Bedbugs: Facts, Bites and Infections

Bedbugs and nymphs in the process of blood sucking. Cdc.gov) Bedbugs lurk in cracks and crevices. They have been living on human blood for centuries. Although they are not known to spread diseases or cause serious medical risks, stubborn parasites can leave itching and ugly bites. However, bedbugs don't always leave traces. The best way to judge whether you are infected with bedbugs is to see a living creature the size of an apple seed. Unfortunately, once bedbugs are settled in homes and businesses, it is difficult to eliminate them without the help of professionals.

The appearance, lifestyle and habits of bedbugs are flat, round and reddish brown, about a quarter inch (7 mm) long. Typical human plagues are Cimex lecturius, a common bug, and Cimex halfteterus, a tropical bug.

Life cycle and other terrible bug details. Decades ago, bedbugs were a novelty in developed countries. However, according to the data of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infection has become more common in the United States, Canada, Britain and Europe since the beginning of the 20th century. 20 13 A study published in Natural Science shows that bedbugs have evolved ways to resist pesticides.

This creature has no wings and can't fly or jump. However, their small size and ability to survive for months without food make them stowaways and squatters. Bedbugs can easily hide in the cracks and folds of luggage, bags and clothes. They are also hidden behind wallpaper, bedding, spring boxes and furniture. According to the data of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), those man-eating bugs can crawl more than 65,438+000 feet (30 meters) in one night, but they usually crawl within 8 feet (2.4 meters) where human hosts sleep.

Worms reproduce by a terrible strategy, which is properly called "traumatic insemination", that is, males stab females in the abdomen and inject * * * into the wound. During their life cycle, females can lay more than 200 eggs. After hatching, the egg goes through five immature "nymph" stages, then reaches the adult form, and molts after each stage. [data map: Bug: the life of a little monster]

Therefore, these bugs may have their own favorite colors. Scientists tested bedbugs in the laboratory and found that they found a red or black shelter called "harbor" and avoided those residents with yellow and green shadows. (The researchers say that changing the color of the sheets may take this discovery too far. )

"At first, we thought that bedbugs might prefer red because their blood is red, which is their food," Colin McNeil, co-author of the study and assistant professor of biology at Lincoln Union College in Nebraska, said in a statement. However, after research, we think that the main reason why they prefer red is that bedbugs are red, so they go to these huts because they want to live with other bedbugs, as they know. The researchers introduced their research results in detail in the Journal of Medical Entomology on April 25th, 20 16. The researchers say that these colors may be similar to the lighting areas, and the bugs try to avoid these areas.

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Bedbugs bite bedbugs and suck human blood by inserting a sharp long nose or beak into the victim's skin (although some species also like other mammals and birds). These small animals were filled with blood in about 10 minutes, which made them full of blood for several days.

These insects are most active at night, although they are not completely nocturnal. According to Purdue University, bedbugs are attracted by the warmth, humidity and carbon dioxide released by warm-blooded animals. As for sleeping human hosts, bedbugs often bite exposed parts of the body, such as face, neck, arms and hands.

But looking for insect bites may not be the best way to judge whether you are infected or not.

Harold Harlan, an entomologist, said, "Many people put a lot of important things into observing and identifying bites. A bedbug expert told the field science that I have kept these things for 465,438+0 years, and I don't know what bedbugs bite.

Bug bites look very similar to those of other insects such as mosquitoes and fleas. People react differently to bed bug bites. Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that some people have little obvious reaction to insect bites, and they will not produce damage, lumps or pustules at all.

Bites themselves usually do not pose any major health risks, because bedbugs do not know that they can spread diseases, but allergic reactions caused by bites may require medical care. There are also some strange cases related to bedbug infection. Researchers reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2009 that they treated a 60-year-old man with anemia caused by blood loss caused by bed bug bites. 199 1 Another study published in the Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology found that asthma patients may be more prone to allergic reactions caused by bed bug bites.

Scratching the itchy and bitten parts too much may also increase the chance of secondary infection of the skin. Antibacterial cream or lotion can be used to prevent infection, and antihistamines can be used to treat itching. Pests will bring psychological harm to the affected people: people with bedbugs at home may lose sleep for fear of being bitten at night. There are also public health, social and economic consequences; When dealing with bedbug infection, office buildings and schools often have to be closed.

Identifying and handling bedbug infection If a bite is an unreliable sign of bedbug infection, how can you judge whether you have bedbugs? Harlan said that looking at the scene, moving bugs is the "gold standard." If possible, you should collect some of these specimens in a closed container for professional identification.

You should look for traces of insects in the folds of mattresses, spring boxes and other possible hiding places. Harlan said, you may find that their paper skin falls off after molting, which looks like popcorn, but it is smaller and thinner. They also leave blood on mattresses and furniture. Harlan said that if you can touch this place with a soaked towel, it will turn rusty red, and you may see a new drop of bedbug feces.

Bedbugs usually invade new areas after being brought to them by clothes, luggage, furniture or bedding. These creatures don't distinguish between dirty houses and clean houses, which means that even luxury hotels may be affected by bedbugs. The most dangerous places are often crowded houses with high turnover rate, such as dormitories, apartment buildings, hotels, homeless shelters and so on.

Removing debris may help reduce the hiding place of bedbugs, but according to CDC, the best way to prevent bedbugs is to check the signs of bedbug infection regularly.

If you suspect infection, experts suggest finding a professional pest control expert with experience in dealing with bedbugs. According to the Mayo Clinic, spraying pesticides is usually used to treat infections, and exterminators can also use non-chemical methods, such as heating the room above 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius), which is the lethal temperature of bedbugs. According to the University of Minnesota, freezing infected items at temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) for a few days may also give bedbugs a permanent rest. But you may have to throw away a lot of mattresses and other furniture.

As for traps, these traps