Bed bugs or Punaise de Lit as they are called in French are a reddish-brown insect that is oval-shaped and can grow up to a quarter of an inch. Bed bugs do not have wings and they survive from blood - human blood in most cases. They are known as bed bugs because it is quite common to find them in mattresses, carpets, pillows, and chair cushions. Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures meaning that they are active at nights. They tend to feed on their host while they are asleep.
Many people wonder to themselves where bed bugs come from especially if they never experienced a bed bug infestation in their homes before. The fact is that bed bugs travel. They travel with humans in luggage and clothing. Without knowing, many people returning from a vacation or a business trip return with an invisible companion who then moves into their homes, their beds, and their furniture.
Bed bugs are easy to detect. They might be small and difficult to see with the eyes but they do leave many traces behind. One of the most common and visible signs of bed bugs are droppings tinged with blood seen on sheets.
If you have been bitten by bed bugs, you will notice small red bumps on your skin that will itch. Their bites are not harmful in that bed bugs do not transmit diseases. Bites can be treated using corticosteroids, tropical emollients or oral antihistamines. The best treatment of bed bug bites is treatment of your home so that they can be permanently removed.
Removing bed bugs from your home can be a difficult task since that bed bugs are hard to see and they can hide very well. They can live for up to a year without feeding so do not be fooled thinking to yourself that you will catch them when they come to feed. The best way to eradicate bed bugs is through a pest control company. However, there are a few home remedies that you can try yourself such as getting rid of infested mattresses, furniture, or clothing. Whichever method you plan to implement, you need to do it as soon as possible because bed bugs breed and spread quickly.
