Bed bugs are small oval shaped insects that do not have the ability to fly. They look like miniature cockroaches. When fully grown they measure about 5-7 mm, appear reddish brown and they do bite humans. Bed bugs feed by sucking on humans and animals.
Bed bugs were quite rare until recently. With the use of insecticides and pesticides, bed bugs were almost eradicated but these creatures are hardy. Bed bugs have made a comeback in the USA to an unusual extent, chiefly due to mass migration of people. Even though bed bugs are associated with poor hygiene and sanitation, this is not altogether true. These creatures can be found in clean environments and have even been reported in the most luxurious hotels. Of course, crowded living quarters make it easy for them to spread.
Bed bugs live anywhere in the home such as furniture, bed, mattresses and chairs. Anywhere where humans sleep, bed bugs can be found. In general, bed bugs are not found in open spaces but usually in the crevices and cracks. Bed bugs are also found along the carpet edges, curtains, inside dressers, cupboards and food cabinets.
Bed bugs can go without food for months and hence they are found in many empty homes and isolated furniture.
Recently bed bugs have been reported in hotels and cinemas. These bed bugs most likely arrived in visitor luggages or clothing. Bed bugs are easily transferred in luggages, clothes, boxes and bags.
Bed bugs generally tend to bite at night. In most cases, the bites occur on the face, neck, arms and legs. The bite is not painful but one may see small raised areas on skin- the site may itch and become swollen. Often the scratched areas do become infected. Bed bugs tend to bite in linear rows. Many times, these bite marks are mistaken for a mosquito or an insect bite. To date, bed bugs have-not been shown to transmit other infections. However, in tropical countries they are suspected of passing on certain parasitic infections.
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