Monday, June 14, 2010

How To Recognize The Signs Of Bedbugs In The Home

By Aidyn Huffman

The Cimicidae family is where the insects known as bedbugs come from. These insects feed on warm blooded creatures such as humans and animals. Usually found in areas where their hosts sleep, they do not like daylight hours and normally come out at night. Their presence is usually discovered when their hosts develop red itchy patches on their skin.

There are thought to be around 100 species in the cimicidae family. The insects that feed off human blood are the most common type. There are other species which prefer to live off poultry and bats, some of which prefer the warmer tropical climates.

It is usually easy to tell the age of the insect by its color. When they are first hatched, they start off a transparent pale color and as they get older their color changes to a darker brown. A fully grown adult usually measures around five millimeters long and three millimeters in width. They are flat and oval wingless insects.

They feed by sucking the blood of their prey, they pierce the skin with their two feeding tubes. One of the tubes sucks the blood from its host, while the other it injects an anti blood clotting agent and anesthetic through its saliva. The insect usually feeds of its host for about five minutes before it goes back to its hiding place. It is normal for the insects to feed once or twice a week but they can go for many months without feeding.

Humans normally notice many hours later that they have actually been bitten as it takes the body time to have a reaction to the chemicals that have been injected into it. The host will usually notice that they have a patch or patches on their skin that is very itchy and has a red rash appearance. In rare cases, the host can suffer from illness as a result of taking a bad reaction to the bites.

There are products available on the market that help to deal with the effects of the bites, taking the overwhelming urge to scratch away. The products also have properties that fight the spread of infection from scratching. Available in spray, lotion and creams, these products offer vital relief from the burning sensation left by the bites. Oral medication is also available for those who take a bad reaction to the chemicals.

Signs of the insects presence in the home are usually found in beds, they can include spots of feces, or blood spots on sheets. If you find the insects in the home, you should probably call in the experts and have your home exterminated. To help prevent having an infestation you should regularly vacuum and dust, this includes vacuuming mattresses, change bed linen at least weekly. If you have pets in the home, they should also be treated if there are signs of insects within the home.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment