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Characteristics of A Bed Bug

bed-bug

A bed bug is a small parasitic insect that feeds exclusively on the blood of its host. There are several species of this insect in the Cimicid family, but the most common is the CIimex Lectularius that infests the human habitats. As their name suggests, their habitat of choice is warm places such as in the building cracks, in an animal’s furry skin and in the human’s bed. The bedbugs main predators include; cockroaches, spiders, mites, pharaoh ants among others. The following are the characteristics of a bed bug.

It is a nocturnal insect

The bed bug is mostly a nocturnal insect, although not exclusively. It feeds and reproduces throughout the night and hides from its predators during the day. It is an extremely cunning insect. Rarely does the host of the insect close in on it. The moment it senses danger, it retracts to its hide outs.

It feeds exclusively on blood

The bed bug is attracted by carbon dioxide and warmth to its hosts. It feeds exclusively on the hosts blood through a process known as DhematophagousD or bloodsucking. Experts say the bugs will only feed on the human blood if there is no other host available. Amazingly, the insects can survive about 5 months without food and only feeds in 5 to 10 days intervals.

It reproduces through traumatic insemination

The males of the insect pierce the stomach of the females and discharges the sperm through its needle-like genitalia. The sperms travel through the femaleDs blood to the ovaries where the fertilization occurs. Under ideal conditions, a female can lay up to 500 eggs in its 9 months lifetime. The laid egg goes through 6 stages before becoming an adult.

Bed bugs bites can cause skin rashes

A bed bug bite, also called cimicosis can cause skin irritation and rashes. However the most significant medical condition that is caused by the bugs is the psychological one. The bugs are not only embarrassing, but they can cause a person whose home is infested suffer low self-esteem. Unlike popular belief, bed bugs are not caused by untidiness. There are numerous ways to manage the bed bugs, but the best regimen is the use of vacuum cleaners and pesticides.