Bed bugs are an embarrassing topic around which many myths have arisen. However, these insects are a problem for many people. Their appearance can surprise virtually anyone. Therefore, it is essential to know where bed bugs come from. It's also good to know how to recognize them and how to treat bed bug bites.
Bed bugs - a problem hidden inside many homes
Bed bugs are insects that feed on the blood of warm-blooded mammals - mainly humans. An adult bed bug is only a few millimetres long. These insects look like flat red-brown oval dots. As a parasite, the bed bug changes its appearance slightly after ingesting blood. Importantly, bed bugs reproduce very quickly. The female bed bug can lay up to several hundred eggs. Bed bugs hatch from these eggs in one to two months. Nature has also prevented the bed bug from dying without food. If an insect does not find a blood source, it can survive up to several months.
Where do bed bugs live?
Bed bugs are most common in hotels, night shelters, and public transport. However, it is not uncommon to encounter bed bugs in our homes. Where do they come from? The bed bug must live close to its human host. Also, they are often hidden under slats, furniture, mattresses, and even in small gaps.
The myth that bed bugs are caused by poor hygiene is often repeated. It is not true. Even in clean rooms, a bed bug problem can arise. Places such as gaps in wooden floors or a mattress sponge are challenging to reach for humans. At the same time, they are ideal places for bed bugs. So if you get spouts in your home, you have nothing to get dirty. However, you need to act ASAP to get rid of them!
A Bed bug's lifestyle
As already mentioned, bed bugs feed on blood. However, they do not have to have permanent access to the host. Bed bugs can hibernate and survive for several months without blood. How do rumps in the vicinity of a person behave? These insects lead a nocturnal lifestyle. It means that they are most active when they sleep well. A bed bug's mouthpiece is tiny, and the insect only pulls it out when it eats. Therefore, a bed bug bite is completely painless. Additionally, due to the microscopic size of these insects, a person does not feel their presence on his body.
Tips on how to treat bed bug bites
It is not easy to recognize a bed bug bite. Bumps on the skin are the most common sign that such an insect has bitten us. These bumps are often very small so they can be easily overlooked. It is much easier to notice the swelling that appears around such nodules. Reddening of the skin is very often associated with these nodules. An additional sign that a bed bug may have bitten us is itching.
How to distinguish ordinary pimples from bed bug bites? In the case of a bed bug bite, several bumps appear next to each other most often. Why is this happening? Because the bed bug interrupts its "meal" when consuming blood and then bites again. Bed bugs do this several times. Another sign that bed bugs may have bitten us is the location of the nodules. Bed bugs that feed at night bite you in exposed places while you sleep. That is why the bites of these insects most often appear on the neck, face, arms, and hands.
How to treat bed bug bites
It would be best if you approached the treatment of bed bug bites calmly. First, it is essential to know that the marks of such bites usually disappear within a month or two. The most troublesome during treatment is the persistent itching of bite spots. You don't need to see a doctor if you don't have an allergic reaction to a bed bug bite. However, it would help if you remembered to take special care of the hygiene of the bitten places. For relief, you can use anti-itching preparations. You can get this type of ointment at any pharmacy. Antihistamines also work very well for bed bug bites. Under no circumstances should you scratch bed bug bites, even if they are very itchy! Scratching the bites can spread an infection into the wounds. If this occurs, see a doctor. In this case, it is most often necessary to use an antibiotic. Severe allergic reactions after a bed bug bite are very rare. However, if such a reaction occurs, it is necessary to react as quickly as possible. In these cases, corticosteroids are most often used.
How to get rid of bed bug bites overnight
We have great news if you want to know how to get rid of bed bug bites overnight! Everyone can get rid of bed bugs in their home on their own. Of course, you can use specialized services. However, fighting bed bugs is just as effective and much cheaper. You just need to know how to do it.
Setting traps for bed bugs
The first thing to apply is bed bug traps. These small items allow you to catch bed bugs moving around your home. A trap for bed bugs is most often round or oval. It is made so that the bed bug can quickly get inside. The inside of the trap prevents bed bugs from escaping. You should place bed bug traps under the foot of the bed or other furniture. Thanks to them, you will catch bed bugs trying to climb on or off the furniture. Be sure to choose good-quality traps. Bed bug traps will also allow you to gauge how many insects are in your home.
Powder for killing bed bugs
Another essential item is good bed bug powder. The best powder for killing bed bugs should be non-toxic. Also, it should not only kill insects. Such powder must also wipe down the bed bug exoskeleton. Thanks to this, you will be sure that these parasites disappear entirely from your home. How to use the powder against bed bugs? All you have to do is sprinkle a small amount of the powder in the joints of furniture, walls, and floors. Then, spread it around the legs of the bed, armchairs, and sofas. You should also apply it to the edges of carpets and skirting boards. When the bed bugs are gone, wait a few more weeks to ensure no bed bugs are hidden. If you have a good quality, non-toxic powder, you can safely leave it in the gaps for up to several months. If you want to get rid of the powder, vacuum it up.