What is a bed bug

The Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, commonly known as the bed bug, is a hematophagous arthropod, meaning that its main food is blood. They are related to mites, mosquitoes, ticks or lice.

It is an individual that mainly affects humans, but can attack other animals, such as poultry, wild birds or other mammals and pets. Later, we will see what its bite looks like, because it is a significant sign of the presence of bedbugs in our bed.

Appearance of the bed bug

Where do bed bugs prefer to hide? What are the areas to check?

Bed bugs are nocturnal animals that hide in cracks and crevices during the day. Specifically, we should check the following areas in the bedroom:

Around mattress buttons, tags and seams.

Box spring or box spring

Wooden bed frame

Bedside tables

Photos in the vicinity

Upholstered furniture

Armchairs or chairs

Baseboards

Power strip covers or light switches

Door and window frames

Other places where we can commonly find them are the seats of cinemas, transport vehicles such as trains, buses, boats ...

It should also be noted that bed bugs can hide in other places, as they are able to travel long distances in search of their food, blood.

5 signs of the presence of bed bugs in our bed

In summary, we can know that bed bugs are hiding in our bed thanks to the appearance of. :

Bites: The most common areas for bites are the less covered areas, such as the neck, hands, feet, legs or arms.

ODOR: Humans do not detect it particularly, but a curious and very recognizable aspect is that its odor is "annoyingly sweet".

BEDBUGS: We may squash bedbugs while we sleep without realizing it, or they may even leave very small remains on the sheet after the bite.

MOLTS: As these organisms grow in size, they must shed their exoskeleton to continue growing. This phenomenon is called molting, and it occurs several times in the life of arthropods or reptiles. In our case, if we have bed bugs in our bed, we can find remnants of their molt in their hiding places.

FECAL SPOTS: black, red or reddish-brown spots scattered on sheets, comforter, pillows or mattress.

Stains caused by bed bug activity

What do bed bug bites look like and what are the symptoms?

Bed bug bites are usually small, cause edema (slight swelling of the area) and redness of the affected area in 80% of people, with very intense itching. This allergic reaction is due to the anticoagulant anesthetic contained in the insect's saliva, which enters our body at the time of the sting.

While it is true that many blood-sucking insects transmit diseases, bed bugs are not one of them.

Bites can be found randomly or in a pattern, indicating that the bed bug has sought out the capillaries on our skin. This pattern of bites differentiates the bed bug from other individuals such as mosquitoes or fleas.

Appearance of the bedbug bite

How is a bed bug bite treated?

To treat this type of bite, you should:

Apply heat to reduce symptoms

Wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water.

Take antihistamines to reduce itching.

Resort to corticosteroids, although treatment with these medications does not show significant differences in effects.

How are bed bugs treated?

There are two types of treatments to eliminate bed bugs: chemical treatment and heat treatment. However, the first step is to get rid of all textile materials and inspect nearby furniture, bed frames, outlet covers or light switches, picture frames and mattress labels or seams.

Chemical treatment relies on the use of an insecticide, a properly labeled pesticide. To effectively reach every nook and cranny, treatment can be done by spraying or spot dusting. In most cases, mattresses, bed frames and wall crevices can be treated with a single application. However, beds for babies or sick people should be replaced directly.

On the other hand, there is the heat treatment. These individuals cannot withstand temperatures between 48ºC and 50ºC and die. By applying dry steam at 180ºC, we ensure that the entire area to be treated receives about 80ºC and that the bed bugs die. This is the most effective and innovative method to fight bed bugs.