Bed bugs are a small blood sucking parasite that feed solely on the blood of warm blooded animals. They prefer humans, but will feed on dogs, cats, birds, or rodents, if humans are not available. Full grown bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and can easily be seen with the human eye, when they are not in hiding. They have an oval brownish colored flat body that swells and turns reddish brown after they receive their blood meal. Bed bugs do not fly, but they are masters at hiding in any crack or crevice in a home or business. Bed bugs are resilient buggers and can easily survive for over a year without a blood meal.
Bed bugs have been appearing in New Jersey and in most cities across the United States. Recent reports by pest control companies show that bed bug infestations are up by 71% over the past five years. These creepy blood suckers are hitchhikers and can be found anywhere that people are found. People can unwittingly bring them into their homes by accidentally picking them up from a variety of sources. Bed bugs have been found on airplane seats and luggage compartments, movie theaters, retail stores, taxis, trains, rental cars, cruise ships, hospitals, and of course hotels and motels. Sadly you can even pick up bed bugs while visiting friends or family members homes.
Many people do not know that they have a bed bug infestation until the infestation is out of control. It is estimated that approximately 50% of people do not suffer the allergic reaction to bed bug bites, which is the tell-tale sign that you have an infestation. Another sign of an infestation is the excrement and blood splatters that are left by bed bugs on sheets, mattresses, and box springs.
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