History of Bed Bugs and How to Get Rid of Them

Bed bugs are not a fictitious creature to scare kids as a joke.  Bed bugs are real.  They are known as Cimex lectularius and have been around for thousands of years.  Around five years ago, there was a lot of attention given to these small nocturnal insects feasting on the blood of unsuspecting victims in the beds of hotel rooms and low-income housing.  They quickly spread and have been a common reason for calls placed to pest control companies ever since.

Persistent Pests

All throughout civilizations, there has been a reference to these tiny insects.  They have even been documented to have some medicinal benefits for treating ear infections or other problematic issues.  But mostly they are just a nuisance.  They have been referenced in theatrical plays and even found fossilized, dating back to around 1560 B.C. in Egypt.  There is no reason to believe they don’t have a further reach into history.

In fact, the only times we have been able to confidently say the bedbug population has suffered is back when chemicals like DDT and other pesticides were used in commercial farming.  Ever since they were declared illegal, bed bugs have declared war on their human hosts once again.

Snug as a Bed Bug

They are so tiny, they are hard to see with the naked eye.  Cimex lectularius are commonly referred to as bed bugs, but have also been known to nest in couches, clothing, nursing homes, rugs, and even daycare centers.  Some people may relate this parasitic insect to just “dirty places”, but the truth is that even the best kept hotel and home can become infested.  They simply feed on blood and are commonly spread by the host traveling about.

How to Get Rid of the Hitchhikers

They must be properly identified.  Their bites are often mistaken for mosquito or flea bites.  They are tiny red dots most commonly on skin that is exposed while sleeping, usually ankles, legs, and arms.  They are very itchy while it may seem, they stay that way for a while, it is likely new bites.  Some people get an allergic reaction to them, but not all.

If you are receiving bites, you should look along your mattress’s seams for small dark spots.  These will be either the bedbugs or their fecal spots.  You can sometimes also find their molted skins which are lighter in color.

The most efficient way to deal with bedbugs is by calling a professional pest control company.  They can quickly identify the pest and use the best treatment to exterminate them so you can get back to sleeping tight once again.