Bedbugs

“Sleep tight, and don’t let the bedbugs bite,” is a familiar phrase said over the years as people prepare for bed. Of course, nothing sounds worse than talking about bugs right before you settle down to sleep, but these creepy critters actually exist! A bedbug is actually a small insect that feeds on the blood of its host.

Bedbugs feed from people but will also feed from other warm-blooded animals. This reddish-brown bug is only about one-fourth of an inch in length. The tiny bug has a sharp beak that it uses to penetrate the skin of the person or animal where it plans to feed. These creatures tend to hide during daylight hours and are most active at night when their victims sleep.

The bedbug is good at hiding. They hide in mattresses, between floorboards, and in carpets—just to name a few of their hiding places. The female will lay her eggs in these places. The female bedbug can lay more than one hundred eggs during her lifetime. The eggs will hatch in as little as two weeks. Bedbugs are considered full-grown after about two months and live for only about six months. The host cannot rely on the bedbugs dying and leaving him or her alone. Areas that are infected must be thoroughly cleaned and in many cases these insects can only be successfully contained by the use of insecticides. Bedbugs irritate their victims by causing bites all over their bodies. Some scientists speculate these bugs might also carry serious diseases. So, the next time someone says, “Don’t let the bedbugs bite,” you will want to really hope they do not bite you!