This insect probably received its common name of bed bug from its close association with human sleeping beds where it often seeks refuge during daylight, only to come out to feed on the beds occupant(s) at night. The bed bug is an ectoparasite of primarily humans but will also attack poultry, caged and invasive birds and various mammals, including rodents. It was introduced into the United States with the early colonists.
Habits
Bed bugs harbor in cracks and crevices during the day and come out to feed at night. Typically they can be found around mattress buttons and beading, in box springs or their coverings, and in any crevice of a wooden bed frame, such as where members join. Other places to check are wall hangings such as picture frames, night stands, stuffed furniture, baseboards, floorboard cracks, behind loose wallpaper, light switches, door and window frames, conduits, etc. They will crawl considerable distances to obtain a blood meal.
Threats
Although the bite of bed bugs is painless, most people (80%) develop an allergic reaction to the saliva injected by the bug as it feeds. A swelling usually results from feeding but there is no red spot such as is characteristic with flea bites. Swelling may be severe and extend beyond the immediate bite area in highly sensitive individuals. Although bed bugs have been suspect in the transmission of many diseases or disease organisms in humans, in most cases conclusive evidence is lacking.
Prevention
You unknowingly bring bedbugs into your home after travel, mostly. Look for bedbug infestation in hotel rooms where you stay. If you find it, ask for another room on the other side of the hotel. Keep your suitcase off the floor if it’s open. You can encase your mattress and box springs in plastic covers, as is often done for asthma sufferers. This will kill trapped bedbugs within and prevent others from taking up homes there. Besides the characteristic obnoxiously sweet odor, the other primary clues to an infestation will be the presence of bed bugs and/or small red to reddish brown fecal spots here and there on surfaces.
