash as well as raised welts that can be mistaken for mosquito bites. Even though bedbugs can act as host for dozens of different pathogens, they do not appear to transmit these diseases readily to humans and other animals That said, if an individual has a compromised immune system, there is no guarantee that problems won't develop.

Natural Solutions

Since bedbugs tend to be hard to detect and have a fairly long lifespan, they are difficult to get rid of. While most bedbugs feed every 5 - 10 days, they can go as long as a year without consuming blood. Bedbugs can also survive cold weather and other climate issues that normally destroy other parasites. If you suspect that you have bedbugs in your home, you may notice a scent similar to raspberries or almonds.

When it comes to avoiding bedbugs, you should always pay attention to keeping your bedding and garments as clean as possible. This includes washing all garments in hot water, as well as heat treating mattresses and pillows on a routine basis. It is also very important to shampoo carpets, and disinfect other dark, warm places where bedbugs hide while waiting for a suitable host.

As you may be aware, bedbugs have developed a resistance to common pesticides such as DDT and similar compounds. While there are one or two compounds that still work on bedbugs, the EPA has not approved them for commercial use because they pose too many dangers to human health. On the other hand, some of the natural predators to bedbugs tend to be unappealing to home owners. This includes cockroaches, ants, spiders, centipedes, and mites.

If you are planing to travel, or have bedbugs in your home, you may want to try spraying an herbal solution on all fabrics in the area. All you will need to do is combine lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, and clove oil with water. Individuals looking for long term control of bedbugs may want to try creating sachets composed of dried lavender buds, eucalyptus leaves, black walnut tea leaves, thyme, and bay leaves. These sachets can also be wrapped up with garments, or placed in closets where bedbugs may hide. Needless to say, you can also add them to suitcases, pocket books, or any other item that you routinely bring into your home.

Recent Outbreaks

Currently, there is an ongoing outbreak of bedbugs in New York City and the northeastern region. Some parts of Arizona are also undergoing a fairly heavy infestation. For the most part, if you are planning to travel, you may be best served by assuming that any given hotel has bedbugs, and take appropriate action from there.

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