A fed female bed bug can lay between 2-5 eggs a day, meaning one single bug in your roller-bag, gym bag, or even in your pants cuff, can lead to an infestation at home. Many unsuspecting travelers pick one up on the road and bring it home in their luggage, unwittingly setting up an infestation. How Do You Get Bed Bugs?īed bugs are hardy hitchhikers. Many times people don’t notice bites at all. So while they can cause discomfort and significant mental distress, bed bugs won’t give you or your pets diseases, though in severe cases scratching can lead to secondary skin infections. Some people or animals develop red welts or itchy lesions, which are often mistaken for flea or mosquito bites. Can a Bed Bug Make Me or My Pet Ill?įortunately for both people and pets, bed bugs are not known to transmit disease. A bed bug will attach to its host to feed for about five minutes and then detach, meaning it is very unlikely that you will find an actual bed bug on a person or pet. Adults are 5-7 mm long, about the length of an apple seed, and are flat-a shape that is ideal for hiding in bed frames, molding, and box springs. According to the California Department of Public Health, while bed bugs prefer humans, they will feed on dogs and cats as well. What Are Bed Bugs, Exactly?īed bugs, also known by their scientific name Cimex lectularius L., are parasitic creatures that use blood as their sole source of nutrition. Cleanliness or the cost of the lodging are no deterrent to these bugs, which are found in all 50 states. After a decrease in appearances after WWII, bed bugs have come back with a vengeance since the 1990s and are again considered a major public health pest. Call us at 86 or schedule an inspection.Once considered the bastion of shady motels in crowded cities, an indicator of poor housekeeping or dirt, bed bugs have quickly become a ubiquitous pest affecting even the most steadfast lodgings and homes. Have it checked by a pest control technician on a regular basis and do what you can to save yourself from the trouble of having to buy a new bed.ĭo you need help with bed bug eradication in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland? My Pest Pros can help. To avoid bed bug infestation, make sure you keep your bed clean and clear from moisture and food particles. White vinegar can greatly reduce the bites but if your whole body has been infested with the bites, soak yourself in a warm bath that has peppermint oil, baking soda, Alka-Seltzer, or powdered oatmeal.īed bugs are annoying and usually, it is often too late when people notice that their beds are full of them. Aloe Vera gel can be used for its anti-fungal and antibiotic properties. Lemon juice or witch hazel can also be applied to the rash as natural astringents that will aid in minimizing the itch and make the rash dry. Let it dry and rinse it off with warm water after. Baking soda water and soda paste can be applied to the rash. Try Home Remedies for Bed Bug Bitesįor those who are looking for how to treat bed bugs or prefer home remedies for their bites, there are things that could help you deal with the itch from bed bugs. If you are allergic to any medication, make sure to consult with your physician first to make sure the medicine you take will not give you more problems later on. An antihistamine will help relieve the swelling and a topical anesthetic or ibuprofen can help you get rid of the pain if there is any. Calamine is also good for treating the rash and helps your skin heal. Look for Over-the-Counter Bed Bug Bite MedicationĪnti-itch over-the-counter creams that have cortisone or hydrocortisone will do the trick to relieve you of the itch and get rid of the rash. If any of these is present on your bed, call your exterminator immediately or treat the bed bugs yourself. The most common things to look for will be blood spots, either from you or the bed bug being squashed, empty bed bug skins, carcasses or feces. Make sure to check your beddings, your bed, and all seams. If you suspect that you do have bed bugs, check your bed, couch, and other furniture. Many people confuse bed bug with mosquito bites. Reaction times for every individual may vary, some will show rashes after a couple of hours and some will take days. The time when the bites occur can also help you identify if bed bugs are the cause of your rash. There is usually a pattern for bed bug bites, some show only one bite spread out, and others show a couple appearing in a row. This is fairly hard to do and even doctors may sometimes mistake the bites to come from mosquitoes.
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