History of Bedbugs

“Goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” Many of us have heard this phrase when young, or have said this to our children. However, we often forget that bedbugs are a common pest in the American household, and they can be quite a pain in the a**. These little critters have quite a history as well. They originally fed on blood of animals and humans living in the caves; they are attracted by the warmth of human’s dwellings. When the colonists moved to the North Americas, the bedbugs followed as well, creating a problem in the colonies. They were almost wiped out when pesticides were introduced in America but have made their resurgence in the past 15 years.

Identify the Bedbugs, Do You Have Them?

Bedbugs are usually 1/4 inch long; to put it into perspective, an adult bedbug is the size of an apple seed. They are often oval-shaped and reddish brown, with beaks and four-part antennae. These bugs are often attracted by human carbon dioxide, body warmth, and other chemicals. They are nocturnal, which means that they are active at night and hides in cracks close to humans. Bedbugs are extremely resilient and can survive without feeding on blood for months. If the temperature is not ideal for their survival and reproduction, they can often go into a hibernation state.

Rather than caused by poor hygiene, bedbugs infestation is usually caused by people who travel often. You can check these several places to see if you have bedbugs: crevices and cracks in your mattress, deep pockets in your mattress pads, cracks in your nightstands, dresser drawers, etc.

Consequences

Although bedbugs are not known to spread diseases, they can be quite an annoyance. Their bites are itchy and the discomfort leads to lack of sleep. The itchiness can lead to allergic reaction and even skin infection.

How to Get Rid of Them and Preventive Measures

If you have a minor bedbug problem, you may treat the infestation by yourself by getting rid of the bed, mattress, bed sheets, shelves, or whatever that is infested. You may also wash your bedding, curtains, clothes, etc with hot water and dry them on the highest dryer setting. You can also use a stiff brush to scrub mattress seams and get rid of any remaining bedbugs and eggs after you dry the items.

If you choose to get rid of the items that are infested, be sure to completely dispose them. Sometimes burning is a good choice if environment allows as high temperature gets rid of the resilient bug. If the affected area is small, you may even put it in the freezer as temperature below zero farenheight kills bedbugs. There are also pesticides that can kill bedbugs: Pyrethrins and pyrethroids, Desiccants, Chlorfenapyr are all pesticides that can be used.

If the bedbug infestation is severe, you may want to consult a professional because they are experienced, and they can provide the best solution to your problem!

Some preventive measures can be taken for bedbugs, and having the right bedding products is one of them. According to “Effects of Temperature and Humidity on the Survival and Water Loss of Cimex hemipterus” written by Yee-Fatt How and Chow-Yang Lee, bedbugs eggs hatch faster in a warm temperature and adult bedbugs are attracted to warm environments for survival purpose. Our bedroom can be insulated and warm, especially when you have central heating during winter, so we need to keep the bedroom cool to prevent bedbugs. Mattress pads and bed sheets like those of SLEEP ZONE® can help alleviate the problem as they are temperature regulating and can provide you with a cool and comfortable sleeping environment. SLEEP ZONE® partnered with NanoTex to apply nanotechnology to the materials of mattress pads, duvet covers, and pillowcases, providing people solutions to all their sleeping problems including bedbugs.

Also, bedbug bites leave your skin sensitive and prone to infection. Bedding products made with nanotechnology contain natural softness that is non-toxic and skin-friendly. The temperature-regulating feature further balances out temperature to make your skin feel comfortable and at ease.