I remember so vividly one of the little sayings my parents would send me off to bed with when I was just a lad. “Goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the Bed Bugs bite! At the time I thought Bed Bugs were fictitious creatures made up by my parents. Fast forward a number of years, and as a pest management professional I know bed bugs are not fictitious at all and have made a comeback in America over the past few years. So; what are Bed Bugs? Why they are back, and what can be done to control them?

Bed Bugs, Scientific name Cimex Lectularius belong to the order of insects known as heteroptera (true bugs). Bed Bugs undergo simple metamorphosis. The life cycle begins with the egg, followed by nymphs and then adult. The nymphs resemble the adult stage. Adult Bed Bugs are about 3/16 of an inch long, flat and broadly oval. They are usually brown to reddish brown when engorged after feeding. Bed Bugs are blood feeders and must have a blood meal to molt through the 5 stages of the nymphal process. Females usually lay 1-5 eggs per day with development time egg to adult of 21 days. These insects are prolific breeders!

Bed Bugs are very opportunistic and prefer humans as their host. They hide during the day in small cracks and crevices near their host, and come out at night to feed. The bite they inflict with there proboscis (the mouthpart they use to feed) is painless. Saliva is injected when feeding occurs and this is the cause of the slight swelling that occurs in the area the bite. Although they are known to carry disease, there is no conclusive evidence that Bed Bugs are able to transmit disease.

Bed Bugs had nearly been eradicated in America by the mid 1960’s and there are a number of contributing factors linked to their resurgence. The pest management industry has changed quite drastically since the 1960’s embracing an Integrated Pest Management IPM approach to urban pest control. IPM is a think first spray last approach in which a pest control technician follows a series of steps including inspection, identification, prescription and then treatment. The broad use of preventative “spraying” in urban lodging is not usually practiced today. Add to this the new formulations of pesticides on the market which include gel baits that can be strategically placed in insect harborages, and all this ads up to very little residual pesticide to head off Bed Bug infestations.

Another contributing factor is the ease of international travel and the soft side luggage most people prefer travel with. Bed bugs are infamous carpet baggers and can easily be transported home from a hotel room via luggage, and or clothing that was placed in a drawer with Bed Bugs in it.

Bed Bugs are not easily controlled and the process of controlling them is best left to a licensed professional. Inspection is the first step to successfully controlling these insects. Once a thorough inspection has been performed a treatment strategy can be put in place. Bedding and clothing in affected areas must be removed and washed in hot water 140 degrees for at least 20 minutes. Bed frames, mattresses, cracks and crevices, and all areas where Bed Bugs are present must be treated with an EPA approved pesticide and insect growth regulator. Monitoring and follow up is also necessary.

The best way to control Bed Bugs is to prevent them from coming into your living environment altogether. Check your luggage before you leave your hotel and make sure you don’t have any of these unwanted guests trying to hitch an all expenses paid ride home in your luggage. If you do happen to encounter Bed Bugs however, rest assured the Pest Management Professionals in your area are trained and poised to handle these little pests.

Article Source: http://www.articleset.com