Bedbugs Have Made a Comeback...Infestation 2010

 Bedbugs are found worldwide, but they are most common in developing countries. They haven't been a problem in western countries for more than a century and even then they were fairly rare in North America but with immigrants arriving steadily from those developing countries, the bugs hitched a ride with some of them.

 Bedbugs are flat and wingless  insects.  Like mosquitoes, they feed on blood from animals or people , the bugs range in color from almost white to brown. They turn red after feeding. They can live live up to ten months , and they can go weeks without feedings. Bedbugs do not seem to spread disease to people. But itching from the bites can be so bad  that some people will scratch enough to cause breaks in the skin that  get infected easily. The bites can also cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Where can you find bedbugs ?
They  are now on the rise in Europe and North America. They are most often found in hotels, motels , hostels , shelters  and apartment complexes where large numbers of people come and go. Bedbugs hide in small crevices, they can come into your home  on luggage, furniture, clothing and other objects, the bugs mostly hide during the day.

 How do you know if you have bedbugs ?
The first sign of bedbugs may be red, itchy bites on the skin, usually on the arms or shoulders. Bedbugs tend to  leave straight row bites, unlike some other insects that leave bites here and there.

  Look for other signs :
The bugs themselves , especially along the seams of the mattresses...bloodstains on the sheets and mattresses ....dark spots of insect  waste  where bedbugs  might crawl into hiding places on furniture , walls and floors....a sweet odor from bedbugs' scent glands where they arefound in large numbers.

 How do I get rid of them ?
To get rid of bedbugs  remove debris , such as wood and paper trash piles, where these bugs may hide...wash, vacuum, clean all furniture  and bedding. Be sure to vacuum cracks in wood doors  or floors where bugs may hide. Put small things like jewelry boxes, pillows , and stuffed animals in a dark plastic bag  and leave them outside in the hot sun for 2 or 3 days.  Get rid of mattresses and box springs  that are infested. If you cannot throw them out , cover the mattresses and box springs  with a plastic  mattresses bag that traps the bugs...wash clothes and bedding  in hot water, and dry them with the hot cycle of the clothes dryer...use a bug spray  in cracks in floors , bed frames  where they hide. ... check with a garden  or hardware store  for the right spray to kill the bedbugs.

 If you can't get rid of the bugs yourself, call an insect control company  for treatment choices... when the bugs are gone , be sure  to keep your house and bedding clean to prevent the bugs from coming back.
 My spin : Ugh....hideous creatures. Hope your home is bug free...if not , try this treatment and good luck.