When early Americans told their children to "sleep tight," they were being practical. Their mattresses were suspended on a grid of ropes, attached to the bed frame, which kept them off the floor - and marginally safer from the nocturnal bed bug. Although bed bugs are an ancient pest, thought to have been around for thousands of years, they were all but extinct in the continental United States until just over 10 years ago. Today, they are back with a vengeance - doubling every year. Theories on why these nasty blood-suckers have returned include the increase in world travel and a decline in the use of liquid chemicals for pest control. Regardless of why, they have multiplied into a serious problem for homeowners, tenants, and hotel patrons across the United States.
Attracted by warmth and the presence of carbon dioxide, bed bugs sneak out of hiding places in bedrooms or hotel suites to feed - often in the early hours of the morning, before dawn. They pierce the skin of their host with two hollow tubes. While one tube sucks a blood meal, the other injects the bug's saliva, which contains anticoagulants to keep the blood flowing and anesthetics so you won't know what's happening until later, when the bite begins to itch. To watch an informative video from National Geographic, click here.
Treating bed bugs can be difficult and expensive - because they hide in small and varied places. The best protection against these critters is to avoid taking in discarded furniture or mattresses. If you already have an infestation, vacuum furniture and baseboards thoroughly; buy a mattress cover especially designed for sealing bed bugs out; and call a pest professional. For more information on bed bugs, see the University of California's pest management page here. And don't let the bed bugs bite!
1 comment:
Great post. By being aware and being proactive, you won't let the bed bugs bite.
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